Hydrangeas Cupcakes- Vanilla Cupcakes

Its been a while that I posted a recipe here. Have been a lot busy as recently started a new job. It takes a little time to get into a routine especially if you've been a full time mom for the last three years. But I'm loving it. Its GOOD busy. My younger one gets to be at his school and daycare and interact with kids his age and I get some time away from the never ending household chores.

Last weekend we all went to the Nascar Event(car Racing) at Dover Delaware. Both my kids and my husband are great fans of Nascar. At my house you will hear nothing but Nascar conversations and friday nights and weekends they will religiously follow it on TV. Though each of them follow a different driver. That day none of their drivers won, but it was an interesting race and we all had a good time.

Also I happened to bake these vanilla cupackes over the weekend and I wanted to try my hand at decorating them with hydrangeas. These are my favorite flowers. They are just so beautiful and love their colors. I particularly love the bluish purple hydrangeas. Though I could'nt quite get that color for the icing.

  Ingredients :

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3 eggs   
• 2/3 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup orange juice 

Preparation :

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degress C) and line muffin cups with paper liners. I have used mini muffin cups which will yield 24 mini cupcakes.
• In a bowl sieve together all purpose flour, baking powder and salt. Keep it aside.
• Beat butter and sugar using an electric mixer or a hand mixer until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add the Vanilla extract and mix it well.
• Now add the flour mixture and orange juice alternately in about three additions and mix it well.
• Fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 17-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. 
• Allow to cool for about an hour and then decorate them with buttercream icing. I have used wilton tip #2D for my hydrangeas.

Recipe adapted from The joy of Baking.

2nd Blog Anniversary and Happy Mother's Day...

Wishing all mothers a very happy Mother's Day. Also I'm so happy that Curry and Beyond is celebrating its 2nd anniversary.

It has been a beautiful journey and I have made such wonderful friends and learnt so much. Thanks to you , all my awesome readers for your support and encouragement. Curry and beyond wouldn't be here without YOU !!!.

Princess Cake

 Vanilla cake with Buttercream icing.  

Begin by baking two 9" cakes and one dome shaped cake. They are cooled for an hour and then the center of each cake is cut out. This will make it easy to insert the Barbie doll and  the cakes will form the Barbie's elegant dress. Then apply the pink icing in between the layers and then around it. Let it be in the refrigerator for about an hour before you can pipe the icing and make the dress. A real barbie doll is then wrapped with plastic and inserted in the center of the cakes. Soon you are ready to dress up your Princess doll. You can use your imagination and and make the dress of your choice using different decorative icing tips.

Voila , your Princess Cake is ready to Party !!!

This Princess cake was baked for a friend's daughter's 5th Birthday. I'm gald I could help. It was worth the time and effort when I saw the look on her face and the joy it brought her...That was priceless!!! Also all the kids at her birthday party(including my 2 boys) were happy and excited and could'nt wait to have a slice of this cake. Must say so I was a little emotional when it was the cake cutting time..LOL.Well got a bit attached to my Princess as this was my first attempt at making this cake.

Saved a slice of this cake for You, You and You..All of my readers !!!. Enjoy.