#weverb12, cook

 6. cook [LIVE]: What was your best recipe/dish of the year? Share it!

Best? Hm, Not sure... Ask my family. LOL.  I love to cook, and the family "loves" my cooking. Or so they say.  Obviously, I like my cooking...simply because it's made to taste the way I like it.  I have a few experimental recipes in the books...

If I make something new (or change up an existing recipe that I've printed off) that I personally really enjoyed, I try to remember to write it down in my 'cookbook'.  I started this binder in college, saving baking recipes I'd printed from the good old internet.  It soon merged into a melange of recipes, appetizers, entrees, etc.  Things I've successfully tried, and things I would like to try.  I'm more of a baker, just because I have a major sweet tooth and love cupcakes. Love isn't even a strong enough word...I'm obsessed with cupcakes. 

So, here's my Vanilla Buttermilk-Up Cupcake recipe which is a mash up of a vanilla/red velvet/soda cake.  I had a mad scientist moment in my kitchen. 

1 1/2 c sugar

1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp

2 eggs, room temp

2 1/3 c cake flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

~3/4 c buttermilk

~1/4 c cherry 7-up <y'all are gettin' my secret ingredient here ;)

1/2 tsp vanilla powder (= 2 tsp vanilla extract)

1 tsp distilled white vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 350°F

2. Beat sugar and butter until fluffy...I just let it go for about 3-5 mins if I have the time

3. Add eggs, one at at time, beating until incorporated

4. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and vanilla powder in a separate bowl.

5. In another bowl, mix buttermilk, vinegar, and 7-up (if using vanilla extract add it here instead of w the dry stuff)

6. Add 1/4 of the flour mixture to the batter, then 1/3 of the buttermilk mix.  Alternating dry and wet, ending with the dry mixture

7. Scoop into cupcake liners about half full.  Bake for 18-20 mins.

8. Let cool for 1 min in pan, and then cool completely on wire rack

9. Frost/glaze/etc...whatever.  I personally just use a vanilla cream cheese frosting, as it's my favorite kind of frosting.  

Makes 2-2 1/2 dozen cupcakes

Enjoy!