The first blog

Well today I said goodbye to my parents once again, knowing that I wont see them for at least another year.  Each time it gets just a little bit harder, especially now that I have two beautiful children.  Feeling horribly sorry for myself I decided to drown my sorrows in baking something wonderfully delicious (and then eating it of course). I then thought to myself, it might be time I finally start the baking blog that I have talked about for months.

So here it is.  The theme of this blog will mainly be experimentation of different cupcakes.  Each week I will endeavour to create or try a new cupcake recipe.  Very aware that having cake in the house will be extremely dangerous to my waist-line I also am out to find volunteers to take these cakes off my hands.  The recipients must be extremely deserving of these delectable treats so I am asking for people to nominate friends or family members they feel need a little sweetness added to their life.  Unfortunately due to the fact that I do live in New Zealand exportation of these cupcakes outside of the country would prove to be impossible.   

Occasionally I will also blog on other dessert recipes I have tried as well as my latest cake creations.  Anyone who is interested in purchasing any of my cakes or cupcakes can email me to discuss this.

As I have not received any nominations yet of who this weeks cupcakes will be given to as this is my first blog, I took it upon myself to donate the cupcakes to my father-in-law as it is his birthday today and what better way to spend a birthday then by eating cake!  And not just any cake, chocolate peanut butter cup cupcakes.  Personally I feel there is nothing better than the combination of chocolate and peanuts and a moist rich chocolate cake mixed with a creamy peanut butter icing was just what I needed to help me forget my blues. 

I researched until I found what looked like a stunning chocolate cupcake recipe to use as my base.  To the recipe I added a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup and on top of the cupcake I added a peanut butter icing.  I enlisted the help of my two year old with the mixing of the cake, not to mention licking the spoon. Only a two year old can find licking a spoon with only creamed butter on it delicious and I still am astounded every time she takes a taste of baking soda and says nodding "Mmmm, I like".  Overall I was very pleased with the results of the cupcake and will definitely be adding this to my repertoire.  The cupcake was very moist and the peanut butter butter cream icing was so delicious you could eat it by the spoonful.

You can view the recipe for the chocolate cupcake on All Recipes. I did change the recipe slightly based on suggestions and only used 3/4 cup milk and filled the cupcake cases only 1/2 to 2/3 full. I also placed a Reeses Peanut Butter cup at the bottom of each cupcake.  This is not entirely necessary as the cupcakes taste great without it as well.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Cupcakes/Detail.aspx?prop31=1


The peanut butter buttercream icing can be found on Food.com.  This is not quite enough for the full quantity of cupcakes so you will want to double the recipe.
http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-peanut-butter-buttercream-frosting-172801