Pink Buttercream Frosting - Book Review

For anyone who does not know, this is the fabulous book that inspired 9 days of giveaways here on Naughty in the Backseat.  Find out more about this Cupcake Scavenger Hunt - Here

 PINK BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
BY LISSA MATTHEWS

Aidn Greer is a much-sought-after Dominant in the BDSM lifestyle with an unusual problem. He hasn’t owned a submissive in more years than he cares to think about. He’s bored with unchallenging women, yet mentoring other Doms and training subs has left him cold as well. He’s craving something other than plain old vanilla—a taste of something sinfully sweet that, for once, he can really sink his teeth into.


Professional cake baker Bailey Harris wasted ten years bored to tears with her marriage, enduring a job she hated, and harboring a secret desire for something passionate, fulfilling and dark. Then she found it…in the world of BDSM. Exploring on her own brought the kind of mind-opening experiences that led her to declare her independence—and exposed a yearning to find the one Dom for whom she’s willing to kneel. Permanently.


When Aidn and Bailey meet, it’s fire and ice. Sugar and spice. And an experience that satisfies every detail of both their fantasies. Almost. While the big, beautiful sub is everything Aidn wanted, her fierce independent streak could be more of a challenge than he bargained for…

REVIEW BY -  LUCIA SARTO

4.5/5

I cannot even be coy about this review, so here it goes, CAUTION: Pink Buttercream Frosting is one of the HOTTEST BOOKS I have ever read. Do not read this at work, you will embarrass yourself.

Pink Buttercream Frosting is the story of a Dominant who has been disillusioned with love and relationships, who sees an unlikely candidate for his love, and fights his passion for her, fights the draw, fights his feelings, while simultaneously staking his claim. Both characters have been burned in the past, and their draw to each other, their emotional scars make them more realistic as characters as does their obvious reluctance to open up emotionally to each other, however their clear chemistry and undeniable passion makes this one of the steamiest books I have read recently. With this one book, Lissa Matthews has made a fan out of me. She has managed to take the difficult to write about world of BDSM and turned it into an amazingly hot, easily understood situation for everyone involved. Simply put, an amazingly well developed story, super hot interactions, and realistically flawed characters make you root for everyone involved.

Visit Lissa Matthews' Site to find out more - http://www.lissamatthews.com  

The Real Pink Buttercream Frosting by Lissa Matthews

Now, let me just say…buttercream frosting is NOT supposed to be fat free or reduced calorie or contain any ingredient that would be considered a ‘diet’ food. Why not? Because frosting is decadent, rich, fluffy, delicious, and yes, even at times very wicked.

My recipe is a version of the recipe I was given when I took cake decorating classes, though I don’t follow either as closely as I follow the taste and consistency I am looking for. I have been making this for so many years now that I know by sight and taste if it’s right.

To get the pink color: there are a couple of different ways to do this. One is to add a drop at a time of red food coloring until you get the color you’re looking for. Red coloring doesn’t generally make the frosting red, just deeper and deeper shades of pink. There are also jars of gel colorings that you can purchase at craft stores like Michael’s, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby, etc… Wilton has a whole line of supplies and colors. The lightest pink you can find is the one you want. And just like with the red food coloring, a little dab will do. The colorings, whether food coloring or gel colorings, will not change the flavor of the frosting.

You will notice also, before adding the coloring, that the frosting isn’t pure white. It’s because you’ve added butter and vanilla. There is clear vanilla flavoring that can be used, however, I simply prefer the taste of pure vanilla extract. To get a pure white frosting, you would omit the butter and use 1 cup of solid vegetable shortening and a butter flavoring. Again, my personal preference is the real butter. The clear vanilla flavoring and the butter flavoring can be purchased at craft stores though.

So, let’s get started…

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter brought to room temperature (unsalted, because this way you can control the amount of salt in your recipes)

½ Cup of solid vegetable shortening (regular Crisco or store brand or Wesson solid vegetable shortening, not Lard and not butter flavor Crisco)

1-2 T water

1 T meringue powder/dry egg whites (this can be found down the baking aisle in most stores. It is not necessary to the recipe, but it does whip up smoother and fluffier with it)

3-4 C sifted powdered sugar (4X or 10X, I have found that it does not matter)

¼ Cup milk or half and half (you can use water here as well, but the milk/half and half make it creamier)

1 t vanilla extract (add a little more if it’s not enough of a vanilla flavor for you)

Pinch of salt (start with just a small pinch, this will be to taste, to cut the sweetness of the frosting, not to add a salty flavor)

Coloring

Directions:

With an electric hand mixer or electric stand mixer, cream butter and shortening until well blended, adding 1T water. Sift powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add to the butter and shortening, little by little (I use a large serving spoon, one spoonful at a time until it’s all incorporated). You’ll notice that the frosting will get thick and hard to mix so add 1 tablespoon of milk until it becomes the consistency you want, which is spreadable. Add your vanilla, mix well, then add a dash of salt.

The last step is to add your coloring. A drop at a time, mix well. If you are adding icing color from the jar, take a toothpick, dip it in the color, then swirl it through the frosting. Mix completely with the mixer. The color we’re looking for is pale pink, just a shade or two darker than white but enough to know that it’s pink.

I usually whip the frosting at medium speed for about 2-5 minutes until it’s nice and fluffy. If you do not plan to use the frosting immediately, cover it and put it in the refrigerator. It has butter and milk, enough said. When you are ready to use it, take it out and let it soften, then re-whip it to get the fluffiness back.

Homemade frosting tastes nothing like the icing in the can at the store, so if you taste it and think ‘This isn’t right. The jar frosting tastes different’ it’s okay. It’s not supposed to taste the same.

This is a vanilla buttercream that can be used on any flavor cake.

Feel free to email me at lissa@lissamatthews.com if you have any questions.

Free Cupcake - Book Giveaway - 9 Days of Free Stuff

9 Days of Giveaways From Romance in the Backseat and Naughty in the Backseat!

I get to claim a little credit, but there are three other blogs and twenty authors involved.  It is a Pink Buttercream Frosted Cupcake Giveaway.  It starts October 21st - my B-day and runs to the 30th - oddly enough another of the bloggers Birthday.  (The fabulous Cecile from All I Want and More)  It is a scavenger hunt.  Search the six sites listed daily for the Prize Logos of the day.  Find the logo - click on it and enter to win.

Prizes?  Cupcakes of course!  We have cupcake hats, cupcake bags, cupcake aprons, cupcake candles, and actual cupcakes that will be shipped to your door thanks to the Cupcake Station.   Throw in a few books from Simon and Schuster and to top it off the grand prize is a book a month for 2010 and a cupcake goody bag!

Wanna play - check out all the details at http://www.romanceinthebackseat.com/cupcakegiveaway.htm
Want extra chances to win the Grand Prize?  Blog about the Giveaway - tweet - Face Book - My Space - Post the cupcake badge and link and let us know about it at RITBSDoni@gmail.com  Better yet buy a book or item from any of the participating stores or authors and get 10 extra chances to win.  Email proof of purchase to the email listed.

All you authors out there I have something Special for you.  A chance to win three months of ads on Romance in the Backseat and two lucky winners will receive a banner ad designed by - Creations By Kendra (http://www.creationsbykendra.com/)

I can not wait to hear from you!
Terry Kate
Http://www.romanceinthebackseat.com

Lissa Matthews Guest Blogs

Tagline: Desire: Blend sinful with sweet. Whip to perfection. Don't forget to lick the spoon...

I am excited about my new Samhain Publishing release Pink Buttercream Frosting. Sounds very decadent, doesn't it? It's a little naughty, too. But then, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?

Inspired by it's namesake, pink buttercream frosting and the most delicious scented lotion by the very same name, this book brings together the world of BDSM and the warm fragrance of vanilla and cream, sure to heat you up in one way or the other.

Here's the blurb:


Aidn Greer is a much-sought-after Dominant in the BDSM lifestyle with an unusual problem. He hasn’t owned a submissive in more years than he cares to think about. He’s bored with unchallenging women, yet mentoring other Doms and training subs has left him cold as well. He’s craving something other than plain old vanilla—a taste of something sinfully sweet that, for once, he can really sink his teeth into.
Professional cake baker Bailey Harris wasted ten years bored to tears with her marriage, enduring a job she hated, and harboring a secret desire for something passionate, fulfilling and dark. Then she found it…in the world of BDSM. Exploring on her own brought the kind of mind-opening experiences that led her to declare her independence—and exposed a yearning to find the one Dom for whom she’s willing to kneel. Permanently.
When Aidn and Bailey meet, it’s fire and ice. Sugar and spice. And an experience that satisfies every detail of both their fantasies. Almost. While the big, beautiful sub is everything Aidn wanted, her fierce independent streak could be more of a challenge than he bargained for…
Warning: This book brings together scorching-hot counter sex, decadent pink frosting, and no-holds-barred BDSM play for a spanking good time. Be sure to bring an ice-cold drink along…
I hope you'll take a peek, read the excerpt on the website and give it a try!

Lissa

--
Lissa Matthews
Erotic Romance Author
www.lissamatthews.com
The Demon is an Angel, Ellora's Cave, Available Now!
Pink Buttercream Frosting, Samhain Publishing, October 20, 2009
Sugar Rush, Loose Id, January 2010