24 Sept 2013

Pumpkin Ginger Spice Cupcakes



Fall is now official, and that means all the beautiful bounty of autumn harvest is upon us! One of my favorites right now is any kind of squash, and these Pumpkin Ginger Spice cupcakes are an absolute delight. The crystallised ginger and spices harmonize perfectly with the sweet squash, and the Maple-Cinnamon Creamcheese frosting is so creamy and luscious. If you're planning to make these for a crowd, be sure to double the recipe as your guests will definitely be wanting seconds and thirds. Seriously, they are that good!

Watch my video tutorial below to get all the step by step instructions, or watch on Youtube.







Ingredients for 12 cupcakes

125g / 1 cup flour (I used whole wheat but you can also use white)
50g / 1/2 package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1.5 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. fresh ginger, finely minced
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. cloves
30g / 4 Tblsp. finely chopped crystallized ginger
115g / 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
50g 1/4 cup white sugar*
50g 1/4 cup brown sugar*
2 eggs
1/2 tsp pure vanilla bean paste (or extract)
220g / 8 ounce pumpkin puree (see recipe below)

*If you use a sugar replacement such as Stevia like I did, make sure to read the package instructions to see the sugar conversion chart. If the ratio is not 1:1 you will need to adjust accordingly.


How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Purée

You will need one Red Kuri Squash or other suitable cooking squash, of which you will use about half of it, depending on the size. (If you make more purée than needed, it keeps well in the freezer in a Ziploc bag for other pumpkin baking recipes.) Wash and cut the squash in half, and remove the inside seeds and stringy flesh in the center. Steam the cubed squash for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Alternately you could also roast them in the oven.

Once fully steamed, they should be very soft and fall from your fork. Use a hand mixer, or a potato masher, to blend to a smooth purée, then allow to cool.


Baking the Cupcakes

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners. Whisk together the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, cloves, and half of the crystallized ginger in a bowl; set aside.

Beat the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the room-temperature eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla and pumpkin puree with the last egg. Stir in the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups.

Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Make sure your cupcakes are completely cooled before you frost them, otherwise you will have a melting mess! It also helps if the frosting is chilled before working with it. Sprinkle the remaining crystallized ginger on top of the frosted cupcakes for decoration.


Maple-Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

200g / 8 ounces plain cream cheese
50g / 1/4 cup butter
120g / 1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tblsp. dark maple syrup

Cream the butter in a brown until creamy and fluffy. Then cream together the cream cheese with the butter, to prevent any lumps. Mix in the maple syrup and cinnamon, then gradually whisk in the confectioner's sugar. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.


Enjoy! Let me know if you make these, how you liked them?




Happy Fall!

-Julia








19 Sept 2013

Julia Graf for Bobbi Brown & Meet-up Switzerland

(Bitte unten lesen für Deutsch!)



Hi everyone! For the next 2 weekends I will be appearing and doing free makeup demos and mini classes for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics at their counter in the Bern Westside mall, inside Globus department store. Here's how to get there: http://www.westside.ch/en-GB/anfahrt

***DATES & CLASSES***

Friday, Sep 20
2:30pm - 4:00pm: Elegant Daytime Makeup
7:00pm - 9:00pm: Glamorous Evening Makeup "Smokey Eyes"

Saturday, Sep 21
11:00am - 5:00pm
I will be working at the Bobbi Brown counter. I already have quite a few bookings on that day for make-overs, so sadly no classes then. But you can drop by spontaneously!

Friday, Sep 27
2:30pm - 4:00pm : Elegant Daytime Makeup
7:00pm - 9:00pm: Glamorous Evening Makeup "Smokey Eyes"

Saturday, Sep 28
11:30am - 1:00pm: Elegant Daytime Makeup
3:00pm - 5:00pm Glamorous Evening Makeup "Smokey Eyes"

BETWEEN THESE TIMES, you can drop by and see if I am free, I can show you some products, give you tips, and do your makeup. However, if you really want to make sure that I'll have time to do your makeup, you should preferably book an appointment by phone. You can book a 20 minute time slot with me where I will do your eye makeup, and maybe give you some personalised tips. Or, just come to the free classes, learn some new tricks, and have the chance to meet me, take pictures, ask me questions, etc. Bring your friends!

Switzerland: 0800 002 102
International: +41 58 578 85 85 (Ask the operator to connect you to the Bobbi Brown counter)


***GIVEAWAY INFOS***

In partnership with Bobbi Brown, I am giving away 4 gift sets!

The book "Pretty Powerful" by Bobbi Brown will be up for grabs directly through Youtube. This contest is open WORLDWIDE. Watch this video for all the rules and details: Link!!


The three other gift sets will be 1 Eyes Kit, 1 Face Kit, and 1 Glow Kit, all comprised of full sized Bobbi Brown products, handpicked by me. These will be given away in house at the Bobbi Brown counter in Bern Westside. You can pick up a lottery slip from me directly, or during the makeup classes. The lottery tickets are free, one per person only. You will fill this out with your contact details, and at the end of my time there, I will draw three random winners. The prizes will be sent to you from Globus.

Looking forward to seeing you there! :)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Ich bin die nächsten 2 Wochenende zu Gast bei Bobbi Brown im Globus, Bern Westside. Und so kommt ihr dort hin: http://www.westside.ch/anfahrt

Ich werde bei Bobbi Brown GRATIS Schmink-Unterricht geben, also eine Make-up How-to Vorführung, wo ihr etwas lernen könnt. Ich werde mir eine Glückliche aus der Menge wählen, um einen Look vorzuführen, mit Schritt-für-Schritt Anleitungen und Tipps. Also so ähnlich was ich hier auf Youtube mache, aber diesmal live und ganz persönlich. Dazu gibt's noch ein Meet & Greet mit mir natürlich, Fragen & Antworten, Foto Session, individuelle Typ Beratung, und und und... Bringt auch gerne eure Freundinnen oder Freunde mit!

Hier die Daten wo ich da bin, und was gezeigt wird:

Freitag, 20 September 2013
14:30-16:00 Uhr: Dezentes Tagesmakeup
19:00-21:00 Uhr: Abend Makeup "Smokey Eyes"

Samstag, 21 September 2013
11:00 - 17:00 Uhr
Ist schon mit Termine verbucht, an diesem Tag deshalb leider keine Kurse - einfach Spontan schminken & drop-ins!

Freitag, 27 September 2013
14:30-16:00h Uhr: Dezentes Tagesmakeup
19:00-21:00h Uhr: Abend Makeup "Smokey Eyes"

Samstag, 28 September 2013
11:30-13:00 Uhr: Dezentes Tagesmakeup
15:00-17:00 Uhr: Abend Makeup "Smokey Eyes"

ZWISCHEN DIESEN FESTEN ZEITEN könnt ihr spontan vorbei kommen zum Bobbi Brown Konter, wenn ich gerade frei bin könnt ihr euch gerne von mir beraten und schminken lassen. Wenn du aber ganz sicher sein willst, das ich Zeit habe dich zu schminken, dann am besten einen festen Termin (20 Minuten Augen Make-up) mit mir (Julia Graf) buchen. Weil es kann sein das ich auch viel zu tun habe, da ist natürlich ein Termin am sichersten.

Tel Switzerland: 0800 002 102
Tel International: +41 58 578 85 85 (Dann lass dich von der Zentrale mit Bobbi Brown verbinden)

***VERLOSUNG***

Im weiteren werden 4 Geschenke-Sets von mir und Bobbi Brown verlost!

Das Bobbi Brown Buch "Pretty Powerful" wird direkt durch Youtube verlost, und ist offen WELTWEIT! Dafür am besten das Video ansehen für alle Regeln: Link!!


Im weiteren werden 3 Bobbi Brown Geschenke Sets direkt im Globus Westside verlost mit full-size Produkte, im Gesamtwert von 500 Schweizer Franken, ausgesucht von mir persönlich!

- 1 Augen Set, 1 Face Set, 1 Glow Set (Bild oben)

Dafür müsst ihr zu mir ins Bern Westside kommen, direkt zum Bobbi Brown Counter im Globus. Dort kannst du dann ein Tombola Los ausfüllen (kostenlos), und am Ende der Aktion werden die 3 Gewinner von mir gezogen, und direkt von Globus kontaktiert. Die Sets werden euch dann zugeschickt. Die Lose werden auch während meinen Schmink Vorführungen verfügbar sein, sonst einfach am Bobbi Brown Counter dafür nachfragen.


Ich freue mich auf euch! :)



2 Sept 2013

Burberry Fall Look: Rich Plums

It's September, which means I can jump right into Fall looks! Yay! Who doesn't love autumn? This rich, deep plum look would be perfect for the cooler seasons, what do you think?




Get this look with my tutorial below, or watch directly on Youtube!






Face
Nars Sheer Glow foundation, Inglot blush, Kryolan Glamor Glow in Pale Tan


Eyes
NYX Jumbo Pencil Purple, Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Plum Pink 06, Maybelline Master Drama Kohl in Deep Purple, Anastasia Hypercolor Brow & Lash Tint in Ultra Violet, House of Lashes in Noir Fairy, MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

Lips
Inglot lipliner Nr. 859, Kryolan Sheer Lipstick Katherine, L'Oreal LeGloss in Midtown Hussle, MAC Velvetella lipliner, Nivea Bedtime Plum lipstick, Smashbox lipgloss in Tease

Nails
OPI Every Month is Oktoberfest