Daily Loaf

Cupcakes have been hip and trendy on the food scene for quite some time now, and have taken over specialty bake shops which produce them in every flavor imaginable. From simple chocolate to lemon, coconut and red velvet, these indulgences are one of the biggest crowd pleasers you can bring to celebrate special occasions, or surprise an office full of hungry co-workers. This particular variety was inspired by an especially gorgeous batch of plump blackberries that I stumbled upon, along with yet another workplace baking commitment.

When it comes to creating the perfect cupcake, simplicity is best. I like to make a basic vanilla cake that can be paired with a variety of frostings and toppings depending on your mood, and will be subtle enough in flavor to carry an extra rich buttercream. The cake featured here calls for whole eggs along with an equal ratio of egg whites to keep it light and fluffy and maintain the pure color. The use of the vanilla bean makes a big difference in the fragrance and overall taste of the cake as well, so go ahead and splurge in the spice aisle. After you’re done scraping out the tiny seeds, throw the pod into a mason jar with baker’s sugar, keep it in the cupboard and use the vanilla-infused sweetness to add an extra dimension to your recipes.

Recipe after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

You know how I know the next four years are going to be fun? Two words: Joe Biden. Here, Biden knocks John Roberts for flubbing the oath on inauguration day. Obama looks none-too-pleased, by the way. I love it!

• And the new Senator from New York is … not named Kennedy or Cuomo.
• The inauguration quartet featuring Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma faked it live … sort of.

More after the jump … Read the rest of this entry »

Easily the most disturbing moment of yesterday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was the live Rickrolling of the audience. And is that a blue penis in the opening part? I thought this was a family show!

• Let the bargain hunting begin.
• Terror in India. But was it home grown?
• Meanwhile, in Thailand, expect long delays at the airport.
• Passenger jet on a maintenance flight goes down off the coast of France.
• The NY Times visits a Florida condo auction.
• The new Blackberry is no iPhone killer.
• R.I.P.: The World’s Oldest Person.
• Man, the Lions suck.
• There’s something naughty about this headline, even if I can’t quite figure out what it is.
• Roving gangs of Key West seniors.
• Love the dude cranking a brewski next to the mayor, in the second photo.
• Reviewing South Florida’s “Fire-Breathing Liberal” congressman.
• Chris Matthews to run for the US Senate from Pennsylvania in 2010??
• Thomas Dolby finds a cassette tape with the demos that got him his first record deal.

We’re still nursing a hangover from last night’s exciting Loafies award show and after party in downtown Tampa. If you missed it, you can see pics and video, or just dig into the Best of the Bay issue, by clicking here. Oh, and if you’re one of the love-filled folks who reportedly “christened” the balcony area of the Tampa Theatre, I salute you.

• Anybody want to buy an insurance company? Step right up, Mr. Federal Government.
• Country of Yemen decides it’s been too long since someone bombed a U.S. embassy.
• Dems in the House cave to Republicans, pass limited offshore oil drilling. Republicans still not happy.
• And now, the man who took the lead in creating the Blackberry … Johnny Mac!
• GOP tells McCain that earmarks are here to stay, because without them there would be chaos.
• Joe? Joe who? Joe Biden? Who?
• Honey, the bus is here.
• The Rays win game 2 against the Sox! For extra enjoyment, here is the Boston Globe’s account.