Fall is here!

There is always a day in the fall when I suddenly feel like putting on some Christmas music and pulling out my grandma’s Christmas cookie recipes. This year, that day was today. The weather has just started to cool and today it was drizzling outside. I usually force myself to wait until after after Thanksgiving to pull out the decorations and start making cookies, but this year I will be able to give in a little bit early – and it’s all because of you guys!

A few of you have already asked about the Peppermint Topped Cookies… Well, this year, I will be making Christmas cookies available beginning November 1st. In the meantime, there are other fall flavors for you to choose from. Ginger and pumpkin muffins are always on the menu, but are perfect for this time of year. The ginger muffins, by the way, are some of my absolute favorites, and my BF has been asking for them lately too. I also have a wonderful chewy gingersnap on the menu. And carrot cake may make you think more of Easter than of Christmas, but I tend to like this one in the fall too because of the warm spices. I’m looking forward to making your season a little warmer with some ginger loaf or festive cookies at the ready to pair with your hot chocolate or vanilla latte!

Happy Autumn everyone!

September is for… lemons?

September is traditionally the time of year when we start seeing fall wardrobes in department stores and start thinking about our Halloween costumes. Even though we may not feel the nip in the air here in the Bay Area,we do start to see pumpkin bread in coffee house bakery displays and apple pie on special at grocery stores. But this has been an odd summer, weather-wise, and I’m just not ready for that yet. And since most of our seasonal fruit has been a bit late too, lemons seem to be on my menu. I’m zesting and juicing a batch now (and if anyone has a treeful I wouldn’t say no to more!)

These will be made into lemon pound cake and lemon curd, which together will become my new La-La-La-La Lemon Cupcake.

And if you know what I am referencing with the name of that cupcake (and you’re local or willing to travel ), be the first to let me know in the comments below and you’ll get a free half-dozen!

Inca Gold with Raspberry Buttercream

 A great combination if I do say so myself!

Remember, Inca Gold is available at a special price only during the month of August, so be sure to try em’ within the next couple of weeks! If you’ve tried them already, leave me a comment here to let me know what you thought!

LIMITED EDITION Inca Gold Cupcakes make their debut!

For some time now I have been pondering the idea of making cupcakes based on Inca Kola, la bebida del Peru!

It’s a very popular Peruvian soft drink which tastes like… well, nobody seems to agree on what it tastes like.  Some say pineapple (with which I STRONGLY disagreed, asserting instead that it tastes exactly like pink bubble gum).  Some say it tastes like some sort of lemon-lime.  Some people even seem to detect strawberry.  It took a bit of internet digging, but it turns out this soda’s flavor is based on hierba luisa, or, as we know it here in The States, lemon verbena.  A very interesting flavor base for a soda, I thought.  All the more reason to try do something interesting with it.

And, yesterday I finally did it. And they had quite a good reception! I did them with lemon buttercream this time.  There will most definitely be a few more batches of this. Many of my BF’s (Peruvian) relatives have already requested to be taste testers. But I haven’t decided whether to add it permanently to the menu. Quite honestly, I barely got in one bite myself before they had all been devoured. Maybe that’s a good indicator…  Still, I think they need more field testing.

I’ll be offering these all through August at just $12/dz or $8/half dz.

Aaaaaannnddd…. I’m open to suggestions as to frosting flavors Ideas, anyone?

And the Winners Are….

Many of you have been waiting patiently for the announcement of the Goodie Giveaway drawing – and some not so patiently

I get it. I do. You want your Oompa Loompas NOW! And as tasty as these Oompa Loompas are, I can’t blame you. So I thank you for bearing with me, whether patiently, or not so much

Anyway, now that I have rejoined the human race, I am ready to start baking and shipping some scrumptious prizes! Winners have been notified by e-mail or FB message. In order to protect everyone’s privacy I have chosen not to publish the winners’ names unless I first get their permission…

So CONGRATULATIONS to my winners! If you were not one of the lucky ones this time, stay tuned for future giveaways or feel free to place an order by e-mailing me at lifeisbutadreambakery@gmail.com or contacting me here at this blog. You can also find me on my facebook page.

This time around, none of my winners were within the local delivery so there will be no batch of Mostess Cupcakes   Really, you should all try them though! Moist chocolate cupcakes filled with lovely vanilla fluff and topped with dark chocolate ganache – SOOOO much more indulgent than their rhyming namesakes and with no transfats and nothing artificial! Just talking about them makes me want to bake a batch just for fun! Time to put the apron on…

Goodie Giveaway!

Do I have your attention? Yes? Free stuff will tend to do that. Good. Here’s the news:

Life is But a Dream is having a drawing!

To enter, simply subscribe via e-mail to this blog (current subscribers are automatically entered)

OR

become a NEW “like” on my facebook page – www.facebook.com/LifeisButaDreamCupcakes

The best part is that you do not have to be local to enter! If your name is drawn and you are outside of my delivery area, I will SHIP YOUR PRIZE TO YOU!

One First Prize winner will receive:

One dozen Mostess Cupcakes (local delivery only) OR choice of one dozen Banana Muffins or one dozen Sunshine Muffins

Two Second Prize winners will receive:

choice of one dozen Chocolate Chip Blondies, one dozen 7-Layer Bars or 1/2 dozen Cream Scones

Enter by midnight, Monday May 30. Drawing will take place on Tuesday May 31 and winners announced the same day. Good luck all!

See You All Next Week!

Notice: The kitchen will be closed for a few days while the BF and I participate in several family birthdays and also spend a few days visiting The Mouse down in Anaheim.The kitchen will reopen May 19 and will be accepting orders for May 20. If you would like to place an order for that weekend, send me a message at:

lifeisbutadreambakery@gmail.com

or leave a comment here. But don’t wait too long; I expect to book up quickly upon my return

I’ll see you all when I get back – at which time you will all have a chance to win some yummy prizes! Stay tuned for details… Have a lovely week everyone!

-Merrilee