from there to here ::part 2::

i was on a mission last week to find a made from scratch cupcake recipe. after being super unhappy with those delightful little box cake mixes on aisle 9 and chunking one "made from scratch" batch of cupcakes in the trash...yes all 24, i came up with this: chocolate cupcakes with chocolate cream cheese frosting. it's a keeper. i used the recipe from here for the cake, and as for the frosting, i don't remember it's source. it's moist and yummy and if you want the recipe without the photos, scroll down to the bottom of the post. preheat your oven to 350, line your cupcake pan with liners, and get a small pan of water boiling on the stove.

mix your dry ingredients together: 1 cup sugar, 1 cup unpacked brown sugar, 1 3/4 cup flour, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt.

then, i dumped it into my kitchen aid and gave it a whirl. i should have just started in my kitchen aid...

add 2 eggs. mix well.

add 1 cup whole milk.

add 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 2 tsp. vanilla. beat for about a minute, scraping the sides if necessary. then, add 1 cup of boiling water.

you'll end up with this...super drippy batter. i used a ladle to pour the batter into my baking cups. bake for 20 minutes.

they'll look like this when they're done. while they are cooling, you can work on the frosting.

for the frosting you'll need 1 stick butter, softened to room temp, 1 block of cream cheese, softened to room temp, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 box powdered sugar (1 lb.), and 1 Tblsp. milk. cream the butter and cream cheese. add the cocoa and vanilla. add the powdered sugar, a little at a time, and finish with the milk. if you want thinner frosting, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time.

now, for the fun part...frosting! i'm a nerd and used this video to help out with my frosting techniques. i wanted the "swirl" effect...

i wish i knew more about this stuff...

remember i made these a couple of weeks ago? they were our toppers for our valentine's day cupcakes. miss emma added a heart to each of the cupcakes, and then i loaded miss emma up, and we delivered the cupcakes to a couple of her super special little friends.

our little buddy has reached another milestone...pulling up! here he is on his very first success...just before the big O-N-E.

we wrapped our week up at a valentine's day crafting party.

what a fun idea! there were cookies to decorate...

and eat...

my little pony joined emma on her adventures. have you noticed that they've re-done strawberry shortcake, my little pony, barbie, and all of the others? it appears that in the past 20 years or so that whole licensed clad has gone clubbing. together. seriously. they're all looking a little wild and *****ish (insert appropriate adjective). do you know how much i love all of that licensed junk? not. i abhor the t-shirts covered in dora, don't really enjoy eating on ariel's face, and honestly would prefer my children to play with all things wooden and classic. let me stop now. just take a look at the barbies next time you're in target. i gurantee you that they don't look like these. in short, i prefer the vintage, don't you?

there were bookmarks to color. emma gave hers to her daddy for heart day.

and little valentine dudes to create...

emma even made me a necklace, which i proudly wore to dinner that night. later on, we turned it into a key chain...those bright little rainbow hearts have helped me big time when on my key hunt! it was a fun week....thanks so much to our sweet friends for the super fun party.

Chocolate Cupcakes

1 cup sugar

1 cup unpacked brown sugar

1 3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup boiling water

Preheat your oven to 350, line your cupcake pan with liners, and get a small pan of water boiling on the stove. Dump the dry ingredients into your kitchen aid, sugar through salt. Allow it to mix. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat for about a minute. Add the boiling water, and beat until blended. Ladle into cupcake liners. Bake for 20 minutes.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

1 stick butter, room temp.

1 block cream cheese, room temp.

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box powdered sugar (1 lb.)

1+ Tblsp. milk

Cream the butter and cream cheese. Add the cocoa and vanilla. Add the powdered sugar, a little at a time, and finish with the milk. If you want thinner frosting, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time.