A cupcake or fairy cake is a small cake designed to serve one person, usually made in a small paper cup container. As with larger cakes, frosting and other cake decorations, such as sprinkles, are defining characteristics of modern cupcakes.Cupcakes are often served during a celebration, such as children's classroom birthday parties. Additionally they can be served as an accompaniment to afternoon tea. They are a more convenient alternative to cake because they don't require utensils or dividing into pieces because they are smaller.A simple cupcake uses the same ingredients as most other standard cakes - incorporating butter, sugar, eggs, and flour.The name "cup" cakes or "measure" cakes is believed to have developed because of the use of the practice of measuring the ingredients using a standard-sized cup instead of the previous practice of weighing the ingredients.It is also possible that cupcakes came into being simply as smaller versions of the Victoria sponge cake, as the mixture required is exactly the same. The mixture is also the same as the quarter cake recipe, so called because it is made up of four ingredients in equal ratios; butter, self-raising flour, eggs and Castor sugar. References^ Cupcakes - Food Timeline

Chocolate rum fondue is simple and easy to make, but quite decadent and impressive to serve. Choose from fruit slices, cake cubes, cookies, and marshmallows for dippers.INGREDIENTS:7 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped2 Tablespoons butter2 Tablespoons plain or vanilla yogurt1/2 cup heavy whipping cream1-1/2 Tablespoons white rumFru

So you skipped meals, reading about that Harry Potter guy all weekend....? What's a hungry Muggle to do? How about a quick "pick-me-up" of Butterbeer, crunchy Cockroach Clusters, or Cauldron Cakes? Learn to make Mandrake Seedlings out of peanut butter clay on celery frond stems, and put them in clear plastic shot glass cups with chocolate rocks...

* 4 ounces German sweet chocolate* 1/2 cup boiling water* 1 cup butter* 2 cups sugar* 4 eg yolks* 4 egg whites; beaten stiffly* 1 teaspoon vanilla* 2 1/2 cups flour* 1 teaspoon baking soda* 1/2 teaspoon salt* 1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup butter1 cup granulated sugar2 eggs1 cup cream1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract2 1/2 cups flour1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt6 ounces chocolate chipsCream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Mix in cream and vanilla extract.