Thursday, September 17, 2009

Pet Parade


My little Murray is in the pet parade at the DIY Showoff's blog.

Check it out!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes



I found this recipe and it sounded so cool and I had to make it. The cake turned out really moist and had a great texture... however it just tasted like lemon cake to me. I think this would be WAY more fun with some kind of crazy drink concentrate like fruit punch, blue raspberry, or even margarita or daquiri mix. I will definitely make this again, except only use the concept of the recipe and change it to a different flavor.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes
Yield: 20 cupcakes

2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Pinch salt
1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
4 egg whites
2/3 c. thawed frozen Pink Lemonade Concentrate
1/2 c. buttermilk
Pink food coloring

Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin pan with liners. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, egg whites and lemonade concentrate. Alternately whisk in flour mixture and buttermilk, making three additions of flour mixture and two of buttermilk, beating until just smooth.Add just enough food coloring to turn the batter a light shade of pink.Scoop batter into liners (fill about three-fourths full). Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until tops of cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Let cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely on rack. Top cooled cupcakes with frosting (see below).

Lemonade Buttercream
3 c. + 3 Tbsp. confectioner’s sugar
1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
1/8 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. pink lemonade concentrate
Milk to reach desired consistency
Pink food coloring

Add the butter, confectioner’s sugar, salt, lemonade concentrate, and a few drops of food coloring to the stand mixer and mix on low using the paddle attachment until combined. Turn the speed to med-high until the buttercream is fluffy and uniformly pink. Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes.

**I didn't have a ton of confectioner's sugar so I made it more like an icing rather than a buttercream frosting....just remember to use the milk to thin the frosting rather than adding more concentrate.

Voted Top 5 for BEST OF DETROIT!




HOLY SMOKES!! Simplicity has been voted a top 5 Winner for the 2009 WDIV BEST OF DETROIT contest in the Wedding Planners category! We were #4! A hundred thank yous for everyone who voted for us and for the support and motivation to keep doing what we do. Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!





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