Red Velvet Cupcakes

I procrastinated for a very long time before breaking down and making red velvet cupcakes. I really didn't get the attraction. Red food coloring? Wth? But, I kept hearing how good they were. Seriously, everytime I brought up the subject, my sister went on and on about how good red velvet cake was. So, today I decided I was going to give it a try.

The very first thing that I had to do was find a good recipe. Naturally, I googled. Holy cow---there are a slew of red velvet cake recipes out there! I found out a few things about the history of the cake, as well. Back in the day, beets used to provide the color. I kind of get that-- like how carrots or zucchini can make baked goods moist. Now, almost all of the recipes use red food coloring. Really, that's the part that gave me some misgivings. A few drops I can understand, but a bottle? Some of those recipes used a 1/4 cup of food coloring! Yikes! I ended up making up my own recipe by picking out the things that sounded good in several recipes:

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups cake flour
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 ½ cups vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 oz (1 bottle) red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.; line cupcake pans with liners.

All of the recipes I found used some cocoa powder, but they varied alot....from 1 teaspoon (really?) to 1/2 cup. Most specified a tablespoon or two, so I decided to use just one tablespoon. I was going for the red color.

You can sift it if it makes you feel better. I like to whisk.

Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa and soda in a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs, buttermilk and oil and blend well. Stir in the vinegar, vanilla, and almond extract. Add the food coloring, making sure to blend in completely.

Now that is red.

Fill the cupcake liners ¾ full. Bake cupcakes for 15-18 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly touched.

Frost with buttercream or cream cheese frosting.

I almost decided not to frost them, but I couldn't disappoint. I chose a buttercream frosting this time, but a nice cream cheese frosting is probably classic for a red velvet cake.

The verdict? Yum! Next time I will make them with the cream cheese frosting just to compare.

New Year's Resolutions....and some revelations...

Poached eggs...a tasty lo-cal breakfast.

So, I haven't posted much lately. You could say I'm a little conflicted. I love playing with my food  inventing new recipes and baking treats. It's what I do, after all. A number of things are going on, though. First, it's Pillsbury Bake-Off® time! That's right, I really haven't stopped inventing things--I just can't talk about them. Second, my pictures haven't been turning out very nice, lately. It's lighting--always dark when I get home from work. Perhaps, I need to buy a new camera? I procrastinate about a lot of things. Which brings me to to number three: I've had to cut back on what I've been eating. Oxymoron, no? Inventing for the BakeOff and trying to lose weight? Kind of...ha, ha. Believe me, I'm taking a taste and passing it all on for "further evaluation". Pity my poor guinea pigs co-workers.

I'm not going to diet. Really, don't you hate that word? Unfortunately, after about 4 years of mindless eating (call it stress eating, if you will), I need to make a change. A fifty pound change. I've done this before, with great success, so I know it can be done. Now that I've announced it to the world, it better happen. :)

Not to worry...this isn't and will never be a blog about dieting. I'll leave that to the experts. Have you ever checked out Hungry Girl? I don't go for all of her tips, but she does have great ideas! I found out about Vitatops from her. Yummy chocolate muffin tops that only have 100 calories.

I hope you don't mind my sharing a few things I might learn along the way, but for the most part what I want to do is cut back. Everything in moderation, right? Besides, if I give up all treats, I'll just go on a big binge and it would all be for naught.

I rue the day that my daughter introduced me to the gourmet coffee scene. I've never been a coffee drinker, but that skinny vanilla latte is really tasty...and pricey. So now I make my own. It beats the Diet Coke I used to have for breakfast.

 

Coffee, 25 calorie hot chocolate mix and ReddiWip...my own gourmet coffee.

Huh...I always thought it was spelled "ReddiWhip". Where did the "h" go?

Adding some spices really helps make things taste good. And those Bagel Thins only have 110 calories.....

One of the first things that I have learned how to make for myself is a poached egg. This video tells you how it's done.  In the future, I'll figure out a great lo-cal sauce.

In the mean time, I've taken all of my sweaters off of the elliptical and I'm slowly adding exercise to my day. Eventually, it will all become a habit....

Cheese makes a good snack. These Mini Babybels have only 50 calories apiece.

My goal is to look good on television when I win the million. A girl can dream, right?

As soon as it all becomes a habit, I'll post something a little more interesting. Promise.



Meat Pie

I hear that cupcakes are on the "out" list this year, being replaced by pie. This wouldn't surprise me, considering all of the pie, sweet and savory, I've seen seen lately. Why, in my house alone, we had two pies (both totally consumed) on New Year's Day.

The first pie of the day was actually a "tourtière", or a French/Canadian meat pie. My mother-in-law's grandmother was French/Canadian, so tradition in my husband's family is to have Meat Pie every New Year's Day for good luck. I have to tell you, though, that her family has enough "good luck" food traditions, we should be swimming in lottery money by now....pork and sauerkraut, fish that swim forward (?), black-eyed peas (those I've never had)....Meat Pie is the one that I don't mind having.

The recipe for these is pretty easy.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F., and line an 8" cake pan (I use the foil ones) with pie dough. I used a Pillsbury crust, although my MIL swears by homemade. Then, just peel and dice 2 large baking potatoes and put them in a large saucepan. Cover them with water, bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes, or until just tender. Leave them in the water and mush them up a little with a potato masher, then add 3/4 pound ground beef, 3/4 pound ground pork, 1 chopped onion, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain the water, adjust the seasoning, and spoon the meat into the 8" cake pan. Top the filling with the remaining pie crust, cut some holes in it to vent, and pinch the pastry together. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, placing foil around the edges of the pie if it starts to brown too much.

Serve the pie wedges with dill pickles (I often use a little ketchup, but don't tell that to anyone of true French/Canadian descent).

We finished the day with my Lemon Angel Pie. Both of these pies could give the cupcake a run for it's money.

What do you think---is pie the new cupcake?