Torilicious

A Glitter-tasic Reunion

2010-04-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

‘That was quick’ I hear you say. But after yesterday I just couldn’t wait to get back into the kitchen. However I quickly learned that practise made perfect, and I am seriously lacking skills again (I feel like I’m back at the start ), but after sulking for a few minutes I decided beauty is in the belly of the eater so I sucked it up and got on with it...... Da Dah......

Be gentle with me, it’s been a while but I hope you liked them. They’re classic red velvet with chocolate frosting, and ok I probably went overboard with the glitter, I’d forgotten how great it is (that’s right I am 5) and for my first taste back I’m glad it was at least shiny.

Lots of Love Tor xxx

Welcome back ‘Cupcake’ world.....

2010-04-06T06:15:00.001-07:00

... I've missed you! It’s been forever and I’m not gonna make stupid excuses but..... the last 6 months (has it really been that long) have been hectic and unfortunately cupcakes bore the brunt of my busy life. From job to job, moving away from London, moving back to London; I’ve found myself really unsettled. However I’m back in the city and finally have all my equipment, clothes and most important Crummies (my hamster for those who don’t know) back.

Crummies

I’ve not been totally dormant tho, and I did manage to make a birthday cup‘cake’ for my baby sis 18th. I promise to get back on the wagon and filling this blog with new shiny posts but just to whet your appetite here is some pix of that b-day cake.

Be back soon (Promise)! Lots of Love Tor xxx

Pudsey Cupcakes to the Rescue!!!

2009-11-20T03:00:00.001-08:00

As its Children in Need tonight I wanted to create some PudseyBear inspired cupcakes for us to nibble on while were watching the show tonight at 7 on BBC1, I’m hoping that my guest with full belly’s will donate more to this great cause.

For you chance to donate click here

Lots of love Tor xxx

Gingerbread Destruction Cupcakes!

2009-11-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

Something light and fluffy after my last post......... ‘DISTRUCTION!!!!!!!’. I really enjoyed creating these as I love gingerbread and cupcakes; so the combination of the two really made me smile, plus I love getting to play and be silly with the destruction of (gingerbread) men.

I’m taking these to a Girly get together, we as a group have a special place in our hearts for gingerbread men so I’m expecting they go down a treat; and no it has nothing to do with those poor little broken (gingerbread) men, were all good girls!!!!!

PS. No men were hurt in the making of these cupcakes!

Lots of love Tor xxx

Is cupcake design not meeting the masses??

2009-11-18T02:25:00.000-08:00

I was talking to a friend the other day, who, bless her, is really impressed with my cupcaking abilities, which I thank her greatly and I love the support but it got me thinking; was she just being supper supportive? Or are the muggles (of baking) unaware of cupcake possibilities.

I know that my creations are nowhere near the best, I’m just starting out and practising hard but the creations I see on-line and ideas available in books inspire me, the possibilities look endless. However, visiting stores in London, I’m not in awe. The flavours are interesting; but the decoration is un-imaginative; boring if I’m honest.

As I said, I’m new to the game and would love to be proved wrong about this but I think the exciting stuff is State side. It’s simple. I searched for cupcake competitions, blogs and press and there were box loads in the US and I’ve read reports about the cupcake market being saturated. However, here in the UK it doesn’t seem to be so infiltrated, the cupcakes on offer are the standard twists or piled toppings with sprinkles or cartoon toppers! Is there not a market for more imaginative cupcakes? Is the reason we seem to play it so safe, is that safe sells??

And if this is true why is it that at shows and exhibitions suppliers follow the ‘ play it safe’ suit? I can understand why a customer might want something understated and elegant, but surely the same rule goes for cake orders. Yet a recent visit to Cake International set my creative juices flowing on the cake side but was severely let down by the limited array of ‘inspirational’ cupcakes. Is there something I’m not getting???

The amount of great books and websites available, where professional and amateur alike share their experience and creations are at an abundance, but again only in the US. Is this why my friends are so impressed by my amateur creations? It seems here in the UK, unless you’ve searched for amazing websites, blogs and publications the only interaction you have with cupcake decoration is the standard twists and sprinkles.

Please don’t think I’m trying to bash the UK cupcake market, I’ve seen some beautiful twists and sprinkles and tasted the most amazing flavours. I’m just trying to work out why we seem so less ‘push the crazy boundaries’ creative here, or have I got it wrong and its no different in the US?

I’m sorry for the rant; this all came round from taking to friends, customers and professional cake decorators plus a piece of bad press I read the other day. Cupcakes seem to be viewed as a ‘fad’ and I’m worried that they will they fade before they are fully explored. Is that all they are? Cute?? Why cant cupcakes take a new exciting role within the cake industry? I see exciting unique pieces yet these are not available (from what I’ve seen) out there, and if they were would there be more longitude to this ‘fad’.

I would love to hear what you think, especially if you produce ‘out of the ordinary’ decorated cupcakes for sale in the UK. Again I hope this has not offended.

Lots of love Tor xxx

Chocolate! Chocolate and more Chocolate!!

2009-11-17T02:53:00.000-08:00

I’m a girl that’s not afraid to use chocolate and this batch of ‘chocolate overload cupcakes’ proves that, this is not for the faint hearted and if you don’t like chocolate step away from the computer now as these are triple chocolate toped with ganache. The only thing that is safe are my pretty new butterfly sprinkles which have nothing to do with the cupcakes other than I wanted them.

I can’t wait to share these with my girlies.

Lots of love Tor xxxx

United colours of Pop cakes

2009-11-16T02:16:00.001-08:00

I thought it’s been awhile since I’ve been in the kitchen so I it donned my apron and got ‘a’ baking, the aim of the game were smarties cookies and pop cakes. These were my first attempt at pop cakes and they didn’t quite come out the way I wanted, however practice makes perfect so I’ll definitely be making another batch soon.

PS. I have never got so messy making a cake, I hope that is normal.

Lots of love Tor xxx

Cake International !!!!

2009-11-09T03:33:00.000-08:00

NEC Birmingham was host to the CAKE INTERNATIONAL Exhibition this weekend, and yours truly attended. It was a great weekend with loads of great stalls selling everything you could ever want, loads of mouth watering demonstrations, including ‘cupcakes made easy’ by Lisa Slater and my favourite the competitions. I will apologise now for the amount of photos uploaded but I got so carried away and now can not pick which ones to upload.

Being a newbie to the cake world I was in awe of some of the cakes and sugar craft (this was not an event to boast self confidence, lol) the attention to detail was incredible and I can’t wait to use this creations as inspiration and get my creative juices flowing.

I’m afraid due to the amount of people and lack of time at each cake I wasn’t able to note names (very very sorry) but all the people that entered were amazing and I hope they don’t mind this faux par.

It was a great day and i managed to pick up loads of goodies.... especially for Christmas so watch this space.

Lots of Love Tor xxx

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T10:09:00.001-07:00

It’s not very often I get assistance when it comes to creating cupcakes, however today I was extremely lucky to get a visit from a very special little helper who wished to make Halloween cupcakes for all her friends.

I love making cakes for kids because the weirder and more disgusting the cupcake looks the more interested and excited the kids are, and being an over sized child I am never happier when this happens. So together we created purple vanilla sponge with green and black frosting decorated with icing bats, bat and pumpkin sprinkles, black shiny shards and silver glitter........ ...DA DA!!!!!!

We also decorated the house and made pumpkins, all in aid of the undead. Happy Halloween every one!!!!!!!!

Lots of Love Tor xxx

“Oink Oink”

2009-10-30T01:22:00.001-07:00

Yay!!!! My second party and this one is extra exciting, not only because its for a beautiful three year old but because of the requirements; It’s a piggy party with everything and I mean everything pig inspired.

We have pig masks, plates, cups, napkins, and of course cupcakes. These are the pig cupcakes all accompanied by a gathering of mini piglet cupcakes. I had so much fun creating these, especially the little piglets; which are made of marshmallows, pink sugar and icing.

Lots of Love Tor xxx

Cupcake Splendour!!!

2009-10-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

As you may have worked out I love everything Cupcake related and for a little treat I wanted a new cupcake necklace. I wanted something different, fun, colourful... something that represented what a cupcake means to me, so I turned to my twitter friends and they did not disappoint. I had loads of replies, all showing me beautiful jewellery however one company really caught my eye ‘Simply Lin’ and the Kawaii Cupcake Accessories!!

They had everything I wanted and more, the hardest thing was choosing which one I wanted, no!! scrap that, needed lol.

I went for the kiwi in the end but I think a lot of people maybe getting these for Christmas as I just love them.

Lots of Love Tor xxx

Cookie’n’Cream

2009-10-27T01:52:00.001-07:00

As you know I’m at my parents house ATM, which is also where my baby sister is (I say ‘baby’ she turns 18 in a few weeks) and we never get to see as much of each other as i’d like, so as a little treat I’ve made her favourite Cookie’n’Cream cupcakes and I just wanted to share the outcome plus her smiling, frosting covered face.

Lots of Love Tor xxxx

Happy Birthday/ Crumbies takes a trip!

2009-10-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

Today me and my adorable hamster ‘Crumbies’ have taken a trip!! I have a few birthdays/Halloween parties to supply for and since they are close to my parents house we’re also using it as a vacation (and for those animal lovers like me ,I can promise, the hamster was safe the whole time in a special carrier with food, water and bedding). I am actually writing this post on the train as we go but what I wanted to write about is my weekend I had my first ever birthday party (cupcake order, that is). I was so happy when a friend of mine asked me to create her mum’s birthday cake, I instantly suggested cupcakes as they are always beautiful and easy to hand around to guests. I was slightly limited on flavours so we came up with a modern twist on the English classic Vic’tori’a sponge, I hope you liked the name reference there lol : ).

It was a vanilla sponge, piped jam centre and a smooth butter cream frosting. I was allowed to go wild with the decoration, which is my favourite thing to hear, although keeping to a black, red, white and silver theme.

I really had fun with these and was so pleased with the outcome. The birthday girl seemed happy too and now I can’t wait to get my hands stuck into my next party.

Lots of love Tor xxx

A rowdy crowd of ‘Angry Cupcakes’!!

2009-10-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the wonderful world of Twitter I was introduced to a fabulous American company in Ohio ‘The Angry Cupcake’. I just fell in love with angry yet adorable felt cupcakes. These cute little creations inspired me to create some real life angry cupcakes (most likely because there going to get devoured) Their creator Dana was so nice and I really wished I could have sent her over a batch, however I thought flight might turn them sour, so I hope these pictures will be enough to bring a ‘frown’ to her face. Thanks again Dana!!!

Also find ‘The Angry Cupcake’ on twitter

Lots of love Tor xxx