Cooking | Mind Speaks – creative blog

Game of Thrones Toppers

Game of Thrones Toppers

Having a Game of Thrones theme party? The finale is upon us and I created these easy to print/cut cupcake toppers to use for any event! Print on any card stock letter paper and you can use toothpicks to attach to a cupcake/pastry.

Cupcake Toppers Full Print Sheet

I only created a few family banners, please note I have not and will not make a topper for House Bolton for obvious reasons! For some reason at our party people kept asking where Bolton banner was…yuck!!!

If you do use these I only ask that you don’t claim them, sell them or repost them as your own. These are free for personal use only, please don’t direct link.

pdfdownload
GoT Cupcake Toppers (1057 downloads)

This post was written by:

mijaMIJA VERA - (view all posts by Mija)
Mija has been a designer for the last 15 years. She is a paper obsessed fiend and loves working on new projects while listening to her kids and Maine Coon cat chatter around the house. You can email her at mija@mind-speaks.com

Did Someone say Macarons?!

Did Someone say Macarons?!

Macarons, are these cute European cookies that are starting to show up everywhere!! I attempted these suckers a long time ago but never really got the hang of it but recently after purchasing some from bakeries I knew I wanted to master theses puppies.

I had to practice a few times with different flavors but here is the recipe I tweaked just for you guys! Lets begin!

Tools you will need:

  • Mixer
  • Scraper
  • Piping bag with a round tip
  • Mixing bowls
  • Sifter
  • Parchment paper
Ingredients you will need:

  • 2 Cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup Almond Flour
  • 3 eggs whites
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • A pinch of salt
  • Flavoring

Cookies&Cream flavor:

Add 25 grams of ground teddy grams (you can use any type of chocolate wafer but I prefer saving a couple of cents with using teddy grams.

1. You’ll start by adding your eggs, sugar and salt to the mixer. (If your not making cookies & cream add any color food coloring to the meringue. I found out that using powdered food coloring makes a much vibrant color.) Beat on medium high until the egg whites become stiff. While that is whipping sift powdered sugar, almond flour (and chocolate wafer for cookies & cream) together making sure to discard any large lumps.

2. Next pour the dry mixture into the meringue now this is the tricky part the mixing part is when it can easily mess up but don’t fret it takes practice and you will eventually know what kind of texture to want just by looking at it. For the mixture to want to keep mixing till you get a lava type mixture you want it to you drop down smooth but still hold its shape.

3. Piping time!! Now I have tried using wax paper instead of parchment paper but the just didn’t work out so I would recommend splurging a little on parchment paper. when it comes to piping I found out drawing circles on the paper helps them be somewhat the same size. Now I used a size 8 round tip you can use a large cup to hold your pastry bag make sure to have the tip folded so it doesn’t start coming out into the cup.

4. All most done!!! Let these puppies rest on the counter till they are no longer sticky to the touch. (usually 30 mins) At this time preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. (Every oven is different I usually let them cook for 12 mins then keep checking on them till the pop off the parchment paper by them selves which indicates that they are done!! (I usually takes me 20 or so minutes)

Now the reason why I love these delicate cookies is that the combinations are endless you can fill them up with so many different butter creams or jams.

Oreo Filling

1 Stick of soften butter
1 cup of Powdered sugar
2 Oreo cookies
* Cream butter with the powdered sugar once its fully mixed break up the Oreo and mix in.

Mixed Berry Filling
1 Stick of soften butter
1 cup of powdered sugar
2 Tsb Jam ( I used Four fruits bonne maman jam)
*Cream butter with the powdered sugar once it fully mixed spoon in jam and mix well.

 

 

 

This post was written by:

katKAT VERA - (view all posts by Kat)
Kat is a lead pastry chef. When she isn’t in the kitchen she’s traveling space and time with Doctor Who and solving mysteries with Sherlock. Email her at kat@mind-speaks.com

Madeleines- No pan no problem-

Madeleines- No pan no problem-

I’m sure everyone have seen these shell like cakes at any Starbucks and wanted to make them but your first thought is “don’t have the right pan for them”.  Don’t worry no pan no problem! These delicate sponge cakes work with any pan!

Ingredients you will need:

4 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1/4 cup butter, melted

You will need any pan you have (cupcake,heart, snowman… etc.)gg

  • Beat the eggs, salt and sugar together until the batter begins to thicken (about 8 minutes with an electric mixer on low). Toward the end of mixing add in the vanilla. Stir in the flour. Then stir in the melted, cooled butter. Quickly spoon the batter into the prepared baking pan. (Make sure you butter/grease your pan so they will come out more easier) Bake at 375°F till golden brown.
  • Dust them with powdered sugar and there ready to eat!!

I ended up uses a bite sizes brownie  pan that ended up working great but I do want to invest in a Madeline pan <3

mu

This cute dense cake is perfect for any cup of coffee or tea :9 Hope you guys enjoy this if anyone decides to make them please post pics!!

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This post was written by:

katKAT VERA - (view all posts by Kat)
Kat is a lead pastry chef. When she isn’t in the kitchen she’s traveling space and time with Doctor Who and solving mysteries with Sherlock. Email her at kat@mind-speaks.com