Cupcakery inspiration; Martha Stewart's Cupcakes giveaway
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 6:32AM 
This photo was part of a series shot in January, the last time I baked cupcakes from Martha Stewart.
I have three (main) places I keep cookbooks.
There are those stored in the bookshelves that line our den (also where I keep my magazine back issues). I consider these the reference books, those that I turn to for a specific inspiration or if I am looking for a particular recipe. The top shelves are reserved for my most treasured-tomes, the coffee table styled works from authors I admire; they sit alongside the dog-eared, aged copies of cookbooks from my childhood and before.
The second is our dining room table, much to the chagrin of my dear husband. Our dining room is often the resting place of books in transit, those making their way from the kitchen back up to the den. I would be lying if I told you that books do not sometimes take up an extended residence on that table, or if I denied my errant desire to line that room with bookshelves as well.
The third cookbook habitat is our kitchen itself. Behind the closed doors of a built-in cabinet live those books I use most often. These are the books I feel lost without, the ones that best reflect the way I cook and the way we eat. The selection rotates now and again, with titles being promoted and demoted, but there are certain regulars that never lose their place.
I am not yet sure as to where Martha Stewart's Cupcakes will land up, but I'm aiming to find out. With William's first birthday next week (so big!) and celebrations planned, I will be turning to Ms. Stewart for cupcakery inspiration.
And here's the best part - you, my dear friends, will be able to partake in the fun. Below are links to the recipes from the book which are currently available online, so you can get out your muffin tins, cupcake liners and get to baking. But wait, there's more! Random House Canada has generously provided the booty for a contest to celebrate the book's launch. What's there to win? Hold on to your hats:
Grand prize: A copy of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes and a copy of Martha Stewart's Cookies (one to be awarded)
Secondary prize: A copy of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes (two to be awarded)
To enter, simply comment at the end of this post; maybe we can chat about our favourite cookbooks or cupcakes or cupcake memory - you decide. But leave your comment by midnight Wednesday, June 10, 2009 (EST), and please include both your email address if not signed in, and a note of your desire to enter (this way, non entrants can still join the chat). If you do not want to sign in, nor do you want to publish your email, please comment then email me at tara [at] sevenspoons [dot] net, with the name you used to comment.
The winner will be selected by at random, and announced the next day. One note, due to distribution regulations, this contest is only open to residents of Canada. My apologies to international readers (this might be a good time to ask your Canadian friends to do you a favour).
Good luck!
Psst. It got mentioned in the comments, so I'll add a note - here's my review of Martha Stewart's Cookies from way back.
Recipes from the book:
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Tiramisu Cupcakes
Mrs. Kostyra's Spice Cupcakes
German Chocolate Cupcakes
Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
Black Forest Cupcakes
Triple-Citrus Mini Pound Cakes
Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Candied Hazelnut Cupcakes
Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes
Martha Stewart, contest, cookbook, cupcake, giveaway 
Reader Comments (97)
oops! sorry! Scratch me... I'm in the US. I'll make the Canada-only change on my edible crafts column, too!
Oo! Great giveaway! I'd like to enter! I miss Crave cupcakes from when I lived in Calgary...
email: mel@smilingfrog.ca
OOOhhhh cupcakes.....enter me in the contest please! The Martha Stewart Cookie book was fantastic. I really hope this becomes a long running series. Maybe cakes next?
Another good cupcake book is "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World" (there's a corresponding cookie one coming out soon too.) Lots of really neat and yummy ideas. That they are vegan is just a bonus!
I own over 100 cookbooks, but I do not have that one...and I am a cupcake addict!
I would love to win!
Mmm...hazelnut cupcakes...
Please enter me to win a cookbook!
Most memories involving cupcakes are good ones...my most recent cherished memory is of a friend's wedding where they had cupcakes in lieu of a cake. Plus plenty of leftovers that we got to take home with us :)
Umm who doesn't love cupcakes and books, and books dedicated TO cupcakes. I saw the book today at Costco.
By the way that frosting looks dangerous, dangerously good that is.
Also, a Canada only contest who even knew!!!!!!!
So excited.
I just noticed that this is for Canadians only.
I am not able to win because I live in the USA, but I did want to let you know that I am sharing this giveaway with all of my friends on All Things Cupcake. The post will appear on June 9th. I also have a similar giveaway of 3 Martha Stewart's Cupcakes cookbooks as well as 1 Martha Stewart's Cookies Cookbook also on the 9th that will be open to US Citizens as well.
I'm sticking my finger into the bowl for this one!
Ugh, what to say about cupcakes when there is too much to say?!
Chocolate, White, Avocado (yeah...it was actually good, with chili sauce!), and my all time favorite VELVET.
Oh, my heart skips a beat thinking about when I used to see those store bought cupcakes peeking through the plastic bag at school events. You know how they always show people dreaming of money falling from the sky? I dream of cupcakes falling from the sky. Yes, I want to be covered in their goodness.
Enough.
I'm glad you are going to count on Martha for William's first birthday and I hope you share pictures of your creations!
(Ah and I have to say that "Naples at Table" is a fantastic cookbook, especially if you like Southern Italian cooking! *the best, in this humble gal's opinion*)
OOO! I would love to enter. My favourite cookbooks are my Donna Hay's, as well as good ol' Betty Crocker. When you just need a quick mac and cheese, Betty's your girl!
I would love love love these cookbooks!!!
i love cupcakes! especially ones that have anything to do with chocolate.
count me in the contest!
I love cupcakes and I love Martha's one bowl chocolate cupcake recipe. I wonder if it's in this book.
Tara I would love to win the cupcake cookbook! I am a Canuck, newly married and a "burner". I am persistent in my quest to learn to cook/bake wonderful food for my husband and I...sometimes we end up ordering pizza, but sometimes things work out deliciously well. Thanks for your lovely blog; it has been an inspiration!
Love me a good cupcake!
Yummy! These look awesome... I've been wanting to get the MS Cookie and Cupcake book, but budgets been tight! Besides that, I'm running out of room... my cookbooks are spilling into my daughters room!
My 10yo daughter has had the Cookie book checked out from the library for about a year now. She just keeps renewing it and then blessing us with delicious creations.
I know she would love to win a copy.
I just wanted to let you know that I have awarded your blog the 'One Lovely Blog' award!
Please go to
http://lemoulinaeau.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-lovely-blog-awards.html
to collect your award and see how it works.
I think I need a cupcake right now. Cupcakes forever. What a delightful giveaway!
I'll take the book ;)
Martha Stewart and cupcakes are a real match made in heaven!
What a great contest!
I'd love join.
My favourite cupcake is red velvet and cream cheese icing.
dramz_queen@hotmail.com
yum, yum - I'm not in Canada, but those chocolate cupcakes look divine!
and - I wanted to let you know that I'm having another giveaway myself this week, so please drop by :)
I am always up for collecting cookbooks. I recently stumbled across the 101cookbooks site and thought "101 cookbooks?! That would be wonderful". I think the books have become as much a piece of well used)daily art, as a reference resource. I am drawn to the beautiful photographs in them and would gladly accept more kitchen art :)
Sign me up!
Cupcake memory? For my grade one birthday party, my mom & grandma took a whole bunch of kids and I down to a natural area where we played by the creek w/ little boats my grandpa had made. Then instead of a cake, we had cupcakes (white w/ pink icing topped with a marichino (sp?) cherry.)
What I remember most distinctly was how sweet the icing was-- to colour it pink, my mom hadn't used red food colouring, but the juice from the cheeries!
That cupcake looks sooo edible right now at 3:45 in the afternoon...
Please sign me up for your lovely contest! I'm in England but the book can be delivered to my parents' house in Ottawa, should I be the lucky winner.