Showing posts with label blogging award. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging award. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Buttery Vanilla Cupcakes with Creamy Chocolate Buttercream and Awards!

I've been trying to come up with more and more of my own recipes.  I realized that it's probably not the best idea to post all of the recipes out of the cookbooks that I haven't actually written myself.  So I've been trying to get my brain thinking and I've been experimenting and trying to become a more creative artist in the kitchen.  Hopefully that all works out...it's coming slowly though.  So, I just found these cute muffin cups that I wanted to use, and I was trying to create a half pound cake half cupcake recipe.  I had the recipe all on paper hoping it would all work out. My daughter helped me get the batter made and as I'm scooping it into the muffin cups I realize that I only added half the butter as I intended.  They turned out beautifully despite the mistake. Extremely buttery and moist.  The perfect cupcake.  I must not have had my baking "mojo" properly connected because another mistake of filling the muffin cups too full ended up as huge mess in my oven.  But they were salvaged.  These cupcakes were perfect.  I topped them off with a creamy chocolate buttercream frosting.  Delicious!  


Buttery Vanilla Cupcakes with Creamy Chocolate Buttercream
recipe by Stephanie
makes 12 cupcakes

For the cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla (or you could use almond or lemon)

For the frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream (or half and half or milk)
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  In a mixer, beat butter until creamy.  Add milk.  Add eggs, one at a time until fully incorporated.  Slowly add the dry ingredients until well mixed.  Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes.  Batter should be fluffy and creamy.
2. Line muffin tin with muffin cups.  Fill the cups only 1/2 full with batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely in muffin tin.  Transfer to wire rack to frost.
3. For the frosting, in a mixer cream the butter.  Add the cocoa and mix thoroughly.  Add vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup cup at a time, alternating with the cream until consistency is fluffy and creamy.  Frost on cooled cupcakes.


I felt so honored when I received not 1 but 2 Yummy Blog Awards! One from my good friend Jenny at Picky Palate and the second one from the lovely Leslie at The Hungry Housewife. Thanks girls! It made my day and made me feel very special! I've met some of the nicest people here in Foodie Land. I love seeing the creativity that comes from the blogs I love and it inspires me to do better! So now I want to pass this great award on to 5 other great Food Blogs. I could choose so many, but here are the glorious blogs I chose:

Holly at Phemomenom: Holly bakes so many wonderful treats, I really wish I lived next door. I could easily make everything on her blog and die a happy girl.  She is not afraid of a little flour and sugar, and I love that about her blog!

Lindsey at Cafe Johnsonia: I would hope that someday she does open her own cafe, because I would be a loyal customer!  Everything that Lindsey makes seems so fresh, healthy and delicious!  I love pulling up her blog nearly everyday and finding a new and delicious post and my mouth waters every time!

Lori at Recipe Girl: Lori's blog is outstanding.  I love seeing her new posts and the bounty of recipes she has on hand!  She always has something new and delicious waiting for me when I turn on my computer!

Kalyn at Kalyn's Kitchen: Kalyn is all about healthy, and so when I look at her blog, it inspires me to be more healthy in my cooking.  It is easy to get so many wonderful ideas to lighten up your diet!  Something I need for sure...

Emiline at Sugarplum:  Emiline is truly original.  She creates all of her own recipes and it is truly an inspiration!  Her recipes are all mouthwatering.  I've made a few and they were all completely delicious!  

Make sure you check out these great blogs and be inspired!

Monday, April 21, 2008

A Blogging Award And Peanut Butter Cups

I was stunned when I pulled up one of my favorite blogs, My Kitchen Cafe, and noticed that Melanie had given me a blogging award, Blogging With A Purpose!  It made me feel so good that someone actually likes this silly blog!  I put so much time and energy into this blog and it makes me feel so good to have positive feedback, so thanks Melanie.  I too, love Melanie's blog, it is just my style of cooking and everything always looks and sounds so tasty!  I actually made her Peanut Butter Cups last week and they were exquisite!  So creamy and delicious!  It's my turn to 5 more fabulous blogs that I love for the same award, Blogging With A Purpose:



Kevin at Closet Cooking: It seems as though Kevin lives in his kitchen, almost a new tasty post every day or close to it.  He tries things that I haven't even dreamt of, but it inspires me to expand my horizons and try new things.  His pictures are perfect and every recipe looks beautiful!

Patsyk at Family, Friends, and Food:  I love this blog because it is right up my alley.  I love her recipes and I relate to her food, if that makes sense.  She is always so nice with her comments and I just adore her blog!

Melody at My Sweet & Saucy: I just found Melody's blog not to long ago, but I am now addicted. She is perfectly talented in the art of baking, and she inspires me with her beautiful cakes and treats.  

Patricia at Technicolor Kitchen: Patricia has a very beautiful blog with great pictures and great recipes.  She bakes and cooks things that I wouldn't normally think of, but when I see her photo's, it opens my eyes to new things and makes me want to give all of her recipes a try!

Jenny at Picky Palate: What can I say, Jenny has true talent in the kitchen.  She creates beautiful recipes, all of which I would like to try, and it inspires me to create my own dishes. It's so fun to see what she'll create next!  

Award winners, here's what you can do if you would like to nominate any other blogs:
1. Nominate 5 blogs which haven't had this award before.
2. Each of the blogs must have a purpose
3. The nominated blogs should link back to this page.
4. The logo from the award can be put on their blog and link back to this blog!

Thanks again Melanie, and now onto the Peanut Butter Cups!


I saw this recipe on Melanie's blog I knew immediately that I had to make them and very soon.  So I did.  And they were so delicious!  I liked that the peanut butter was mixed in with the chocolate, it made it so creamy and absolutely divine!  

Solid Peanut Butter Cups

12 oz. melted chocolate (I used 9 ounces semi-sweet squares and 3 ounces white chocolate squares)
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Melt chocolate according to package directions, taking care not to overheat.  To the melted chocolate, add the peanut butter, sugar and vanilla.  Mix well.  Spoon or pipe chocolate mixture into small baking cups.  Refrigerate until set.  Enjoy!