I love writing about cupcakes, but I'd much rather be eating them!
(And yes! This cupcake WILL make you fat!)
When I was still a little girl I learned early on I was blessed with one very talented mother. I've shared with you before how she was truly before her time. Creatively gifted and spiritually refined, I owe so much of who I am today to my Mom and her 'never-give-up-attitude'. She pressed through during many difficult days and I know for sure I do not possess the best that lies within her. Life has not been easy for my Mom... She is, and always will be, the strongest person I've ever known.
(And yes! This cupcake WILL make you fat!)
When I was still a little girl I learned early on I was blessed with one very talented mother. I've shared with you before how she was truly before her time. Creatively gifted and spiritually refined, I owe so much of who I am today to my Mom and her 'never-give-up-attitude'. She pressed through during many difficult days and I know for sure I do not possess the best that lies within her. Life has not been easy for my Mom... She is, and always will be, the strongest person I've ever known.
And the most talented.
When my mother married my father in 1955 she was given a Woman's Home Companion Cookbook as a wedding gift. (I've written about this before but it's been a long time now!) I remember as a child pouring over the pages of the cookbook and dreaming about the things I was going to bake when I grew up.
Many years ago my mother gifted me with an identical cookbook and it's been a mainstay in my kitchen ever since! If you want to hunt down a great vintage cookbook that tells you WHAT to do and how to do it, then this book is the one you! Not just a bunch of recipes!
(Love that!!)
(Love that!!)
These sweet rose-topped cupcakes were baked using a Coconut Cake Recipe that is pushing sixty years old. Paired with yummy Butter Frosting from the same cookbook they are totally divine! My Mom painstakingly tried to teach me to make a rose out of decorator frosting when I was about nine or ten... I think I managed to pipe out about two or three and I recall them being such sad little things! Even today I still can't make a rose like she does...
Soo~let it be said! I like cake!
Cupcakes to be more specific!
I know...I know! Everybody seems to LOVE CUPCAKES these days and as I shared with you the other day I think that's the funniest thing! Who would have ever thought that a stand-alone-cupcake-shoppe would ever be successful???
Cupcakes to be more specific!
I know...I know! Everybody seems to LOVE CUPCAKES these days and as I shared with you the other day I think that's the funniest thing! Who would have ever thought that a stand-alone-cupcake-shoppe would ever be successful???
Given the prices on some of the little confections I've seen behind their glass cases I'm thinking they just might be making a killing...
Last weekend I spent a little time making these sweet cupcakes for a summertime gathering for three of my closest friends. We had a fun time chatting and sharing and eating!
(Eat Cupcakes! Be Happy!)
(Eat Cupcakes! Be Happy!)
I found these amazing paper muffin cups at Tuesday Morning and you need to check them out! They are gourmet quality and trust me when I tell you "they aren't your momma's muffin-cup!"
They weren't cheap, but like everything at TM they were off-priced. The paper peeled away from the cake and the cake was actually left in tact! Nothing gets me more than leaving half my muffin (or cupcake!) on the paper. There is NO GOOD WAY to respectfully chew it off in public! :(
I opted to pipe the icing onto the cupcakes this time and I actually love how they came out! But...that's alotta frosting!
~CUPCAKE FRIENDS~
Soft vanilla teacakes
Butter-cream in pink
Tied with silky ribbons
With a bit of tea to drink~
Frosted wee confections
Dainty with a rose
Trimmed with paper laces
For a party, you suppose?
Gathered 'round the table
Our hearts in love partake
The best of pastime pleasures
Just friends and sweet
CUPCAKES!
CUPCAKES!
Rebecca Elliott Nelson
(You know that's me, right?)
(You know that's me, right?)
© 2011/A Gathering Place
All Rights Reserved
Blessings for a wonderful day...
Love to you~
35 comments:
6:15 AM Someone is up early! Loved the post on the cupcakes. they look soooo delicious and pretty! You are such a multi-talented young lady, your mother sure passed on her creative talents to you.
Do you know your parents got married the same year I did??!! I received the Betty Crocker soft-cover cookbook that had just come out and used the heck out of it...I could boil water and make coffee when I married at 18!! There was another cookbook that came out a little later titiled 365 WAYS TO COOK HAMBURGER!! (ground meat)Can you imagine....!! I used that one lot, too!
I am having lunch today with my two long time best friends to celebrate one's 75 birthday!! We have been BFs for sixty years now!
That is what you call FOREVER FRIENDS!!
Stay cool! Love and hugs. Francy
Hello Rebecca
Cupcakes are one thing I've not made often, alway a big cake and then so much left over. But, after reading this post, I am inspired to make cupcakes for the pot luck BBQ we're attending on Saturday. Yup, and I'll decorate them pretty, just like yours.
Too bad there isn't a similar book for all new wives today, it could become a staple for shower gifts. :-)
Thanks for the great idea, I was racking my brain on what kind of dessert I'd make.
Hugs,
Judith
hiya rebecca. i too have ALWAYS preferred cupcakes. one of my tasty blessings is when i get to enjoy cupcakes from the local bakery, batters up, while i watch cupcake wars on food network. blest be :)
Ohh...what pretty cupcakes you made for your friends! Can I be your friend? Please?
Those old cookbooks are the BEST! My Mom and Dad married in 1951...and Mom had a two-volume set by Meta Givens (think that's how it's spelled...too lazy to go look it up). They're tattered and torn and falling apart now...but I use them all the time. Very detailed recipes...with steps that modern recipes seem to skip...pre-sifting flour THREE TIMES comes to mind. And they're especially precious to me because of all my Mother's little hand-written notes in the margins.
Have fun creating today. No fun for me...MIL is coming to visit and I must CLEAN HOUSE!
Kathy
Your beautiful post makes me want to be there with you this morning enjoying one of these awesome cupcakes.
Just wish something this pretty and yummy would not make me fatter.
Love ya
Maggie
Yummy!! They truly look like the ones in your graphics. Your Mom sounds amazing, you were one lucky little girl. My mom could cook anything, but I wasn't gifted with her talent - but I can bake and cupcakes are my grandchildren's favorite.
The poem is as sweet as the cupcake. Have a great day...
Brenda
Good morning Rebecca,
Yummmmmy!! Reading this post reminded me of my Momma's cupcakes. Oh they were so soft and delicious! My favorite (I can taste it right now!) was cherry. Momma would painstakingly finely chop little maraschino cherries to mix into the batter (recipe from her well worn Good Housekeeping Cook Book! They were exquisite clouds of pinky confection!!
Thank you for helping me to remember child-times with my Momma.
Love and hugs, Laura.
ps I am still around lurking, but working and not having much time to blog.
Wow Rebecca I have that same cookbook inherited from my mother! Although it's pages are stained and falling apart, it is still the most treasured cookbook I own!
My mom's most used recipe was the one for Fruitcake and she made dozens for Christmas to give away.
My job? Dredging the fruit with flour so they wouldn't fall to the bottom of the cake.
What great memories!
And yes I would eat that cupcake and many more, weight be damned!
Love you and your fabulous blog...
Tina xo
Sweet! In taste and LOOKS! Sarah found a cupcake shoppe in Denver and I know what you mean about them being a money maker!♥♫
Me..again....I loved the "gathering case"....will you be making any for your shop before the holidays??????
Have a fun day!!!
Francy
and she writes poetry too! You could definately sell one of those. I would love it and you know, the icing is the reason for the cupcake. The cupcake is the carrier for the yummy buttercream icing! I had my gourmet cupcakes this week. What a treat!
they are almost to pretty to eat....hahaha...almost!
Hi my friend, Loved reading this; what a blessing and treasure to have such a godly mother who trained you in the art of baking.
I'd love some of your cupcakes but would have to pass due to gluten issues. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings to you today.
Noreen
Such a lovely post. The cupcakes look just beautiful! It sounds like you had a lovely time. I love the old books. I hope you have a wonderful day. Hugs, Kim
Hello sweet Rebecca,
Oh, thank you so much for visiting my blog, and for your sweet comments on my anniversary post. I feel the same as you do, and we are certainly blessed with our wonderful hubbies!
Love and hugs,
Debbie xo
Good afternoon Rebecca... :-)
Well.......I HAVE that exact cookbook... actually two of them. My grandma's that's in great condition....and my Mum's.......with no covers left and in sad shape. It's one of my very favorite things and actually have it sitting on my counter in the kitchen. She cooked so many things from that cookbook.... When I bake bread or pies it's still the only cookbook I use. I also have my Mum's handwritten strawberry rhubarb pie recipe... so precious to me... nobody will ever bake one like my Mum... :-)
Your cupcakes are totally delightful! They turned out sooo pretty. I'm glad you had a chance to cupcake with friends....
Huggies!!
Spence
My Mom tried to teach me to bake when I was young and I had no interest so....Now I don't bake, which I had paid attention. Your cupcakes and train case are darling!!
Carol
Your cupcake post made me smile :0) and yes I have a good friend who has a cup cake shop and does very well, who would have ever thought!!!!
Heres to the sweet treats in life!
hugs Lynn
I ALWAYS smile visiting here. I smile about cupcakes- I smile how much you lov eour Mom- I smile about the way you make such beautiful creations but mostly, I smile because you are just such a sweet, lovely person-inside AND out~ xo Diana
Okay that cupcake is one of the prettiest cupcakes I have ever seen. It is delicate - pretty - soft - looking. I wish I could make them as pretty as that.
I can so relate about making a rose with icing!! I've taken several cake decorating classes, I can make just about every flower, except a rose!!! LOL
If I could be a tree, I would be......a cupcake tree!!
xo-cindy
Oh my Rebecca...your sweet cupcakes look too pretty to eat. But knowing the frosting is butter frosting, well I don't think they would last in my home, hee, hee, hee. Stay cool my friend.
Hugs and Kisses,
♥Ana
Yummy. I love cupcakes too. They are so pretty . You did a great job. I have a cookbook kind of like that. It even tells you how to treat your husband when he comes home from work Because he has had a hard day. LOL! It is a really old book.
Ooooh, I LOVE your poem! And I love cupcakes, and I love you... what a combination!... your mama is such a beautiful, creative lady (hmmm... seems like her daughter is too!)... and I would love to own one of those cookbooks as well... I am staring my hunt today!... I have my mama's old copy of "The Joy of Cooking" which was her "Bible" in the kitchen. It is from the early 40's and I love making recipes from there too... love to you my sweet little cupcake friend!... xoxo Julie Marie
PS REAALLY LOVE the train case!... perhaps one day I too shall be able to order one (sigh)... xoxo Julie Marie
My Dear Becky--
A BIG Thank You to you and your lovely friends for their nice comments.
I love reading your Post and so pleased you are willing to share your latest creations. I always look forward, with great anticipation, to seeing what you are going to Blog about next-- I am never disappoited.
The poem is as sweet as the cupcake ~ Beautiful! Out of all the cook books I have ever used -- this one is my favorite.
Love you dear daughter.
Hugs-- Mom
Hi Rebecca! Your cupcakes came just beautiful! I love the tiny soft pink rosebud on the top! I tried once, making roses... it's not as easy as it looks! Your writing about your mother's baking and sharing cupcakes brought smiles!
I must tell you, I came home from my father's Wednesday night and found your package waiting. What a sweet, sweet surprise! My husband doesn't remember what day it arrived :o)
{he had a busy week managing alone and with the two extra dogs we're sitting}
I just L O V E it! You are so talented, Rebecca! It looks exquisite on my pretty cream colored chair. I will take a photo of it and post it soon {maybe today if I finish with my kitchen cleaning} I'd love to post it for Pink Saturday!
Thank you again, for that amazing pillow, the extra card {how special that is!} and your sweet note.
I know you have been blessed with so much talent, may you have showers of blessings in all things~
♥ Maria
Just comin' by for my soft pink fix! Happy summer! ♥
I love this post... has to be the best thing ever... and your poem... amazing!
Many hugs to you, dear Rebecca!
My mom has this same cookbook given to her when she was married in 1946. I found a copy for myself and it is the same copyright year as hers. It is the best cookbook. The only thing mine is missing are all the notations mom has made in hers. If someday she should pass that on to me I hope to pass it along to one of my girls. It has the best tried and true recipes! And that cupcake does look GOOD!
Lovely cupcakes, and delicious too! I love cookbooks too! I think you do possess the many qualities and talents of your mother, I can tell! And how could it not rub off? Besides, you're still growing and learning! Life is a process! We kinda turn into our mothers sometimes as we get older, I am learning ;), (which is a good thing!) You're so sweet to speak of your mother that way! Your post is such a delight and I wish I had one of your cupcakes right now!
Hi Rebecca! It was such a blessing to hear from you. And that song by Alison Krauss called A Living Prayer is so peaceful and comforting, it's just bring tears to my eyes! Thank you for sharing it with us. I'm going to have to put together a cd (yes I know, I'm behind times) of your songs for my car.
Thanks for sharing with me about your friend Dennis. I'm really hoping this passes and that the CFS is something I will get over. I think I fell apart this year. How unfair to have your body do this when there's so much you want to do. I never knew joints could hurt so bad. The Dr. says the pain might be Rheumatoid arthritis or Osteoporosis.
Thanks for being such a wonderful friend to me. Oh' I better go "Where have you been" is playing now and the tears are going to really roll.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love you, T:)
You are truly blessed with a wonderful mother and such happy memories with her!
It blows me away how cup cakes have suddenly become so popular and the 'stand alone' stores selling them.
Your cupcakes are gorgeous.....and I betcha they're delicious!
OH REBECCA... GUESS WHAT ??? I FOUND A COOK BOOK THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING ABOUT... I CAN'T WAIT TO THUMB THROUGH IT... I LOVE TO BAKE .. AND COOK.... BOY YOU BETTER BE GALD I AM IN TEXAS, I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR MOM'S FRIEND..... AND YOURS...LOL... SHE SEEMS SUCH A LOVELY LADY.. YOU ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE HER... BUT I BET YOU KNEW THAT.. I LOVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL CUPCAKES AND I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YOUR CASES... I HAVE SOME OF THE ROMANTIC HOMES WITH YOUR PRETTIES... I TREASURE THEM... HAVE A SUPER WEEKEND.. LOHOMA
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