Ginger Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Ginger Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

YUM! Love this frosting! It reminds me of an orange creamsicle. I've been struggling to find a cream cheese frosting that I am perfectly happy with. The flavor of this one is the best so far! It has some orange juice concentrate added to the rest of the ingredients. The frosting sits on top of a ginger carrot cake with fresh carrots and plump raisens.

Cupcake Challenge - Banana Split Cupcakes

Banana Split Cupcakes

I remember summers when I was in junior high - I think I was around 12 or so. Back in the day when you could stay out somewhere until the street lights came on and your parents did't have to worry that you had been abducted, or worse. Old enough that I was trusted to roam the neighborhood and wander down to the "shopping center". I don't think we had "malls" yet. Anyway, during the summer, when it stayed light outside until 8:45 pm or so, my friend Nancy and I would walk towards the shopping center, and stop on one of two corners before we actually got to JJ Newberry's. We stopped at either Carl's Jr. or 31 Flavors, aka Baskin Robbins Ice Cream. At Carl's Jr. we got ice tea and onion rings. At Baskin Robbins we got Banana Splits. Either way, you can't lose! Very fun times, and what I immediately though about when I read that the theme of the Hoosier Homade's Cupcake Challenge this week was Summer Fun! Of my two summertime treats, I thought a banana split cupcake seems way more appealing than a than and onion cupcake. Done deal.

So, I made a moist banana cupcake and filled it with fresh strawberry cream. I have recently discovered a WONDERFUL boiled vanilla bean buttercream frosting, so I piled my filled cupcake high with that, topping it off with chocolate ganache, chopped nuts and a cherry! My co-workers loved me this week . . . .

So wish me luck in the Cupcake Challenge! Its my first one!

Spiced Apple Cupcakes

Spiced Apple Cupcakes

Moist spice cupcakes are filled with cinnamon apples, and are topped with cream cheese frosting and a light dusting of cinnamon sugar. They smelled wonderful while baking, and taste even better.

I also took some pint mason jars, split the cupcakes, layered them with cream cheese frosting, and closed the lid. I think this would be a great way to ship cupcakes to my son in Chicago, my friend in Washington . . . wow - i can send them all over now!

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding!

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding

Well, this is true . . . because I don't remember my mama ever making banana pudding! Having said that, THANK YOU Paula Deen . . .this truly is delicious. I have never actually had banana pudding before so I don't really have anything to compare it to. I think I expected the typical pudding texture, but this was a light, fluffy bite of goodness. Although the recipe uses a box of vanilla pudding, the taste is all banana. And one thing I especially like - if you want to make this NOW you don't have to wait for brown-speckled over ripe bananas. Use the bananas at the ripeness stage you like them. Paula's recipe can be found here.

Enjoy!