The most delish cupcakes for your cupcakes

Hi y'all! Well, we are "snowed in" (well, iced in...snow doesn't fall in my neck o' the woods, just icy mush and sleet). That means school was cancelled and my lovely little cupcakes & I were at home all day. Since I had nothing better to do but clean, I decided to make cupcakes instead. A better option in my opinion... here is what I did:

I was watching Martha Stewart the other day and she had a lady on there from some bakery (I know, my attention to detail is astounding) and she (bakery chick) cooked her cupcakes in 5 1/2 " square parchment paper. They were so cute & I thought I would try it...these are coconut! Didn't turn out quite as I had hoped. I put the parchment square in the muffin thingy (technical culinary term) and squished & twisted the parchment down into the thingy. It didn't stay in until I filled it with cupcake batter. I think I should have just filled them about 3/4ths full & they might have done a little better.

By the way, these are my secret (well, not any more) ingredients for quick and gourmet tasting cupcakes. Not pictured is my "Duncan Hines" box of cake mix. I always add about 1 tsp. of vanilla extract to my cake mix (good tip if you are taking notes). Then, I use the Wilton buttercream icing (make double what you would normally use), add about a teaspoon of vanilla (I am wild about Mexican vanilla...equal opportunity baker here...there is something about it that just beats the pants off of regular vanilla), a few shakes of almond powder, and use REAL BUTTER! I prefer it, as does my good friend Paula Deen (I taught her everything she knows).

Here is the finished product (note the cute pink bow and fancy frosting...it is pale pink...I do this with all of my cupcakes don't you know?). Purdy ain't it?

Here is it's ugly step-sister. Not so purdy, but she'll taste the same.

Voila'! Plop them on a cake stand, add a ribbon, and make your Valentine squeal with delight.

P.S. I am beginning to close in on my 100th post...get ready for a GIVEAWAY!!!