Does anyone know of a web chat for baking? How to finish these cakes?

I made some great white cupcakes, finally found a recipe I can live with. Now I want to experiment with fillings and frostings. I have apricot preserves and some semi-sweet choc and some white choc. Hummmm what to do? I don't want to go to the store :). I have all the other basics (sugar, vanilla etc.) Oh, and this is a big, big, football weekend where I come from. Colors are orange (burnt) and white. Decorating ideas would be appreciated! (I have the Wilton gels and pastery bags etc.)

Does anyone know of a web chat for baking? How to finish these cakes?
First Down

http://www.wilton.com/recipes/recipesand...

Touchdown Treat Cupcake (flag - orange/white)

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder...

Gridiron Hero Cupcake (make the helmet orange)

http://thepartyworks.com/article_info.ph...



Buttercream Frosting

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

3 to 4 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until fluffy, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and add the confectioners' sugar, 3 tablespoons of the milk, and the vanilla. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 1 minute more. Add up to 1 tablespoon more milk if the frosting seems too stiff.



Chocolate Buttercream

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

? cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

3 to 5 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place the butter and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture is soft and well combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and add the confectioners' sugar, 3 tablespoons of the milk, and the vanilla. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 1 minute more. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons more milk if the frosting seems too stiff.

http://www.wcpo.com/recipes/2005/05/03.h...



White Chocolate Buttercream

1 1/4 pounds imported white chocolate, chopped

1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove white chocolate from over water. Let stand until cool but not set, about 20 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in white chocolate and vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in powdered sugar. Cover and refrigerate until thick enough to spread, about 45 minutes (frosting will be very soft).

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe...



Apricot Frosting

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup apricot preserves

Mix together sugar, butter or margarine and apricot preserves until well blended.

http://cookie.allrecipes.com/az/apricotc...



WHITE CHOCOLATE FILLING:

4 ounces white chocolate, chopped

1/4 cup milk

4 ounces cream cheese

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In the top of a double boiler, combine the white chocolate and milk. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until the chocolate is melted. Let cool to room temperature. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese, and vanilla. Gradually add the cooled chocolate and beat until smooth. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours before filling cupcakes. Transfer the white chocolate filling to a pastry bag fitted with a small tip. With a small paring knife, cut a small plug from the top of each cupcake, reserving the plug, and scoop out a hole in the center of each cupcake to hold the filling. Place the tip in the cupcake and pipe in the filling to fill the hole. Replace the plug and place the cupcake upright. Pipe a small amount of filling on top to hide the plug and top with a cherry.

http://www.emerils.com/recipes/by_id/693...

http://www.emerils.com/recipes/by_name/w...
Reply:On idea is to put green frosting like football field on them and then with brown paint a tiny foot ball on each.......
Reply:make a white chocolate pudding and fill the cupcakes then make a apricot glaze and put it on the top. take the semi sweet choc and make a ganoche( melted choc and milk) and drizzle it on top.

to fill the cupcakes take yoru pastry bag and fill them from the top so they dont spill out when someone bits it and the apricot glaze will "hide" the hole .



you can also go to recipezaar.com it is my favorite for recipes nd ideas
Reply:Make the cupcakes into little helmets.....or decorate each top with something football themed, like making footballs on the, jersey numbers and such....I know that wasn't much help, but good luck and enjoy!
Reply:try askachef.com - they are verrrry good!
Reply:try the food network website and the very best of baking website