Rock Chick Gets Fuzzy Wuzzy: Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
I wonder if it’s the advent of the Spring/Summer 09 Collection, MAC’s release of its Creme Team collection, Valentine’s Day or just a general sense of girlishness overcoming me that’s starting to get me to fancy the colour pink. I’m talking about the pink of pinks – the sweetest, sugariest pink you’ve ever come across. I’ve always been pretty adamant about pink being an empty colour, simply a non-colour – a mere shade. Talk about the hierarchy of colouration and pigments! Frankly speaking though, it’s somehow been drilled into my head from young that pink is a shade lacking in sophistication, associated with whimsical froufrou-ness, found wanting in the depth and strength of hues like fuschia, violet and turqoise. Hence, when it comes to lipstick shades I find myself steering towards (if I have to) going for pink shades with either tints of blue/orange in it or going for a pink shade that’s rather dark and not at all baby-ish.
Somehow, my head’s gone a little weird and I find that baby-ish pinks are so it for Spring/Summer. I’ve gone and bought myself a Vivienne Westwood brooch in shades of light pink and purple. I leave a Firefox tab on for Deeba’s Strawberry Refrigerator Cheesecake and gush at the gorgeousness of that pink cheesecake for hours on end. I’m making a date with my ex-Beauty/Fashion editor on Monday to go makeup shopping, and the end result of that is definitely a couple of lipsticks and glosses in that kitsch shade of pink. I have a feeling I’m to become completely maniacal and funkedelic in my choice of colours. Somehow, that’s going to affect my cooking and I’m gradually getting fearful of the bottle of red food dye in the right corner of my kitchen cupboard.
YIKES!
It hasn’t not happened before. Half a year ago, I went insane over green and still am – just check out my window sill and overall bedroom decor (some examples below). You can imagine how my love for matcha and the colour green came together in some sort of passionate explosion of green gooey edible whatsits everywhere, every day… Still is today actually. It hits me in waves.
After visiting the lovely Milk and Honey Cafe, I fell in love with Sarah’s Strawberry Cupcakes (click the link for the recipe) and absolutely knew I had to have some as well. These were simply the perfect St. Valentine’s treats. The drool was literally rolling off my tongue and spilling onto the laptop. In my cupcake-stunned state, I made a very grumpy and embittered Goodchild drive me to Sainsbury’s for ingredients. Talk about the bitter singles on Valentine’s Day, geeez!
My cupcakes aren’t half as beautiful as Sarah’s. I really should have made an effort but at 4 in the afternoon, it was getting dark. I was getting a little sleepy. I kinda slowed down a little. Nonetheless, I love Sarah’s recipe. I followed the cupcake bit exactly and my oh my did they taste fantast-alicious! Frosting wise I messed up a little as it just got a bit too wet and drippy. Ended up making a buttercream of sorts, adding a couple of tablespoons of the strawberry sauce and adding some red food dye (I can’t resist this stuff). One thing about being away from my home kitchen is that we don’t have a sieve, an electric mixer or proper mixing bowls. Hence, I’m always hesitant when it comes to the icing and never confident that I can make good, stiff enough frosting without my proper equipment. It’s a gamble each and every time. Today, I might’ve messed up a little but thankfully it still sorta worked out and the end result is fairly pretty.Most of my housemates have gone home for the weekend. This year is a little depressing for all of us as we’re all – except one – single! Left alone in the house, Anna and I were definitely not going to let ourselves get moo-moo ish about it at all. Kitchen’s cleaned, music’s pumping, cupcakes-a-cooking. Blimey, we were in a well good mood. Not a sight of a grey cloud hanging over our heads. Nothing wrong with being single. In fact, there is nothing wrong at all with being single or attached. So come on, let’s really enjoy Valentine’s for what it really is. Let’s go non-commercial and have just good ol’ fun with friends, families, loved ones.
Happy St. Valentine’s everyone! Have a joyful, laughter-filled and wicked time.
If you’re looking for the recipe, check back up this post for the recipe link to Sarah’s blog Milk and Honey Cafe. Now I shall change out of my floury scruffies, sit back relax, and wait for Anna to whip up some posh dinner for 2 tonight. Fantastic!
February 14th, 2009 at 4:11 am
I don’t know what you’re on about– it looks gorgeous! But, diva, you should always, always, always have a sieve in the kitchen!
February 14th, 2009 at 7:24 am
You’re right – that’s the most delicious shade of pink! Yum!
February 14th, 2009 at 8:40 am
This little cake looks so delicious! MMMMMMM…
February 14th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Manggy: oh thank you. I was just a little bit gutted for messing up the buttercream first time round and it wasn’t stiff enough to pipe…I totally agree!! We had one. And then some idiot broke it..and then there weren’t any stocked in Sainsbury’s yesterday for some odd reason. But definitely, a sieve is a highly essential piece of kitchen equipment. We’re handicapped without one.
Christie@ fig&cherry: yay…it’s so pink-alicious.
Sophie: I’m really pleased the way it turned out – you could really taste the strawberry flavours. Maybe a tad too sweet but who gives a shit on Valentine’s ?
xx
February 14th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Oh Cute overload! The fact that they are pink… I like that pink-alicious!
Piping and flooding are so darn tricky!!!
February 14th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Girl Japan: tricky it is indeed!!
cuteness really isn’t my thing but i gotta admit that my resistance to pink is gradually getting weaker…LOL
xx
February 14th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Oh you wicked wicked single Diva…I love your colour obsessions & your use of pink! Wish I can get my hands on some matcha one day, & BTW, I LOVE that green mask! Hope you are bouncing off walls with a sugar high this Valentines!! ENJOY!!! xoxoxo
February 14th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
deeba: eeek, don’t I love being wicked?!?! I hope you do, if you have any trouble finding it in the future I’m more than happy to send you a small pot or something when I get my hands on some. Thanks! I have a thing for masks & Italian commedia dell’arte; got that at the Christmas markets near Castello Sforza in Milan a year ago! You have a super Vday too honey!! BIG KISS! xxx
February 14th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
happy valentines day
Very nice photos… the creamcheese frosting seals the deal for me, delicious
February 15th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Very pretty and have a great time shopping…
February 15th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Now you have me thinking that I need to go shopping and get some pink things as pretty as that cupcake!! So gorgeous!
February 15th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Bobby: Hey there, did u have a good Valentine’s?
Indeed! Cream cheese really boosted the flavour of the strawberry in this one..power-packed!
Maya: Thank you
I had a fab time shopping in town. It was very crowded but it was such a great day. Hope you had a good Valentine’s.
RecipeGirl: Go shopping, do it! Treat yourself.
You deserve it honey.
xx
February 15th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Happy [late] St Valentine’s sweetheart! Who needs a partner when you have cupcakes as gorgeous and delish as yours!
February 15th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I’m not a huge cupcake eater (or maker), but this looks like I’ll tear apart in less than 30 seconds. Goodness gracious. I love the luscious pink, to! Great job. And hope you had a great Vday as well. Mine was full of goodness! I made myself some rum fudge truffles to.die.for.!
February 15th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
celine: haha well-said! happy late St. Valentine’s to you too..i gather you’ve been well?? I miss you blogposts Ce!!
Bren: 30 seconds??? that’s amazing! and very flatting indeed. thank you. You can say I’m still experimenting with pink shades and this one’s pretty new to me – but I did love it. Pink-alicious!! Just checked out your rum truffles..gosh, they look beautiful. And you’re such a tease – I can’t resist fudge.
xx
February 16th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Happy Valentine’s! It’s funny, I’m really not big on the colour pink, but I loooove pink icing…the red food colouring must make it taste good or something. I know all about cooking in an understocked kitchen, but well done, those cupcakes look gorgeous!
February 16th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Oh they look brilliant! Love the colour.
February 16th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Pink day! Love it!! But again, I love all shades of blues, pinks and reds so you can guess I was in heaven this weekend!!
The cupcake is gorgeous!
February 17th, 2009 at 6:47 am
How very artistic of you, going through colour phases:-) I’m not a big fan of pink being a guy and all, but I have to say that I’m finding a strange attraction to your frosting. It’s the perfect shade and I’m a bit envious that it’s not in front of me right now:-)
February 17th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Nicisme: thank you! indeed, i couldn’t resist the icing colour.
Tartelette: Happy Pink Day!! OH yea you must’ve been. love blue, love pink…love green. love purple. in fact i just love colour in general. thank you. hope you had a fantastic weekend.
Marc@NoRecipes: artistic? haven’t heard that in years since my art days…u shd experience my artistic temperaments. they’re horrible!
xx
February 18th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
HELLO!
Heehee I’m so honored! It’s a great recipe, isn’t it? I’m so glad I found it too. Well, Happy happy Valentine’s Day! Hope you had a good one!!
Wow! Those look fantastic! Sometimes, all a cupcake needs is some hot pink.
And thanks for the shoutout!
February 18th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
sarah the baker yoon: thank you for sharing this amazing recipe Sarah! i got loads of thumbs up on the icing
definitely. hot pink is bloody warming it up here and cupcake is THE love right now.
xx
February 19th, 2009 at 3:32 am
That is the most awesomly PINK shade of pink I have ever seen.
The texture looks beautiful!
February 20th, 2009 at 2:39 am
That cupcake looks really good!
February 20th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Oh..in regard to the Hakoya boxes, I can get them at the hiyaku yen shop too = )
February 21st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Brittany: it’s so pink-ified isn’t it?
thank you.
Kevin: cheers. it was a hit.
Girl Japan: oooh, the one i want is sold out on ichibankanusa, i’ll probably email you sometime later. thanks for offering your help!
xx
March 9th, 2009 at 12:35 am
OMG – these look freakin awesome!
March 11th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Pretty pretty pretty!!! These look so “pro”, girl! Wow.