Pepper Design Blog

Cupcake Heaven: Delicious Lemon Raspberry!

The search today for modern & pretty — but delightfully appetizing & divine — cupcakes is virtually endless. Cupcakes are the new wedding cake, dessert bar and afternoon snack. There are so many fabulous bakeries sprinkled about to satisfy the craving — but when Vanilla Bake Shop decided to divulge one of it’s best kept secrets, how to recreate the salivatingly sweet Raspberry Meyer Lemon Cupcake with Martha and her audience, I dropped everything to give it a try myself. Amy Berman (founder of the Santa Monica patisserie) was featured on The Martha Stewart Show after proving that her cupcakes were not only beautiful, but also extraordinarily finger-licking delicious!

Note: the Raspberry Meyer Lemon Cupcake is pictured top left in the picture below, the other delicious goodies shown are also all Vanilla Bake Shop.

After many an attempt to recreate such delectable finds on my own, I borrowed Amy’s recipe to make the (complicated but definitely worth it) treats for a friend’s beach baby shower.

While the pressed white sugar topping is clever (I’ll be using that again) I opted to swap it out for crushed graham crackers for a sun-kissed, sandy-beach cupcake topped with candy shells. (Another great hint after experimentation: try adding a whole raspberry into each filling hole with the lemon meyer concentrate – you’ll knowwhat I mean after you watch the video). For a link to a video of Martha and Amy assembling the mini creations — as well as the recipe — follow the jump. Read more »

DIY: Vibrant Party Tissue Poms

Here’s an easy, DIY idea for your next get-together: Tissue Poms! These are not only easy to make, but they’re super cute and very customizable for your next event. Consider the tissue paper colors and patterns available today! I love the idea of these hanging in clusters with paper lanterns over tables, under trees full of twinkle lights, through doorways or from chandeliers, swinging above a dance floor, covering a table as a quick centerpiece, or decorating a candy bar to add color and flare. Poms can be used as napkin rings, on top of favor boxes or fluffed as mini flowers for a modern arrangement. Consider the possibilities! Find a quick How-To and more great inspiration after the jump! Read more »

Bright Summer Colors for a Labor Day BBQ!

September is here and summer is coming to a close… but the weather has never been more perfect for an outdoor, hot-summer’s-day BBQ! For a bit of inspiration, check out this great Orange, Pink & Red theme by Better Homes & Gardens. Colorful melamine plates and paper lanterns — ribbon adorned cups, pitchers and seat cushions — checkered table cloths and matching napkins! Get creative and incorporate any color scheme that you love, it’s easy to set the atmosphere and bring cohesion into a lively party through colors and patterns. And as always, it’s all about the details!

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