Jessica’s Cupcake Cafe

Old fashioned bakeries are so outdated…these days, you need a bit of originality and a whole lot of food coloring to make things more interesting. At least that’s the premise of Jessica’s Cupcake Cafe, a hectic time management game that feels a lot like Cake Mania, but has you making some very unusual cupcakes instead of cake.

Aunt Margaret is feeling the drag on the economy, and her old fashioned bakery just isn’t turning profits anymore. Her visiting niece Jessica suggests they do the modern thing and start making cupcakes instead. With that, Aunt Margaret puts Jessica in charge, and the cupcake cafe is open for business.

As you play, you unlock easy recipes to actually make the cupcakes in the game. They look edible; that is, if the thought of carrot cupcakes with bright blueberry frosting doesn’t completely gross you out. I’m pretty adventurous in the kitchen, but even I wouldn’t pair cream cheese frosting with green tea flavored cupcakes…and as I mentioned before, these recipes are not afraid to be liberal with food coloring. Lavender frosting, made with real lavender? I don’t know…I think I’ll pass on testing these out, but they’re in the game if you’re braver than I am.

But, back to the gameplay. As you play, you need to bake cupcakes to fill customers’ orders. Cupcakes are baked in batches, so instead of preparing individual orders, you are first prompted on the day’s style. If you prefer, you can change the design of cupcakes you are baking before the round begins, so if you’ve got a thing for chocolate frosting you can go ahead and put it on everything. It also means you can design more expensive cupcakes.

Once the day has begun, you need to prepare the batter, bake the cupcakes, frost them, and add cute toppers. You won’t be allowed to make any mistakes when frosting, and will be prompted with a red X if you attempt to make an order that’s not on the agenda. If you’ve make the wrong choice, you can discard the cupcakes and frosting in the garbage.

After you’ve made enough cupcakes, you bring the tray over to serve customers, and collect the cash at the register. The happier the customer, the more money you earn. In addition to cupcakes, customers may request side items like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, milk, or water. Sometimes, a customer will come in with a special order for a dozen custom designed cupcakes, which earns you more cash. You want to keep customers happy by serving them quickly. You can increase a customer’s patience with candy, or by turning the TV to a channel that matches the color of their shirt. Like in real life, some people are more patient than others, and some will give you better tips.

In a cool twist, you can earn power-ups by serving customers displaying the power up icons. These power ups include gears to increase the speed of your machines, shoes to boost Jessica’s speed, hearts to boost customer patience, coins to double your sales, and cupcakes to add 12 bonus cupcakes to your tray. Very useful, indeed.

You can buy upgrades for your equipment, but these are pretty expensive, so you need to really earn them. You can also replay levels again in the map screen to earn a better score. Before you advance to a new scene, you can sell surplus cupcakes at the park. This is an easy mini-game where you fill customer’s orders by giving them different types of pre-made cupcakes.

There are eight unique shops and 64 levels, including sites like the mall, airport, and pier. If you want a game that lasts, the length here is pretty good, taking at least six hours to beat, and that’s not counting replay value if you aim for an expert score. The game features an impressive soundtrack. The music really sets up the atmosphere, and is genuinely enjoyable. The graphics are also really cute, done in 2D cartoon style.

The pace can get pretty hectic, even if you play a lot of time management games. However, this is part of the fun, and luckily the customers are pretty patient. It’s quite challenging if you aim for an expert score, but it’s just the right pace if you just want to advance to the next level.

As for criticism, there isn’t much to complain about. It’s pretty important to follow instructions, and not to jump ahead while playing the tutorial (unless you plan to skip it). Otherwise, things don’t turn out well, and you’ll end up being forced to toss out cupcakes. Other than that, it’s fair to say it’s not too original, since there are a bunch of baking-themed games out there, and it doesn’t add too much to the genre.

Fans of time management games, particularly the Cake Mania games, will still find plenty to like. With lots of opportunities to form strategies and use power-ups, it’s a good challenge, and the theme is comfortable and familiar.

Review by Lisa Haasbroek

Wandering Willows

Wandering Willows, the newest release from PlayFirst, is a delightful and unique adventure that sends you on a journey to whimsical lands of magical creatures and zany new friends. You and your trusty new pet will do everything from digging holes to dealing with Alien aircraft while charming your way into the hearts of everyone finally finding your way home.

Wandering Willows is a simulation-style game (think the MySims series) that focuses on friendship and doing things for others while helping yourself. After a bird tears a hole in your hot air balloon you find yourself stranded on a beautiful island inhabited by people who are so happy there they never want to leave. You do want to go home, though, and to do so you are going to need help and good friends to get you there.

An adorable pet adopts you and never leaves your side, becoming instrumental in your completion of the game. Everyone wants to barter with you, so you set off to explore the island and complete 162 quests, from finding items to making complex gadgets to repair your balloon.

You’ll begin by customizing your avatar, where you can customize everything from gender to skin tone. You find yourself in “Grassland town” where you meet ten of the island’s hilarious inhabitants, each of whom has unique personalities, likes and dislikes. For example, there’s Art Gunderson, the elderly farmer that loves raisins and wearing ball gowns; and Debbie Katz, prim and proper librarian type that adores flowers and trendy clothing and several others.

You will have conversations throughout the game to find out what people need, and can click to read the dialogue and refer to the top of the screen for the “to do” list to keep track of your quests. Once you learn your quest, (which can consist of things such as making food, clothing, flower arrangement or gadgets) you and your pet will travel on foot looking for items and bring them back once found. You may need to find patterns to make someone a costume, or you may have to bake someone’s favorite bread.

Each time you satisfy someone you become more popular with that person. You start out as an “acquaintance” and work your way up to “Best Friend.” While searching for items you will dig up things such as onions and oil, climb trees for fruits and nuts, and charm other animals for items ranging from wool to diamonds. You will also have to grow some items in the garden and purchase others from the store.

The town’s currency is known as “Willobees” and can be earned by selling items at one of three stores: the Sewing store, Flower store and Cooking store. These items can be picked up by you, but must be obtained for you by your pet by either digging, climbing, or charming another animal into giving it up.

You have an inventory list and a notebook that keeps track of all recipes, patterns and floral arrangements. There are more than 40 animals and each has different strengths and weaknesses you can use to your advantage, such as the “Torzil,” a strong climber and weak charmer, or the “Gruffie” a strong charmer and weak digger.

Animals can be charmed into giving up eggs which can be placed to incubate and if needed, you can trade your pet to meet your goals faster. Collars can be made to increase each pet’s abilities.

Once you have completed the majority of quests in “Grassland town” you will be introduced to “Tropics Town” where you will meet six more adorable characters and continue to search for recipes, patterns and other items.

To win the game you must complete 162 quests, including the nine necessary tasks to fix the balloon and return home (such as patch basket hole, reattach balloon, acquire CB radio). After the game has ended, a screen appears giving you the option to quit or to continue playing in order to earn the twelve available medals in the games trophy area. A few of the medals consist of meeting goals outside of patching the balloon such as earning 100,000 “Willobees” will win you the “Entrepreneur” award and obtaining “Best friend” status with every island resident will win you the “Social Butterfly” medal. Once completed, these medals can be submitted to Playfirst.com along with your high score.

Some people may find all the repetitive clicking and long term searching frustrating, but ultimately that is what makes the game challenging and rewarding by finding all of the well-hidden objects. One of the most challenging aspects of the game is collecting all of the pet eggs, which must be charmed from other animals. It can take over ten tries before an animal will give an egg.

Unique game play, beautiful artwork, and a funny storyline with colorful characters will prove Wandering Willows a winner among adventure and sim game fans young and old. This game offers a challenge without the pressure of time constraints, and since it will likely take you at least 20 hours to complete all the quests, it’s a great value for the price.

Easter Baskets and Bunnies Cupcakes

Easter Baskets and Bunnies Cupcakes recipe.

We need:
1.75 cups of flour
2 cups of sugar
1 cup of milk
0.75 cups of HERSHEY’S Cocoa
0.5 cups of vegetable oil
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1.5 teaspoons of baking soda
1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
2 eggs
some salt

Heat oven to 350°F. Line muffin cups with paper bake cups.

In large bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 min. Stir in boiling water. Fill muffin cups 0.66 full with batter.

Bake 25 min. or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Prepare CREAMY VANILLA FROSTING; frost cupcakes. Immediately press desired color tinted coconut onto each cupcake. Garnish as desired to resemble Easter basket or bunny.

St. Valentine’s Breakfast Biscuits

St. Valentine’s Breakfast Biscuits

We need:
1.5 cups of flour
0.7 cup of sugar
0.5 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
0.5 cup of milk
10 tablespoons of unsalted butter (melted and kept hot)
1 teaspoon of baking soda
some salt
a heart shaped cutter

In a bowl mix the flour, baking soda, sugar and salt. In a separate bowl mix the hot butter and cocoa powder until smooth. Stir the egg and milk into the chocolate mixture. Pour the wet mixture over flour mixture. Fold through gently with a rubber spatula until all of flour mixture is moistened. Do not try to make a smooth dough. Place the dough on sheet of wax paper and push into a rectangle of approximately 10×5 inch.
Chill the dough for about 15 min.
Cut out as many shapes as you can from the dough. Transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400 F on the center shelf for about 12 min., or until the tops have dried and started to crack and the bases have started to color. A St. Valentine’s dish is ready.

Cioppino

A seafood recipe: Cioppino.

We need:
18 cleaned and debearded mussels
18 small clams
1.5 lb of bay scallops
1.5 lb of large peeled and deveined shrimp
1.5 lb of cubed cod fillets
1.5 cups of crabmeat
2 cans of chicken broth
2 chopped onions
2 minced cloves of garlic
1 chopped bunch of fresh parsley
2 cans of stewed tomatoes
1 tablespoon of dried basil
0.5 teaspoon of dried thyme
0.5 teaspoon of dried oregano
2 bay leaves
0.75 cup of butter
1 cup of white wine
1 cup of water

Over medium-low heat melt butter in a large stockpot, add onions, garlic and parsley. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally until onions are soft.

Add tomatoes to the pot (break them into chunks as you add them). Add chicken broth, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, basil, water and wine. Mix well. Cover and simmer 30 min.

Stir in the shrimp, clams, scallops, mussels and crab meat. Stir in fish, if desired. Bring to boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 5 to 7 min. until clams open. Ladle soup into bowls and serve with warm, crusty bread!

Ham and Potato Soup

Ham and Potato Soup recipe.

We need (for 8 servings):
0.75 cup of diced cooked ham
3.5 cups of potatoes (peeled and diced)
0.3 cup of onion (finely chopped)
0.3 cup of celery (diced)
2 tablespoons of chicken bouillon granules
1 teaspoon of ground white or black pepper
5 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons of butter
2 cups of milk
0.5 teaspoon of salt
3.25 cups water

Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.
In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.

Grilled Asian Chicken

An interesting chicken recipe: Grilled Asian Chicken.

We need (for 4 servings):
4 chicken breast halves (boneless and skinless)
0.25 cup of soy sauce
3 slices of fresh ginger root
4 teaspoons of sesame oil
2 cloves of garlic (crushed)
2 tablespoons of honey

In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the soy sauce, oil, honey, ginger root, and garlic. Heat in microwave on medium for 1 minute, then stir. Heat again for 30 seconds, watching closely to prevent boiling.
Place chicken breasts in a shallow dish. Pour soy sauce mixture over, and set aside to marinate for 15 minutes.
Preheat a grill for medium-high heat. Drain marinade from chicken into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Set aside for basting.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Cook chicken on the prepared grill 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until juices run clear. Baste frequently with remaining marinade. Chicken will turn a beautiful golden brown.

Christmas Ham Balls

The recipe of Christmas Ham Balls.

We need:
10 cups of smoked ham (finely chopped)
3 cups of buttermilk baking mix
4 cups of sharp Cheddar cheese
0.25 cup of Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons of spicy brown mustard
2 teaspoons of parsley flakes
1 teaspoon of milk

Heat oven to 350 farenheit.
Lightly grease jelly roll pan, 15.5 x 10.5 inch.
Mix thoroughly the Bisquick, finely chopped, fully cooked ham, and remaining ingredients.
Shape mixture into 1 inch balls.
Place about 2 inches apart in pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brown. Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm.

Christmas Goose with Currant Stuffing

A Christmas poultry recipe: Christmas Goose with Currant Stuffing

We need:
1 goose (7 to 8 pounds), giblets removed
0.5 cup of currants
6 cups of toasted fresh bread crumbs
1 tart apple, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
0.25 cup of minced parsley
0.25 cup of lower-sodium chicken broth
0.25 cup of slivered almonds, toasted
1 teaspoon of dried sage leaves
0.25 teaspoon of salt
0.25 teaspoon of black pepper

In a small saucepan, combine the onion, apple, and 0.25 cup broth. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until onion and apple are tender.

In a large mixing bowl, combine onion mixture, bread crumbs, currants, almonds, parsley, sage, salt, and pepper. Toss 0.33 cup broth with bread crumb mixture.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Rinse goose; drain, and pat dry. Prick the skin on the lower breast, legs, and around the wings with a skewer. Stuff and truss goose. Then, place goose, breast-side-up, on a rack in large roasting pan. Insert a roasting thermometer in its thigh without touching bone. Spoon remaining stuffing into a lightly greased 1.5-quart casserole; cover and refrigerate.

Roast goose for 2 to 2.5 hours or until the thermometer registers 175°F, drain fat often. Bake the covered casserole of stuffing alongside the goose during the last 30 minutes of roasting. Let the goose stand for 15 to 20 minutes. Carve goose; discard the skin.

Holly Christmas Cookies

A Christmas recipe for children: Holly Christmas Cookies

We need (for 18 cookies):
16 oz of large marshmallows
4.5 cups of cornflakes cereal
2.25 oz of cinnamon red-hot candies
0.5 cup of butter (softened)
1.5 teaspoons of green food coloring
1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract

In a saucepan over low heat, melt together the marshmallows, butter, vanilla, and food coloring. Mix in the cornflakes cereal.
Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper, and decorate with red hots. Set aside, and allow to cool.

A similar recipe: Christmas Wreaths