A little Kitchen time!

I went into this weekend looking forward to a little kitchen time!

Specifically, I wanted to bake! However, instead of baking, I

spent most of yesterday organizing my baking goodies...

But after a quick trip to Costco for butter and sugar this morning...

There was no stopping me and no more excuses not to get my bake-on!

Red velvet cupcakes with Martha's buttercream recipe to be exact! By the way, if you

haven't heard, the secret to really great cakes and cupcakes, and breads too is this cake

enhancer from King Arthur Flour. I initially began using it because it helps cakes and

cupcakes last longer. And, with there just being two of us at home I figured it would

help cut down on the number of cupcakes I usually end up feeding to the raccoons

that live on our property. But even better than the way it stretches the life of your

cake and cupcakes is how much better it makes them taste! Trust me... Get some!

How cute are these cupcake liners I picked up at Bake it Pretty

in Asheville? I was sorry to learn that they have closed their store...

But fortunately for me, I stocked waaaaaay up during our last trip!

So let's bake some red velvet cupcakes!

I don't know about you, but I find pouring my batter into liners

a whole lot less messy than dipping it with an ice cream scoop!

Red velvet cake batter always looks like ketchup to me!

I know... It's just me!

I also know it may seem silly to bake just one

cupcake when that's all the batter that's left...

But if I dumped it, I wouldn't have this last, perfect cupcake!

Now that my cupcakes are baked and cooling in front of the open window, it's

time to whip up some of Martha's Buttercream Frosting... It's so good!

 Being so close to Valentine's Day, I think a little pink might be in order!

Just two drops is all it takes...

For perfect pale pink buttercream!

Decorating my cupcakes will be especially fun since I'm totally stocked

up on disposable pastry bags. I mailed a couple of boxes to friends so when

a friend at work told me she was going to the secret savings spot to pick

up a box for herself, I asked her to pick up another three boxes for me!

Disposable pastry bags is the way to go because buttercream is

especially difficult to clean out of those reusable decorating bags!

And, I am all about the easy clean-up!

I'm also all about this decorating tip!

Because I love the little poof it gives us, huh, Bing? Bing's been

staring at me for a while now... Do you want to know why?

Because I hit pause on the cupcakes and have started my dinner prep!

And, Bing can smell seafood a mile away!

Tiger prawns, lump crab and scallops are on the menu tonight!

And... Cupcakes for dessert, of course!

One for you... One for me!

By the way... I finally broke down and ordered one of those photo light

tents many of my blogger friends rave about. I like the clean backgrounds,

and the light it provides long after the natural light in my kitchen has

disappeared. I like the way it diffuses light to eliminate shadows too!

So if you're in the market for one and wonder what it

might look like after you pop it up in your kitchen...

Now you know!

Now... Go, and have yourself a Happy week!