Think Globally; Cupcake Locally

http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm    A LIST

http://homecooking.about.com/od/specificfoo1/a/flowertips.htm  RECIPES

 http://www.suite101.com/reference/edible_flowers   AN ARTICLE SOURCE

http://www.thespicehouse.com/ RETAIL 

Contact Us

Tonights IC:CHI Cookie Challenge raised $450 in donations during the challenge to be donated to Brenda and Mary Maher of Cake Girls!  Thank you to the bakers and to the cupcake tasters for their support!

Related:  http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com/2010/04/cupcakers-rally-for-sweet-cause.html

All proceeds will go to Cake Girls to show our support as they recover from a devastating fire that destroyed their bakery.  Please join us and show your support!

Hey Folks!  March’s challenge is Chili!  Join us at Smash Cake!  Want to participate in the challenge?  Email us!  

IronCupcake Chicago February Challenge - Chocolate!

Like the rest of the nation, we are shocked by the devastation of Haiti and its people after the series of quakes and very strong aftershocks.  In an effort to help contribute to the funds going to aid the people of Haiti we are donating all money from February’s Challenge to the Red Cross.  

We invite you to come participate and help us to make this challenge our most successful ever!  

E-mail beautifulcakes@sbcglobal.net to enter the challenge by Friday Feb 5, 2010.

And the secret ingredient is – COCKTAILS!  Woot!  Get your shakers out!  Last day to register is Friday Jan 8, 2010!  Don’t miss out on the fun!

If you are new to the IronCupcake Challenges you might be asking yourself right now, what are they like?  Let me tell you, they are a blast!  The fun starts when you start working on the planning stages of your challenge cupcake.  The excitement builds as you put together your cupcakes to take to the challenge location.

I remember the first time I participated…my kids nearly had to push me out the door to go.  I was so nervous.  What if the other participants are better than me?  Are they going to laugh at my novice cupcakes?  What if my display is puny compared to the others?  Then I started coming up with excuses not to go…it’s raining…the sun is too bright, it’ll melt my icing…it’s too windy.  But again, my kids would push me out the door cupcakes in hand!

Of course I was nervous when I got there…but one of my daughters was with me and again, she pushed me to go in.  Once I got in there, Irma was sooooo nice and her assistant, Veronica; they made me feel so at ease.  I set up and chatted with the participant next to me and then sized up the competition.  I was so relieved to see they were moms just like me.  And they weren’t laughing at me!  Phew! 

Then the fun began.  People started sampling the cupcakes.  I had fun meeting and chatting with all the participants.  It was a great social event more than anything. 

Check out the first IronCupcake:Chicago (<– click).

I really want to encourage you to just come out and have fun!  If you’re scared to participate, come observe a challenge and then maybe the next month you will feel confident enough to participate!  Don’t miss out on the fun!

A big Thank You to our new venue!

Mrs Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro

3905 N Lincoln Ave

Chicago, IL  60613-2417

773-248-3905

Our next challenge will be Monday December 14, 2009 @ 6 p.m. – The theme of this month’s challenge will be Christmas!

REGISTRATION:  If you plan to compete, please register by emailing IC:ChiReg before the event so that we can be sure all competitors are present before beginning the tasting.  Deadline to enter is the Friday prior to the event.  There is no fee to enter.

LOCATION:  Challenges take place at Irish Bistro 3905 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60613.

TIME:  Bakers should arrive by 5:30 p.m. to set up your cupcakes for display and tasting.

Feel free to bring minimal propping – within reason – to better tell your cupcake’s story.

CUPCAKES:  Please bring at least 2 dozen mini cupcakes and one full-size cupcake (this cake is your “pretty” presentation cupcake).. **AS INTEREST GROWS, THE NUMBER OF CUPCAKES WILL CHANGE TO PROVIDE A TASTE FOR ALL VOTERS.**

NEW! Bakers will be asked to “man” their cupcake stations during the tasting. This way you can tell your tasters what they are eating, lobby for their vote, etc. This will help keep tasting under control and prevent some from taking too many.

You may scratch bake or doctor up a box mix.  It is your choice.  You are not required to submit your recipe.

PRESENTATION:  Please bring a small sign stating the content of your cupcake.  Also please note if it contains nuts or other allergens.  This is considered part of your presentation.  If you cannot or do not make your own sign at home, paper and pens will be made available to make one the night of the event.  Please DO NOT put your name on the sign.  See photo at end of this post for an example.

CHECK-IN:  When you arrive, please check in with Irma to register your name and the name of your cupcake and to receive your voting number to be placed with your display.

VOTING PROCEDURE:  Each cupcake will be judged by all in attendance. Voting is based on presentation and taste.  Ballots will be collected and tabulated to determine the winner.  The top 3 will be announced and the top 1 will win the prize.  Ballots are then destroyed to keep the game fun and overt competitiveness to a minimum.

Credit: IronCupcake:Milwaukee

Welcome to IronCupcake:Chicago’s new website!  Bookmark us to find out the latest and greatest about the next challenge!