Iron Cupcake: San Francisco - Ingredient: Squash

September's Iron Cupcake challenge was squash! WHAT, you might wonder were they thinking? But squash is a very common ingredient in baking, and in fact makes the texture super moist. Think zucchini breads or muffins, pumpkin pies and such.

September Challenge was held again at Leland Tea Co. on Sept. 28, 2009. This time around, there were 20 cupcake entries, and all of them were delicious. (Last time Pepper was the ingredient, which seemed to challenge some tastebuds, particularly with over 30 entries, we got a bit numb at times).

Here is my submission:

P3 - Pumpkin Pie Poppers

Crusted- bottom cupcake, with a layer of pumpkin pie cake, a layer of traditional homemade pumpkin pie filling, topped with a light whipped buttercream.

As always, lots of love goes into baking these cupcakes. Iron Cupcake SF is open to everyone, bakers and foodies, to bake, taste, and judge! Below is the Iron Cupcake site with the contest rules. The next Iron Cupcake challenge is... BEER! http://www.meetup.com/Iron-Cupcake-San-Francisco-Challenge/calendar/11615012/

More Photos of September Challenge, and name of submissions follows...

(Center) Butternut Squash & Pepper Cake

With Curry Cardamom Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Cupcake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling and Frosting

Kick-Oss Cupcakes

Pumpkin Cupcake with Butterscotch, maple, and cream cheese frosting

Cinnamon Zucchini

with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Spice Cupcake

with Butternut Squash Risotto "Pudding" Fill and Creme Fraiche Frosting

Pumpkin with Browned Butter Cupcake

with Cream Cheese Frosting

Roasted Butternut Squash

with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting and Toasted Pecans

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Lemon Raspberry Zucchini Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Perfection

Pumpkin Spice with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

P3 - Pumpkin Pie Poppers

Crusted- bottom cupcake, with a layer of pumpkin pie cake, a layer of traditional homemade pumpkin pie filling, topped with a light whipped buttercream.

That is a full plate!

Will at Leland's Tea Co. helping to host the Iron Cupcake event.

The Iron Cupcake Team tallying the ballots.

Chelsea announcing the winners.

Our third place winner!

This month's first place winner... from Lake Tahoe!

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Beijing Rocks S.F. at Sing for China fundraiser

Last night was the Sing for China charity event, benefitting the China AIDS Orphan Fund. The event itself turned out to be super awesome, with great rock music exceeding my expectations!

Beijing's famous band, Queen Sea Big Shark, is opening for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs tonight in Oakland.

All the bands are huge in China, so it was quite a special show, with great music and performances. Opening was Drunken Hu from San Francisco, followed by Hedgehog, Casino Demon, and ending with Queen Sea Big Shark, who is opening for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs tonight in Oakland. Our favorite band was Hedgehog... the drummer chick, Atom, was about 4 feet tall, and just destroyed on the drums. Hedgehog had great stage presence, and riveting sounds.

I baked 200 cupcakes (minis and standard sizes) with all proceeds going to the organization. There were a range of flavors, including my new favorite, Peanut Butternana, as well as a new creation, Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice!

Click below for more photos!.

In addition to Cupcakes for Charity, there was a raffle for a bunch of video games donated by SEGA and Koei. Games included Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires, Ironman, Bleach: Dark Souls, Sonic the Hedgehog (how appropriate!), Sonic Chronicles, Daisy Fuentes Pilates, Let's Tap and Stormrise. Thank you SEGA and Koei!

My new cupcake sign :) ...made from scratch with love

Local San Francisco band, Drunken Hu opened the event with hard-hitting metal sounds. Sing for China event organizer, Melvin Wong was the lead singer.

Hedgehog was hot, and definitely one of the night's favorites.

Atom breakin' it down on the drums... look how tiny she is, you can barely see her over the drum kit.

Hedgehog's bassist, Bassist Box.

Look how cute Atom is (center), and what an amazing drummer. I'm 5 feet tall so she must be about 4 feet 6 inches...we're all standing up in this photo!

Curtis Chin helped organize and promote the Sing for China event.

Check out what Atom is holding in her other hand...

My cupcake is famous!

Mmm...cupcakes!

Tin Fan leading an encore rally... Queen Sea! Big Shark!

Queen Sea Big Shark with surf pop sounds.

Me, chillin' at the cupcake and raffle ticket table.

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Iron Cupcake: San Francisco - Ingredient: Pepper!

I participated in my first Iron Cupcake challenge on Monday night, and the special ingredient this month was PEPPER! Black or red, it didn't matter. There were over 100 people who came out to taste, not all were cupcake engineers, but they were all definitely fans of the baby cakes. The monthly Iron Cupcake: San Francisco Challenge, is held at the Leland Tea Co., and is open to the public for free (although beginning next month, there will be a $5 door charge, but totally worth it).

Seriously, pepper. Who puts pepper in their cupcakes? Now that was a challenge. Was I stressed? ...I mean, um, a little bit...posting on Twitter and Facebook, asking people for pepper cupcake advice and suggestions the weeks before. I finally took a little from each person, and created the following:

Cayenne Chocolate Zinger Cake: Chocolate, cayenne pepper, serrano pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg. Frosting:Cayenne pepper and pumpkin spice buttercream with a sprinkle of paprika.

Description: A taste of the seasons changing from Summer to Autumn. The cayenne pepper gives a sharp kick when you first bite in, while the scent of pumpkin spice buttercream frosting sweetens the aroma. Then the sharp cayenne bite is cut by dark chocolate and fragrant cinnamon. Once the cake is gone, the serrano pepper brightens up, then lingers slightly to close out the cake.

No discrimination here... Black pepper, red pepper, chile pepper, and even the Doctor...

I almost felt sorry for those who walked in randomly, without knowing the theme. But only a little bit, because once the tastings started, it was obvious how much thought and planning went into engineering each of these baby cakes.

With 30 cupcake entries and varieties, it was quite the colorful feast of miniature indulgences blanketing every inch of the cafe's counter and back tables. Chelsea, founder of Kingdom Cakes and Iron Cupcake progenitor said there were "over 30 entries cramming as much pepper possible into a cupcake." And that was unmistakably the theme for the evening.

Can you imagine eating every single one of these? I didn't think so. This was one of each of every cupcake baked. Yes, best to bring a partner, or maybe two or three.

If you're a foodie, if you love cupcakes, or have a massive sweet tooth, this is the event for you. I mean, who can resist a ton of free cupcakes?! There were so many mini cupcakes to taste, it was nearly impossible to finish them all.

More photos below for your enjoyment, and please come out to support next month's Iron Cupcake challenge... SQUASH!

Cupcakes were tasted by everyone attending (even the non-bakers), and judged on Taste and Presentation.

Cupcake engineers came early to set up their creations. Beautiful cupcake tiers and displays covered the counter at Leland Tea Co.

Ginger, mango, peppermint... all flavors lending support to the beloved pepper.

It's so tempting to watch the bakers display their wares. How can you not reach out and grab one?

Presentation was key. Glorious baby cakes stacked gently next to each other.

Kingdom Cake (by Chelsea) had sparkly, glittery spicy chocolate cupcakes, and set the bar for presentation.

A dragon cake was spitting red cupcake fire, placed right next to the refreshing Pepper Peach Pandemonium.

The Iron Cupcake Grand Prize winner: Pepper Peach Pandemonium!

Oooh... Pepper Bacon Maple Cupcake with Pepper Maple frosting!

The little tea cafe was packed with cupcake connoisseurs, reaching temperatures around 80 degrees, melting not only some of the cupcakes, but the participants as well.

Oh baby! Mid-action shot... guess where his hand landed right after this?

Chelsea begins the competition and announces rules and procedures.

Cupcake tasters cast their votes, placing ballots in each cup.

Chelsea and friend counting and tallying every single vote... all 1,200+ of them!

(30 cupcakes, at least 40 votes each)

The aftermath.

Waiting for the tallying and cupcake winner to be announced.

Chelsea finalizes the counts, presents the prizes, including some wonderful Wilton baking products, Leland Tea's Iron Cupcake Blend Tea, and a variety of other cupcake-related delights.

Winners of the Iron Cupcake: Pepper challenge -- Pepper Peach Pandemonium

Chelsea and me!

Cayenne Chocolate Zingers!

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