Teal & Pink Cupcakes

Recently I visited a baking store in town, just to spend money see what they had, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I noticed they carried these:

DRAGEES!

No, not drag queens.

Although I'm assuming they would like these too.

They are edible silver balls for decorating cakes/cupcakes etc.

My mom, who was separated from Martha Stewart at birth, always had these around the holidays. She would put them on her Christmas cookies, and it added a beautiful touch.

Recently we have been looking for them everywhere, until now! 

DRAG QUEENS...I mean DRAGEES for everyone!!

I love those little balls so much, they helped inspire me for my next cupcake project.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting, pink flower, and silver pink dragee.

Marble Cupcake with Double Dutch Chocolate frosting, teal flower, and teal dragee.

And then I learned a valuable lesson.

One thing you may not know about me is that I LOOOVE cooking shows.

Top Chef Just Desserts!..WHAT WHAT!

Anyways.

When I first got married, my husband worked at Nordstrom's.

He worked so many hours, I was alone alot...It was terrible!

( Besides the employee discount =] )

So I found a way to make the days/nights go faster.

I watched cooking shows, and baked and cooked alot.

(I know what your thinking. I sat on my butt in front of the TV, and then I ate lots of food. No I wasn't depressed OR eating my feelings. And No I didn't gain 500 pounds. I got close though)

Anyways,  I learned alot of valuable lessons.

Problem was...

I tend to not like being told what to do, and I'm sure my dad would agree. But one thing I remember the chefs always saying was that food taste SO much better when you use high quality ingredients.

I didn't believe them at first, but as time grew, I realized they were RIGHT. Dangit!

And today, that realization slapped me in the face again.

Meet the most amazing chocolate frosting I have ever made:

All because I used a high quality cocoa powder. I bought it online, and it tasted AMAZING.

Ghiradelli didn't even COMPARE =]

So if I teach you anything, it's that, the quality of the ingredients you use DOES make a difference.

Now if you will excuse me, I have a bowl of frosting to eat.