cupcakes and bake shop treats

lovin’ on mr. brown (who’s got a lovely daughter)

~ jama

“Direct yourself to greatness. Answer your calls. Answer to yourself.” ~ Warren Brown, founder and owner of CakeLove

Far be it from me to seek out certain cupcakes just because the baker happens to be extremely dishy  fair of face. *cough*

I’m all about serious research, focus, eyes on the product, heart in the food. Remember Bakeshop owner Justin Stegall? I only found out how cute he was after the fact (and six divine cupcakes). While I love researching the backstories of all these bakers, in the end, it’s supposed to be about the cupcakes. Right?

Maybe.

I didn’t know anything about CakeLove’s Warren Brown before embarking on these Cupcake Capers back in March. I had not seen him on Food Network’s Sugar Rush (2005-2007), nor did I know about his popular cookbook, CakeLove (2008). I actually learned about Mr. Brown because of the recent Washingtonian Cupcake Cup (Georgetown Cupcake took top honors yet again).

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cupcakes actually is actually delicious!

~ jama

 

So, after spending the last several weeks visiting quite a few bakeries, I thought maybe Len and I should take a little break to keep from turning into walking cupcakes.

But alas, this was not to be. Right after dinner last Wednesday, Len turned to me in the middle of AC360 and said, “What, no cupcakes?”

Like he hadn’t had one in months and months. Poor thing looked pale, drawn, so pitiful. Indeed, he seemed to be withering away right before my very eyes. I recognized the signs immediately. Cupcake withdrawal.

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sweet read: the sisters club: rule of three by megan mcdonald

~ jama ~ 2 Comments

“Knife, fork, spoon.

Rock, paper, scissors.

Lights, camera, action.

Everywhere you look, things come in threes. It’s the Rule of Three.”

And I love love love the three Reel sisters: Alex (13), Stevie (11), and Joey (9).

As a rule, I read anything and everything by Megan McDonald. As a longtime Judy Moody and Stink fan, I was pleased as punch when I came across The Sisters Club: Rule of Three (Candlewick, 2009).

♥ Megan McDonald + cupcakes = recipe for perfection. ♥

In this second title of the wildly popular series, Alex and Stevie fiercely compete against each other for the lead in the school musical, “Once Upon a Mattress.” Trying out is a big step for middle sister Stevie, a peace-loving, behind-the-scenes type who’s always let Alex (Actor-with-a-Capital-A Drama Queen) bask in the spotlight. But singing is Stevie’s thing, so why shouldn’t she, just this once, take her turn at center stage?

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loving me some bakery-inspired art

~ jama

    
    Original, handmade 12" x 12" collage on canvas available here.

Why, hello! How is your weekend going?

Today I’m serving up some delectable bakery art. Mostly everything on the dessert trolley is for sale and all pieces are very kind to your waistline, so indulge to your heart’s content!

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who’s got the best buns in northern virginia?

~ jama

 

According to Champion Cupcake Sleuth (CCS), Sara Lewis Holmes, Best Buns Bread Company in Arlington has some pretty good ones, in addition to a killer Triple Lemon Cupcake.

So Len and I zipped on over to the Village at Shirlington, a cool complex of small shops and restaurants full of happy folks strolling hither and yon, walking their adorable dogs, showing off their shocking pink-purple hair, and gliding by on their tandem bicycles wearing red, white, and blue spandex.

Unlike Bakeshop, which is owned by a young, upcoming entrepreneur, Best Buns is part of the Great American Restaurants family — a popular chain of seven restaurants (8th opening this Fall), based in Fairfax, Virginia. We’ve actually eaten Best Buns’ products many times before, since they bake all the yummy bread served in the restaurants (mmmm, sourdough, carrot banana, raisin pecan).

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