06 October 2009

the icing on the cake

I'd been looking forward to last Tuesday for months, and it was indeed the most fabulous day at Divertimenti. Martha Swift, Lisa Thomas, and Frances Money demonstrated a selection of recipes from Martha and Lisa's new book, Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery:

When we arrived, the countertops were covered with freshly baked (but as yet undecorated) cupcakes. And after a brief introduction, Frances set her KitchenAid in motion, whipping up vanilla, lime and coconut, and rose buttercreams.

All three ladies then got busy with their palette knives, demonstrating how to make Primrose's signature swirl:

I watched closely, but they were so quick! Here's the lime and coconut and rose cupcakes, just ever so slightly smooshed from their journey back to Teddington:

While we sampled the iced cupcakes in class--the rose was heavenly!--Frances mixed up batters for basic Vanilla Cupcakes and Pecan and Orange Marmalade Cupcakes, a slightly less sweet breakfast treat.

The ladies were all so friendly and down-to-earth, and I had a really nice chat with Frances (in the middle) afterwards, who's from Texas!

Feeling very inspired to bake a batch, and I think the Pumpkin Cupcakes on page 86 could be just the thing...

14 comments:

  1. Oh they sound wonderful you've really tempted me to buy the book.

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  2. Pretty, pretty, pretty! Almost too good to eat.

    Almost.

    Cat x

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  3. Do I spy a certain milk glass cake stand setting off those wonderful looking cupcakes?

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  4. Oh my goodness, it's too early in the morning for me to be looking at those - now I want cupcakes for breakfast, wah!

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  5. Pumpkin cupcakes...yes please! I thought of you on Saturday, R and I were in Williams-Sonoma during an adventure to Toronto. D x

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  6. Oh they are so very pretty, you always seem to do the nicest things Kristina.

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  7. Very pretty and tasty too!

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  8. I've been trying to convince myself that I don't need ANOTHER cake book...
    On second thoughts...

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  9. Yum, lime and coconut buttercream. I'd like to try that combo.

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  10. oh they look heavenly - and almost too good to eat.... only almost.

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  11. Thanks for your comment on my blog :), just came to check yours out. Oh. my. god. (drama) we have so much in common. Both american foodies in the uk. I have also taken a couple divertimenti courses, they are so fun. I'm doing one at the end of this month for making macaroons. I saw this one in the brochure and wanted to do it too. Did you learn how to make the pretty swirlys on top? Did you get stuff to take home? Still haven't been to primrose bakery but its on my list.

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  12. Ooooh - how did they come out? Pumpkin cupcakes sound perfect right now. (Do you think it would make me a bad mother to serve them to the kids for dinner? Hmmm.)

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  13. I was on Marylebone High Street on Monday and I looked, longingly, through the Divertimenti window. Very envious of this workshop! Just my idea of fun.

    p.s. I'm a Texan, too!

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