The book called them cupcakes but I call them muffins; the ingredients featured oil rather than butter and the technique required stirring rather than creaming fat and sugar. I make that a muffin.
Or rather Ted makes that a muffin.
Because apart from a bit of strawberry squishing, Ted did very well stirring all the ingredients together all by himself.
He’s less adept at spooning batter into cupcake cases – which causes much frustration.
I’ve explained that knowing the best way to spoon cupcake batter into paper cupcake cases comes with thirty years of mummy practice.
I suspect he may take to doing it with a piping bag quite well. We’ll have to try that next time.
Topped with a little glace icing, just like in the book – however I chose to ice my strawberry muffins with crushed crystallised rose petals. It was the first time I’d used them since the photo shoot for the book but I’ve got loads left and must find other ways to use them.
Today I also used a few drops of this Nielsen Massey Rose Extract in my icing and cake batter. These gorgeous rose printed paper cupcake cases are from Squires.
I am a huge fan of Squires cupcake cases as with the exception of Lakeland, they are one of the few brands I know available where the grease from cake does not seep into the paper obscuring the pattern.
The recipe for these strawberry muffins in Marian Keyes’ baking book Saved by Cake. She calls them Sweet and Simple Strawberry Cupcakes – they’re definitely sweet and simple but I’d call them muffins rather than cupcakes. My only amendment has been to add rose extract to the icing and cake batter and to top with crystalised rose petals.
Since rose is a flower I am submitting these to this month’s florally themed Tea Time Treats which is hosted by Karen at Lavender and Lovage.
Finally I am delighted to share some good news (for me at least).
I am the only food blog to be a finalist in the food categories for both the Britmums’ BiBs Brilliance in Blogging Awards and The MADS mum and dad blog awards 2012.
It’s especially touching to make the grade as finalist for both of these when I had not actively campaigned for nominations throughout the nomination period. Although some people find it very easy to reach out and ask people to do things for them, it’s not something that comes naturally to me.
There are some wonderful finalists for both awards – the BiBs are panel judged with winners announced at Britmums Live in June and The MADS are vote driven with results announced in the autumn.
If you’d like to vote for your favourite food blog and other types of parent blogs in The MADS you can do so until 6th June here: http://www.the-mads.com/the-awards.htm
A huge thank you to everyone who must have nominated me in the opening stages. I’m very touched and grateful.
Have this last muffin on me 🙂
With thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph publishers, Nielsen Massey and Squires for sample book/products.
Pretty and divine looking! Wonderful muffins.
Cheers,
Rosa
First of all a BIG congratulations on your two nominations! What a fantastic achievement! Secondly – I LOVE that little apron Ted is wearing. I’ve spied the same one (along with the matching lunch box and cookie cutters) that I’d like to buy for Jayden so he can help me in the kitchen. I’ve resisted the urge to purchase given he’s only 8 months old! I have to say – although those cupcakes do look like muffins, oil doesn’t negate them as cupcakes. Some of my favourite cupcake recipes use oil in them – it helps them stay nice and moist!
Thank you 🙂
I forget where I found the apron although I was pleased to be sent another one the same – the pattern gets damaged on the folds when you put it away so we have a smart new one again for now!
These are GORGEOUS! I love rose flavoured things and these are making my mouth water.
Ted seems like a great helper in the kitchen, I need to get me one of those, preferably one who can wash up.
Congrats on the award shortlist/finalist thingy me bob. Thouroughly well deserved.
WONDERFUL entry for the Tea Time Treats May challenge thanks Sarah and such PRETTY cake cases too!
Congratulations on your two awards, well being in the finals – I was nominated too, but never expected to progress any further, so it is SO nice to see you (someone I know) in the finals! WELL DONE! Fly the FOODY blog’s flag!
Thanks for the LOVELY entry, Karen
I will do my best! Thanks 🙂
Cupcakes or muffins, they look very pretty and I love those cupcake cases. Rose and strawberry is a lovely combiantion. Think I’m going to try out rose and rhubarb. Congratulations on making it to the finals.
Firstly, well done for doing so well in being nominated and reaching the finals of two blog awards. What an achievement!
Your muffins/cupcakes are beautiful and I would dearly like to get hold of some crystallised rose petals as I am such a fan of Rose flavours at the moment.
Love your helper too!
Congratulations on being a finalist in both categories – very well deserved!! These muffins look gorgeous – I love the addition of rose. Where did you get the crystallised rose petals from?
Gorgeous cakes and a BIG congratulations for being finalist in both awards. Your blog has been an inspiration to me from before I even started mine. Very much deserved. x
Thanks so much! I’m looking forward to you hosting Forever Nigella soon!
Congratulations! I love the muffins. I wish I had the book but it was quite expensive when I alst looked so my question is is it worth it? Good to see you got back to baking I knew you would get there eventually!
It depends how much you like Marian and how many other baking books you have. Its a broad range of stuff rather than anything specialist. But it’s nice to look at and she writes as if she’s sat next to you chatting.
Thanks as well by the way!
I don’t think it’s wrong to declare here that I want to cram one of those strawberry muffins in my mouth right now!
These are SO pretty! I love the colour, and those cupcake wrappers are gorgeous. Will have to remember to look on SK the next time I’m cupcake wrapper shopping – I’m on a self imposed ban as I have so many I no longer have the space to store them!
These look so dainty and delicious, I’m going to be on the lookout for the rose water.
Congrats on being a finalist Sarah, hope you win! xx
So pink & pretty! I love rose but I’m always too scared to overdo it which I did with lavender once!