Thursday
Mar062008
Cake Byte: Sweet News from Cakespy
Thursday, March 6, 2008
They say that when it rains it pours, and certainly there's a lot of sweetness in our world these days at Cakespy. Here's an update on some sweet things that we just had to share:
First, the BIG HUGE NEWS: our Head Spy Jessie has a grand new illustration gig! Starting in the April 2008 issue, you'll be seeing Cakespy illustrations in...Taste of Home! Taste of Home is a pretty awesome publication--they just joined the ranks of nationally audited magazines, entering at #9 – one step AHEAD of OPRAH and one step behind SPORTS ILLUSTRATED--this ranking officially makes them the #1 Cooking Magazine in the World, with over 3.2 million (no, we did not stutter) subscribers, and 250K copies of it on the newsstand each issue. Holy sweetness! But don't buy it solely for the Cakespy artwork--they also have some pretty awesome recipes, which come from a pool of over 90,000 reader submissions each year, and which are all tested in their in-house kitchen. And, did we mention they also have the coolest art director ever, who just so happens to be a cupcake lover in her own right, and author of the awesome Milkwaukee Cupcake Queen blog?
Chocolate Orange Macaroons
Makes 2 dozen cookies
1. Using a serrated bread knife, finely chop the chocolate. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the coconut and zest, and rub together with your hands. (This will break up the coconut and release the orange oils.)
3. Stir in the sugar and chocolate to the coconut and mix to combine. Add the egg whites. Use your hands to mix until everything is coated and the egg whites are distributed evenly.
4. Using a 1-oz cookie scoop, firmly pack the dough into the scoop and unmold about 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
The foregoing is excerpted from The Sweet Melissa Baking Book by Melissa Murphy. All rights reserved. Copyright © Melissa Murphy, 2008.
- Press/Praise: What sweet times! Cakespy was recently featured on some great sites: Bakerella, a wonderful blog by an incredibly talented and artistic baker, featured Cakespy artwork; the Seattle Times mentioned the "groovy" Cakespy artwork shown in Sugar Bakery+Cafe; Chicago-based Hungrymag.com featured our interview with Claudia Saraniecki of Babushka Bakery; Seattlest, a cool media and pop culture blog, featured our writeup on the Pink Frosted Cookie; Culinate called out our Sweet Sandwiches Project; and don't forget to check out the interview with Head Spy Jessie on Cherry Runway. Like Whoa!
- New Bakeries! We've recently been tipped off to the opening of a few new bakeries; let us know if you've tried 'em! First, Cake Gumshoe Matt informs us that Georgetown Cupcakes in Washington, DC has just opened its doors; Sprinkles Cupcakes continues to spread sweetness with two new locations: a new store in Scottsdale, AZ is scheduled to open later this month, and a new Palo Alto location is slated to open up later this spring or early in the summer (for more information or precise locations, visit sprinklescupcakes.com). Out of Chicago, Whole Bakers is taking their gluten-free goodies nationwide with a newly-launched website full of shippable treats; the lemon shorties caught our eye. In Los Angeles, while Cake Monkey still hasn't found quite the right retail space yet, they are currently available for custom orders of darling little cakes (and homemade pop-tarts!!) from their commercial kitchen space. Or perhaps you're in Dubai, you jetsetter, you? Well, they're not brand-new, but they were new to us: Cake Gumshoe Kristin spied Scrumptious, a cupcake bakery whose wares are available by special order and at the Dubai Marina Market every Friday. So you don't have to go cupcake-free in Dubai! Whew! Cakespy Note: While some are opening, some are closing: New York Cupcakes in the Westlake Center in Seattle appears to have closed its doors, at least at this location. Judging by our last experience there, we say good riddance.
- Perhaps you're looking to buy Cakespy artwork? Happily, there are now several spots to buy: if you're in Seattle, Venue now carries Cakespy original artwork and buttons, and original paintings are for sale at Sugar Bakery+Cafe. In the Midwest? Happily, a new shipment will be heading out soon to the Renegade Handmade Store in Chicago! If you're in NYC, don't explode with pleasure, but rumor is that we'll be showing at the Renegade Craft Fair this coming June. Of course, artwork and custom work is always available through jessieoleson.etsy.com. Cakespy Note: Additionally, if you were one of the many disappointed parties who wanted to buy the original Valley of the Cupcakes painting, cry no more: a limited edition of prints is available!
- Finally, if you've ever visited one of the Sweet Melissa Pâtisseries in Brooklyn, you'll know why we're so excited about their brand-new cookbook! If you haven't had the chance to visit one of their three adorable Brooklyn locations, make sure to put it on your agenda for your next trip to the city; in the meantime, the nice people at the Penguin Group were nice enough to share a recipe to whet our appetites for what promises to be a delicious book (available at amazon.com):
Makes 2 dozen cookies
- 6 ounces best-quality solid semisweet (58%) chocolate
- One 14-oz. bag sweetened coconut
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large egg whites
1. Using a serrated bread knife, finely chop the chocolate. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the coconut and zest, and rub together with your hands. (This will break up the coconut and release the orange oils.)
3. Stir in the sugar and chocolate to the coconut and mix to combine. Add the egg whites. Use your hands to mix until everything is coated and the egg whites are distributed evenly.
4. Using a 1-oz cookie scoop, firmly pack the dough into the scoop and unmold about 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
The foregoing is excerpted from The Sweet Melissa Baking Book by Melissa Murphy. All rights reserved. Copyright © Melissa Murphy, 2008.
tagged breaking cake news
breaking cake news
Reader Comments (60)
my oldest sous chef saw your art work and tote bag and is bugging me to but her one. maybe i'll buy her a print.
Kudos to you, Cakespy! You deserve all of the praise you're getting. You have a lot of talent and a terrific site!
I already have Melissa's book on order at Amazon. I haven't been to her bakery but I met one of her employees at the Harold Mc gee seminar and she told me about the book.
I was offered a copy of the Sweet Melissa book, but somehow I don't think I'll get much use out of it! ;)
Yayy! Congrats...nice work. Who wouldn't love to have Cakespy illustrations :) I can't wait to check it out. I am still waiting for the Cakespy Comics ;)
Congrats on the new gig! If you would ever like to illustrate one of my stories for awful, awful pastry trade publications you're totally welcome.
...and congratulations on your new gig! That is fabulous news!
What wonderful news! You deserve it:) I can say "I knew you when...."
Congrats! That's awesome!
Congratulations Jessie! You totally deserve it; I love your illustrations.
Congratulations!! That's so awesome for you!
I actually had a chance to visit the headquarters of Taste Of Home Magazine a few years ago. It was very impressive.
Love your artwork!!
Oh that's sooooo awesome about the magazine gig!!! They are very lucky to get your time and talent. Cakespy is taking over the world! :-)
WOW! Congrats, I am so very excited for you. You know I am a huge fan of your artwork. You deserve this!
Wow! Congrats on your new job! Well deserved.
How exciting.....don't forget us down here in da'hood.
Wow, what a great honor! Congrats! I must admit, I've been eyeing your adorable artwork for a while now. It's about time to jump on the bandwagon!
Huraaaaay! You are on the red carpet, just like what you illustrated! Congrats! And many more success!
So much good news! :D
Wonderful! Congratulations! Maybe I'll try to sell them my Warren Brown interview!
Congrats on the Taste of Home gig Jessie - that's huge! Also, congrats to all the Cakespy gang for their press recognition - you guys are terrific, well deserved. And thanks for sharing the recipe - choc orange anything is irresisitable.
You rock! Way to go. I'm so happy for you! I look forward to hearing about your future successes too!
xoxox Amy
You RAWK! Of course I am entirely unsurprised :-) Seriously, nobody deserves it more than you do.
Congratulations!!! I LOVE LOVE that Taste of home mags!:))
Good job, Cakespy. Your illustrations are cute and fun. I love your blog, too!
That is indeed a great news.
Congrats and we humble people here are over the moon for you.