Cupcake Stand

I just had one of those stand-back-and-admire-your-kid moments.  Today my daughter and her friend set up a cupcake boutique, "Cutie Pie Cupcakes", during our community yard sale.  My slightly biased opinion is that it was FABULOUS!

It all started a few weeks ago when someone asked my 14 year old daughter what she wants to be when she grows up.  She answered, with all seriousness, "I want to open a cupcake shop." Although I know she has a natural gift for marketing, can be seriously persuasive, and loves to bake, until that moment I had no idea that she aspired to own and operate her own cupcake bakery.  I'm sure our slight obsession with the shows Ace of Cakes, DC Cupcakes, and Cupcake Wars might have a bit to do with her current desire for her future. 

Attempting to encourage my daughter's dream no matter how many times it might change in the future, I suggested that she and her friend, who is also a talented baker and a cake decorator, set up cupcake stand on the day of our community yard sale.  Now just as shocking as the fact that these two girls actually pulled off an amazing and successful cupcake business in our front yard on a muggy Saturday morning, is the fact that my teenager said to me, "Mom, thanks for telling us about selling cupcakes at the community yard sale.  That was a great idea."  Seriously?  I'll take that!

Resisting all most urges to control my daughter as she planned this event, I purchased the supplies that she requested, relinquished my kitchen, and shared my favorite recipes.  Other than that I kept my mouth shut even when my daughter and her new business partner spent thee hours bedazzling the money box and over an hour decorating the table before nary a crumb of cupcake had been baked.  As I'm learning is often the case, teenagers work best when following their own agenda. 

Most impressive to me about this cupcake endeavor were the details.  The girls decorated water bottles with zebra print duct tape, bedazzled their money box, and decorated the table with a zebra striped tablecloth and hot pink boa. In addition they baked three batches of cupcakes (Red Velvet, Very Vanilla, and Chocolate Fudge), whipped up three batches of frosting (Cream Cheese Frosting tinted light pink, Vanilla Buttercream colored chartreuse, and Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate icing), and hand cut three types of fondant details (Easter eggs, pink daises, and zebra striped hearts).  They even hired the ever lurking little brothers to carry things out from the kitchen and drag down the hot pink chairs from the bedroom.  When all was set up and the customers began to arrive my daughter and her friend were kind and courteous using their best manners to serve every one of them.  It was beautiful, really beautiful!   

Now I realize that not all parenting moments are this satisfying, but, for now, I'm going to focus on this day which was as sweet as a cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Printable Copy of Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Cream Cheese Frosting

          recipe from Betty Crocker's Cookbook 

1 package cream cheese (8 ounces), softened

1 Tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar

1. Beat cream cheese, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl on low speed until smooth.
2. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until smooth and frosting is a spreadable consistency.
3. Use to frost 24 cupcakes, one 9x13 sheet cake, or one two layer cake.

Linked to the following inspiring blog parties: 

 Not Baaad Sunday, Sister Sister Sunday, I'm Lovin' It, Sunday Scoop,
Made by You Monday, Cupcake Tuesday, Sugar and Spice,
Get Your Brag On, Strut Your Stuff Thursday,
Friday Favorites, Weekend Wrap Up, VIP Party,