Frosting for the Cause

Frosting For The Cause

Frosting for the Cause is a unique on-line project bringing together 365 volunteer bakers and bloggers from across Canada, the United States and beyond. Our goal is to raise funds and awareness for research into cancers affecting women. At the same time, we aim to share our baking talents with one another and our blog followers.

My name is Elena Nava and as part of my commitment to this project, it was my pleasure to have baked these Butter Cupcakes for your organization. Additionally, I have personally committed to donating $25.00 to American Cancer Society.

At the end of 2011, the members of this project alone will have raised $9,125.00 for research looking to find a cure of women’s cancers.

If you would like to learn more about how I made these baked goods and about our Frosting for the Cause project, please visit us at http://frostingforthecause.com

Thank You.

Together We Are ♥Baking♥ A Difference

Para Mi Abuelita

(For My Grandma)

 Butter Cupcake’s

            My Abuelita (grandma) was born in 1921. From then until the early 70’s she moved back and forth between California and Mexico. Marring my Abuelo (grandpa) and having four children. My Tia (aunt) Lydia in 1943, My Tio (uncle) Manuel in 1946, My mom Josefina in 1951, and last My Tio (uncle) Q in 1953.

            My Abuelita enjoyed anything sweet from cakes to chocolates, and lots of candies. But her biggest vise was butter. She could eat a whole stick of butter by its self. Anything that she could put butter on she would in mass amounts. My favorite was her butter soaked pancakes.

            She took care of me from the time I started school at the age of five until I was in 6^th grade. Every day after school she would walk to my school to walk me home. Then making homemade tortillas for me with melted butter, or the butter soaked pancakes after we got home. Even as I got older and got my first car I would still go to her house for pancakes and tortillas in the afternoon.

            My abuelita (Grandma) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October of 2004.   She did not complain of the pain she was in, and was still walking and riding the bus everywhere she went.  We were celebrating her 83^rd birthday when she just didn’t act her usual self.  Two days later I took her to her doctor and we found out that the pain was caused by the ovarian cancer.  

She went through the chemo-therapy and all that comes with it, the pain the nausea and the ups and downs.  The worst part for her was losing her hair; she didn’t like anyone to see her without her wig.  Even on the last day she wanted to look her best before going in to the emergency room, she did her hair and put on her make up before she would let us take her in.  

Before all the diagnosis and treatments, my abuelita was the life of the party.  She loved food and especially deserts. That is why I chose to make these butter cupcakes; she would have loved the richness of the butter. 

Sadly she was not around for her 85^th birthday she passed in August of 2006, but still lives on in her four kids, 12 grandkids, and 16 great grandkids.

Cupcakes:

Ingredients:

·         1 1/2 cups butter room temperature

·         2 1/2 cups granulated sugar

·         5 eggs

·         1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Easy-Add pure vanilla extract

·         3/4 teaspoon no-color almond extract Easy-Add no-color almond extract

·         3 cups all-purpose flour

·         3/4 teaspoon baking powder

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         1 cup milk

Makes:

Makes about 24 standard cupcakes. Each cupcake serves 1.

Instructions:

step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F.

step 2

In mixer bowl cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

step 3

Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. 

step 4

Mix in vanilla and almond flavor.

step 5

Mix flour with baking powder and salt.

step 6

Add flour mixture alternately with milk, starting with the flour.

step 7

Pour into prepared pans.

step 8

Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

step 9

Cool 10 minutes in pan on rack; remove and cool completely before decorating.

Frosting:

Ingredients:

·         1 cup shortening

·         1 tsp. clear vanilla extract

·         ¼ tsp. butter flavoring

·         2 lbs. powder sugar

·         1 cup hot water

Instructions:

step 1

cream shortening

step 2

add vanilla and butter flavoring

step 3

add powder sugar alternately hot water, starting with the powder sugar

step 4

beat until fluffy and semi stiff.

Instructions on Frosting Cupcakes:

step 1

Hold Open Star Decorating Tip 2D approximately 1/4" above cupcake top at a 90° angle to cupcake surface. Pipe a spiral of icing, beginning at the outer edge and working inward.

step 2

Stop pressure; pull tip away.

step 3

Pipe a second spiral, smaller (not as wide) on top. End spiral at center. Stop pressure; pull tip straight up and away.

Instructions for Fondant Ribbons:

step 1

Roll out fondant 1/8 in. thick on your Roll & Cut Mat lightly dusted with cornstarch. Cut a strips 1/8 in. wide and 3 ½ in. long. Cutting 24 in total, one for each cupcake.

step 2

Fold one side of the strip under the other making a ribbon.

step 3

Dust a mat or cake board with corn starch to lay ribbons on.

step 4

Let sit for an hour or so that way the fondant will keep its shape.

Teal is the Ribbon Color for Ovarian cancer.