Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing

June is a busy month for us with birthdays. Itty Bitty's birthday  (click the link for a look at his Disney Cars themed party) kicks off the start of the month, mine follows two weeks later, my mama's and bestest friend the following week, and at the end of the month is my grandmother's birthday. I'm not even about to start the list of acquaintances I have whose birthday's are mixed into that jumble.

The wallet is lighter the month of June but our stomachs are heavier with all of the yummies we get to eat at the celebrations.

Instead of cupcakes this year for Itty Bitty's birthday I decided to make him a cake since I was sold on buying an edible cake image that had been customized just for him. However, I did buy Disney Cars cupcake liners just in case I had to go to my Plan B if the idea failed.

He's been asking for cupcakes ever since. Why not make cupcakes in spirit of all the June birthdays?

I decided on Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting from my cookbook, Good Things For Kids: 63 Fun and Easy Recipes the Whole Family Will Love.

It obviously wasn't my day to put on a baker's hat. The amount of batter the recipe called for didn't fill up all of the cups 3/4 full so I didn't get that domed top. Sigh. When making the icing, cringe, I didn't have enough egg whites, whisking the sugar and egg whites over simmering water was new to me, and then having to form stiff peaks... OH NO! Itty Bitty requested blue frosting and I ended up with dye all over my hands and had a get together with a friend not even an hour later. Double sigh.

After letting the cupcakes cool I frosted them. Itty Bitty had actually decided to park himself at the table and waited patiently for me to finish frosting them all. I place the cupcake in front of him and after one bite he told me, "No thank you mama. I get down."

He's not much for sweets unless it's chocolate so I figured this was the case.

I took one bite of it and realized why he didn't want it. The cupcake did not turn out light and fluffy. It even had crater sized holes in them!?! The icing was delicious though. Sigh. No idea how I went wrong.

Needless to say, I, myself will not be making this recipe again. I was really looking forward to being able to mark off number 3 from my "Stir The Pot" page. Sigh.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing

Good Things for Kids: 63 Fun and Easy Recipes the Whole Family Will Love

Makes 2 Dozen Cupcakes and 5 1/2 Cups Icing

Stars of the Show for the Cupcakes:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup milk

And Action:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 12-cup cupcake pans with paper lines. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until incorporated. Scrape down sides of bowl, beat in vanilla.

To bowl with butter mixture, add flour mixture and milk alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl.

Divide batter evenly among liners filling about 3/4 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched about 20 minutes. Rotate pans once if needed. Transfer to wire rack and let cool completely before decorating as desired. Cupcakes can be baked 1 week ahead and frozen. Place on a baking sheet and freeze, then store in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer. Decorate the cupcakes no more than a day before serving.

Star of the Show for the Icing:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 6 large egg whites
• 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, room temperature
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract - I used vanilla bean paste. You can see the flecks of vanilla bean in the frosting. Yummy!
• food coloring, if desired

And Action:

In a heatproof bowl set over simmering water, whisk sugar and egg whites until warm and sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from the head. Using an electric mixer, beat mixture on medium speed until completely cooled and stiff peaks have formed, about 10 minutes.

Add butter one piece at a time, beating after each addition until combined. Add vanilla. Beat on low speed until smooth, about 5 minutes. Stir in food coloring. If not using immediately, refrigerate buttercream for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature, beat until smooth before using.

Photo from: Good Things for Kids: 63 Fun and Easy Recipes the Whole Family Will Love

Although good on paper and photographs these just didn't turn out for me. Bummer. There is a really cute decorating tip in the cookbook. Cupcake Clowns. For the clown's hat, score a circle in the center of cupcake. Cut a cone with knife at an angle, rotating cupcake as you go. Using a wide round piping tip pipe buttercream into the cavity and on top for the head. Use mini gumdrops for the collar and a cinnamon candy for the nose; insert chocolate sprinkles for the eyes. The hat has a buttercream icing pom-pom covered in multicolored sprinkles. Cuteness!!!

Itty Bitty's 3rd Birthday Bash - Disney Cars Theme

Happy 3rd Birthday Jason!!!

My Itty Bitty watches Disney / Pixar's movie, Cars, EVERY! DAY! He would be tickled pink if we would allow him to watch it all day long. He has the movie memorized. If you haven't seen it yet don't let him be the first one you watch it with or else he'll spoil the scenes. Haha!

The theme for his 3rd birthday party was a no brainer. A month in advance we began the party planning. Plenty of time. Stress free party, not counting the fact that Mr. Sideline Chef didn't think he would make it home for it. Luckily, he got into town a couple of hours before the party started.

Theme: Disney Cars.

Decorations: This year we went with Party City since we found all of our party supplies for less here than anywhere else. I shopped online since I like to see the entire selection and get the purchase over with in one shot.

Invitations / Guest List:  Homemade invitations. Since we live in Texas and have no family here in State our neighbors have become our extended family. They were all invited. I did have a big surprise that I managed to keep a secret from Mr. Sideline Chef and Itty Bitty. I flew out Mr. Sideline Chef's dad. The boys were beyond thrilled. His arrival was the best gift given.

Food: I love parties where the food correlates with the theme. So I set out to create a menu that was a play on words with the characters from the movie.

• For the party table I was debating between: Flo's V-8 Cafe and "Ka-Chow Hall."
• Since Mr. Sideline Chef works in the trucking industry I knew he could get his hands on a traffic cone. I had him clean it up with a Magic Eraser and set in on the table as "Sally's Cozy Cone Motel". My original idea was to purchase some mini orange cones (like what they use at soccer practices) and put some party favor treats in there. I went over budget, no surprise there, and decided to just go the for free route. Cleaned up traffic cone it was as a decoration.

• Fillmore's Organic Fruit and Veggie "Dipsticks" with Ranch

• "Chick"en Wings

• "Mack"aroni Salad (recipe below)
• Meat and cheese tray with Cars toothpicks

• Hot"docs"

• Beverages
• Chocolate cake (I used a box mix) with the Ultimate Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (recipe below).
• Traffic Lights - Rice Krispy Treats dipped in Chocolate Glaze and then M&Ms (red, yellow, and green) set on top.

• Mater Oil Sundaes - Vanilla ice cream with Magic Shell topping.

Gifts: Anything Cars related was a sure bet for my Itty Bitty. He received a boxed set of die cast cars, a Bubble Mater (highly recommended if your little one loves bubbles), Cars mechanics t-shirt, Cars World Atlas, bouncy ball, coloring book, remote control Mater, interactive Cars book, and a placemat and cup. Along with a bunch of other things non-Cars related. We need to buy him a new toybox for all the new toys.

Tuna Salad - "Mack"aroni Salad

Recipe passed along to me from Mr. Sideline Chef's Grandma Gail

Mr. Sideline Chef's dad remarked, "It isn't Summer until this salad is made.

Makes 4-6 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 cups cold cooked macaroni
• 1 can tuna, drained and flaked
• 1/2 cup diced cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
• 3/4 cup slaw dressing - Such as Marzetti's or Marie's.
• 2 tbsp pickle relish

And Action:

Combine all ingredients and chill until ready to serve. Don't forget to put it on ice if it's an outdoor party.

Ultimate Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

MyRecipes.com and Southern Living, March 2009

Makes 2 Cups

Edible cake image was purchased online on Ebay. Itty Bitty pulled the candles out of the cake and didn't want us to sing.

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 tsp vanilla bean paste - I had to order this online. I highly recommend this ingredient. Such a flavor punch and more pronounced vanilla note than extract.
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 (16 oz) bag powdered sugar
• 3 to 5 tbsp milk

And Action:

Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 3 Tbsp. milk, 1 Tbsp. at a time, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition. Beat in up to 2 Tbsp. additional milk for desired consistency.

Chocolate Sheet Cake with a Quick Caramel Pecan Frosting

Halloween morning I set out with my Mickey Mouse Steelers loving fan and headed to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to pick up a 15"x10" jelly roll pan to make a cake. I only had a 13"x9" pan in the house and being the amateur baker that I am I did not realize that I could use that size and just adjust my cook times. Plus it was an excuse to take the Mouse out of the house and show him off and get a new kitchen toy. After searching the two baking aisles no jelly roll pan in the size I needed was found. Kinda bummed I left the store with my other purchases, a set of mesh strainers, a glass pitcher, and a green platter. I'll just Yahoo! it or call my mom who is my go to for every cooking question imagineable.

I must have missed the memo in my inbox for how easy it is to make a cake and forever put an end to my "oh I'll just turn the batter into cupcakes" kick I was on. Chocolate cake, you do not intimidate me any longer. Caramel sauce, you still had me scared until I concurred you. I had horrifiying thoughts of Mr. Sideline Chef being called into the emergency room for third degree burns caused from a sticky pecan substance stuck on the victims forearms.

In any case, if you have missed the memo as well, be scared no more! Chocolate cake and a quick caramel frosting are easy peasy lemon squeezy! Lame. I know. Moving on... After the chocolate cake cooled on the wire rack the frosting was spread on and I'd like to say it went on smooth but it was caramel and my frosting spreading skills are nonexistent.

I flubbed and forgot to add the vanilla extract to the cake and just decided to double the amount in the frosting. It still worked out and the cake was incredibly flavorful. That was a close one. I also had a few moments where I had to run away from the stovetop from my "constant" stirring to quickly reposition a baby out of 2 two year olds war paths, breakup a toddler dispute, and even let the dogs out on the porch a couple of times and nothing was burnt. It could have gone bad.

I ate chocolate cake for dinner. I had a big lunch and it was justified. I shared a slice with my son and we both inhaled it. My stomach must now be ultra sensitive to too much sugar because after having what they consider a "serving size" my stomach ached. I decided to cut the servings in half for today and see if that would be enough to satisfy my chocolate tooth and not have my stomach aching.

Mr. Sideline Chef who is not a cake fan thought it was, "Good", with a smile on his face and the itty bitty chanted my chocolate cake before dinner praises! Yea... I can be that kind of mom on occasion. I've never made cake before so this was a rule breaking moment in the Pretend Chef household. The mama of the other two children was practically licking the cutting board clean of the caramel frosting when she came to pick them up and said it smelt good from outside. Yes, I am the neighbor cooking up what you wish you were enjoying. Knock on the door next time and you might get lucky. Only on occasion am I stingy and draw the blinds so no one can see in and know what's cooking. I honestly did this yesterday for the Chipotle Spiced Macaroni and Cheese when a known "serial-knock-on-the-door-right-as-dinner-is-ready" neighbor walked by.

If a birthday is coming up or another occasion make this for someone special!

Chocolate Sheet Cake with Quick Caramel Pecan Frosting

MyRecipes.com and Southern Living's September 2005 issue

Makes 15 servings

Stars of the Show: Chocolate Sheet Cake

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup cocoa - I used Hershey's naturally sweetened cocoa powder.
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt

And Action:

1. Cook the first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth, remove from the heat.
2. Beat buttermilk and the next 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer, beating until just blended. (Batter will be thin.) I am glad the directions stated this because this is when I'd be calling my mom or Yahoo!-ing how my batter should look. Pour into a greased and floured 15x10 inch jelly roll pan. *Tip: Don't use flour. Why would you want there to be white on the bottom of your cake. I don't recall which Food Network show I was watching but I picked up the trick to use the cocoa powder instead.*
3. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake completely in pan on a wire rack.
4. Pour the Quick Caramel Pecan Frosting on top spreading evenly to the edges.

Quick Caramel Pecan Frosting

Stars of the Show:

• 2 (14 oz) cans sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans

And Action:

1. Place all ingredients in a heavy 3-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, 3-5 minutes or until the mixture reaches a pudding-like thickness. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in the chopped toasted pecans.

On the recipe's website they also had a variation for a quick caramel coconut pecan frosting. Mr. Sideline Chef turns his nose up to coconut so that wasn't even going to make it into this cake's frosting. Feel free to make it this way if you want.

Just a reminder... Entry for the Gorton's / Ortega Giveaway is now open! Make sure you comment here on this post (We Have Our First Pretend Chef Giveaway!!!) and best of luck! No entries have been made yet so your chances of winning are 100%. Easy!