Electronic Highways
Short and sweet
Who doesn’t love a cupcake? These small, but delicious cakes, topped with rich frosting, are hard to resist. Whether your dessert of choice is the classic red velvet or simple vanilla, you can’t help but enjoy this treat.
According to the Food Timeline, the cupcake surfaced as early as 1828. Food historians claim the name stems from the amount of ingredients used to make the cake (a cupful of flour, a cupful of butter, cupful of sugar, etc.) and the fact that the cakes were baked in small cups. In 1833, The American Frugal Housewife advised homemakers about the thriftiness of the small cake: "Cup cake is about as good as pound cake and is cheaper. One cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three cups of flour and four eggs, well beat together, and baked in pans or cups. Bake twenty minutes, and no more." (American Frugal Housewife, Mrs. Child, p. 71).
No baker would argue with those instructions. Special events like children’s birthdays and holidays are the perfect venue for this decadent sweet. For creative decorating ideas, visit Coolest-Birthday-Cakes.com. You can access loads of recipes submitted by amateur bakers whose themes of choice range from Dora the Explorer to monsters, mummies and Frankenstein.
Ever seen a fortune cookie cupcake? Look no further: Check out the blog Cupcakes Take the Cake. The blog links to recipes from bakers, fellow bloggers, news stories and cookbooks that use many nontraditional ingredients like caramel popcorn, crushed lemon drops and ginger cream-cheese frosting.
All Recipes.com offers a variety of recipes, including “healthier” choices for the main ingredients, such as zucchini and oatmeal banana.
By now your mouth is probably watering and you’re thinking about running to the nearest bakery. Don’t be intimidated by the fancy designs or toppings. For tips on how to create your own elegant and tasty cupcake, visit All about Cupcakes. Besides the recipes, the site includes a slide show that proves you can use your imagination to transform this simple dessert into something spectacular.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your imagination moving and start baking (or eating)!
—Laura Taddeo, University Libraries
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