Sturdy Buttercream Frosting (The Best Frosting EVER)

Since this has become my go to frosting and I'm linking to a post with tons of words so I wanted to break it out and put it in a post on it's own.  This has become my favorite frosting for cupcakes I've been making and getting tons of compliments on this flavor.   It holds up great for parties and if you leave it out.  I found this amazing recipe for  Sturdy Buttercream Frosting on Coleen's Recipes.

Sturdy Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

1 cup white Crisco shortening
1 cup butter (room temperature)
6 to 6½ cups of powdered sugar
½ cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract (important)

In the large bowl of a stand mixer, whip the shortening and butter together for about 3 minutes on high. Add 6 cups of powdered sugar, the extracts and whipping cream to the butter mixture and whip ON HIGH for about 8 to 10 minutes.

Depending on climate, you may want to add an additional ½ cup of powdered sugar.

Once you frost your cake, put it in the fridge to let everything "set". Remove your cake from the fridge about an hour before serving.

ALEXIS NOTE: I used just almond instead of vanilla and almond (I personally prefer the taste).  I found this to be the best and putting in fridge is perfect to hold up for the next day or in my case 2 days later and they were still in perfect condition!  This frosting also does great in the freezer!

Easy recipe to make and the best frosting I've come across.

Band-Aid Cupcakes

Cole has joined the Pioneers at school and Monday they will have a CPR training.  I wanted to make something fun for there snack.  On cupcake wars the other day I saw a lady do band-aid to top her cupcakes.  I thought that would be perfect for this meeting.  It was late so I wanted to make something quick and easy.  I'm also going to make cupcakes tomorrow for Caden's class going to the pumpkin patch.  So why not make pumpkin cupcakes for both!  I found this Quick and Easy Pumpkin Cupcake recipe and made that.  I then made a Sturdy Whipped Cream Frosting I saw on Pinterest the other day.  And then of course topped with the band-aids.

First I stared with the cupcakes (which mind you was so simple and quick, I recommend this in a pinch).

Makes 24 cupcakes

1 package spice cake mix
1 15 oz. can pure pumpkin
3 large eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water

Preheat oven to 350F. Paper-line or grease 24 muffin cups.

Blend cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, oil and water in a large mixer bowl until moistened. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared cups, filling evenly.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

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Then instead of a regular cream cheese frosting I needed something sturdy to last up the day until the meeting after school.

 Makes 5 Cups
1 (8oz) package reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 Cup White Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Almond Extract

2 cups Heavy Cream

Combine the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and almond extract in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Fit the mixer with the whisk attachment and mix on medium speed until smooth. While the mixture is still whipping, slowly pour in the heavy cream. Stop and scrape the bottom of the bowl a couple of times while you continue whipping until the cream can hold a stiff peak.

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For the band-aids I just made this one up and it turned out pretty cool if I must say so!

6 Graham Crackers (broke into fourths)
Frosting (white)
1 tube Red Frosting Gel

Break your graham crackers in fourths to look like a rectangle (band-aid).  Add a small square of white frosting in the middle (to look like the gauze on a band-aid).  Add a drop of red frosting Gel (to resemble blood).

Step by Step:

First Frost the Cupcakes

Then top with the Band-Aid

Not bad for a quick one (took me less then an hour).

I hope these are a hit!

Leftover Turkey & Cupcakes!

I found this amazing recipe to use the last of my turkey.  I used my hard apple cider instead of beer (it’s my special treat every once in a while .. lol). I used Agave instead of honey.  Cole liked this so much that he had me put it as his warm up the next day at school.  The Turkey Chili with Whole Wheat Orzo is one of the best chili’s I have made.

This was the best butter cream icing I have ever made, talk about super buttery .

I took this S’Mores Cupcake recipe and tweaked it since I didn’t have time to make the pretty frosting.  Ok the thing is I didn’t have a kitchen torche and Rick’s Man Cave scares me to go out there to get his torch.  I did the base the same with the graham cracker & chocolate cake part.  Just used a butter cream frosting instead (see above recipe).

Something warm for your tummy and something sweet for your sweet tooth .  Do you have something on your menu tonight?

Weekend Wrap (Kid Clinic & Caden’s 4th Birthday)

Sorry gang I’m still sick as a dog and trying to kick this stupid head cold.  I’ve had to deal with drama all around and I just want to scream I’m sick come back next week … lol.   Another quick post, hoping I feel better soon … Thank you SO MUCH for all the well wishes and prayers they mean a LOT to me!

Saturday was a good day to do fun things (then Sunday I woke up sick and it’s all gone down hill from there).  We hit a Lowe’s Kid Clinic!

We went to my parents house to celebrate Caden’s Birthday.  Lot’s of yummy food and a ice cream cake!

The boys wanted to go swimming and we didn’t have suits so in their undies they went .  Mom got in with them too and yes that is a mommy ducky and her ducklings coming to visit the boys.

Sunday was a day I didn’t move either did the dog, yup he got his surgery to neuter him.  We were a pair this weekend.  Rick took over dinner … lol BBQ but hey I didn’t have to cook.  He worked on the dogs run in the backyard so we can put the pool up.  I also made cupcakes for Caden, most went over to my lovely neighbor that let’s the kids play during the day in her yard.

These are the amazing Banana Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting.  I’m glad to hear they were a hit over there.  And again a Big thank you to Kristen who puts up with the kids, you my friend will be the receiver of many yummies this summer! Big Hugs!

Happy Wednesday everyone I think I’m going to go pass out and hope that when I make up my head is clear or as I said last night on FB I would be happy with a clear nose at this point .