Monday, December 5, 2011

Join the White Christmas Challenge by Very Good Recipes

Get into the Christmas mood and join in the fun of the White Christmas Challenge organised by Very Good Recipes. I am one of the 10 judges. 



This month's theme is: White Christmas.

Theme

There is always a magic feel in the air when snow is falling on Chritmas Eve. Not eveyone lives in a region where snow is usual during winter, but everyone can try to recreate this magic in the kitchen!

What dish do you think of when you hear "White Christmas"? You can of course cook with white ingredients such as white fish, white chocolate, white asparagus, white truffles, white vegetables, chicken, cream, coconut milk etc. But your recipe does not have to be all white! It needs to be festive and have a "snowy" feel. You can be creative and imagine a snowy presentation, for instance sprinkling snow crystals (drops of cream, petals of white edible flowers, and a lot of other ingredients) or trying to create a snow-covered landscape one can eat!

Participating

The challenge is open to everyone, whether you have a food blog or not.
In order to participate, you need to enter a recipe on the theme of "White Christmas".
  • If you have a food blog registered on Very Good Recipes, you just need to publish your recipe on your blog with a link to the challenge page http://verygoodrecipes.com/white-christmas-challenge in the text of your recipe. It will then be automatically listed on this page. (if you don't see it after 30 minutes, please email stephane@verygoodrecipes.com)
  • If you have a food blog (or a blog with a recipe category or label) but are not yet registered on Very Good Recipes, you can register in 30 seconds.
  • If you do not have a blog, you can participate by sending an email to stephane@verygoodrecipes.com with your recipe and one or more pictures. He will publish your recipe on Very Good Recipe's blog so that it can be displayed on the challenge page.

Rules:

  • There must be at least one picture in your recipe, and both the recipe and picture need to be your own. If your recipe is inspired by another, please mention it in your recipe.
  • You cannot use an already published recipe to participate in the challenge, you need to publish a new recipe (otherwise there's no challenge!)
You can participate from Monday December 5th 2011 until Monday December 26th included.


Please put a footnote in your post that you are participating the challenge via Quay Po Cooks and stand a chance to win a prize from Quay Po. Winners of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th prize who participated via Quay Po Cooks will receive a ROSEVELT's (my son's band) album on top of the prizes from the Sponsors.


Click on this Album pic to listen to one of their songs - Moment


Check out the attractive prizes from the Sponsors by clicking on the badge. I look forward to see your entries, the more the merrier!


To launch the Challenge, each judge will have to publish a recipe in line with the White Christmas and here is mine.

White Chocolate White X'mas Cupcakes
Adapted from Baking Bites with modification





Make 18 medium size cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
4-oz white chocolate, chopped
1 vanilla pod
1 cup plus 1 tbsp milk (low fat is fine)

Method:
Preheat oven to 325F. Line muffin pans with 18 cupcake liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt the chopped white chocolate by heating it in 30 second intervals in the microwave. Stir well with a fork between each interval and cook only until the chocolate is smooth when stirred. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by melted white chocolate and vanilla extract. Working in two or three additions, alternate adding in some of the milk and some of the flour mixture, ending with a final addition of flour. Mix until just incorporated and no streaks of flour remain. Divide batter evenly into prepared muffin cups.
Bake at 160C or 325F for 20-23 minutes until a tester comes out clean or the tops spring back when lightly pressed with a fingertip. Cool on a wire rack. Use your own choice of frosting and exercise your own creativity to decorate the cupcakes for the appropriate occasion.  I used plain butter cream frosting.

Plain Butter cream frosting
Please click on the photo to get the recipe.

Note: I am submitting this to 

Aspiring Bakers #14: Creative Christmas Bakes (December 2011) hosted by Hankerie

and
I am submitting this to the Christmas Giveaway in The Sweet Spot


42 comments:

  1. Your cupcakes are adorable! Such an interesting challenge. Let me see if I can whip up something for it altho getting into the white Christmas mood is a little difficult being in this part of the world.

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  2. Hi! Thanks for dropping by. :) Love your blog! it's so lovely. Not forgetting some of the recipes you shared! :)

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  3. Wow, what a challenge & a fantastic way to promote your son's album! I'd also do that if I've such a talented son :)

    The cupcakes are simply adorable! Will try to see if I can squeeze some time to participate. Veron, would love to have you join me @ Promote Your Blog @ Shirley's Luxury Haven! DIY This X’mas With 12 Lovely Recipes!

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  4. wow i would love to join the challenge - love the idea of a white christmas and I adore how you made the trees on your cupcakes, super duper cute! the santas are adorable too!

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  5. Quay Po: Drop by and say hi - one of the judge too, can I have the exception to have your son's album as Im not allowed to participate this white Xmas challenge. BTW, you cupcakes look so lovely, do you mind to link to my Aspiring Bakers #14: Creative Xmas Bakes too? http://hankerie.blogspot.com/2011/12/aspiring-bakers-14-creative-christmas.html

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  6. Good luck to all the participants! Oh those lovely cupcakes turned Bananaz into 'wai sik quay'..haha.

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  7. I am like Bananaz...we are "tasters" .. not bakers.. hahahaa... All the best to the participants...

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  8. Your lovely cupcakes will surely win hands down ;D Let's see if her laziness can whip up something before the deadline hee hee

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  9. Good luck to all who take parts. Beautiful cupcakes with cute Christmas decor on top. You are great.

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  10. Oh, your cupcakes are adorable!!!! You are so talented!!!

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  11. cant think of anything right now..no idea at all..i'll see if i can participate.

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  12. Your cupcakes turned out so adorable I may not even bother to enter!

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  13. @ping
    I hope to see your entry and walk away with a prize and Rosevelt's Album:D

    @Broccoli Ginger
    You are very welcome. Do join in the challenge and have some fun.

    @Shirley
    I hope you can. Will see what I can submit to yours.

    @Janine
    Great, very eagle to see your post.

    @hankerie
    Submitted my entry. Thanks for hosting.

    @Bananaz, @reanaclaire, @Sheoh Yan
    So nice of you guys to wish others luck even you two are not participating in the challenge.

    @anne
    I am sure you can whip up something nice before the deadline. Look forward to see your entry.

    @Lizzy
    Are you going to join in the fun? Thanks for the compliment.

    @Lena
    You sure can. You are such a fantastic baker. Come on, join in the fun and let me see your entry ok?

    @yummychunklet
    Thanks for the compliment but I am one of the judge so I am not allowed to participate for the challenge. This post is just to launch the challenge. Do join in the fun. I hope you will win a prize and Rosevelt's album.

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  14. I just did a white salad on my blog that was a variation on a Bon Appetit recipe, but with different root vegetables. Does that count? What a fun idea!

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  15. Those cupcakes look incredible!!! Very professional and cute too!
    By the way I love the song..very cache, with fantastic vocals and music is just the way I love!!!Will have to check the last post that I've missed!!!
    Have a great week Veronica!!

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  16. @That Girl
    At Christmas time, there are so many adorable things!

    @Cucina49
    Yes, that counts, please send in your entry to Very Good Recipes and remember to put a footnote that you particiapted via Quay Po Cooks so if you win a prize at VGR, you will get a ROSEVELT's Album from me:D

    @Sandra
    Listen to the song Politics, powerful song! Thanks for listening to Rosevelt's songs. The other 5 songs in the Album are also very catche and I especially ove the the Alice and Mirror.

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  17. Looks delicious. Would love for you to share this with us over at foodepix.com.

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  18. Oh my goodness- these cupcakes look too divine for words. Thank you so much for sharing!!

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  19. that's something nice and a great theme for christmas, but too bad i can't cook, hahaha!! did you bake those cupcakes?? very nice and the santa is just so cute sitting on top.. :)

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  20. All the best to the participants. I would love to bake/cook too, but my eating skill is better, lol!

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  21. Wow! Your son's band sounds great - not like a local band...can go international. And your cupcakes are absolutely fabulous. You accept orders for Christmas? Wink! Wink! LOL!!!

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  22. OMGourd! The cupcakes look too good to be eaten! Funnily enough, my interest for cupcakes was motivated by Mr. Bean ( a scene whereby he was so engrossed eating a cupcake that he didn't notice his car being squashed by a parading military tank! lolz)
    +Ant+

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  23. @Foodpix
    Thanks for your invitation. I feel honored.

    @yvonne
    I like that that your eating skill is better!

    @suituapui
    The compliment coming from someone who know music is a big boost! I will let the boys know what you say. I am sure they will be very please. I am sorry, cooking and baking is still a something fun for me to do, not ready to take orders yet. The day I am ready, you will be the first I inform hehe

    @Gratitude
    haha that's something. motivated by Mr. Bean, how about more motivated by "Lucy"?? LOL!

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  24. What lovely snowy cupcakes, it makes me want to jump righ in the snow pile with Santa and polar bear! Sounds like a interesting challenge.

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  25. @Lyndsey
    haha, I got that same feeling when I finished those cupcakes! Please send in your entries to Very Good Recipes. I hope you win so that I can send you Rosevelt's Album.

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  26. Such cute cupcakes and great pictures.

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  27. Your cupcakes are so lovely! A very nice illustration of the "White Christmas" theme!

    I adore your idea of Rosevelt record as bonus gift!

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  28. @sweets
    Thanks for your visit and taking time to leave your comment. Really appreciate it. Hope to be able to share lots more recipe with you.

    @lesrecettesdupanier
    Thanks so much for your kind words.

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  29. @sweets
    Thanks for your visit and taking time to leave your comment. Really appreciate it. Hope to be able to share lots more recipe with you.

    @lesrecettesdupanier
    Thanks so much for your kind words.

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  30. Hi Quay Po, I've just submitted an entry to this challenge & has mentioned your blog as per instructed. Hopefully I've done it correctly. Thank you for your time.

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  31. Those cupcakes are so gorgeous! Look so perfect for the "White Christmas" theme!

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  32. Hey Veron, here's mine Cute Egg Faces For White Christmas Recipe Challenge with a link to your post. Hope u'll like it! Merry X'mas, dear!

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  33. hi, i just got my blog registered with Very Good Recipes and put a link back in my entry post ( yeasted apple strudel ) Is this how we do it for submission to the above challenge? hope i'm doing it correctly :)

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  34. hi Quay Po,
    i'm now looking out for an idea of what to bake to participate
    hope i can :)
    your cupcakes are just too cute to eat :)

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  35. @Jessie
    I am sure you done the correct thing. Thank you for joining the challenge.

    @Tina
    Thanks Tina.

    @Shirley
    Many thanks for joining. I appreciate your support always.

    @lena
    BRAVO! I was eager to see you take part in the challenge. You did right my dear.

    @Alice
    Hope you whip up something. Eager to see your enry. Thanks for wanting to participate.

    @All
    For all who have taken part in the challenge. I wish you all the best. I want to thank you all for the support. Really, my heartfelt thanks.

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  36. hi Quay Po,

    ive submitted my entry sat, 24dec evening but i havent seen it in the list til now

    ive registered with Very Good Recipes
    ive linked back in my entry post
    (Noel Nutballs)

    i tried to click on the email (if don't see my entry after 30mins) but it didn't work

    pls help me...thks :)

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  37. @Alice
    I have written to the organiser and hope he will fix it. I apologize for the inconvenience caused. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family. Many thanks for your support in joining the challenge.

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  38. hi Quay Po, many thanks :)
    Merry Xmas to you and family too :)

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  39. hi Quay Po,
    Ive just submitted my second and final posting to participate :)
    Hope the system is working fine now
    It's White Xmas Log Cake :)
    Thank you...

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  40. @Alice
    Thanks for another fabulous entry:D

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