red velvet

So, in preparations for my sister's bridal shower next Saturday, I've decided to take on a few home made projects. If you remember this post, you'll know that I made a special trip to Sprinkles Cupcakes in Palo Alto to see about ordering cupcakes for the shower. That was the plan up until yesterday when it occurred to me that I probably couldn't afford $36 for just a dozen of their delicious cupcakes. So I decided to use my new Martha Stewart "Cupcakes" cookbook and make the cupcakes myself.

In addition to that, I've also decided to make the favors. So in an attempt to make sure that all goes well, I've been doing a little "practice makes perfect" over the past week or so.

After two batches of sugar cookies with home made white icing, I think I've finally (well not just me...the bride-to-be had a lot of input) come up with the final look of the favors.



My sister's new last name will start with an "L" so we thought that it was only fitting to decorate the cookies with that. The only thing is her first name also starts with an "L" so we'll probably have to do a little explaining!

Then this afternoon after a little trip to the grocery store, I followed the "Red Velvet" cupcake recipe in my new Martha Stewart cookbook. I think Red Velvet cake is my new favorite! It's so so so yummy! On a side note, I went to The Cheesecake Factory the other day with my mom and dad and I ordered their new Red Velvet cheesecake....let me tell you how good it was...Yum-O times 1,000!!! Maybe more!

Anyway, after I got home from work this evening, I whipped up a batch of the cream cheese frosting on page 303 of the cookbook and voila!



In my honest opinion, I think the cupcakes are a little too oily for my taste. The recipe calls for 1 and 1/2 cups of veggie oil...ouch! I may cut back a little on the next go 'round. Hopefully this won't mess anything up! The frosting, however, turned out delicious! I loved it! (Remind me to tell you the story about the time my sister-in-law, Kathleen, and I made a cake from scratch, including the icing...let's just say, it was a little crunchy!)

For those of you who have attended a bridal shower recently, what kinds of cake were served? Where there any favors? If so, what were they like?