CupcakeCamp NYC in the New York Times!

I want to give a big THANK YOU to Florence Fabricant for including CupcakeCamp in the New York Times' Dining Calendar today! My hope is this will encourage more people to donate cupcakes!

If you live in the New York area and want to join in the festivities, e-mail cupcakecampnyc@gmail.com for more information or visit CupcakeCamp NYC.

For those of you that need to get your chocolate fix through reading...

The New York Times included a write up today about a new book entitled "Chocolate: History, Culture and Heritage," and it seems like a must read for anyone interested in food history or just learning more about their favorite sweet treat.

The Times described the book as "a scholarly tome, full of articles on chocolate’s connection to anthropology, agriculture, religion, ethics, art, medicine and technology. But it offers plenty of surprises, too, like the explanation of how chocolate was a recommended treatment for smallpox in Boston in the 18th century. And how in the winter of 1762-63, soldiers near Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York often mixed their ration of chocolate with wine."

Sounds interesting. As soon as I finish up my collection of current foodie books currently nesting on my night stand, I'll pick up a copy.

Another interesting fact: This book is part of a research project at the University of California, Davis, that was paid for by Mars, the chocolate company.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, it is $99.95, $79.96 at amazon.com.

Slice me up some of that deer please...

I happened to stumble across this picture and had to share - this is a cake. A gigantic deer cake. I can't say I would ever want to eat this as I think it might be confusing for my taste buds (Taste buds: "Wait...this isn't meat? It's cake? Whaaaaaaaaat?"). But you have to give a round of applause for the skill it took to make this.

Great dessert quote...

"You can say this for ready-mixes - the next generation isn't going to have any trouble making pies exactly like mother used to make." ~ Earl Wilson

Some sweets to welcome Spring!

Perhaps it was the warm weather I grew accustomed to while living in Australia for six months last year, but this year's winter in New York seems to have taken it's toll. As a result, I'm craving Spring time - warmer weather, trench coats, and fun new desserts that seem out of place any other time of year!

I always try to have cookies or some sort of sweet on hand when I know people will be swinging by my apartment, so i can't wait to try out this recipe from MarthaStewart.com for Spring Shower Almond Petits Fours.

Not only are they beautiful to look at, my past experience with petit fours has always been a positive one!

Let me know if you try out this recipe - I'd love to post your photos and tips!

Check out the recipe here.