Giveaway: CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar Filled Life

UPDATE: THE WINNERS!

I have chosen and contacted all of the winners who were chosen at random from the comments on this post and on Facebook - Congratulations!

Winners:

• Katrina, who chose Biscoff Pop-Tarts 
• Donna, who chose (good idea) 
• Mary, who had thoughts of strawberry rhubarb or cafe au lait Pop-Tarts. 

All tasty! Cgongratulations again!

--------

Original post:

Hi friends! Happy Wednesday, sugary wishes, etc. Let me get straight to the point: I feel like giving away a few copies of my awesome first book, CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life. 

Why? Because if you are what you eat, then we should all eat more awesome and sweet desserts. It will likely make us all better people.

So what do you have to do to enter one of the three copies I am giving away? All you have to do is think about Pop-Tarts. Namely, Pop-Tarts that *should* exist. Like these: 

All you have to do is comment on this post, or on my Facebook page, with an answer to the following important question:

What flavor of Pop-Tart do you think should exist, that doesn't quite yet?

It can be one of the ones that I've drawn on the above illustration, or perhaps a flavor that you've invented in your imagination. 

I'll let you weigh in on this important subject for the next few days, and I'll choose three winners at random on Wednesday, March 11, at 5pm MST. Because shipping overseas is prohibitively expensive, this time the contest is only open to entrants with US shipping addresses. 

Good luck! 

Giveaway: Cupcake Royale Cupcake Mix Kit

UPDATE: THE WINNER! Giveaway has closed!

I have chosen a winner at random: Jasmine!

How does she eat a cupcake? Like so: "Oh dear! I love to rip off the top and eat them together that way."

Congratulations, Jasmine!

One of the things that I miss most about Seattle is the easy access to Cupcake Royale. This cupcake bakery, which opened just around the time I moved to Seattle, has really expanded over the years, adding location after location and then changing my entire life (for the better) when they debuted their ice cream line.

Over the eight years I lived in Seattle, I had a lot of good times at Cupcake Royale, from my birthday party to book signings to many a trip just to snack. 

Yes, I miss Cupcake Royale. But I no longer have to cry every day I'm away from it, because now they are offering a cupcake mix! That's right: we can all have the Seattle cupcake experience, sans rain, with Cupcake Royale baking mix! It even comes with sprinkles.

I'm so excited about this new product launch that I'm offering a giveaway of a cupcake mix kit to one lucky reader! 

How can you enter? It's easy. All you have to do is answer the below question in the comments. I'll choose a winner one week from today (10/17) and Cupcake Royale will send the mix out to whoever I choose at random. While you wait for me to choose a winner, if you feel like it, you can follow CCR on Twitter and Facebook, too (though not necessary for entry). 

OK, here we go! Here's the question to answer to enter:

How do you eat a cupcake? 

Giveaway: Decorating Cookies Party by Bridget Edwards

UPDATE: WE HAVE A WINNER!!

It's Joanna, whose comment was chosen at random: "My favorite cookie EVER is a bar cookie that's a family recipe called "Revel Bars" ... they're an oatmeal cookie with a thick layer of fudge, and topped with dots of salty oatmeal cookie on top and they're to DIE for. Starbucks used to make a version of it that was not nearly as good."

Sounds like a tasty cookie to me!

Listen up. I want to give you a book!

I don't know if you're familiar with Bridget Edwards of Bake at 350, but if not, you're in for a treat. She is a cookie decorator ROYALE. And she is willing to teach you her secrets in two books: her previous release (which I loved) entitled Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday, and now, her brand new book, Decorating Cookies Party: 10 Celebratory Themes. The new book includes 50 designs to be made from a few master cookie recipes (one of them is even gluten-free, people). 

So, you want to win the book?

All you have to do is tell me the following:

What is your favorite cookie in the world and why? 

Yes, that's an open ended question. It could be a store bought cookie, your grandma's recipe, or one you make. Just tell me why it's so special!

I'll choose a winner one week from today (that's Friday, October 3rd). Meantime, you can buy the book here if you need it ASAP! Since the publisher is sending this out directly, I'm honoring their request that the entrants for this giveaway have US or Canadian shipping addresses, please.

The Secret to Perfect Pie Crust? It's in Your Hands (Plus a Giveaway)

Note: this post includes a giveaway at the bottom! Lucky you.

You're always taught the same basic rules with pie crust. Cut small pieces of cold butter into a mixture of flour and salt; blend until the pieces are like peas. Add cold water, a little at a time, until the dough will come together in a clump. Gather, flatten into a disc, chill, and proceed. 

But recently, I learned a method that basically rocked my everloving, pie-eating world. Because it involves using your fingers to attain the perfect consistency.

This was very exciting to me because I actually kind of despise most kitchen tools. Especially the pastry cutter, because it is such a pain to wash. In general, the more functions I can get out of one tool, the more I like it. Wooden spoons and wire whisks? Awesome. Garlic press? Not so much. 

But enough about me--back to the pie. You're probably wondering some things. Let me try to answer:

Where the method came from

I learned this method at the Bake For Good event in Los Angeles, part of the Bake For Good Tour, where baker Robyn told us it was a method she'd learned from famed foodie Marion Cunningham.

By the way, if you want to know more about the event, check out this video.

How it works

Basically, the method includes working in larger than usual hunks of butter, and instead of mashing them with a pastry cutter, you squeeze the butter pieces with your fingers to flatten them.

Why you should immediately adopt this practice

Those pieces of flat butter will make for the coveted "VB" (visible butter) in your rolled crust, and the taste is flaky and fantastic on your resulting pie.

I have co-opted and adapted it for my own use at home with a sort of mashup between traditional and by hand methods. Best of both worlds, and still, minimal stuff to clean.

And here, I will share it with you. Aren't you lucky?

Making Pie Crust with Your Hands

adapted from King Arthur Flour, who adapted it from Marion Cunningham

enough for a double crust pie

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup very cold water

Procedure

1. Sift together the flour and salt in a large bowl. Set to the side.
2. Size your butter. One stick cut into small pieces, the other cut into fairly large pieces (double the size you'd usually cut for a pie crust.

3. Work in the stick of smaller butter with a plastic dough scraper (my new favorite tool and very easy to clean). It's not going to have the same impact that double the butter would in terms of working in, but go for the regular pea sized consistency.
4. Now, add the bigger hunks of butter. Gently coat them with flour in the mixture, so they won't stick to you when you squeeze them. 

5. Now, one by one, squeeze all of those pieces of butter until they're flat like pancakes. You don't have to be too precious about it. Grab, squeeze, then move on to the next one.
6. Got 'em all? OK. Give the mixture another stir with your pastry scraper. Now, start adding the water. Switch back to your dough scraper.
7. Keep on adding it bit by bit until the dough forms a shaggy consistency, still floury but you can clump it together.

8. Gather, form into a ball, and place on top of a sheet of plastic wrap. Wrap the plastic on top of it, not too snugly, and then flatten it into a disc with your hand. Doing it this way, I learned, helps the dough spread out into the plastic and is just less messy.

Proceed with your recipe as usual. 

GIVEAWAY!

Hooray! King Arthur Flour has offered to reward one lucky reader with one of their mega cool dough scrapers, a cookbook, AND some of their highly patented and extremely delicious boiled apple cider (perfect for flavoring apple pie and using as a slightly fancy pancake syrup). Want to win? All you have to do is leave a comment (don't panic if it doesn't pop up right away; comment moderation is enabled) answering the following question:

What's your favorite type of pie to eat, and how do you like it served?

Apple pie with cheese for breakfast? French silk pie à la mode for dessert? It's all game here. I'll choose a winner by EOD Pacific time one week from today!

Giveaway: Craft-A-Doodle Book

Guess what? Last year, I was asked to contribute to a book called Craft-a-Doodle: 75 Creative Exercises from 18 Artists. Of course I was happy to do it. Basically, the idea was that 18 creative types like myself were to contribute idea prompts, to inspire the reader to get moving, creatively speaking. 

So, I did it! And now, a year later, the book is out! Hooray! You'll find some great creative prompts by myself, and other talented people. It was all put together by the lovely Jenny Doh.

So, I'll bet you're pretty interested in the book, yes? Want to win a copy?

OK! Let's do a giveaway, right here, right now. How do you enter? It's so easy.

To enter: All you have to do is leave a comment on this post (comment moderation is enabled, so if it does not pop up right away, don't panic) saying what gets YOU inspired. Is it dancing in your living room? Drawing stars on notebook paper? Drunk-texting ex boyfriends? (Wait...) Whatever it is that gets you inspired, get the rest of us inspired by letting us know! 

I'll choose a winner at random one week from today, on August 7, at 5pm PST, and announce it shortly thereafter. Because the publisher will be sending the book directly from their US warehouse, they have asked that only US entrants be eligible. Good luck!

Meantime, buy the book here: Craft-a-Doodle: 75 Creative Exercises from 18 Artists

Update on Thursday, August 8, 2013 by Cakespy

UPDATE: The winner!

A winner has been chosen, sweeties! It's Amber T. of Washington. She says,  "I get inspired by the opportunity to make a difference. I'm also a fan of Flora Chang's art and thi book in particular fits my creative needs for a quick art project prompt whenever I find myself unexpectedly with free time, sans kids!".

Congrats, Amber, and enjoy the inspiration from this sweet book! 

Batter Chatter: Citi of Sweets, North Carolina

Oh, hi. You know what kind of city I love? One made of sweets. That's sort of the idea behind Citi of Sweets, a boutique baking business which specializes in homemade treats like whoopie pies, cake truffles, and other decadent goodies. 

Now, it's exciting to share this business with you for two reasons: one, it's always fun to discover a new baking business. Two, they're offering a giveaway! See the bottom of this post for how to enter. 

Please describe your business in 6 words or less? Non-traditional, sweet, fun, creative, challenging and friendly.

What's your personal favorite item on your menu? Ayesha: whoopie pies(strawberry with buttercream) Chanel: Cookies N Cream cake truffles

What made you take the jump from amateur to professional baking? Chanel:It started as just something i wanted to try and i asked my best friend ayesha to help me experiment and it turned out horrible at first the cake was just not staying on the sticks and it was just a chocolate disaster so we left it alone and then we ended up trying again a month or so later and we were way better at it and we started doing them more and getting better and better with practice and time. We then came up with our name and menu and we've been baking ever since we started with our co-workers at our job and we haven't had a bad complaint ever in 2 years. We like being creative and making our customers happy.

What's the best thing to happen to you in the past 48 hours? We went grocery shopping to get more supplies to make more sweets!

Cake or Pie? Cake

If you had to wear one pair of shoes for the rest of my life what would they be? Chanel: Purple Fuzzy Slippers Ayesha: Angry Birds Slippers

What's your favorite non-sweet food? Ayesha: hot wings Chanel: fries

What quality do you most value in others? Honesty

What is your biggest dream? Our biggest dream is to have Citi of Sweets all across the world.

What's your next hope for your business? to open our first storefront in Charlotte.

Now... back to that giveaway! Here's what two lucky winners will receive: 2 Cake Pop Samplers Dozens one to each winner. They will be available for pick up, or shipping. The flavors will be (3) trrriple threat(chocolate) (3) butter pecan, (3) cookies n cream and (3) french vanilla.

Yum! So how to enter? It's easy. Just do this:

1. Simply "like" Citi of Sweets on Facebook or follow them on Twitter

2. Leave a comment on this post (don't worry if it doesn't show up right away, moderation is enabled!) stating your favorite flavor of cake.

I'll choose a winner at random 1 week from today (Saturday, June 23, 12pm PST). To ensure fresh tastiness of the prize, we're only going to allow US entrants on this particular giveaway!

For more, check 'em out online: Citi of Sweets! 

Batter Chatter: Interview with Mei of Tiny Hands Jewelry, and a Giveaway!

Much sweeter than wearing your heart on your sleeve? Wearing sweets around your neck, or on your finger, or around your wrist! I'm talking about food-themed jewelry of course, and I'm pretty sure that Tiny Hands makes the absolute cutest stuff around. From teeny-tiny waffles with butter to sno-cones (pictured above) to slices of pie to doughnuts and cookies and now, even cupcake rings, these charms are not only adorable, but they are scented, too. What a fantastic way to declare your love of sweets!

Now. I really want to share this great company with you, so I'm going to do two things in this post: first, I'm going to introduce you to the company owner, Mei Pak, via interview. And then second, I'm offering a giveaway! You can scroll to the bottom of the post to figure out how to enter, ok?

Here's the interview:

Please describe your business in 6 words or less. Super cute scented food jewelry!

What is the best thing to happen to you in the past 48 hours? Wow, it's like you're in my mind! My husband and I just bought our FIRST home!! We're so excited - it's the perfect house for us and where we're at in our lives now. We just finished moving in. We're really stressed with the transition, but we're also super happy about our new home!

Can you describe your office (or where you work)? Our new Tiny Hands headquarters has hot pink walls, rainbow colored curtains and a large U-shaped white desk with pink chairs for us to make and ship our food jewelry across the world! What was once a boring built in cabinet, will be a really nice and neat storage space for all our materials and shipping supplies. We removed the doors and installed white curtains so our storage area looks really pretty too! We have some modular Ikea furniture for more organized space as well.

What quality do you most value in others? Kindness -- a year ago I was featured on local TV for the first time. We don't have TV at home so there was no way I could record the show. That weekend I was doing a craft show, and a really sweet older woman said she saw me on TV and had the recording. A few weeks later, I received the tape in the mail! This woman's kindness really touched me and I won't forget what she did for the rest of my life!

If you could instantly conjure up any dessert or sweet in the world at this moment, what would it be? French macarons! There aren't many french bakeries here in the Twin Cities, and I know making macarons can be super tedious!

One of my favorite things about your line is that it's all scented. Have you ever gotten mixed up and given one of your pieces of jewelry the wrong scent? Hmm... if I have I don't remember it! I have everything labeled so it's really hard to screw up!

How do you stay motivated? I love looking at pictures of real food! Pinterest is great for that. When I see a delicious looking cake, I just want to miniaturize it!

Cake for breakfast. Thoughts? Oh, heck yes! Cake for second breakfast too!

In your opinion, do people tend to gravitate toward the jewelry that reflects their food tastes, or do they just choose what they find cutest? I think people pick jewelry they've had a personal connection with. I had a grandma buy a chocolate chip cookie necklace for her granddaughter, who she nicknamed Cookie!

What's the product you're personally most excited about now? Ice cream cone and cupcake rings! Everyone keeps asking for them, and I'm stoked to put them up for sale!

What is a dream you'd love to see realized within the next 10 years? It would be awesome that in the next 10 years, I can open my own restaurant or bakery! I love food and know so many people do too, so I can't think of a better way to share that kind of experience with people.

If you want more info, or to go shopping, visit Tiny Hands online!

And as for that giveaway...want to enter? OK! It's easy. Here's how you enter.

1. First, choose any item equal or lesser than $30 from the store.
2. Next, post a link to it, and why you chose that piece, either in the comments section on this post (moderation is enabled!) or post your response on the CakeSpy facebook page.

We'll choose one lucky entrant at random one week from today, (end of day on Wednesday, June 5) and send them their chosen item! Because shipping rates overseas and abroad can be hefty, though, we have to ask that only US entrants participate. 

Good luck!

Update on Thursday, June 6, 2013 by Cakespy

UPDATE: The winner!

We have a winner, friends! The randomly chosen comment was Laurie G's, who chose thusly:

The birthday cupcake (vanilla with strawberry frosting) is suuuuuuper cute!!! :D http://tinyhandsonline.com/scented-birthday-cupcake-necklace.html

Thanks again for entering!

Giveaway: Entenmann's Prize Pack

I'll admit it: I find the current Entenmann's promotion highly adorable.

In it, their most popular donut, named Rich, last name Frosted, is finally making an honest lady of his "Mrs. Rich Frosted". I mean, the jig is up--where did all those mini donuts and "pop-ems" (donut holes) come from? 

So finally, on his 40th Birthday, which is coming up on January 31, "Rich" the donut dude is going to reveal who his baby-mama is (on facebook, natch). What flavor is she, do you think?

• Glazed Buttermilk Donut?
• Crumb Cake Donut?
• Plain Donut?
• Powdered Donut?

Well, you can guess, but the big reveal will happen soon--the “Mrs.” will be revealed on Rich’s birthday on January 31, 2013, plus a variety of prizes for all Entenmann’s Facebook fans!

But wait, there's more. Not only will "Rich" be celebrating the New Year and his 40th birthday- he’ll also be celebrating the 400,000,000th Rich Frosted Donut to be coming off the production line in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. That's a "hole" lotta dough!

And for you, dear readers, there's a possible prize pack. It includes:

• 1 Rich Frosted T-shirt
• Entenmann's Travel Mug
• 2 Entenmann's Coupons

Personally, I love giveaways like this because the merch is the kind of stuff that is really kitschy and fun as the years go by--I love buying stuff like this at second hand stores, so I think it's fun to have the original promotional stuff.

How do you enter? It's so easy. Either leave a comment on this post, or on my Facebook page, saying what flavor donut you think Rich's missus should be. I'll choose a winner on the 31st, to coincide with the "reveal"! The prize will be sent directly to the recipient from Entenmann's.

More info about the Entenmann's product line can be found at bimbobakeriesusa.com and entenmanns.com.

Update on Friday, February 1, 2013 by Cakespy

UPDATE: THE WINNER!

It's Jenna, who said "The plain donut of course! because she is subtle, understated, demure and oh so amazing on the inside!! :)"

Congratulations Jenna, and everyone else, tune in soon for the next giveaway! 

National Cupcake Day Cake Poll and Giveaway

Let me be the first to wish you a very happy National Cupcake Day. Yes, you heard me correctly. Today (December 15) is National Cupcake Day.

And in honor of this momentous day, I'd like to bring back a question I asked a long while back, that I'd love to ask again--you know, in case old readers' preferences have changed, or in case there are new readers who didn't weigh in the last time!

The question is a most important one: how do you eat a cupcake? 

Do you eat it with a knife and fork, pinkies out?

Do you tear it in half and discard the bottom so as to increase the frosting-to-cake ratio?

Do you invert it, sandwich-style, to keep your fingers free of frosting?

Do you eat yours with a spoon, served in a dish of milk?

...Or do you just dig in?

I can't wait to hear your responses. Oh, and to make it slightly more fun, I'm going to choose one commenter at random and send them a copy of  Cupcakes: More Than 50 Fun Recipes for Creative Cakes! This is an adorable book wherein you'll find recipes and decorating tutorials such as:

Awesome! So, once again, to enter to win the book, just leave a comment saying how YOU eat a cupcake! I'll close the poll and choose a winner one week from today, on December 23rd at 5pm PST.

CakeSpy is Thankful for You. Now Win a book!

Thanksgiving is the perfect occasion to get a little cheesy. So here I go:

I am thankful for you. And by "you" I mean any and everyone who has taken or is taking the time to read my website.

When I began CakeSpy in 2007, I thought it would be a way of combining my three greatest loves (writing, illustration, baked goods) in one place. As a hobby. 

But it has become so much more--it has become not only my livelihood, but a big part of my identity and life.

So I guess I'm saying...thanks for supporting my life and livelihood by reading this sweet site. It makes my day that you might leave this site a little happier than when you came. 

But you know what? I'm not just going to get cheesy in this post. I'm also going to give away a copy of MY BOOK, CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life. It's not only a great read, it's full of sweet recipes!It's perfect to keep, or to give to a friend for the holidays (don't worry, I won't tell them you won it rather than buying). Oh, and I'll sign it for you too, and draw a unicorn in it. YES!

How to enter to win? It's so, so easy. All you have to do is a leave a comment on this post (don't panic if it doesn't show up RIGHT away--comment moderation is enabled) saying something you're thankful for. It can be sweet or savory or not even food at all--what is making you feel thankful this Thanksgiving?

This giveaway is open to everyone (US, abroad, whatevs), but it will close one week from today, November 29 at 5pm EST. Can't stand the idea of not winning? You can always shop online here, and use code AWESOME12 through next Monday for free shipping on all orders over $25.00.

Update on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 by Cakespy

Update: The winner! Mary from Winter Park, FL was chosen at random as the winner of this giveaway! Congratulations - and til next time, stay sweet!