Often people approach me at the Farmers’ Markets and ask just how I come up with new flavours each week? I sometimes am able to refer to something specific, a food I tried recently, something I saw on a food network program or other direct inspiration. However, more often I am at a loss for what to say, and catch myself saying something useless like “It just came to me when I was baking!” – which is not only frustrating for them, but obviously cannot be the whole truth! While I certainly do have trouble pin-pointing exactly where something came from, other than just randomly popping into my head, inspiration must come from somewhere… right?

Tropical Sunrise

As an avid baker (can you tell?) and a closet foodie – I was in a virtual playground on this island. Every shop, be it one that sold exclusively souvenirs or one that specialized in locally made handcrafted items – they all had a myriad of spices, extracts, oils and other fascinating ingredients. Unlike most things in my hometown, these ingredients were in their more pure form, either raw, derived directly from or certainly had little to no processing. It is here where I felt my cupcake-wheels in my head turning rapidly – thinking of new ideas constantly until we set sail that evening, I tried to write each of them down.

Whatever it is that get’s you thinking about food, baking or your passion – inspiration can come from anywhere really. Fortunately, not everyone will try to analyze it – but sometimes it is worth noting, just where that idea first cropped up!

Hope you enjoy the new cupcake, if you have somewhere you typically draw inspiration from, post it here on my Facebook page – I’d love to hear from you!

See you at the markets!

I am thrilled to say that the cupcake-ing will be taking somewhat of a break, on the weekends of April 21, 28 and May 5 – as I will be vacationing with my mum (lucky me! – seriously, we get along so well, so this is a real treat). I am thrilled to be setting sail on a cruise with her, as she celebrates her retirement.

I won’t be accepting any custom orders during this period, but you will be able to find Sweet Temptations Cupcakery at the Guelph Farmers’ Market every Saturday, without a break. Stop by our booth in our permanent spot and say hi to Kat, our cupcake staffer that day – she’s friendly and would love to say hi.

We’ll have tons of favourites, with Gluten Free and Vegan options each week. Fun flavours like Rootbeer Float, Pink Lemonade and Jamie’s French Toast will be at the market, so come by and pick up some for dessert!

Will post a few pictures when I return – will miss the market, see you May 12 when I’ll be back at my usual post!

- Jakki

I am honoured and have the privilege to be a part of the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington Caring Community Card program in April of 2012.

To recognize and provide a small token of appreciation, the Volunteer Centre has provided 3,000+ volunteers in our community with a discount card they can use throughout the month of April.

Sweet Temptations Cupcakery is proud to offer a ‘buy four get four cupcakes free’ coupon to appreciate and honour our volunteers. Personally, as a volunteer in our community since 2003, from the Guelph Soccer Club coaching for several years, to student governance at the University of Guelph and most recently as a member of the Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market Board of Directors I am always supportive of our community heroes.

Thank you – if you are one of our volunteers, I welcome you to use your Caring Community Card at the Guelph Farmers’ Market weekends in April (7, 14, 21, 28) to ‘buy four get four’ BOGO cupcakes!

Email me at jacqueline@sweettemptations.ca to pre-order for pick up on Saturday mornings’ 7am-12noon or see us early for the best selection.

Thank you once again, hope to see you soon volunteers!

For more information about the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington, please click here.

For more information on the Guelph Farmers’ Market, please click here.

First sip of a cupcake inspired wine

Walking through my local LCBO (actually one in a neighbouring town, as I had just made a cupcake delivery), I discovered a new winery poking out of the shelves. It practically lept off the shelves! Cupcake Vineyards, had only the chardonney on the shelves at this location – but with a little research, I’ve learned they have a whole flight of both reds and whites.

The one I bought, the Chardonney was dry, oaked and I would say, good, but not my taste really. I am more of a pinot grigio and sauv.blanc fan, but this was just the thrill of a cupcake wine!

Since this day, a friend of mine introduced me to the Red Velvet wine that Cupcake Vineyards also has – which wasn’t bad itself.

More than just tasting the wines, I was most curious about the scale of impact cupcakes are making to other markets. Who would have thought a dessert craze would translate into a new business – buzzing and reaching Ontario all the way from California! I am pleasantly surprised by this, as a cupcake decorator and enthusiast, I’m hoping cupcakes are here to stay – businesses like this one imply to me that cupcakes may have long term staying power!

What’s next? Cupcake themed entrees? I can just see it, the layers of a lasagna transformed into the shape of a cupcake!

For more info on Cupcake Vineyards, go to their site www.cupcakevineyard.com

Happy Cupcaking & wine drinking!

Last year, 2011 was the first year for the Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market. We were so happy to be vendors for this first year and will be returning in 2012. One of our local Aberfoyle newspapers published an article announcing the new five year agreement between the Optimist Arena and the Farmers’ Market. What a great step forward to the long term establishment of the local market in our town. Our own Mayor, Dennis Lever is quoted towards the end of the article saying that he loves the market, and has trouble making it passed our booth!

Click here to read the full article.

Click here for more information on the Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market.

Stop by anytime Mayor Lever! We’ll see you soon, May 26 for Opening Day!

I had the pleasure of attending an intimate cooking workshop, at the St. Lawerence Farmers’ Market in Toronto this week. David Adjey with his team hosted 45 students, myself included and two girlfriends. We spent nearly two hours in an interactive session laughing, asking questions and learning the dish on all the celebrity chefs in his Food Network circle.

I had a fantastic time. The venue was beautiful, and such a great space for a class like this – with gorgeous Miele appliances, stainless everything, and a lofty open air feeling – it was comfortable and inviting from the start. David Adjey, as a host was thrilling, excited about his cooking, the food, the ingredients, as well as an entertainer.

I loved hearing about his experiences on his various Food Network shows like The Opener and Restaurant Makeover. He told hilarious anecdotal stories, made jokes about his peers and even shared stories about his personal life and family.

The highlight for me was participating in the workshop itself. My hand shot up and I volunteered for everything!

Chef Adjey invited the audience up first thing and quipped “I’m not here to work tonight, you guys will do all the cooking” and at any one time there were 6,8 10+ of us chopping, marinating, prepping ingredients and plating the 45 dinners.

Prepping Ingredients for our Mexican dish

We made two delicious meals – an indian spiced salmon complete with papadum bowls, and a second mexican flank steak with a terrific cilantro salsa. Both dishes showed us easy to re-create recipes and tasted fresh and whole.

It was such an experience for me, as a host of workshops myself, it was fascinating and inspiring to see the true way a pro hosts such a fun night. My friends I was with also had a great time, laughing and taking photos along with me. I worked side by side with them as well as new friends I met at the workshop – prepping vegetables and sharing stories of how we came to be interested in this class.

As expected at the end of the night Chef Adjey was selling his cookbook De|Constructing the Dish and signing books. I purchased one for $40, smiled for my picture with my friend Katie and will definitely be trying some of his recipes in the coming weeks.

I will look out for future celebrity hosted classes held there and encourage you to as well. For a list of the St. Lawerence Market upcoming events, please click here.

Take care, thanks for reading!

Next stop? - My own workshop at the St. Lawrence Market

Sauce for our Indian Spiced Salmon

Indian Spiced Salmon

With a cupcake decorating party every week in January 2012 – I have been busy on the weekends teaching girls ages 8+ how to decorate like the pros!

I love hosting and being invited to these special birthday parties. It is really fun to share some cupcakery-skill with all the birthday girl and her friends.

Sweet Temptations Cupcake Decorating Birthday Party

While the cupcake decorating parties are a lot of work, I feel inspired thinking a new generation is getting some tips and tricks early on. It kickstarts their dream (which I share) of ending up with a bricks and mortar cupcake store, or with a TLC special of their own like Cake Boss or on Cupcake Wars!

Even the shy participants, when everyone else seems to know all about decorating techniques pull it off – creating cupcakes of their own, I take joy in seeing everyone decorating at different skill levels, but still proud of their designs.

Each time I do a cupcake decorating party I try something new – hoping that for everyone at the party it is as exciting for each and every one of them.

With a couple hours, groups of 6 – 14 can work to complete a five cupcakes, snack on one, and try several different decorating techniques. From start to finish it is neat to see their work improve in just a short time!

Hope the coming months see more Cupcake Decorating Parties! Cheers to more laughes and cupcake learning!

Please click our info page for more info on hosting a Cupcake Decorating Birthday Party at your home.

Christmas is a special time and whether you are inviting friends and family into your home, or visiting another, our Christmas cupcakes and cakes make the perfect dessert for your night, or as a treat for the host.

Our holiday inspired flavours include – Gingerbread Job, Candy Cane Sparkle, Egg Nog & Cinnamon, Santa’s Favourite, Double Chocolate & Vanilla – and new this weekend, White Chocolate & Cranberry. There is a flavour for everyone at your party – and for $25.00 you can enjoy a mixed dozen of all your favourites.

Gingerbread Joy

If your event is more a cake night – invite a 3D Christmas Tree cake to your party – serves 4-6 people, and can be pre-ordered in any of our holiday flavours. Available on hand at the market while our supplies last in Double Chocolate and Gingerbread Joy. Our delightful Christmas Tree cakes are a feast for the eyes, tummies, and the wallet – at only $12.00!

Having a longer guestlist, or want some extra cake for seconds – deck your halls and dining table with a beautiful Christmas Wreath cake. Like our trees, can be pre-ordered in any of our holiday flavours and will be available at the Guelph Farmers’ Market – Saturday morning – December 24 – in Double Chocolate and Gingerbread Joy. The Christmas Wreath cake serves 8-10 people, and can be your host gift, or perfect holiday dessert for $20.00.

We have holiday flavours, as delicious cakes or cupcakes for your celebration this season. Email or phone today to pre-order to pick up at the market, or we’ll see you bright and early for the best selection on Saturday – Guelph Farmers’ Market opens at 7am!

Thank you everyone for a great 2011, see you all soon!

Merry Christmas,

Jacqueline

3D Elmo Cake & Cupcakes

This past weekend, December 4, 2011, I had the pleasure of creating and delivering a whimsical 3D Elmo Cake and Cupcakes for a lucky litte girl on her 2nd Birthday.

At the request of her family, I made two dozen Sesame Street Gang Cupcakes for her to share with her litte friends – with all the classic characters – Big Bird, Oscar, Elmo and Cookie Monster.

3D 9" Elmo Cake

This special 2nd birthday was the reason for this cake creation – perhaps you have a special event or birthday coming up you would like to invite a cake-Elmo to?

I would love to bake another 3D Elmo cake, along with all his friends. Simply I would ask that you email me at jacqueline@sweettemptations.ca – and I can put together a quote for your party. I would also need details on how many servings you would need, as well as the date you would require your special cake. Hope to hear from you soon!

3D Mini Elmo Cake & Sesame Street Gang Cupcakes

Cupcakes always make a great gift!

Last Saturday, November 26, at the Guelph Farmers’ Market – I was approached by a savvy principal from the Upper Grand District School Board. She asked if our Sweet Temptations Cupcakery services included holiday cupcakes, packaged individually for her to give her teaching staff as an appreciation before they leave for the winter break. Of course we do! With our new holiday boxes for cupcakes (1, 2 and 4) we will be packing up 55 beautiful cupcakes for her school.

Gingerbread Joy

For principals and schools, our Holiday Teacher Appreciation Gifts are delivered right to your school! Handmade, delicious cupcakes packed especially for your teachers and support staff. Starting at $3.00, your cupcakes will be delivered to your school and made custom for each person. As always, we can accommodate most dietary restrictions including gluten-free, vegan, and nut-free cupcakes. Our Holiday Teacher Appreciation Gift service makes this season of gift giving easy, quick and affordable. As a small appreciation, cupcakes are a decadent and meaningful token of thanks.

For parents, these gifts can go a long way to thank your son or daughter’s teachers before they leave for the break. A cupcake is a welcome thank you for a long term, and is something they can share with their family over the holiday break.

Pricing Information:
- 4 cupcakes – $10.00 pp (includes four different cupcakes, all holiday flavours/theme, rectangular holiday box, elasticised ribbon)

- 2 cupcakes – $6.00 pp (includes two different cupcakes, all holiday flavours/theme, rectangular gable with window holiday box)

- 1 cupcake – $3.00 pp (includes one cupcake – small square box, holiday print)

I hope you find a chance to appreciate your hard-working teachers this holiday season by treating them to a special cupcake treat, be them your staff or your child’s teaching team! For more information and an exact quote – please email jacqueline@sweettemptations.ca or call 519-362-0894.