No TWD Puff Ring...Massive Baking Overload.

Yes, I have finally missed a TWD. I'm sad about it and a little guilty, as I don't like not doing something that I am supposed to be. Miss Caroline from A Consuming Passion chose the Peppermint Cream Puff Ring. However...I was not too sad when I read about how many issues the gals were having with the pate a choux (don't even ask me how many sites I had to look into to find out what that was) and deflating unhappiness.

I thought...well after my last brioche fiasco...a busy weekend upon just returning from a 4 day trip is not the way to figure out how to make a potentially difficult puff ring. Especially since suddenly things seemed to get REALLY busy.

The night I returned from my trip, I watched my youngest sister graduate from high school, already well on her way to transfer into college as a sophomore...thanks to the college units she's been rackin' up over the last year. I made her Vanilla Buttermilk cupcakes with Orange Blossom frosting to celebrate.



I also used the same batter as the base for Tiramisu Cupcakes for a coworker's birthday celebration the next day. Two of my coworkers aka best-looking-guinea-pigs-ever pronounced them the BEST thing I've made thus far. Considering they eat things from my kitchen at least 3x a week, that's interesting.

I made vanilla cakes, soaked them with strong coffee mixed with sugar, and then frosted with marscapone whipped cream frosting, sifted cocoa over them and topped with a cutie bean.





Then the next night, I made two batches of cupcakes for events on Saturday. One with a Peanut Butter Marscapone frosting that I used from leftover marscapone Tiramisu frosting (just add PB!) and one with a Lavender Honey buttercream frosting.





One of the events on Saturday, was the first Cupcake Meetup for the SJ area. There were really only two bakers...lovely Betty and myself, but we had a fun time anyway and the cupcakes were a treat. I got a new recipe out of the visit, Betty's fabulous chocolate cupcakes are to die for... I can't wait to try them. I ate THREE total. There are pictures on Betty's blog as well...including a priceless one of me modeling my cupcakes.



And then on Sunday...we hosted a family BBQ..and I made a special Father's Day Peanut Butter Torte in a 7" deep springform, for my Dad. It was a total hit.





So as you can see, unfortunately not enough time left in the weekend to attempt the Peppermint Puff Ring. But not bad for a weekend's work, I think!!

Definitely check out all the other fabulous puffalicious goodies at the TWD site, the recipe is listed on Miss Caroline's site (though seriously, buy the book, it's fabulous!!) and I definitely will be on board for the Mixed Berry Cobbler for next week! Mmmmm...berries.