The Buckeye and Scarlet & Gray

Live and in person.

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They were featured at last night's Grandview Hop in honor of football season starting. I'm a Bearcat myself, but I still get psyched for our hometeam. Plus, what's not to love about a team that gives you both color combos AND flavor combos that can be applied to desserts!? The Buckeye Cupcakes sold out—chocolate and peanut butter is a craving that you really can't deny.

OSU Football Season Cupcakes! Available September-December.

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It's football season, and we're in Columbus. You know what that means?

OHIO STATE THEMED CUPCAKES. Oh yes. That's right. Hello, Scarlet & Gray. Hello, Buckeye. Let's review the play-by-play of these flavors, shall we?

The Scarlet & Gray cupcake is red velvet cake topped with its match-made-in-heaven, vanilla malt frosting, dyed gray to match the city's favorite color combination.

The Buckeye cupcake is a chocolate cake, swirled with peanut butter. It's topped with a ring of chocolate gooey frosting, then topped with a dollop of peanut butter frosting. And because everyone likes cupcakes to look extra cute, it's garnished with a mint leaf for that extra buckeye touch.

Need them for a game? Or any ol' event? Or to fulfill that crazy craving you just got when you thought about the chocolate cake with peanut butter swirl (I know, I've been there)? Pricing for each is $20/dozen, no matter how many dozens you buy. They're available, by order, from now until December. I will still need at least one week's notice. Call or email, you know the drill!

O-H!!!!

Happy National Toasted Marshmallow Day!

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So, the day may be almost over, but the spirit of toasted marshmallows will live on! I just learned late this afternoon that every August 30th is dedicated to a sweet weakness of mine, the toasted marshmallow. If the mallows are untoasted—just plain, white and fluffy—I can do without. I can turn around with my nose in the air and wave them away. But if they're toasted? Oh sweet mother of pearl, this girl melts as if that marshmallow has the irresistible charms of Zack Morris.

I have to admit, my enthusiasm for National Toasted Marshmallow Day takes root in my latest obsession. Or an addiction, maybe? Craving? Anyway, I am a sucker for fresh chocolate chip cookies topped with a squishy, brown and toasty marshmallow. It all started at the Movie Tavern on the west side, with a little dessert called The Ultimate Cookie. My boyfriend was originally the interested party—I was more along the lines of "Igh.. I guess. Why not?" I'm telling you, that plate of three cookies was so much more than I could've ever imagined. A hot, melty, gooey chocolate chip cookie (with cake-like qualities) topped with a golden, toasted marshmallow. Sounds simple, basic even. But the flavors of both are just meant to be—they compliment each other beautifully. Ever since that fateful day in early summer, those cookies have been haunting me and my attempts to eat healthily.

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So today, in honor of Mr. Toasted Marshmallow, I broke out the cookie dough (that's right, even bakers use ready-made dough for a quick fix). I baked them until they were golden but still undercooked, heated up that broiler, squished a jumbo marshmallow on top, and toasted until they were a smokey, golden treat.

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I highly encourage you to try this at home. Grab a bag of mallows, a pack of cookie dough, and hunker down for the evening with a big fat glass of milk. Happy National Marshmallow Day, everyone! And to all, a good night.

Farmer's Market Blitzkrieg

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Saturdays can be a little rough around here. When it's a busy month, it's usually b/c I'm up late on Fridays and up again early the next Saturday morning baking away. Then between the usual monthly visit home to the fam and whatever other events are going on, a lazy weekend is SOOO EXCITING. Thankfully, this is one calm weekend for me and my bf George. We haven't gotten over to the farmer's market yet this year so that's how we started our Saturday. There are a lot of local farmer's markets here in Cbus, but we prefer the popular Clintonville Farmers' Market. Not that we live there, but it's close enough and we usually see a friend or two... or three. Yay for local, right? :-) The market goes from 9-12. We got there a little after 11:30. But that didn't matter. We still did plenty of damage in record time! Our tally:

• one green zucchini

• two yellow zucchini

• 6 peaches

• small basket of blackberries (score!)

• basket of green beans

• two cheeses: string cheese and a chipotle something or other

• one 12 oz. bear of honey

• one yellow watermelon (personal-sized)

• one super juicy red watermelon (also personal-sized)

• one cantaloupe

• one honeydew

• three patty pan squash

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Everything...for the most part.

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PLUS we stopped at a BBQ cart/stand outside of Global Gallery on High St for one BBQ pork sandwich and 4 ribs. Hey, shopping for fruits and veggies works up quite the carnivorous appetite! Hah. Hello fruits, veggies, and meats! Good-bye, cash!

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We're psyched though. I am particularly excited about the Patty Pan squash. All morning I've been randomly yelping "Patty Pan!" Just b/c it's fun. And they're funny looking. What's not to love about that? I had some last night at the restaurant DeepWood so I was kind of on a mission for it this morning.

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Sadly, I don't think I'll be baking with any of this stuff. I'm tempted by the blackberries, but they're too precious. I think we'll just be savoring them in their natural state.

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Although, you know, I may just have to muddle a few of these babies into a cocktail. Nothing's every too precious for a cocktail. ;-)

Miami Vacation 2010

I've been gone a long time, but with good reason! My boyfriend and I took a little vacation to Miami, FL. Sun, sand, food, drink, what's not to love?? I know one thing. I'm in love with Miami and I'm itching to go back. We took a little over 1,000, but here's the best of. It's still a good 240-something, but that's a fraction of 1,000, right? ;-)

Lush Blossoms.

Hello, pretties!

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This morning I filled an order for a girl's 13th birthday party. There was much brainstorming between her mother and me, but in the end we decided on some brightly colored flowers for the 12 vanilla-vanilla malt cupcakes in the order.

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I call these little babies "Lush Blossoms." You may remember them from a post a few months ago. They're not a technical method of flower piping—they're not roses, they're not begonias or pansies, they're not chrysanthemums. They're just...really cute flowers. If you ask me, they're a cross between a dahlia and a mum. A "dalimum," maybe? A "chrysanthlia?" No. Too complicated. Forget it. I call them "LUSH BLOSSOMS." Why? B/c I'm Sugarlush. My brand is Sugarlush. My tagline varies between "Be a lush," or "Are you a lush?" and b/c I created these little ladies. So they're mine. At least, I think they are. I'm owning it, gosh darn it! And "blossom" is kind of generic for "flower," plus it sounds so much better. So "Lush Blossoms" it is!

The party is this afternoon so I'm just hoping all goes well. It should... right? For some reason I'm always still so nervous after my orders are picked up. One of these days, I'll get over it.

Alert! Updated Menu and New Items! :-)

Hey all. I've recently updated my menu and the new PDF is available for download. You can download it on the top right side of the page in the CUPCAKE MENU section, or you can click here. It will take you to Mediafire, and you can download from it from there.

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So what's new? Why an updated menu? First, the Grahamwich has been added as an official item. Grahamwiches use the same frostings as the cupcakes, except for ganache and lemon glaze, of course. But aren't you excited?? ;-)

Next, the Frosting family has grown! The chocolate ganache selection is more plentiful with original, spicy, orange, mocha, and mint. Oh, how to choose?! Furthermore, two brand new frostings, key lime and coconut, have been added!

Welcome to the family, Key Lime! Glad you could join us, Coconut. :-)


And the key lime? It's quickly becoming a fan favorite. So much so that this month I'll have key lime cupcakes at the Grandview Hop on Saturday, June 26, so come on out and grab one! I'll also have cinnamon toast cupcakes, strawberry grahamwiches, and s'mores with homemade marshmallow filling. It's like the original grahamwich, just augmented to awesomeness! Plus, I'm planning on having a cookie that'll be 2/$1. Those always go over well. But what kind of cookie—now that's the question!

Alright guys, back to the grindstone. I have some baby shower cupcakes to get ready for. Until next time...

At the Hop: Cupcakes for all at the Grandview Hop.

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Long time no blog, eh? What's up with that? It's been a little hectic over here, plus my birthday was just a few weeks ago so blogging had to take a back seat for awhile. But I've still been baking! Boy, have I been baking. Most recently for the Grandview Hop. I know, you're like "What's the Grandview Hop? I've never heard of it." The Grandview Hop, for you locals here in Columbus, is like the Short North's Gallery Hop. It's a neighborhood affair with vendors & artists lining the streets, people milling up and down Grandview Ave checking out the shops and general goings-on, maybe taking a walk after going to dinner. The dance studio has free lessons. It's a really quite a nice affair. It happens the last Saturday of everything month from April-November. This past Saturday was my first Hop—actually, it was my first public vendor appearance period!

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The idea came from a friend who said "You know, we were talking and we think you should sell your cupcakes at the Grandview neighborhood thing that they have." Well, he didn't say it exactly like that, but you know. So that meant the Grandview Hop. And a lot of times when people say to me "Hey, why don't you do this?" I groan because it's usually some cockemamy, hair-brained idea that would take oodles of time and effort that they just don't understand, especially while holding down a full-time job plus the side business. BUT THIS IDEA??? I sat there, eyebrows furrowed, saying "You know... actually... that would work. That really would make sense... YES!!!" EUREKA! The location is perfect. The frequency of the event is perfect. The clientele is perfect. These are my peeps! Plus, I know a super sweet shop owner who would let me have a space outside her store, which is perfect. It just made so much sense! So I went for it. I contacted my shop-owner-lady-friend who was equally excited. We're a perfect match!

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So here's the set-up! I'm stationed in front of Peabody Papers, for future reference (Hint Hint: Come see me in action!). It's a great brand partnership. Gorgeous, sophisticated paper & stationery mixed w/ gorgeous (just go w/ it), delicious cupcakes. What could be better? And Brooke, the owner, is quite possibly the nicest person with whom you could ever cross paths, so if you come by, make sure to stop into Peabody to check it out.

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On the menu for the event was two cupcakes, two grahamwiches, a butter sable cookie, plus some frosting free for all to try. Who doesn't love a sample?? So for cupcakes I had red velvet with vanilla malt frosting since it's delicious, relatively safe and standard, but just intriguing enough. Next was the chocolate cupcake with raspberry amaretto frosting topped with a thin lemon cookie. A little usual but very delightful combo when it comes to fluffy little cupcakes. Just enough to make people stop, look, and really think about the baked goods they're craving. The frosting sample though? Brilliant. I would without a doubt say that I make a darn good frosting. I kick a lot of frosting behind, if you know what I'm saying. Why not let everyone try it out?

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And now for the sables. A sable is a buttery, French shortbread. It's so much better than your everyday shortbread if you ask me. Much richer with a much better texture. These were filled with orange zest, chopped roasted and salted pistachios, and chopped chocolate—both bittersweet and milk. Plus, I throw in a little extra salt for good measure. ;-) Thankfully, I have a few leftover that I'll probably munch on in a few minutes here.

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And last but not least, the newly revised menu! I'll be posting this soon—I just have to adapt a downloadable PDF version. But this has an updated list of frostings plus TWO NEW FLAVORS! Key lime and coconut, welcome to the family! Grahamwiches have also been added to the offering.Speaking of grahamwiches...

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The grahamwich selection? A salted caramel grahamwich, dipped in chocolate, and dipped in roasted, salted pecans (and some without nuts if that's your preference.) Also, a key lime grahamwich dipped in chocolate and shredded coconut (and of course, some without the coconut). The key lime frosting tastes just like key lime pie, just an eensy bit sweeter (due to the sugar in the frosting, of course). But my God, it's good. Seriously. You're going to have to try it.

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So what's next? Well there will be another Hop at the end of June on the 26th. Remember, the last Saturday of each month. I'm usually set up about 5:30 and stay around til 10 or until I sell enough to make me happy—whichever comes first. :-) On the menu will be key lime cupcakes (another chance for you to get that frosting!), cinnamon toast cupcakes (intrigued? you should be!), and of course a grahamwich or two. Just have to decide on which ones!

This coming weekend I have a graduation party to bake for. The menu consists of vanilla cupcakes with lavender-lemon-vanilla bean frosting (a custom request) and probably some with key lime frosting, strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting dipped in chocolate, and brown sugar cupcakes with chai spice frosting. Maybe that will inspire me for the next hop!