seemingly productive

Yesterday was indeed a seemly productive day, it was that time of the month--laundry day. So while I was waiting for laundry I, baked red velvet cupcakes! WHEEEEE. Mainly because I had to go into work at 6 p.m. for inventory & promised my co-workers I'd make some/ I had a craving myself. This is a tried & true recipe that I found one day while looking on TasteSpotting, this blogger has such wonderful pictures to go with her fantastic recipes. But the frosting I've been trying to figure out still since plain old vanilla bores me & flat out cream cheese overwhelms the cake. So I just tossed in some ingredients and hoped for the best, thankfully it turned out well, my co-workers enjoyed them.
Also, everytime I finish doing laundry I just wonder... where did I have the room to store these things before? Did I have enough hangers before? No wonder I do laundry once a month, there's no place to put it once it's clean!

Red Velvet Cupcakes
1/4 cup red food coloring
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour three 9- x 2-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with waxed paper.
In a small bowl, whisk together until well combined the food coloring, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Set aside.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until very fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add in the eggs one at a time. Add the flour in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Add in the salt. Beat in the cocoa mixture until thoroughly incorporated. In a small bowl, mix together the vinegar and baking soda. Add to the batter at the end, making sure to mix well.

Divide the batter among the prepared pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Jackie's Vanilla with a hint of Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 stick softened butter
3 oz. cream cheese (about)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4-5 cups powdered sugar (i guess? i don't measure, sorry)
a splash of milk (once again, sorry)

mix the butter & cream cheese for about 3 mins, add in vanilla. Then add in powdered sugar, splash in some milk until you get the consistency you desire.


Sorry for the sad looking pictures, I was lazy & just used my iPhone. But better some, than none?
I use Reynolds foil baking cups, because that way I don't need to use a cupcake pan & get more cupcakes done in a shorter amount of time--efficiency is key. :) Here they are ready to be baked.

Almost ready to be taken to work, just need some foil to cover the top! & yes, I was lazy & just slathered some frosting on top. ha.





Wheee, leftovers for me &... I guess my cousin too. ha.







Taking a bite out of it, after getting home from work at 2 a.m. fun.