Thursday, September 9, 2010

Hydrangea Cupcakes To Brighten Your Day - 9/11 Remembrance


Beverly at How Sweet The Sound hosts
Pink Saturday.
This Saturday will be September 11th
and Beverly suggested remembering 9/11
for our Pink Saturday posts.  She said she would
be featuring roses to remember by.  That got
me thinking.  I wanted to do flowers too, but
something edible.


I had seen these flower cupcakes on the cover of
the August 9th Woman's World magazine.
I set that one aside, knowing I wanted to try
them.


They turned out spectacularly.

They tasted even better.


We served them to the family over Labor Day weekend.


From this angle they really do look like a bouquet of flowers.



I remember when I heard about the Twin Towers.  We were
out on our houseboat at Lake Powell.  Our friends drove their
boat up to tell us.  We thought they were pulling our leg.  It
sounded too much like a movie.  We were able to watch
the video the next day.  It was surreal.

My heart broke for those who lost their loved ones.  I had
the chance to go and visit ground zero a couple of years
after.  It was very moving to see all of the flowers and
notes from loved ones. 

I remember once praying and my prayers went something
like this, "Why couldn't this have been prevented?  Why
couldn't you have minimized this?"  I heard in my mind
as clear as a voice, "I did.  Remember all the miracles of
people who didn't go to work that day, of people who
were late."  I quickly repented of that prayer and saw
the Lord's hand in the miracles of lives saved that
day not just lives lost, even though so many
tragically lost their lives and people lost their loved ones.
  I hope we always remember
so that we can strive to make this world a better
and safer place more filled with love than hate.

I am glad Beverly asked us to remember this
September 11th.



To make your own bouquet of flowers to give to someone
you love, make your favorite cupcake and your favorite
icing.

Use a drop flower tip.  A drop flower tip has a little
bar welded into the center of the flower.
This one is Wilton's #140.  Begin
at the outside and pipe in concentric circles, having the
petals touch.  Continue until you have filled the cupcake.
Then add one more in the middle for some height.






Attach leaves if desired.  I used peppermint leaves from my
garden.  They used gumdrops rolled out and cut into
flower shapes then cut in half.

White Chocolate Almond Frosting

3/4 C. butter, soft
4 C. powdered sugar
1 tsp. almond flavor
1 T. Torani's White Chocolate Flavoring
(found near the coffee section)
1-2 T. water, or enough to make the
frosting soft and fluffy.

Beat the ingredients together, adding just enough water
to make it fluffy.  Use a little frosting on your finger and
push it through your tip.  It should go through easily but
then keep its shape.  Add water only 1 T. at a time.

The Torani's Flavoring made this frosting not only
delicious but really glossy. 

Use gel coloring in pink, purple and blue to make
authentic colors.  I also put some white in the pastry
bag along one side and then filled with pink to get
the pink and white hydrangeas. 

I will of course be posting this on



I will also be posting this with Michael Lee West
on Designs by Gollum's




Thank you to both of these wonderful hostesses. 
Take some time to visit their blogs and see the
wonderful posts there.  It is really a lot of fun!
Jacqueline
Jacqueline

Chocolat - French for Chocolate. I adored chocolate from a young age when I had to sneak in the cupboard to find where my mother had hidden the Nestle's Chocolate Chips. Having read about the famous chocolat shoppes in Paris, when I finally got there I was determined to try a chocolate from every Paris shoppe. I invite you to share my adventures in creating, in travel, and in life.

30 comments:

  1. Beautiful cupcakes. Beautiful thoughts to remember those lost.

    Peace.

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  2. I am wild for these cupcakes...Darling! Thanks for stopping by for a visit. If you buy the ruby flash on eBay, ask seller lots of questions about the condition of the ruby flashing...fading? scratches? Sometimes they're unfortunately too beat up to want to use. If most of them are good, I might buy them all, but ask the seller if he would be willing to keep the damaged ones and give me a break on shipping. I'd get that straight before committing to buy. Come back and visit anytime! Cherry Kay

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  3. I am wild for these cupcakes...Darling! Thanks for stopping by for a visit. If you buy the ruby flash on eBay, ask seller lots of questions about the condition of the ruby flashing...fading? scratches? Sometimes they're unfortunately too beat up to want to use. If most of them are good, I might buy them all, but ask the seller if he would be willing to keep the damaged ones and give me a break on shipping. I'd get that straight before committing to buy. Come back and visit anytime! Cherry Kay

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  4. These look scrumptious! I'll give them a try but, fear my unsteady hand will have them looking like a flower that's been stepped on

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  5. Your cupcakes look delicious and your post is beautiful. Thanks for the tutorial and recipe.
    Lisa@SuburbanRetreat

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  6. I was searching for a new recipe for frosting yesterday afternoon.
    This one sounds delish. I love your cupcakes. They look fantastic. Your blog is wonderful.

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  7. Yammie and so beautiful......9/11 the day whe have buried my brother.............i don't remember ever.......love Ria.....

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  8. The cupcakes are spectacular and look devine. Thanks for the tutoriala nd the yummie sounding recipe.
    I loved the way the still small voice answered your prayer. The devastation of 9/11 still takes my breathe away, yet the miracles both large and small comfort me in knowing we have a loving Father in Heaven who truly is in charge.
    Thanks for the reminder to pray for all those who have lost loved ones then and those who still are while they serve trying to make our world a better and safer place.
    ~♥

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  9. Hi, again! The juice tumbler is 4", and the goblet is 5 1/2". Hope that you find some. I periodically run across them at estate sales, too. You might have to do it gradually, but you'll be able to get them in good condition. Happy hunting! Cherry Kay

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  10. I love the cupcakes, hydrangeas are my favorite flower!

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  11. Gorgeous! LOve the color combinations and a thoughtful tribute too. HAVE a good week.
    Nancy

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  12. These are just like a bouquet of flowers! Joni

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  13. Beautiful cupcakes and tribute!

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  14. All of your posts are so beautiful, but this one hit home for me. With so much of my family and family friends in NY, who still struggle with the events of that tragedy, I am so grateful to see that others all around the country are able to still remember the impact that day had. Thank you for the beuatiful person you are inside and out and for sharing it with the rest of us! Beautiful!

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  15. Jacqueline, Your cupcakes are just beautiful! I'm so glad that Joni talked you into blogging. It appears that you, Joni, and Tati all have the photography, writing, decorating, cooking and tablescaping genes!! I do love your blog, Jacqueline!
    Hugs, Beth

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  16. Jacqueline, thank you so much for stopping by. My husband is involved in the same business so I know what you are going through. Thanks for your thoughts on tomorrow's anniversary. It still is almost impossible to speak of or think about.

    Your cupcakes have inspired me! I can't wait to try them. They are absolutely beautiful. You have such an artistic eye!

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  17. Jacqueline-I love your cupcakes, but am so moved by your 9/11 prayer and God's answer. I believe that is the case much of the time and we just don't know it. I was teaching high school on 9/11 and will never forget faces of those kids. On a lighter note, I have the same magazine tucked away but have not have the nerve or time to try them. The frosting sounds fabulous!

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  18. Hi Jacqueline,

    What an awesome post! Hey where exactly do you live? I'm asking because Lake Powell is around the border of Arizona, too, where I live. Just curious. From looking over your posts I have been trying to figure out where you live, and I've been guessing Palm Springs, or somewhere in Nevada.

    Have a great weekend!

    Hugs,
    Meri

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  19. Beautiful cupcakes! I love hydrangeas!!!

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  20. What a sweet remembrance. Your lovely flower cupcakes are a fitting tribute. Thank you.

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  21. Wow, You are amazing and I heart these cupcakes. Hydrangea is my all time favorite flower!!

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  22. Jacqueline, your cupcakes are a beautiful tribute! 9/11 is one of those tragic days we all will remember.

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  23. Those cupcakes are beautiful! Hydrangeas are my favorite flower!

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  24. Beautiful! Oh boy does this look good! What time is dessert? :)

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  25. Beautiful! Oh boy does this look good! What time is dessert? :)

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  26. I so wouldn't have the patience for this! They are incredibly beautiful though! I just want to sink my teeth into that frosting!

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  27. just now getting around to posts. Lovely cupcakes. Happy belated Pink Saturday.

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  28. The cupcakes are gorgeous! I enjoyed the story of your kitchen, too, and the incredible pizza oven. Love your blog.

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  29. This look GREAT!! I can't wait to make them!!

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