Something's not quite right...

I often pretend I know what I'm doing in the kitchen and this is most evident when I attempt to fancily decorate a cookie, cake or cupcake.

This is never more frustrating than when the tools I have don't work the way I believe they should.

Case in point:

In early May of this year I purchased a "Master Tip Set" and was very excited to get started on some super-cool and savvy decorating. It was a 57-piece set that came in it's own storage case.

I was quite disappointed to discover, however, that it didn't work the way I had wanted/expected. Some of my tips didn't fit on the "standard" couplers that came with the set. The tips were simply too large. Boo! *insert Sad face here*

I searched all over the company's website and couldn't find much information about the set that pertained to the particular problem I was having. I then discovered that there was, indeed, another size coupler. A "large" coupler. OK, at this point I'm annoyed that I have to buy another piece to make full use of the parts of a set. In my opinion, that set should have been ready to rock and roll when I bought it (i.e. all parts work with all parts) but I can see, from a sales point of view, how it's good business sense to "encourage" the purchase of other parts or pieces.

Begrudgingly, I decided to purchase a Large coupler. I would not, however, pay UK prices for one when MrB and I were scheduled to make a visit to the US that summer (where this brand's products are almost infinitely less expensive). I did, indeed, find and purchase what I needed.

I came home excited about many things but, in part, about being able to use some different tips from my set. Yes, I am a geek. I have accepted it, it's time you do, too.

I discovered, however, that this new addition to my arsenal wasn't the Be All and End All of my icing/piping problems. Yes, there were some tips that had been too large for my Standard Coupler that now worked/fit using the Large Coupler so I was on my way to Happy Decorating Land. The road had a few more sinkholes, however, and I didn't quite make it there. There were a few of my tips that didn't fit either coupler! Seriously?! *insert Very Angry face here*

I decided it was time to send the company an email...

Dear ****** Customer Service,

I'm a beginner at cake/cupcake decorating and I have a question.
I own the ****** Master Tip Set and it comes with two standard couplers for the "smaller" of the tips. Some of the tips in the set, however, are too large for the standard coupler so I purchased the "Large Tip Coupler". This coupler is too large for the larger tips. I'm at a loss. I can't see where you have a different size coupler but some of my tips, the 124 for example, just don't seem to work with either coupler.

Can you please tell me what I'm doing wrong/failing to understand?

Many thanks and kind regards,
Tanya
Mrs B bakes

And got this reply:

Dear Mrs. B Bakes,

I apologize for this inconvenience. All of our tips should fit on either the small coupler or larger coupler. Sometimes with use, they may bend and not be able to fit. I am sorry for the confusion. Please let me know if you have further questions.

Thanks,

Stephanie F
****** Brands Customer Care

Hrm. I've barely used my tips and I'm certain that they haven't been bent because I am quite the perfectionist when it comes to things I value and I always treat the parts of that set with utmost care.

So, I inspected them, just to be sure. Of course, there was no bending, no warping yet there were several tips that definitely didn't fit "on either the small coupler or larger coupler".

I decided a more comprehensive approach might be needed and photographic evidence was obtained...

I then sent another email to ****** telling them of my issues and included the pictures as proof that I knew of which I spoke.

Stephanie,

I\m sorry it's taken me so long to respond... I am still having issues with a few of the tips in the set that fit neither the standard coupler nor the large one.

The tips are 108, 109, 124, 143 - there may be more; I stopped checking (and I'm presuming there would be more of the ****** tips that I don't own that would have this problem).

I've attached pictures of what I'm talking about but if you can't view attachments, please let me know and I'll try to host them online and send links. [The above pictures had been inserted here]

All of the four tips have the same problem... Their bottom diameter is too large for the standard coupler (the ring won't go down over the tip and attach to the base) and too small for the large coupler (the tip only rests on the coupler and the ring slides on right past it and attaches to the base leaving the tip completely not secured to the coupler).

None of the four tips are bent - I haven't used them because of this problem - so they're all new and perfectly round.

I eagerly look forward to your advice on this matter.

Kind regards,
Tanya
Mrs B bakes

I got this reply:

Hello there Tanya!

Thank you for getting back to us with this information. In regards to your questions I have some help for you. Tip 108, 109, and Tip 134 do not work with couplers. They are to be used with parchment paper or uncut bags. Tip 124 fits with the large coupler. We do not have a tip 143 but we have a tip 134 and again it fits with no coupler, just the paper or bag. I hope this helps and we appreciate your business!

Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Jenn
Customer Service Representative

OK, so let me get this straight... When I emailed the first time and Stephanie replied to tell me that "All of our tips should fit on either the small coupler or larger coupler. " apparently, I shouldn't have taken this at face value. *insert Not Amused face here*

I'd like to end this post on a less annoyed note and share with you what happens when I decide to make "DIY Cupcakes" for a Christmas celebration of about 16 people...

That's the "ash" of the Powdered Sugar Volcano that erupted in my kitchen. (I went through about 4.5kilos of powdered sugar in making the TEN (all Vegan) batches of frosting for the 89 cupcakes! (One Almond Buttercream, coloured red. One Mint Buttercream, coloured pale green. Double batch of each Vanilla and Chocolate Buttercreams. Quadruple batch of the Cream Cheese frosting.) I say it was "ten" batches of frosting but I actually made four more that I tossed out and replaced as I became convinced that the cream cheese had been open and in the fridge too long to be 100% trustworthy. That's a LOT of sugar.

Why 89 and not 90 cupcakes, you ask? I have, honestly, no idea! I made four batches each of the chocolate and vanilla cupcakes (from ...Cupcakes Take Over the World ) which should have equalled 72 cupcakes. I think the batter grew/ multiplied/ spored/ spread/ reproduced/ something in order to create an extra 17 cupcakes. They did not go to waste, however, and I was rewarded with many a smiling face and even a marriage proposal! DIY Cupcakes are something I'd definitely do again! It was much less daunting than baking and decorating and transporting those cupcakes.

If you were hosting/revelling at a DIY Cupcake party; which flavours would you like?

YES soup for you!

Being unable to eat milk products has left me with a wanting for certain foods such as pizza, mac'n'cheese, cream of tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches...

Thankfully, the list is small and I've stopped craving cheese so I'm able to find easy substitutes for these comforting foods.

Pizza is easy for me; I just use a yeast-free base and don't add cheese to my toppings. Problem solved.

Mac'n'cheese used to be an issue when I really wanted cheese but now it's OK. I sort of miss it but not enough to even take a bite of someone else's.

When it came to cream of tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches I was really stuck. I can't have the cream in the cream of tomato soup; can't have the cheese in the grilled cheese sandwich and even finding the right bread for me can be tricky. Nightmare.

That is until last week when I decided to just wing it. Thankfully, for the first time I started writing down what I was throwing into the pot instead of guessing afterwards. This also allowed me to take accurate measurements so, if the experiment worked; I could share it with confidence that what I told you wouldn't result in something horrid!

Well, it definitely worked. It worked so well I decided that night was officially Date Night and (pardon the pun) made a real meal out of it!

Thick and Creamy Tomato Soup

In a large pot add the following:

1/4c Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 400g (14.5 oz) cans of chopped tomatoes (please approximate if your can size is different)

1 cup chopped spinach (mine was frozen)

2 bags of Steam-Fresh type mixed vegetables (I used Broccoli, Sweetcorn and Carrots by Birds Eye)

1tsp mix dried Italian herbs

1tsp Oregano

1/2tsp onion powder

1tbsp minced garlic (I use Very Lazy Garlic)

1.5L (about 6.5 cups) vegetable stock

Set aside 1 - 1.5 cups soya cream (I used reduced fat to great effect)

Bring this all to a boil allow to do so for about 10 minutes. Reduce to low heat and leave to simmer for about an hour (I left mine for about two hours and simply added some more stock later to thin it a bit but I like heavy soups).

Use food processor to blend the soup (make sure not to over-fill the food processor, this may mean you have to do two batches) and return it to the pot over low heat.

Just prior to serving add soya cream and stir to blend well.

I served this with garlic bread and it was a hearty meal that I intend to make a lot this winter. YUM!

Our backyard/garden/behind-the-flat/house-area is coming along nicely, the ground work is all completed and all that's left is to finish the decking!

I've been baking a bit lately:

Basic Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Mousse topping

Almond Cupcakes with Vegan Cream Cheese frosting...

...and a surprise Chocolate Mousse filling

(Why do I feel the need to add the word "Vegan" when I say "cream cheese" considering the entire dessert is Vegan? I only bake Vegan but I worry that people will see "Cream Cheese" and get the wrong idea, I guess, so it's a little added emphasis that it's still OK even though it's called "cheese". I worry, though, that stressing the Vegan bit only there will lead to people to think that that's the only part that is Vegan. Oh, well. Can't please them all, as they say!)

See you soon!

Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes

A week or so ago I envisaged gorgeous Carrot Cake Cupcakes so vividly that I dreamt about them. Twice. This meant I had to buy fresh carrots, of course, because summer is coming to an end and my favourite season is upon us.

Autumn.

Blissfully cool, sunny days. Chilly, clear nights. The smell of leaves, wood fires, cinnamon, pumpkin, maple syrup... Delicious.

I'm already jonesing for Pumpkin Pie, Mashes Potatoes with Gravy and a host of traditional Autumn/Thanksgiving treats that I can now no longer have. What a bummer. It doesn't take away my love for the season, though, because my taste buds aren't my only sense that is so gloriously engaged this time of year.

I can hear the kids giggling on the way to school in the mornings, I long for the crunch of the leaves beneath my feet, the sun caressing my face as the cool breeze ruffles my hair and am relaxed in the knowledge that it won't be long before they're here... bliss.

My "fresh" carrots weren't so and decided that they'd support their own little colonies (several of them) before their expiration date so they were sacrificed to the bin (cannot compost mouldy food!) and I felt quite disappointed.

What to do?? How on earth would I be able to cope without spicy cupcakes now that I'd so clearly been sent a sign that I needed them??

I couldn't. It's that simple. I had to have my fix! So I did a little deductive reasoning, a little chemistry, a little experimentation, a little praying, a little mixing, a little baking and a little sharing and what emerged is a tender little cupcake with wonderful textures. The sugar crystalises on the top, the fruit stays soft and moist, the cake fluffy and spicy. So, I now introduce (with full Mrs B bakes Taste-Tester approval, of course)...

Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

(makes 12)

2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons plain/all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup soy yogurt (I used vanilla, if using plain; you might want to add a little more sugar)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 coarsely grated apples (I used Granny Smith and the tanginess of the apples worked really well in this recipe. If using additional options below, reduce apple to 1 1/2 coarsely grated cups)

Optional: (If adding these options, reduce apple to 1 1/2 cups, coarsely grated apple)

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 175° C (350° F) and line cupcake pan with liners.

In a bowl mix together sugar, oil, yogurt and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, spices) into the same bowl and mix until no lumps remain. Stir in grated apple. (If using; also fold in walnuts and raisins.)

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake for 25-30 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted through the centre of one comes out clean. Try to choose a cupcake in the centre of your oven or in a known "cool spot".)

Remove from oven and place on rack and allow to cool completely. Frost generously with Vegan Cream Cheese frosting and voilà!

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/4 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, softened

1/4 cup vegan cream cheese, softened

2 cups confectioners'/powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream together margarine and cream cheese until just blended (don't over mix). Using a hand-held mixer; whip margarine mix while adding the sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time. Mix until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and mix thoroughly. Keep tightly covered in the fridge until ready to use. (Handy hint: put frosting in a bowl and use plastic wrap to cover the frosting inside the bowl so that there's no space or air between the frosting and the plastic wrap. This will keep it from drying out and becoming crusty.

Now, what shall I make next, any suggestions?