Saturday 22 September 2012

Happy Belated Birthday Mom

I'm fairly good for remembering the birthdays of people. So imagine my surprise last week when my Mother says to me "I think this is the first time you've ever forgotten to wish me a happy birthday."

Oops.

And so I feel like a terrible son and I sit there wondering if there was anything I could try and do to make it up to her.

Hmmm...

And thus I decided to try and bake red velvet brownies again. Cupcakes for my Mom is something I've never done before. And this time I had decent recipes courtesy of both Lizzy and Michele, so I had a much better chance of doing these properly.

But immediately when I started, I noticed a problem. We had almost no butter left in the house. I had no choice but to make a third of the recipe and go from there. I also forgot to buy buttermilk and substituted 2% instead but I'm certain that it's still better than using sour cream like the first recipe I used suggested.

Maybe I could have added a bit more dye though...
 
As I'm going along, I begin to notice that it's getting increasingly difficult to mix the batter. I just attributed it to the mixture being more thick with this new recipe and continued on.

Until I realized that the mixer was dying.

Yep, looks like whoever used the electric beater last (probably me) was too inconsiderate to even charge the electric beater after using it (also sounds like me).

So I had to mix the batter by hand near the end. Wasn't that bad. Also learned the hard way why you don't mix liquids and powders together. I hope no one minds getting a chunk of hardened cocoa in their cupcake later on.

Baking goes without incident and in the end I get:

Voila.

It may be hard to tell from this photo but these looked (and tasted) A LOT better than the first batch. I can't tell if it's because I'm improving or if the second recipe is way better.

Unfortunately, I used the last of the butter to make the batter so that meant no icing. And maybe that wasn't such a bad thing, because all the icing I ever make turns out disgusting and weird looking.

Mom said she liked the cupcake. And only ate half of that. My sister, Bree, ate half of that half and then said there were crunchy things inside. My brother and Dad have not touched one and I doubt they will.

It doesn't look that bad does it?

Theresa got one and she said she enjoyed it. But I'm certain that if I burnt a cupcake to a crisp and gave it to her she'd still "like" it. Looks like I need more practice with baking but it's always nice to make progress.

35 comments:

  1. These cupcakes look awesome buddy. Next time it's my mum's birthday I'm going to be sorely tempted to bake her these, I think she'd like that. Great idea and happy birthday to your mother.

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  2. If you've never forgotten her birthday than your mom shouldn't mind one slip-up, really.
    Also, good to see you're getting better at this. It just takes some practice, see? You'll get there eventually!

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  3. Well they do look a lot better. With a few more batches you can probably get there. I'm always bad at remembering birthdays, so I think people almost expect me to forget.

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  4. It's a perfect shape! And the colour is fabulous! And your mum had a bit - and that's the most important thing!!

    Take care
    x

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  5. They look wonderful!!! Hooray! Did you know you can make a buttermilk substitute by putting a bit of vinegar into whole milk? I bet they'll be perfect next time when you have all the ingredients ready to go.

    PS...I'm really curious about your crunchy things...LOL.

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  6. It's incredible how we only seem to have great ideas when having some "crisis" xD

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  7. Aww, it's the thought that counts ... the icingless crunchy red velvet thought?

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  8. They look pretty dang good to me! Where's mine? PS: i think it's sweet, you making cupcakes for your Mom. She will love them!

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  9. We all forget sometimes I suppose, at least she "liked" it, or said she did haha

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  10. Hahha next time, go to t grocery store before you start and make sure you purchase every single ingredient as listed. It's the substituting that gets ya.

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  11. I love how red they turned out! They look pretty may to me :) I've never been courages enough to try red velvet, I may have to bite the bullet and try them some time! And I suck at making icing too!!

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  12. I have a ton of family/friend birthdays in October (including my mom's) so it's hard for me to forget since they're all lined up week after week!

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  13. I'm impressed, they look good! "Crunchy things" don't sound so good though...

    I forgot my first birthday this year. My poor goddaughter, who was only turning 5, had to wait weeks for a present.

    Laura x
    http://firstclassramblings.blogspot.com

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  14. I can never forget my mom's birthday since my brother's birtday is the day after. Forgetting 2 in one week is like "uh..." plus FB make it easy to remember as well.

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  15. Awwwwww.... I'm sure it was still delicious despite the crunchy things. You're making me want to make cupcakes now!!!

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  16. Sorry to hear about the belated birthday to your Mom! And when I bake something I usually check to make sure I have all the ingredients and if not I pick it up. When it comes to baking, it's better to follow the recipe precisely.

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  17. You be the taste tester, if you can tell it was better then you're in a good direction! Just keep at it.. maybe having all the butter would've helped.

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  18. I think it looks mighty fine! It's the thought that counts anyway.

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  19. It's always such an awkward moment when you realize that you've forgotten someone's birthday. Especially when you got really upset at them when they forgot yours... I have to say, they look better then the apology cake I baked for my friend. My cake sunk in the middle. Looked like a volcano.

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  20. I like the colour of the cupcakes.

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  21. thoughtful idea to make cupcakes, I think she forgave you!

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  22. I think those cupcakes are a good start! It's the thought that counts, right?

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  23. Oh man! Forgetting Mom's birthday. YIPES! Cupcakes are a nice making-it-up-to-her idea.

    But, hum, I don't think there should have been anything crunchy in there, but they look purtty!

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  24. It looks delicious and I know she appreciated it.
    Next year you may want to write the date on a calendar, though.

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  25. Great! I will do this to my mom!

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  26. I'm sure your mum appreciated the gesture. And at least she at half...

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  27. Oops for forgetting. Great attempt to make up for it. OK so curious about the recipe...definitely not enough red food color but especially coca powder?

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  28. They look good to me! I'd eat one or five :)

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  29. It's very sweet to make your mom cupcakes. That's way better than a card! :)

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  30. I'm glad you 2nd attempt was more of a success. I think your cupcakes looked pretty good actually, if perhaps just a tad pale; but for me it's always the taste that counts anyway. And besides, you did remember your mom's BD, even if it was a little late.
    BTW- You might want to get some coconut oil and keep it on hand. You can substitute it for butter in a pinch.

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  31. lol, that's the worst feeling ever when you forget the birthday of someone close. Anyway, you did a great job of making up for it, and those cupcakes look pretty good, so good job. :)

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  32. belated happy birthday to mom
    more the attempts more tasty they will be

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  33. To me, you made it all up with cupcakes so no worries...I think that those who know you best will understand that you've had a lot on your plate lately and the fact that you literally filled your Mama's up with yummies is a grand gesture to show her how much you care--Happy Belated Birthday to your Mother! =D

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