Cupcakes Take The Cake~Spotlight Simply Rita Cupcakes!

Nichelle and Rachel cupcake bloggers from The world's most popular cupcake blog, Cupcakes Take The Cake, spotlighted Simply Rita Cupcakes on their blog! Take a look...

http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2011/03/spotlight-on-simply-rita-cupcakes-of.html#comments

My cupcakes equate to lifelong friendships...

When I first started Simply Rita Cupcakes around 3 years ago I never imagined how many wonderful people I would of met along the way. The people I have met are not only my customers they truly are lifelong friends.

Diane, a Greek-American residing in Greece was in search for the perfect cupcake for her daughter's baptism. Who would of ever thought that a simple cupcake consultation would of ended up with us sipping coffee on my balcony and discussing everything from marriage to our children. Three years later Diane and I still keep in contact, and she's been so supportive of my business and I'm so thankful for that.

Ralph and Denise, were amongst my first customers here in Cheshire, CT. They stumbled upon my cupcakes when reading the weekly issue of The Cheshire Herald. When I first met Denise it really did seem like I had known her for years. She has been great at helping me promote my business by referring me and by networking on her facebook profile. It is devoted customers like this that makes my business successful.

And how can I forget Ms. Cupcake Couture, the winner of February's Drag Wars. Although I've only known Cupcake Couture for a short period of time, I know it's going to be the beginning of a great friendship. I'm confident that when we join forces we will be successful at using our love for cupcakes to raise money for great causes!

This is only the beginning of many more friendships to come...Thanks to all!

Why I decided to decline The Food Network's offer to audition for Cupcake Wars..

When I was contacted by The Food Network to audition for Cupcake Wars I was excited, nervous, flattered and willing to go on the show and bake my pants off for cupcake pioneer Candace Nelson and Frenchy Pastry Chef Florian Bellanger: The master of macaroons.

But the more I thought about it the more anxious I would get. The anxiety wasn't because I would potentially have to design a 1,000 cupcake display and bake the cupcakes within a 90 minute time frame, it was the stem of something else....

Regardless of the outcome of the competition it is likely that my business would pick up after the show aired, and I wasn't quite sure if I wanted that. Currently, my mother and I are able to bake small batches of cupcakes 3 times a day Thursday-Sunday. If it ever got to the point where my mother and I couldn't handle it, it would mean more staff members, bigger batches, and an inability to micro manage, to be precise, and to pay attention to detail. There would be no more cherry on the Key Lime Pie Cupcake, no more dollop of strawberry preserves on the Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake, and no more homemade meringue cookie on the Lemon Meringue Cupcake (kudos to those cupcake shops that are still able to do all this while mass producing). Although business would probably be better, I personally wouldn't feel satisfied with the cupcakes being produced, which is why I have decided not to go on Cupcake Wars!

Wow, Simply Rita.....not so simple after all!

Going Green!

When I was asked to make cupcakes for an event in Middletown, I wasn't too sure what the event was all about until I got there. The developers of Centerpoint were celebrating the launch of the first "Green Complex" in Connecticut. The event had a great turnout and the attendees included the Mayor of Middletown, and of course the media and press. Good luck Lennie and the rest of the team at Centerpoint, I was honored to host your event!

Mayor Giuliano of Middletown enjoying a Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcake.

Bon Voyage Ziggy!

The Cheshire Men's Basketball League threw a going away party for Ziggy! What better way to say goodbye but with pizza, beer and cupcakes?

Although Ziggy is clearly "TRAVELING", the team believed my cupcakes were a "SLAM DUNK".

Cheshire Pizza: Where it's okay to be a kid again!!

2 Ovens, 222 Cupcakes and 2 Generations: All For the Love of Cupcakes...

Today I managed to bake 222 cupcakes for 3 separate events!

A Sweet 16, a Baby Shower and a Bridal Shower.

Thank heavens for my parents who were sweet enough to wake up at the crack of dawn to start baking with me (the clock was set on bar time it was actually 4:30 a.m. when I got there).

Sometimes I feel like the guy from the Dunkin Donuts commercials whose catch phrase was "Time to make the donuts". What was that guy's name anyway?

Yes it was still dark out!

One of the most beautiful humble families I have ever met!

Happy Sweet 16 Shani!

The giant cupcake!

The giant cupcake along with my father's giant mustache!

Road Trip!

This couple was on the prowl for a place in Connecticut that bakes cupcakes just like their grandmothers used to. After researching the net they stumbled across Simply Rita and drove all the way from Stratford to get their hands on the freshly baked cupcakes. After trying the Butterscotched Smore Cupcake they were elated that their search was finally over!

What is so unique about Simply Rita is that the cupcakes are made on a first come first serve basis. This allows me to make smaller batches and focus on quality not quantity, ensuring that my customers always receive a cupcake that does indeed taste like it came out of grandma's kitchen!

Home Run!

Mr. and Mrs. Ausmus, the proud parents of Brad Ausmus (the former major league baseball player of the Los Angeles Dodgers), believed I hit a home run with this

Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcake!

Orange you cute!

Two brothers from The Cheshire Academy treat themeselves to Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes!

Sweet Brotherly Love!

2 Peas in a Pod!

My dearest friend Lila and I discovered we were pregnant at the same exact time 20 months ago. Although I was residing in Greece at the time, I felt closer than ever to her because we both got to experience such a beautiful moment in our lives together.

Who would of ever thought that only a year and a half later our 2 peas in a pod would be indulging cupcakes together!

Coco for Baby K!

Lynn who is 1 week past her due date is hoping that the 3 cupcakes she ate will stimulate a sugar induced labor!

Cupcake Tasting

This beautiful couple opted for cupcakes rather than a traditional wedding cake for their special day. Here they are tasting the cupcakes with their adorable nephew/ring bearer!

The Best Things In Life; Family, Friends and Cupcakes!

The Best Things in Life:

Family

Friends
and Cupcakes!

Baby Fever!

Interactive Baby Shower Cupcakes. Guess the sex of the baby and receive free cupcakes!

It's a Girl!

Bean & Beam

Bean & Beam

We only use the finest ingredients when baking our cupcakes. Fresh vanilla bean is mixed in every batter and whipped in every frosting. The fresh vanilla adds an intense flavor that can not be replicated using vanilla extract. The pods of the vanilla can also be jarred to make homemade vanilla extract or added to granulated sugar to make vanilla sugar.

Fruit Du Jour

For those that have toddlers that are picky eaters will definitely appreciate this post!

When it's time for Kokona to eat her fruit I cut it up in tiny little bite size pieces, put her in her high chair, do a little song and dance and pray she'll eat at least a few bites. Usually she just ends up smooshing the fruit du jour and using it as hand lotion. She then proceeds to smear what hasn't fallen on the floor all over the table only to leave me with a nice sticky mess to clean up. Therefore, if most parents can get their picky eaters to eat their fruit they'll do whatever it takes. Today Kokona decided to eat her fruit on my new Kitchen Aid, and to my surprise she ate the whole orange. I almost don't want to take the mixer out of the box! Not only did my Kitchen Aid get Kokona to eat her fruit, it also inspired me to create a new flavor for this Friday... Orange Cranberry!

Fashion Police!

When I was watching Fashion Police on the E channel I heard something that literally made me stop in my own tracks. I heard Joan River's raspy voice stating that "cupcakes were so last season"! I believe that the cupcake is like a little black dress--it never goes out of style. And besides is this not a picture of Joan herself posing with a dozen cupcakes?