shell chic'd

Lulu’s

by Leave a Comment

Boy I’ll tell ya, it is really difficult to live in my little Italian neighborhood sometimes. I am literally surrounded by carbs, cannolis, and cappuccinos. Oh and cupcakes. Cannot forget cupcakes.

Despite all of the famous bakeries in the North End of Boston (Mike’s, Modern, etc.), my favorite is tiny Lulu’s Sweet Shoppe. Call me crazy, but I’d take one of their s’mores cupcakes and a bag of candy over a cannoli any day.

row one l-r: nutella, pistachio, strawberry
row two l-r: chocolate cherry bomb, chocolate explosion, carrot cake 

Who’s with me??

[Pie] Pop It Lock It Drop It

by Leave a Comment

Remember that time I made cake pops? The obsession continues.

My little brother, getting to be quite the good gift giver in his old age, got me a BabyCakes Pie Pop Maker for Christmas. I toyed with it a few times during the holidays, but whipped it out again this week to make some pops for my book club.

too cute.

too easy.

too delicious.

Do you have any BabyCakes makers? I think I’m going to have my heart set on the mini donut maker next. Donut pops anyone…?!

Let Them Eat Cake Pops

by Leave a Comment

As a Valentine treat to myself + roomies, I made one of my favorite desserts last weekend, cake pops! I didn’t use a recipe per se, just this video and what’s on the back of a box of Funfetti cake mix 🙂 Highly recommend these sweet little treats.

(step 1) bake cake!

(step 2) crumble cake, mix with frosting [so fun], and mold into balls.

(step 3) dip balls into melted candy melts

(step 4) sparkle with edible glitter!

(step 5) eat up.

post script: Thank you all so much for the darling birthday wishes yesterday!!

Let Them Eat Cupcakes

by 8 Comments

Last Thursday was National Cupcake Day, so I stole my friend Shannon from her finals studying/paper writing to indulge in some treats at Sweet. If you are in Boston, run- do not walk- to your nearest Sweet and get your hands on some of these balls of goodness. Like, now.

Linking up with a {little} dash of ash for an Instagram Link Party!

Cupcakes for a Birthday Girl

by 7 Comments

Today Yesterday was one of my best friend’s birthdays, but due to some technical difficulties this post is a day belated! 🙁

Demetra and I share two loves. One love is Nutella, the other is cupcakes. Since we’re so far apart now, I can’t be with her on her 22nd birthday, but I’m still baking Nutella Cupcakes in her honor! A virtual birthday party, if you will.

Recipe is from cutest-baking-blog-ever Your Cup of Cake, and I highly recommend these. These being both nutella cupcakes and best friends.

Happy birthday Dem!! Wish more than anything we could actually eat these together!

Macarons mon amie!

by Leave a Comment

Remember how I’m obsessed with Ladurée’s Parisian macarons?  And how I totally failed last time I tried to make them?  Well I couldn’t wait another minute for the French to arrive in NYC, so I try tried again and this time was much more successful!

I stopped searching around for tips and tricks and secret recipes and instead went with good old Martha Stew.  And she really didn’t let me down!  It wasn’t an easy process by any means, and it is definitely a two-person job, but when Puffy and I went slowly and really followed the recipe step by step (sounds like such an easy concept but I definitely improvise a lot when it comes to baking), we succeeded 🙂

They’re just too pretty and delicate to resist, and with some Nutella and raspberry jam filling, the were the perfect little Sunday afternoon treat.  If you’re going to attempt these little buggers, my only advice is to dare not substitute.  Make the extra trip for the almond flour and superfine sugar because it really does make a difference, and I think that’s where I went wrong the first time.  Click here for Martha’s recipe.

Bon appetit mes amis!