take my word for it wednesday.. ollie is 5 and these chocolate cupcakes were a hit!!

 

ollie's b day party was sunday and i wanted to make cupcakes.. i had never made homemade cupcakes and frosting before but really wanted to try.. i got busy on saturday and didn't end up making them.. so i got up early early on sunday and proceeded to make them.. they were not that difficult.. i used grandmommy's miracle whip cake mix that i use for everything.. and a quick internet search yielded me an easy chocolate frosting.. hot diggety dog i am set what could go wrong.. {never ask that question in situations like these because something can and will go wrong.. horribly wrong..} well i started to get sick.. i got a stomach ache that dropped me to my knees.. i began chattering from my body being so cold.. yet i was burning up.. i kept having to lay down in between each step making the cupcakes.. but the results were amazing and everyone loved them!! as for me the rest of the day was a blur of laying down, sitting down, pacing.. taking a bath.. more pacing.. more laying down.. i made corned beef, cabbage and potatoes and barely remember doing it.. {i can tell you tho they were  some of the best corned beef, mashed taters and cabbage i've ever made, i ate it for lunch the next day.. i guess if you don't fuss over food to much it can actually be very good..} and regarding the stomach issue i did some research the next day and comparing my symptoms.. i am going to say i passed a kidney stone.. holy crimenoly!! that was painful!! might i suggest NOT doing it.. if it can be avoided.. :)

 

in my pain induced fog i didn't fill them all evenly and had some that were really flat.. 

and some largely domed shape.. i know these aren't perfect but they were yummy and looked good so i didn't sweat the small stuff.. had i felt better i probably would have started all over again and made them uniform.. i am glad i didn't.. {since mine were not even i did not yield 24 cupcakes.. i only got 20}

i needed a simple yet yummy frosting.. what i found here had the same ingredients of grandommy's frosting just "made" a different way and i knew it was kismet.. meant to be.. and i was right.. the frosting was out of this world!!

 

i then started to panic.. i had never decorated a cupcake before.. and i didn't have a pastry bag.. again a quick internet search and i found this great site with these amazing tips!!

 

and viola.. i know they aren't the prettiest and the most evenly decorated.. but hey it was my first try.. practice will make better..

 

my mom and shelby both called me after the party to tell me they were the best cupcakes they had ever eaten.. so i felt a tad bit better up until the next waive of nausea and pain.. :/



grandmommy's miracle whip cake mix used for the cupcakes
prep time: 10 minutes

cooking time: 17-20 minutes

servings: 24 cupcakes

ingredients:

1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
6 heaping tbsps. cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup miracle whip
1 cup+ warm water {i had to add just a little more and make sure it's warm}
1 tsp. vanilla

directions:

preheat oven to 350 degrees {f}.. sift dry ingredients together then add miracle whip, water and vanilla... combine all ingredients until mixed well... i use a hand whisk.. spoon batter between 24 liners in your cupcake pan.. bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean...  remove when done and allow to cool completely before adding your frosting..

chocolate frosting

ingredients:

2 sticks {1 cup} softened butter
1/2 cup {8 tblsp.} of cocoa powder
5 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup heavy cream {or milk}

directions:

in a medium mixing bowl, whip butter and cocoa until smooth.. add vanilla and slowly the powdered sugar {i used my stand mixer and added the powdered sugar 2 cups at a time with the last time only being 1 cup}.. while the mixer is running and the powdered sugar is thoroughly mixed in slowly stream in cream/milk until frosting reaches your desired consistency... scrape sides down and mix/whip again until fluffy and smooth.. frosts 24 cupcakes..

 

 

happy birthday ollie.. what an amazing little guy your growing up to be..

 

we love you!!!

 

enjoy and get cook'n!!