Bacon Cupcakes - Come to Papa!

Big Papa needs a little bacon on his cupcakes after bringing it all home. For Father's Day, this should definitely be on your shopping radar. I mean - desert meets your favorite breakfast meat, what is not to like?

It's no mystery that the undisputed local Queen of Cupcakes, Crystal Roberts, has been cooking up this meat mischief at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes. The bacon is laced with butterscotch and given some bling, then put on top of a vanilla or chocolate cupcake frosted with butterscotch butter cream. I am a confirmed bacon lover, and this confection just goes to show how versatile this pork product can be.

There will only be so many available from now until June 20th, the third Sunday in June (Father's Day). Crystal has a stock of little scotched bacon bits, but my thought is - these babies are gonna go fast. Like hotcakes, only more cuppy.

Tonight also launches Common Ground's return to the First Friday Block Party arena with music by Devin Moore (singing, ukulele) and photography by Jayne Rose. Jayne's photo cards have some incredible images and are very affordable. I like photos and make photo cards myself - her's are good.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Cupcakes any Mom will LUV

People who love their Moms don't make Moms cook on Mother's Day. Chocolate Lavender Cupcakes with lavender infused buttercream frosting sounds like a great way to make the lady who brought you into this world happy this weekend. These tasty morsels are on sale until they sell out - for this weekend only. Special flavor just for the holiday, presented to us by Crystal Roberts, the undisputed Cupcake Queen of Renton (for anyone at The Landing who wants to know...)

Common Ground always has such a good window painter on call for all the holidays - brings a smile to my face everytime a new one goes up. Thanks for keeping up the holiday spirit for us.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Open Mother's Day

Frosting and Petals

Springs blue skies and bright pink petals are popping up on the Renton radar - even in the cupcake realm. Crystal Roberts, Cupcake Queen at our local haunt, Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes, has put her latest creation together and christened it Raspberry Antoinette. This raspberry swirl cake with vanilla buttercream frosting is a concoction that deserves a party. Frilly dresses and a few demitasse cups of bitter brew to counter balance the lovely sweetness of the cake.

The local rhodies are also fully decked out this week with our on again, off again warm weather hastening them into bloom. Amazing how similar the color palette is between these two Renton lovelies.

Crystal holding on of her charming creations.

Life and art have so much in common.

I couldn't help but put these two sets of photos together, they are strikingly complimentary.




Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Common Ground has party plans

It's been a quick three years since Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes joined our downtown community, and they have become a beloved member of the local family. Many have welcomed their presence in Renton's downtown corridor, and owner Hang and Lenge have felt the community's appreciation in a couple of larger than life moments.


Crystal and Brandie

Months after the opening of the shop in 2007, a car ran through the window of the store in the middle of the night, and neighbors helped stand guard over the premises and board up the windows with plywood without batting an eye. It was the first time Lenge, husband of the couple team that owns and helps operate the coffee shop, felt such kinship in a place they lived and worked in.

Then there was the five alarm fire that struck the building adjacent to their shop's in the summer of last year. The smoke and water damage had them closed for days, but an order of wedding cupcakes got made and decorated with the assistance of local shop owners.

However, Common Ground has given back a lot to Renton and I am so happy that misfortune did not discourage them from continuing to be a member of our downtown crew. The cupcake shop is a spot where all ages can gather to eat, drink and make merry.

Pot O' Gold Cupcake and artwork by Melanie Hall

To celebrate the three year anniversary this Saturday, March 13th, there will be

*free mini cupcakes with coffee drink purchase
*face painting from 11- 2pm
*music by Paco Jones
*local art show/balloons
*raffle featuring local businesses
*double stamp coffee cards

The Cupcake Fairy Artist, Melanie Hall, will also be on hand along with her artwork, to meet with all of you. That is her work above with the special Pot O' Gold Cupcake, a new creation for this month of March, which is a chocolate Guinness cake with Irish Cream buttercream frosting made with Jameson Irish whiskey - oh my!

Hang, owner and lovely lady
Downtown Renton this weekend is the place to be! I have more to report on that score tomorrow, but set your compass for the DTR and come hang out with all of us local Rentonites.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Cupcakes and the Art or War

Local Cupcake Queen and frosting artisite, Crystal Roberts helps dream up the lovely delicacies that go along with a cup of coffee and a smile at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes in our lovely Downtown Renton.

When she puts on the apron - you know she means business!



Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes
900 South 3rd Street
Renton, WA 98057-2710
(425) 235-1717
Get directions

The Cupcake Sweetheart Box

Sweeties for the sweetheart - an entire box of them. This week at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes get the Sweetheart Box of cupcakes for your special Valentine. Or maybe just treat yourself, in case you just want to make sure that you get your cupcake fix for the week.

Four luscious cupcakes, four different flavors. All enclosed in that nice white pastry box that makes you perk up and say "treats"!

Fortune Cake (green tea cake with green tea buttercream), Have a Heart (raspberry frosting, brownie heart and chocolate cake), Red Queen (cinnamon cake with cinnamon buttercream) and Strawberry Fondue (strawberry cake with white chocolate frosting)

The "Have a Heart" Cupcake.

The "Fortune Cake" Cupcake.

Valentine's Day and Chinese New Years fall on the same day this year - Sunday, February 14th. For me, that is rather a let down, as I like to celebrate both holidays independently. Based upon the lunar calendar, Chinese New Years falls on the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice. I guess I will console myself with a cupcake. Oops, looks like I already did!

PS - It's the year of the Tiger. " Those born in tiger years are natural leaders and excel as actors, pilots, writers, and managers. They are authoritative, courageous, emotional, and intense."

I say that 2010 sure could use some "tiger" in it's tank.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Open on Valentine's Day, folks!

Cinnamon spice and everything nice

There are some of you that count on me to tell you the latest flavor of cupcake to be found around town. I do hate to let you down - so let's get right to the facts. It's cinnamon flavored and it's rockin'.

Salted cinnamon frosting? Yes, and worth every caloric bite! This may in fact be my favorite frosting that they have conspired to create.

Go in and have a smile from Brandie and a cupcake that will light your spirits up. You need it - did you see all that water falling down from the sky lately?

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Where to get your baked goodies without turning on your oven

Cupcakes are one of my favorite treats - and the holiday flavors over at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes are fast becoming favorites. These are holiday morsels that you can just pick up and take without having to bake. That has gotta be good news. The Gingerbread Cupcake has small bits of crystallized ginger in the batter and a little gingerbread man on top. Cute and lipsmakingly good.

The CandyCane Lane Cupcake has tiny bits of the cane itself in the batter. This is just the right amount of peppermint and in no way overwhelms the delicate cupcake balance. Just right. Possibly my personal holiday fav - just might be if not for the next cupcaket offering of the season...

The Eggnog Cupcake has a spiced rum frosting that is amazing. The batter is lightly spiced as well. Perfect with your coffee or taken home to be had with a hot drink with a dash of liquor while you warm your toes and gaze fondly at the tree you still need to decorate.

What I have always admired about the Common Ground is their community spirit. Don't forget to tip you barista AND add some money to the Forgotten Children Fund. This is for King County families that need help at this time of year and 100% of the proceeds go to the cause.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Catching up on Cupcakes

When you have been down ill and haven't gotten out, there isn't much worth telling in the blog world. No one wants to hear how many tissues you have seen or lament the copious amounts of liquids one must drink (none of them of the fun sort), so you just sorta breathe and let it all go. So when you do make it to a local hang, you gotta take a photo or two, hang out and catch up.

Auntie Kristen seated with nephew Connor and Connor's Mom, Kat Mille at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes, says that she likes to check out The Picaroon when I have a photo of her adorable nephew featured. Connor and I have a love/scorn relationship and he is such a big flirt when in the mood, that I can't help but take his picture. So I am sending out this photo to you, Auntie. Being a doting Auntie myself, I completely understand how enthralled one can become with the "little people" in our lives - especially a little one named Connor.

Marie here is proudly wearing her Birthday Tiara and having a cupcake and coffee to celebrate the day. She came to the coffee shop with her good gal pal looking too cute in her gold headgear not to notice. Happy Birthday Marie - hope it's a good one.

The Picaroon was given a cupcake on the house to celebrate our combined November birthdays (that of blog and blogger), but being sick and all, never had the chance to indulge. So here we are, eating a delicious Almond Joy Cupcake and highly recommending it to all of you. But remember to stock up on your baked goodies in a cup soon -

Common Ground will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

You may end up baking them yourself if you don't hurry.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

wormy and squirmy came to rest upon a cake

wanna make some of these graveyard delights?

First -
use a cake mix, follow the directions for cupcakes, but put some LUV into it girls, add chocolate milk instead of water, or buttermilk and when it comes to the oil - maybe use that stuff we call butter

Then -
take an 8oz of cream cheese (okay, this could be lowfat), room temperature, and half a bag of semisweet chocolate chips that you have melted carefully on a double boiler on the stove. whip together, add a teaspoon of vanilla for good measure, and approx. 3 cups of powdered sugar. frost right away.

Decorate -
with crumbled oreo cookies (about 7, without the creamy middles), and some gummi sour worms. makes it look like death warmed over at the cemetery.

Flat Moogie will be visiting madlycreative for a few days - so stay tuned to her crazy antics. she is from the south - who knows what that might end up being...

Come and get your pumpkin cupcakes - Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes

Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. If you are nice, believe in the power of the pumpkin patch and share bites (occasionally, when forced ) of your cupcakes, then you just might come out ahead. The Picaroon certainly did yesterday, when taste testing the newest flavor at the Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes - Pumpkin. Pumpkin flavored icing on top of a moist pumpkin spice cake. Heavenly harvest, come to mama!



The sweet side of blogging about Renton is getting to know the lighter fare of our little burg's life. Other bloggers have gone where The Picaroon has tread - and with far more serious and investigative baking intents. One food blog that I love to peek in on, Cakespy, visited our dear downtown to have cupcakes on a handful of occasions and then wrote a review. On the very day Cakespy wrote about our tasty little frosted treats, an even bigger blog began featuring her on her blog's front page, the wonderful Bakerella. So now, people across the globe were wishing they were in Renton and eating our deserts. So I am sincerely hoping that you are not taking Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes for granted and that you will soon be heading in for some fall festiveness. Little iced pumpkin cakes, cup sized and crazily scrumptious.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

The Meaning of life

I have often thought that the meaning of life could be found in the bottom of my coffee cup, so the fresh roasted stuff of Caffe D'Arte bearing that name was speaking my language. It is also available to all of you, $11.95 a coffee pound, which is cheap for life altering truths and obscure mysteries solved.

While there with your omniscient beans, you may consider a little something sweet to help make the revealing messages of life go down that much easier. Try these mini cupcakes, in their assorted flavors and dreamy color combos. Match it to your outfit or your mood. Remember, you still are in charge of your destiny, no matter what the coffee cup says to you. And whatever you do, don't hold a conversation with the coffee in public - somethings should remain a secret still to the rest of us listless coffee drinking peeps.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

cupcakes take over - again

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee 900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717