(yarn for their nests)
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I hate typing up recipes so if I go to the bother of putting one on my blog you know I truly enjoyed whatever it was I ate. Today I made a new recipe from the April/May 2007 Taste of Home magazine. If you are cautious about your sugar and butter intake you will have to throw it (caution) to the wind to make this recipe:
Texas Chocolate Cupcakes
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup cocoa
1 cup water
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup butter, cubed
2 eggs
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Caramel Icing:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup milk
2 to 2 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring cocoa, water, oil and butter to a boil. Gradually add to dry ingredients; mix well. Combine eggs, buttermilk and vanilla; gradually add to batter and mix well batter will be very thin)
Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
For icing, in a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter and milk. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to medium. Do not stir. Cook for 3-6 minutes or until bubbles form in center of mixture and syrup turns amber. Remove from the heat; transfer to a small mixing bowl. Cool to room temperature. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar. Spread over cupcakes.
Yield: 2 dozen cupcakes and a very happy feeling.
Note: I made the caramel base for the frosting FIRST. By the time the cupcakes were in the oven, I could finish making the icing.
Also, I love the word “amber”. . . . .
Good to be Home 
Holy moley, those cupcakes sound lovely. I must make them. Alex loves your piggy cursor LOL He’s saying “Mommy, where did the piggy go?” as I type this. I love the yarn for the birds…so cute.
Oh, I love what you did for the birds!
I just realized that the yarn is to provide nest building material! Neat idea.
Sounds scrumptious! I’ll have to try them out. Grace is so cute!
I love Taste of Home magazine!!!you know Amber is beautiful little girls name…..(if you ever need it!!!)
Those cupcakes look way too yummy not to try out!
Love the photo of your Grace with the yarn- what a great idea!
Thanks also for your kind words regarding my dear friend- they were much appreciated!
God bless you today~ Laurel
Looks like you had a fun day. The cupcakes sound amazing. I will be trying them for sure. Of course I like the title “TEXAS Chocolate Cupcakes” Everything is better here. lol Thanks for sharing Shanda.
lovely photos — i will have to try those cupcakes…they sound delicious!
I like – for the birds.
The bright red yarn on the tree is actually quite beautiful…it looks like a Christmas tree! And you’re right, amber is a great word.
RYC: I “sighed” at the picture of her daughter just because she’s so cute she takes my breath away.
I think I’m gonna try those cupcakes someday ~ tell me, are they probably just great for when I’m on a diet?
Your birds will have have some nice, colorful nests!
If I started with the caramel first, it wouldn’t make it to the cupcakes. Teehee.
I wish you lived closer I know I said it a million times, but if you did I would make you a quiet spot to sit in my house and you could bring me some of your baked goods, and we could sit and watch the birds and talk!!