The taste testing panel

Once I got some of my coworkers on board with Cupcake Friday, I knew I needed to nail down a few logistics, namely allergies (don't need to kill anyone) and dislikes.

I'm dealing with 3 food allergies: nuts (all nuts but peanut), melons and banana. I'm not terribly concerned with the last 2 because A) I'm not sure how I'd get melon into cupcakes and B) I don't really like bananas.

As for nuts, it's a mixed bag (ha). My husband Ray has a peanut allergy—luckily not acute—but I tend not the keep peanut products in the house. As for the other nuts, I definitely want to work with them, but when I do, I have to be sure not to give any to bearded tester extraordinaire Kerrick.

As for dislikes, most people mentioned a variety of green vegetables (though I don't plan on working with savory recipes just yet). But I did get votes against nuts and anise.

And now, on to the requested flavor profiles:
Tiramisu
Banana
Dark chocolate
Coffee
Stout
Lime
Orange chocolate
Hazelnut
Chocolate peanut

Excitement!

In the beginning ... there were cupcakes

I love to bake. Not just to eat the baked goods, but simply for the joy OF baking. And even moreso, I love giving people my baked goods.

Today I brought cupcakes to work, partly because I baked for my Geek Girl Dinner Group, and partly because I reneged on my offer to bring in a lemon tart this past Monday in belated celebration of National Pie Day (yes, I know a tart isn't quite a pie). Some of my coworkers spent a majority of the week teasing me about the missing pie, so I knew if I shoved cupcakes under their noses, they'd relent.

This morning I mucked through Philadelphia snow, ice and slush in combat boots and my husband's tuxedo jacket with tails, with a dozen lemon-limoncello cupcakes with lemon curd filling and limoncello cream cheese frosting in tow. I delivered the cakes with a smile and many faces lit up with joy and sugary anticipation. Standing around the office, I joked about some of them becoming my taste-testing guinea pigs. And an idea was born.

Cupcake Fridays: My goal, in preparation of opening a bakery in 5 years, is to bake cupcakes at least 2 Fridays out of every month in an effort to hone my skill and create a library of recipes. Mainly cupcake recipes, but I'm sure a sprinkling of cookies, muffins and other confections won't be turned down.

Wish me luck!