Happy Mother's Day!

Pink Champagne Cupcakes - A recipe I found in Cuisine at Home a year ago finally came to life. They are easy, fun, pretty and delicious. Plus, you get to drink the extra champagne with the cupcakes which makes it a real celebration.

Pink Champagne Cake or Cupcakes

2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour

2 tsp baking pwd

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter

2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup brut sparkling champagne

1/4 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla

3-4 drops red food coloring

6 egg whites

Icing

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/3 cup brut champagne

5 cups sifted pwd sugar (approx.)

2-3 T cream or milk

Preheat oven 350* F. Line 2 9" cake pans with parchment or line 24-30 cupcake tins.

1. Cream butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 min.

Combine 3/4 cup champagne, milk and vanilla.

2. Sift together flour, baking pwd and salt.

3. Add flour and liquid mixture to butter alternately until mixed.

4. Add food coloring to desired tint of pink.

5. Beat egg whited in a separate bowl with clean beaters until soft peaks form. Fold egg whites into other mixture. Stopping as soon as the egg whites are incorporated.

6. Divide batter evenly among pans.

Bake 20 min for cupcakes, or 30 - 35 min for 9" cake pans. (2)

Icing

Mix with mixer; butter, champagne, milk and vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar. Mix for 5- 7 minutes until mixture is light and fluffy.

Ice cupcakes or layer cake. Add sprinkles if desired.

Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I had a special birthday cake request this weekend: Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.   My mother has a special banana cake cake recipe, and I had been waiting for the right occasion to ask for it.  The recipe is an old classic from Good Housekeeping magazine.    I chose to make cupcakes because they are festive and easy to transport on the subway, but you can also make the recipe in traditional cake pans.

Banana Cake

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripened bananas (2-3)
2 1/4 cup AP flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup sour milk (add 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar to milk to sour)
1 tsp vanilla

Cream Cheese Frosting  (if you're making a layer cake double this recipe)
4 oz cream cheese
2 oz unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Cake:
Cream butter and sugar with beaters.  Add eggs and beat well.  Beat in mashed bananas.  In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients.  Add dry ingredients and milk/vanilla to the banana mixture, alternating.  Beat until well mixed.

Frosting:
Beat butter and cream cheese until they are fluffy.  Add vanilla.  Slowly add powdered sugar, beating at a high speed until it is entirely incorporated and fluffy.

Happy Birthday Devin!