Yum!

Blech. We've been stuck in a hot/humid wave for about two weeks now. Not fun. And last night I decided to turn the oven on to make cupcakes. In my defense, I had a number of zucchinis from the garden sitting int the fridge wanting to be used. However, of the three (and one is HUGE) I only needed to use one of them. Here's what I made:

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting.
2 C shredded zucchini
3 eggs
2 C sugar
3/4 C cooking oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
2/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 C milk chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Stir together zucchini, eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla.
Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, baking powder and chips, stirring until combined.
Spoon batter into cupcake pan lined with paper liners.
Bake about 25 minutes
Frost with Peanut Butter Frosting
Yields 24

Peanut Butter Frosting
Beat 1/2 C peanut butter, 1/2 C softened butter, 1 Tblsp milk, and 1/2 tsp vanilla with electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add 1 1/2 Cups powdered sugar until spreading consistency is reached.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Every time I make a recipe that calls for cream cheese frosting, I fall in love. This time was no exception.

I decided that in honor of Valentine's Day I should make red velvet cupcakes. Chris saw the recipe which included a note from someone who commented that it made a LOT of frosting and that next time she would half the recipe. Chris scoffed, so I made the recipe as written. We now have a container full of leftover frosting.

We also decided that for future holidays I should just change the color of the food coloring. So there very well could be green velvet cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day. I also think I need to get a large star tip for decorating purposes.

Two posts in two days...

First off, here are some Toadstool Baby Rattles, and no, I'm not pregnant. I started the rainbow one last week. Should have used size 2 needles instead of 3, but I didn't have any. As a result it's a bit big. Got smaller needles on Sunday and finished up the yellow one last night. I got a request for a pink one, so I'll have to see if I have appropriate yarn, and if not, head to the store before we head for Maine. I figure these will be a good vacation project. Also got a request for a couple of cupcakes.

Another project for last night was to bake this cake. It was for someone at work who has a birthday this month and she loves butterflies. She also loves pink and purple.