Hello Cupcake!

Mission = To Bake!
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I promised at the start of this blog that I would conquer the impossible, which among many things for me is....BAKING! I can't actually remember the last time I baked. The schedule of late has been so hectic, I've not premeditated a baking day in weeks and weeks!!
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Well here is the end to the non-baking drought. Finishing my most recent attempts on a high note, I had confidence and experience on my side.
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I chose to try creating the beautiful cupcakes pictured in Ad Hoc.

I've been dying to learn a great sugary frosting recipe as well and figured I could not go wrong with Keller guiding me.

For the first time in at least a month, I had daylight to work with.

A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!!!

Not yet complete, this is just the first step of the batter, which consisted of dry ingredients + butter.

Interestingly enough, Keller does not use the whole egg in this batter.

Instead egg whites are whipped up and folded into the dense batter starter pictured above.

The combination creates a lighter batter with that egg white sheen.

Rather than use the typical cupcake/muffin pan, I pulled out the big guns!

My jumbo muffin tins :o)

Of course, being double the size meant a different cooking time.

I overcooked them just a bit, but felt I did alright.

Going from done to over done in baking gets me almost EVERY TIME!

Once cooled I tried for the White Buttercream from Ad Hoc. The attempt was somewhat successful. I did end up with something to put on the cupcakes, but it was not quite the consistency pictured in Keller's finished product.

Pretty disappointed with my end result being so far from perfect, Hubs came to the rescue. As we tasted one of the frosted cakes, a light bulb went off. I mentioned that I thought the taste was very similar to a dense angel food cake and the frosting similar to whipped cream. Then Hubs mentions that strawberries on top would be good.

Well he was right!

They weren't just a good addition...but a freakin' great addition!!!

Strawberry Shortcake-Cupcakes!
This taste of summer really hit the spot!!

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With some help from Hubs, this baking attempt was rescued.

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I think that had no one known what my initial goal was, they might just assume this was all intentional haha!!