Love is in the air

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. We don't have anything "traditionally valentine's romantic" planned (ie dinner, flowers, chocolates, bla bla bla). But we do have my brother coming down to watch Lucy while we go to an afternoon movie! It was actually Jimmy's suggestion to see "Confessions of a Shopaholic". What a sweet husband. I'm sure he wouldn't have picked that if I hadn't mentioned about a thousand times that I wanted to see it. I am a lucky woman.

So today I am hangin' with my Lucy girl and we are baking up a storm. I got this recipe from Martha Stewart Magazine.

One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons safflower oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into large bowl. Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil and vanilla and mix until smooth.
2.Divide batter among 18 muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to wire racks and let cool.

Basic Buttercream

12 oz. (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 lb. confectioners sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating after each addition, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla and beat until buttercream is smooth. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

They turned out good (patting myself on the back). Now for cleaning up that kitchen...