Yum Peaceful Cooking: Spuds Sweet Delight and a CSN Stores Giveaway

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Spuds Sweet Delight and a CSN Stores Giveaway


Spuds.....Sweet....Delight. Yep...thats' what it says and that's what it is. Basically, we're talking about a sweet potato in cupcake version with a sweet maple and brown sugar icing. I think the icing needs some work. Not in flavor...but texture. I have a lot to learn in this area. This was one of the cupcakes I baked for Cupcake Camp L.A. and the thing I really stressed out about the most was the decorating. In short...the icing. I mean...there's so much to consider.....the texure...too thin? too thick? and the whole execution. Omg!! I am sooooo not an icing / frosting person.

So, to make up for my lacking in icing making / applying skills, I'm going to give away a $50.00 USD gift certificate for CSN Stores. Sound fair?

Ok...picture a chilly winter morning. You're sitting in your living room with a cup of coffee and a Spuds Sweet Delight Cupcake...when you let out a big sigh as you once again notice that your coffee table is older than your first child and is in desperate need of retirement. Then you remember that CSN Stores has just about everything....including coffee tables! And not to mention great prices. So head on over and look at some coffee tables, do a little day dreaming and wishful thinking cuz we all know that times are tough for us all. But hey....it never hurts to dream. And who knows....you just might (and probably will) find something within your budget. Which means this little story has a very happy ending.

So take a quick minute to check out those coffee tables. Even if you don't need one right now. Who knows...maybe you'll need one in the near future.

(sshhhh....we'll get to the recipe in a second).

Sooo....how do you win this awesome $50.00 USD gift certificate? Please take 2 seconds to read carefully:

Rules:
This contest is for US  and Canadian residents only
Gift Certificate does not cover applicable shipping and handling charges (don't worry....CSN Stores has sooooo many items that are "free shipping")
Gift Certificate will be good for any and all CSN Stores
Leave a comment for each hoop you've jumped through

Ways to enter: (how many hoops do you want to jump through?)
1. Leave a comment (if you do not want to be entered in the giveaway...that's fine, leave a comment and say it's not for the giveaway. easy peasy)
2. Comment including what your favorite coffee table is
3. Follow me
4. Like my Peaceful Cooking Facebook Page
5. Tweet about my giveaway
6. 2  entries if you Blog about my giveaway

Don't forget.....I need a way to contact you!!! Especially if you're anonymous. If your blogger identity does not link to your email, please leave me your email address or email it to me: peacefulcooking at gmail dot com

Did I forget anything?

Oh yes....This giveaway will end on Sunday, December 5th, 2010 at 11:50 p.m. pacific standard time. I will announce the winner late Monday night or Tuesday.

Good enough? I mean... come on guys.....it's the holiday season. Think GIFTS!!! $50.00 to spend any way you wish. On a loved one or yourself. Not bad....eh? You gotta love free.

Ok...now for the recipe.

Spuds Sweet Delight Cupcakes (inspired by EvilShenanigans.com - Sweet Potato Cupcakes
Printable Version

Makes 24 cupcakes

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter, room temp
1 14oz can sweet potatoes
2/3 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla (1 TB plus 1 tsp)

Maple and Brown Sugar Icing (inspired by Joylicious.net)
 1 lb powdered sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, room temp
1 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350' F. Line 24 muffin tins with paper liners. 

Batter: Beat together the butter and sugar until light and smooth. Add eggs, sweet potato, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until combined well. Set aside.

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon and allspice. Gradually add to sweet potato mixture....stirring until combined and no lumps remain. Do not over mix.

Divide between the muffin tins (filling about 3/4 full, or a tad more). Bake for 18 - 20 minutes or until a toothpick entered in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool for a couple of minutes. Remove from muffin tin and allow to cool completely before attempting to ice them.



Now....for the icing. I followed the initial instructions. If I were to do it again, I 'd try it differently. The instructions said to:

On low speed, stream the sugars, butter and salt. Stream in maple syrup. Add vanilla. Increase the speed to med and beat until light and fluffy.

My icing came out a bit grainy from the brown sugar....and it was very "wet". Which tells me it needed more powdered sugar? I think.

Anyways, I think next time I'll work the butter first: beat until creamy, approx. 2 minutes on med-high speed. Then reduce the speed to med. and add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. Add brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Stream in the maple syrup and vanilla...continuing to beat until light and fluffy again.

Maybe....just maybe, I'd end up with an icing with a little more body and the brown sugar will have smoothed out a bit.


 Either way...they had great flavor and they did have a bit of personality to them...kinda Shabby Chic. A little droopy but in pearls.

77 comments:

  1. Great giveaway!! Droopy but with pearls, classic..

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  2. I would love to sit with you and enjoy a cup of coffee and share that lovely muffin.

    Great giveaway. I love CSN. I took a peak at their tables and a glass top coffee table would be perfect on our oriental rug in the living room. Being able to see through the table highlights the lovely rug.
    Sam

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  3. I also like Peaceful Cooking page on Facebook.
    Sam

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  4. grainy and wet? pshaw--i'd devour a bowl of that frosting regardless.
    i'm liking the breckenridge square cocktail table most of all. excellent and timely giveaway. :)

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  5. These cupcakes sound really good, especially this time of the year. I think you did an excellent job on all of your cupcakes...you're too hard on yourself girl. Now consider me entered in your giveaway LOL

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  6. Ok, so I checked out the coffee tables....I'm totally diggin' the chrome/silver and glass sculptured ones. (not sure if Jim would give up his leather ottoman/table tho LOL)

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  7. Love sweet potatoes and cupcakes so I'm totally digging these.

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  8. My favorite table would be this one: http://www.allcoffeetables.com/Southern-Enterprises-CSN0677-UT2124.html
    cuz it looks modern and sleek.

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  9. I am "liking" your facebook page

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  10. Just tweeted about the giveaway here: http://twitter.com/#!/tjbugnet/status/10363606944190464

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  11. I'm sure I can't get lucky twice, but I'll try!

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  12. I like this one: http://www.allcoffeetables.com/Barlow-Tyrie-Teak-2MIL06.INT-BT1070.html

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  13. Those cupcakes look yummy!

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  14. gfc follower.

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  15. I like this table: Riverside Furniture Cape May Round Cocktail Table

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  16. That cupcake looks beautiful!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  17. I like the Hammary Kanson cocktail table with storage cubes. Great stuff!

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  18. Thanks for the giveaway! Cuuuute cupcakes!

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  19. Love this table. Very simple and chic.

    http://www.allcoffeetables.com/Abbyson-Living-FR-7000-0020-BYV1056.html

    megan.lindley33@gmail.com

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  20. Thanks for the giveaway! Maybe I'll have a shot.

    Chris

    zekks at yahoo dot com

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  21. Have to say I like the Wildon Home Benicia Lift Top Coffee Table. Those lift tops make eating sweet potato cupcakes while watching TV even easier.

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  22. I am updating my living room and already have a coffee table but I would love to have a new ottoman. Perhaps the dCOR design Skammel Storage Ottoman.

    tclarkusa at gmail dot com

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  23. I need this recipe for the recipe section of my blog. This would be a great alternative to sweet potato pie and something totally unexpected and besides that who doesn't like cupcakes?

    tclarkusa at gmail dot com

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  24. Love those cupcake. I think they're very cute.

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  25. Ahhh...Sweet Potato Cupcakes sound so good!

    Don't you just love the edible pearls? I just love 'em and have them in every size!

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  26. Just found your blog via your pomegranate cheesecake recipe on Bake Space. It looks divine & great giveaway!

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  27. I would love to be entered & these cupcakes look AMAZING! :)

    april_vereb@yahoo.com

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  28. My favorite is this one!
    http://www.allcoffeetables.com/Southern-Enterprises-CSN0677-UT2124.html

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  29. I'm a follower!

    april_vereb@yahoo.com

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  30. FB fan!

    april_vereb@yahoo.com

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  31. Tweeted!

    april_vereb@yahoo.com

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  32. thanks for having a great giveaway.

    tahearn at roadrunner dot com

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  33. I follow with google friends.


    tahearn at roadrunner dot com

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  34. I'm not really an icing/frosting person, either...but these sound delicious. I'd be willing to eat a few ;) ..as for the giveaway...woot! Love CSN...I can find anything I need... :) Thanks for the chance!

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  35. My favorite kind of coffee table is one that's sturdy, wooden...and not all scuffed up like the one I bought at a garage sale years ago 80

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  36. I follow you...with a drink in my hand.

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  37. I like your FB page. It's wonderful. It reminds me of you ;)

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  38. YUM!!!!!
    I am a follower and i am liking you on FB... i like the Riverside Furniture Cape May Round Cocktail Table - 44005 / 44105

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  39. I do want to be entered! please count me in!
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

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  40. I am a follower too
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

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  41. http://twitter.com/meeyeehere/status/11230103673507840
    tweeted
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

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  42. Hi I am a follower too! Love your Blog. Happy Holidays to you and your family!

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  43. Hello...I LIKE your facebook page!

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  44. Wow they have some beautiful coffee tables there. Now I wasnt even thinking that I needed a coffee table, but , now I really really want this one, lol...
    Butler Heritage Clock Cocktail Table # 286070 or SKU#BTL1138
    It's so cool, it has a working clock in the middle of the table!

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  45. Great giveaway! That cupcake looks fantastic!

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  46. I really like this table

    http://www.csnstores.com/Klaussner-Furniture-892818CTBL-KLF1356.html

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  47. http://www.csnstores.com/Klaussner-Furniture-892818CTBL-KLF1356.html

    ReplyDelete
  48. http://tctsgiveawayroundup.blogspot.com/2010/12/win-50-csn-code.html

    blogged 2

    gina.m.maddox AT gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  49. http://twitter.com/#!/TheCraveToSave/status/11379207410028544

    tweet!

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  50. I follow you on GFC
    gina.m.maddox (at) gmail.com

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  51. I love the Wildon Home Benicia Lift Top Coffee Table in Dark Wood - 811359SKU #: CST3078 I did not know they could lift up like that. How Wonderful!

    I am a subsciber and love it!

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

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  52. I am also a GFC follower!

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

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  53. I like you on FB too!

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  54. Tweeted here too!

    http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/11416653711548416

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

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  55. Blogged your giveaway here too!

    http://gmissycat.blogspot.com/

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

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  56. Blogged your giveaway here too!

    http://gmissycat.blogspot.com/

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

    2

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  57. Love to enter!
    I follow you already.
    I follow you on FB already.

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  58. Hi, I love your cupcakes, and pearls go ANYWHERE!

    If this store has an online version, then please sign me up.

    I think my favorite coffee table is this one, it belonged to my hubby's mom.

    Love your humor in your post!

    Judy

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  59. SUPER GRATEFUL FOR THIS GIVEAWAY- THANK YOU! kytah00@yahoo.com

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  60. LOVE THE "Elite Products Elite Coffee Table - 38-2044-00x
    SKU #: EL1956" kytah00@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  61. FOLLOWING YOU ON GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT AS "kytah00" kytah00@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  62. LIKED YOUR PAGE ON FACEBOOK VIA ANGEL JACKLYN facebook.com/kytah00 kytah00@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. TWEET http://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/11529459198861312 kytah00@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  64. Great giveaway ! I would love to win!!! thecanadyfamily@gmail.com

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  65. I love the Allison Coffee table! thecanadyfamily@gmail.com

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  66. My best friend loves sweet potatoes! I might make these for her soon!

    pestochango AT gmail DOT com

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  67. Coffee tables... I'd have to go with http://www.allcoffeetables.com/Hammary-T03603-00B-T03603-00T-HAM1132.html this one, which is unfortunately $450... but beautiful!

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  68. I tweeted the giveaway! @pestochango

    ReplyDelete

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