A little pick me up for a rainy and miserable Sunday

Who doesn't love cupcakes??? I really do, especially this recipe. Now let me just say, I am not much of a chef but I do enjoy trying and this recipe which I found on Pinterest was pretty easy to follow and the results were delicious, if I do say so myself. I urge each of you to try it out today. Raid your pantry or kitchen cupboards. Make a quick run to the grocery store for any items you don't have in stock and get in the kitchen with someone you love and bake some cupcakes.

I love cooking and baking on days like today!!!

Wedding Cupcake and Buttercream Icing Recipe

Ingredients:

1 (18.25 oz) box of white cake mix
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup granulated white sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups of vegatable or canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
4 large egg whites

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 365 degrees F. Place cupcake liners in cupcake pans (you'll need approximately 30).
2. In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix, flour, sugar and salt. Add remaining ingredients and beat with hand mixer for 2 minutes or until well blended.
3. Using an ice cream scoop, fill the prepared cupcake pans, fill about 3/4 full. Bake for about 18 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean and dry.

Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:

3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-2 tablespoons of whipping cream

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, with a hand or stand mixer, cream together sugar and butter on low speed. Mix until well blended. Increase speed to medium and beat for another three minutes.
2. Add Vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for one minute more, adding more cream if needed for desired spreading/piping consistency.
3. Scoop into a piping bag and pipe decoratively onto cupcakes or spread onto cupcakes if desired.

Notes:

I have made these cupcakes twice using this recipe and I found the icing a little to sweet. Apparently there is such a thing!!! So the next time I make them, I might decrease the amount of icing sugar used for the butter cream by maybe a 1/4 of a cup.

Happy Baking and remember to follow me on Pinterest!!!

Ongoing Fall/Winter 2009 Family Sessions at Pingle's Farm Market

I have been in contact with the owner of Pingle's Farm Market in Hampton, Ontario and we are putting together a photography package that will only be offered in the fall and winter of 2009 (ending December 23). Please see the information below for details:

General Admission for upto 4 family members;
A choice of either apple picking (upto 1 basket or bundle) or pumpkin patch (upto 2 pumpkins) or Christmas Tree hunt (depending on date);
Upto 1.5 hours shooting time; and
20-25 images from session on CD sent via ExpressPost 1-2 weeks after session

$200 plus PST

Admission to corn-maze, horse drawn carriage rides are extra. Package is based on four participants, extra fees apply for more participants and second photographer may be necessary depending on the size of your group.

Please check out Pingle's wbsite:

http://www.pinglesfarmmarket.com/

Contact me to book your session!!

Kelly and Zach at the farm

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of not only catching up with an old friend but to photograph her with her son at a 27 acre farm in Pontypool. The farm belongs to her parents. They have a few horses, some cows, chickens and goats. The highlight of the day was going on my first ATV ride...and surviving.