Pink Velvet Cupcakes Recipe

Have you ever tried Pink Velvet Cupcakes? Red Velvet flavor is pretty popular and I do love it, but pink velvet is made with buttermilk, and tastes so good!!

I made these cupcakes for an early Valentine's Day party, and they were a big hit. But Pink Velvet isn't just for that holiday, it can be used for little girl's parties, baby showers, and any spring celebration. I just think that they are so cute, and you can change the cupcake liners and sprinkles to fit the occasion.

These cupcakes are topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting, and it's one of my favorite frosting recipes. I don't like to spend a lot of time on frosting, but it really does taste so much better when it's homemade.

Recipe for Pink Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1-1/4 cups sugar
2-3 drops red food coloring
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk

For frosting:

 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) at room temperature
1 8oz. package of cream cheese at room temperature
2 1/2 cups powered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and food coloring until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 23-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. 

 With an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes until smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl to ensure even mixing.
Beat in the vanilla extract just until mixed. Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until desired thickness. Frost cupcakes with a spatula, and decorate with sprinkles.

Makes 2 dozen cupcakes.

Enjoy!

Enjoy A Chocolate Raspberry Shake Made With New Müller® Ice Cream Inspired Yogurt

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MullerMoment #CollectiveBias

Every year after the holidays are over I think that life will slow down. But that didn't happen in January, and February is turning out to be just as busy. And though at the age of 57, I am in good health, I'm finding I need to take more occasional 'me moments' to feel my best.

Sometimes those moments include a good book, a quick yoga session, or listening to music. Or they can include a yummy snack, like ice cream. But I don't need all those calories from ice cream, so I'm very happy that I recently found a new yogurt at Walmart that is a great alternative.

Müller® Ice Cream Inspired Yogurt is a great snack or breakfast option. Or you can use it to make simple and delicious recipes like my Chocolate Raspberry Shake. With just a few ingredients, this shake has become my favorite way to indulge in a delicious but better for me treat.

Müller® Ice Cream Inspired Yogurt comes in different flavors, including my favorite Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Bean, and Mint Chocolate Chip.

I love that not only does this new yogurt taste great, but it's a good source of protein and it has less
 sugar than other yogurts and only 190-210 calories.

I eat lots of fruits, and raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries are always in our refrigerator. They are great on their own, but I really like making shakes and smoothies with them.

So when I saw this Raspberry Chocolate Chip flavor, I knew it would make a super good shake.

All you need is some fresh raspberries, or frozen if you don't have fresh, milk, ice, a handful of chocolate chips, and a container of this yummy flavor.

It's so easy to just toss everything in the blender to make this. I've had this shake for breakfast the last few days, and it really makes me feel so much better than some of my other breakfast choices.

I enjoy taking some quiet time in the morning to have my Chocolate Raspberry Shake before the day begins. I'm finding that this time that is all mine, can set the tone for a day that is much calmer and happier.

Last weekend I attended a demo for Müller® Ice Cream Inspired Yogurt at Walmart. Do you love demos like I do? I love tasting new products and I've found some of my favorites by sampling them first at a demo.

 Love Muller? Visit http://www.mullerquaker.com/ to sign up on for their mailing list and receive the latest news and offers. As a thank you, you'll also get a coupon to use toward your next purchase!

You can find this great tasting new ice cream inspired yogurt at a Walmart near you. Just look for it in the yogurt aisle. And  check out other Müller yogurt varieties now available on Rollback at Walmart for $.88 until March.

Recipe for Chocolate Raspberry Shake

Ingredients:

1 container of  Raspberry Chocolate Chip Müller® Ice Cream Inspired Yogurt
1 cup of 2% milk
1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
8 ice cubes
handful of mini chocolate chips

Directions:

Place all the ingredients into a blender, and blend until desired consistency.
Makes 2 shakes.


So do you have a favorite way to enjoy your own special 'me moment'? Please leave me a comment, I'd really enjoy reading about yours.

My Favorite Salmon Cake Recipe

Living in the Seattle area makes you well aware of the abundance of the delicious fresh fish we have available to us. There's nothing more tasty than a fresh salmon filet prepared with your favorite recipe.

But that fabulous piece of fish comes with a hefty price tag. So I don't use it for salmon cakes because they can be made with canned salmon, and still be great.

There are lots of variations on a salmon cake recipe, and I have tried quite a few during the years. But this is my favorite. I like the combination of the onion and yellow bell pepper together. And I add a teaspoon of Tabasco sauce for an added kick.

These can be put on buns to make sandwiches, but I like them best with a tasty coleslaw and some salty French fries.

Recipe for My Favorite Salmon Cakes

Ingredients:

1 (14.75) can salmon drained and flaked
1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs, plus more for outside of cakes
1 egg
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup diced onions
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Pick through the salmon and remove any bones. In a medium bowl, add salmon, breadcrumbs, egg, mayonnaise, onions, bell pepper, Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper.
Mix together well, and shape into 4 equal sized patties. On a piece of foil, sprinkle extra breadcrumbs and press patties lightly into breadcrumbs on each side.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Fry each patty 4-5 on each side until they are slightly crispy and golden brown.

Serves 4.

Lemon Pound Cake

Do you have a favorite cake recipe that never fails you? That you can make for almost any occasion, whether it's a friends' birthday, office party or picnic?

For me, it's this delicious Lemon Pound Cake. I'm a real lemon lover, so this really satisfies my desire for that tangy, tart flavor. I'll sometimes make it for dessert for a family gathering, and have some left over for a piece the next day with a cup of tea.

I like recipes for Bundt cakes. Bundt cakes always look homemade and somehow comforting to me. I remember my Mom making the Tunnel Of Fudge cake with a mix that was so popular years ago. But I always think it's worth the extra time to make a cake from scratch, and makes all the difference in taste.



 



 

Recipe for Lemon Pound Cake

 

Ingredients:

 

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) at room temperature, plus more for the pan

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted, plus more for the pan

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3 cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest

8 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

6 large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup sour cream

2 cups confectioners' sugar

 

Directions:

 

1. Heat oven to 325° F. Butter and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and lemon zest on medium-high until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in 4 tablespoons of the lemon juice, then the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
3. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add half the flour mixture, then the yogurt, and then the remaining flour mixture. Mix just until combined (do not overmix).
4. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 60 to 65 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan for 30 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and the remaining tablespoons of lemon juice until smooth. Pour glaze over cake.

Serves 12

   

Starting Mornings My Way With McCafé Coffee

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #McCafeMyWay #CollectiveBias

One of the things I've come to learn about myself as I've gotten older is that I need my morning routine. I need to have quiet time for thinking, planning my day, and my yoga practice. But before I do any of these things, I need a great cup of McCafé coffee.

I'm a true coffee lover, and that first cup of morning coffee is really important to me. I recently discovered McCafé coffee pods that I can use with my Keurig machine to brew up a delicious cup of coffee in no time at all.

Since I live with my daughter and her family, which includes three of my grandchildren, I like enjoying my coffee before everyone else wakes up. I adore my grandchildren, but it's so nice to have some me time before everyone's busy day begins.

The Premium Roast coffee pods are my favorite for my first cup in the morning. They have a wonderful aroma, and taste. I also love the French Roast, too.

McCafé coffee is made with 100% Arabica Beans, and harvested from the rich soils and mountainous regions of the foremost coffee growing areas of the world. And as much as I like using the coffee pods for time saving convenience, it's also available in premium coffee bags as well.

Using my Keurig lets me have my cup of coffee quickly and easily. I love just popping the coffee pod into the machine, with no measuring, no coffee filters, and no mess. After my cup is brewed, I add a little creamer, and I'm good to go!

I want 2015 to be the year of change for myself. I would love to earn more money, seek out new opportunities, and find a charming little apartment in the city.

With my cup of coffee and my calendar notebook, and before I open my computer, I use that time to think and plan. And as much as I do love my computer, there is just something special about writing things down by hand.

When I was a busy mom raising my five children, there was no morning time for me. I know that is so true for many moms today. My daughter enjoys getting up before her kids wake up, and having that first cup of coffee in quiet. It's so worth losing a little extra time sleeping in, and can make all the difference in a mom's day.

My morning routine includes a thirty minute session of yoga a few mornings a week. Nothing terribly strenuous like this book cover, but enough to help me stay healthy and fit. I enjoy yoga very much, and I'm excited to start going back to a local yoga studio in addition to my home practice.

After yoga, it's time for a light breakfast and another cup of McCafé coffee. Using the coffee pods lets me have a freshly brewed cup of coffee each cup. For me, drinking coffee that has been sitting in a pot for an hour or two, is not my idea of a good cup of coffee.

I first tried McCafé coffee at a coffee demo at Walmart. I got hooked right away. I'm actually quite picky about the coffee I buy and drink, so this had to taste great to win me over.

I was a little early for the demo, but I'm so glad I stayed to try the McCafé. Walmart has lots of demos, and I've actually found a lot of my favorite products by sampling them this way.

You can find McCafé coffee pods and bagged coffee in the coffee aisle at Walmart. Look for several different varieties of each product.

McCafé coffee is part of the Kraft brand that includes many of our favorite and well-known brands available at Walmart.
If you need more inspiration, check out the Cooking Up Good website. It has recipes, sweepstakes, loyalty programs, coupons and more! What's not to love? If you're looking for a new dinner idea or a chance to win some awesome prizes, be sure to check it out!

How about you? Are you someone who would love a less rushed morning? Do you have a morning routine that helps you get a good start? And how important is a great tasting, convenient cup of coffee to you?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please leave me a comment below. And thanks!!