Red Velvet Goodness

Our wonderful friends/neighbors were so kind to watch Roxy for us last week while we were at Universal for H's Christmas party festivities, and they even offered (actually they asked!) to watch her again while we're away for Christmas. So, I called up the boarding place and cancelled her reservation. I didn't know how to thank them, but remembered them being excited when I posted on FB about trying the new Skinny Girl White Cranberry Cosmo. So, I picked up a bottle of the deliciousness for them and baked a batch of red velvet cupcakes. They invited us over for eggnog tomorrow night after work, so we'll bring the goodies over then.

These are by far a favorite around the holidays and they seriously taste better than any cupcake I've ever gotten from a bakery.. including Georgetown Cupcakes! 

Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients

1/2 cup of shortening

1 and 1/2 cups of sugar

2 large eggs

2 one oz. bottles of red food coloring

1 tsp. of vanilla

2 and 1/2 cups of sifted cake flour

1/2 tsp. of salt

2 tsp. cocoa

1 cup of buttermilk

1 tbsp. of white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat shortening at medium speed until fluffy

Gradually add sugar, beating well.

Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until well blended after each addition.

Stir in food coloring and vanilla blending well.

Combine flour, salt, and cocoa in another bowl, set aside

Combine buttermilk, vinegar, and baking soda in a 3rd bowl, set aside

Add flour mixture to shortening mixture alternating with buttermilk mixture beginning and ending with flour mixture. 

Beat at a low speed until blended after each addition. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes

Pour batter into 3 greased cake pans or into cupcake cups

Will yield a three layer cake or about 2 dozen cupcakes

Cream Cheese Frosting

One 8 oz. package of cream cheese softened

1/2 cup of butter softened

One 16 oz. package of powdered sugar (I usually use a little less)

1 tsp. of vanilla

Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy

Gradually add powdered sugar beating at a low speed until blended

Add vanilla, beating until blended

On another note.. I finally got to experience two things this past weekend! A gingerbread latte from Starbucks

and 

My nail spa FINALLY got the Muppets collection by OPI! 

I got "Gettin Miss Piggy With It" on my toes for Christmas. It's the perfect shade for the holidays! It's much more sparkly in real life than in photos :0(