Red Velvet Cupcakes and a Little Dirty Secret

The husband recently turned one year older and requested red velvet cupcakes. Should I be worried? I don't think so. I think he just likes the taste and the color red. I searched for what I thought would be a good recipe and found a great one. This recipe has been modified from Best Cupcake Recipes.

Are you ready for the little dirty secret? It isn't really dirty. Actually, it is quite tasty. Do you over pull gorgeous cupcakes out of the oven only to have them deflate and sink minutes later when cooling? Well, I read somewhere that if you simply do a heaping teaspoon, or a heaping of whatever measurement the recipe calls for, your cupcakes will stay plump and risen. I tried it with this recipe and it worked!

I also couldn't decide if I should do a butter cream frosting or cream cheese frosting. I love the sharp flavor of cream cheese frosting, but feel that red velvet cupcakes lack in sweetness and need butter cream frosting as well. So, I combined them and it was delicious!

These are just in time for the 4th of July if you add blue sprinkles on top!


Red Velvet Cupcakes
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder (heaping)
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 oz. red food coloring (two bottles)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 12-cup muffin tins or silicone pans with cupcake liners.

2. Mix cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla and the cocoa powder, scraping down the bowl with a spatula as you go. Add one third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beat well, then beat in half of the buttermilk. Beat in another third of flour mixture, then second half of buttermilk. End with the last third of the flour mixture, beat until well combined, making sure to scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Add red food coloring until mixture is a vibrant red.

4. In a small bowl, mix vinegar and baking soda. Be careful as it will fizz so don't do it in a shallow bowl. Add vinegar mixture to the cake batter and stir well to combine. Fill cupcake cups with cake batter until they are a little under 3/4 full. I ended up with 24 cupcakes. Place muffin tins in your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 15-20, rotating pans halfway through. The cupcakes are done when you are able to pat the tops and the cake springs back up. If it sinks down they are not yet complete.

5. Cool the cupcakes in their tins on a wire rack for 10 minutes then remove and allow to cool completely before frosting.

6.I made half a batch of cream cheese frosting and half a batch of butter cream frosting and combined them for one delicious frosting. Serve and enjoy!

(Notice how they are still plump after cooling?)

Some Facts about Peeps!

(thanks to wikipedia)
Happy Easter!
Did you know Rodda Candy Company originally started Peeps in the 1920s? In 1958 Just Born acquired the Rodda Candy Company and that is where we get the Peeps we enjoy today.

Originally each Peep was hand made which took nearly a day to complete. Today there is of course a machine that pipes out these tasty treats by the millions.

There are orange Peeps for Halloween,strawberry and vanilla Peeps for Valentines Day, and even sugar cookie flavors for Christmas.

This year Just Born candy company has just released Peeps lip balm! Check your local target if interested.
Thanks to the official Peeps website:
I found this delicious recipe with Peeps!
Ingredients:
• PEEPS® Orange Marshmallow Chicks
• 10 large naval oranges
• 4-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 2-1/4 tsp. orange extract
• 1 spring mint (optional)
Directions:
1. Cut a thin slice of the rind off the bottom of each orange so it sits flat.
2. Cut off the top 1/3 of each orange. With a grapefruit spoon, scoop out pulp. Invert
oranges onto paper towels to drain. Remove and discard membrane from orange pulp;
set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners’ sugar and extract; beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in orange juice. Fold in reserved orange pulp.
4. Spoon into orange shells. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Before serving, top each with a PEEPS® Orange Marshmallow Chick and a sprig of mint.
Makes 10, Serve and Enjoy!

Before you eat that Big Mac

We all have our favorite fast food restaurants, especially the ones with a dollar menu. With this bad economy it is easy to think eating out is the better option. However, where health is concerned it is never a better idea to eat most of these items on the menu. There are ways to buy the healthier ingredients in these meals and make them on your own. Buy in bulk and eat over several days once your meal is made to save. If you still decide to go out. Feel free to check this website for the nutrition facts. Medical bills for a heart attack might also be more expensive than eating at home!

Don't eat your stress!

This darn economy has us all pretty stressed out. Studies show that when we are running around worried our blood system contains lots of sugar making it difficult to perform and your brain overperforming. This can be fixed by having complex carbs such as beans, sweet potatos, oatmeal, deep greens like spinach, nuts, avacados, tuna, and milk. These foods steadies the blood sugar so the brain can have a steady flow and calm down. This will relax the body and you will feel better. The milk is also good to have before bedtime. It has been said that it helps the body relax and fall asleep. So go have a good meal and relax!

Postpartum baby weight!

To you mothers struggling with the post baby weight like me. Here are a few suggestions and ideas that I am doing.

1. Start a food journal. Yes it can be annoying, but it is a good way to make sure you are cutting out what you shouldn't be eating. After a few days of documenting everything you eat, it is easy to analyze what choices should be changed.

2. Breastfeeding is said to help shed the pounds, but don't eat less. To keep up the milk supply you will need approx. 2500 calories. Even if you are not breastfeeding, don't eat less. It is important to eat good small meals often. It is not good to starve yourself no matter what.

3. Start walking. It is difficult to take your baby to the gym, so start walking. Not only will your baby enjoy the outing and new things to look at, but the excercise is great for you.

4. Some gyms will let you take your baby to their daycare once your baby is 3 months old.

5. Eat good proteins to keep your body going. When I feel myself craving some sweets such as chocolate I grab a boiled egg and scarf it down. Not only does this take away the bad craving, but it lasts longer.

6. Give it time. Internally it takes the body about a year to recover from childbirth. Don't be discouraged if you are not satisfied with your outside appearance for a while. It takes time.

Great for your wallet, great for you!

The 20 Healthiest Foods for less than a dollar!

1. Oats- high in fiber and complex carbohydrates.

2. Eggs- great source of protein.

3. Kale- loaded with vitamin C, caratenoids, and calcium.

4. Potatos-eaten with skin on they provide almost a whole days worth of vitamin C. Potatoes are also a good source of potassium.

5. Apples- good source of vitamin C and pectin.

6. Nuts-packed with "good for you" fats.

7. Bananas-high in potassium and fiber.

8.Garbonzo Beans- another great source of protein and fiber.

9. Broccoli- contains calcium, vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, and fiber.

10. Watermelon- source of potassium, vitamin C, and lycopene which is a great antioxidant to help prevent cancer.

11. Wild rice- better than white rice. High in protein and fiber, complex carbohydrates, potassium, and is loaded with B vitamins.

12. Beets- may not be your favorite but is great source of folate, iron , and antioxidants.

13. Butternut squash- fiber, Vitamin A and C.

14. Whole Grain Pasta- high in protein and B vitamins.

15. Sardines- not the most popular little treat, but they are packed with nutrients.

16. Spinach- lots of vitamin C and iron.

17. Tofu- an inexpensive protein source.

18. Lowfat milk-rich in vitamins A and D, protein, potassium, and niacin.

19. Pumpkin seeds- great for magnesium, protein, and trace minerals.

20. Water- too many benefits to list!

Omega -3s for your Baby!

You need DHA in your breastmilk! www.aboutseafood.com has great recipes for the seafood you need to eat! DHA is great for brain and eye devolpment.

Corny Salmon Cakes

2 6oz cans of skinless pink flaked salmon

1 cup dried bread crumbs

3/4 cups of shredded cheese. Chedder or Colby

3/4 cups frozen corn kernals, thawed

1/3 cup light canola mayonaise

3 tbs ketchup

1 large Omega -3 egg beaten

1 tbs canola oil

Combine all of the ingredients except the oil and with 1/2 of the bread crumbs. Form the mixture into 8 patties. Heat skillet with oil over medium heat. Coat the patties with the remaining bread crumbs and cook for 5 minutes or until golden bron on each side. Serve and enjoy!

Food Storage food buckets

I found this great website: www.thereadyproject.com that offers 27 day food supply buckets. The foods to choose from are tasty and just need water to cook. The shelf life for these buckets are up to 20 years and are easy to store under beds, cupboards, and other small spaces.

Good to know- breastfeeding tips

So I am a new mom and would like to share a few good tips I am glad to know now. To you mother's or soon to be mother's here are a few breastfeeding remedies.

I am a first time Mom and feel very strongly about breastfeeding my kids. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I wasn't prepared for the extra nuisances that come along with the already uncomfortable parts. The first is engorgement. I'm glad my lactation consultant told me to purchase a head of cabbage ahead of time for this very thing. When your milk comes in 3-5 days after birth it can be rather uncomfortable. Take a couple leaves from the cabbage. Roll them with a rolling pin and break all of the veins running through the leaves. Place one leave on the entire breast. It is ideal if it covers above and to the side. Leave on for 20 mintues. I felt relief within minutes.

The next is worse. I have been battling clogged milk ducts, which is pretty common in the first few weeks. If these lumps are not worked out it can turn into mastitis. I was told to keep massaging with moist heat and to jump in the shower when possible and place really hot water on the clogged areas. I was told to massage with the palm of my hand starting with the top and work it downwards to relieve the built up pressure. I took about 8 showers in one day and would especially jump in right before nursing on the painful side. The idea is to work out the lumps. It takes time and dilligence, but is worth avoiding infection!

Don't sweat the bad economy!

Below is a start to preparing for any hardships that might occur during this bad economy or in the future on a rainy day! One never knows what might happen. People suffering from Hurrican Katrina did not see that disaster coming. It just makes sense to be prepared. I will be posting recipes using food storage and more helpful hints in the future.

Meanwhile start saving money for that rainy day. Many of us have had to create a budget. Consider analyzing your budget and cutting out money you use on nonessential items even more. Take the money you didn't need to use and save it as your own financial reserve. I would consider at least have 200 a person saved in cash and set aside. As we all know the banks are not exactly a guarantee of money or help in these hard times. Also, if a natural disaster were to occur it would be great to have cash on hand since the power could be out limiting the options of ATM's and what not.