Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes

I was asked to do some cupcakes for a wedding reception not too long ago.  I wanted to do something fun and original...something no one had done around here! So that meant I needed to come up with a recipe for a cupcake.  The reception was absolutely adorable! They went with a vintage theme and they had all these fun Coca Cola signs, and even a coke machine!  They served coke floats and root beer floats.  Knowing that the family is such a fan of Coca Cola, I decided to try my hand at making a Cherry Coke Float Cupcake.  Because I was making so many,I chose not to fill them, but I think that would add another special touch if you had the extra time to do so!

I believe that using mixes to obtain the flavor of what you're after is not a sin!  I mean, I've said it before, but Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, & the good ole' Pillsbury dough boy know what they're doing!  If I do say so myself, the dough boy is my favorite when dressing up cake mixes for cupcakes.  I don't know what it is that they do different, but I like it!  The cupcakes are fluffier and peak nicer! Just so you know!

Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes
an original by Tea
From Cupboard to Cupboard

1 box chocolate cake mix (I like Pillsbury chocolate moist supreme the best)
1 Tbsp cherry flavoring...not extract, but the syrup you use for cherry coke ( I used Hires Big H Cherry Flavor... hiresbigh.com)
1 12 oz can cherry coke.... not diet
2 eggs

Mix ingredients together and beat for 2 minutes on medium speed.  Fill liners 2/3 full.  Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes or until tops spring back when touched.  15 minutes was perfect for me! Let rest in muffin tins for 5 minutes then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Cherry Stabilized Cream

1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
3 cups whipping cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cherry flavoring (same as above)

Combine gelatin and water in small saucepan and let stand 5 minutes.  In the meantime, whip cream until slightly thick and add powdered sugar, vanilla and cherry flavoring.  Turn burner on low and heat water with gelatin until dissolved, remove from heat and cool.  Add to whipped mixture and beat on high until stiff peaks are formed!  Fill large pastry bag and pipe cream on top of cupcake.  Garnish with a cherry for the full effect:)

Happy Cooking

Teauna

The Ramblings of Tea.....

You know, some days....
I want to be able to talk. 
And I need someone to listen!
I need someone to know what I'm feeling and HOW  I'm feeling, and maybe even why I'm feeling that way!
I need someone to care. 
Not pretend they care, not give me their advice, not ask me all their questions to fullfill a deeper subject or cause a debate.
I want them to care...about what I have to say.

I want to be able to cry.... which, I have done my fair share of lately!
Crying for no particular reason at times.
Crying because I'm sad.....lonely.....stressed....happy !
I don't want sympathy.  I just want to cry.

I want life to come easy.
Not always... just some days.
I want to not have to make life-altering decisions, not knowing fully how it is going to affect my life and the life of my family.  I don't like that job!
Sadly, this is one thing I have had the opportunity to do this past couple of days. 
You see... our dream job is a ranch job. I was raised on a ranch and miss that life. ALOT! We have our little farm here of our own, but I sometimes have a difficult time in the community we live in. To me, living here is stressful and fills me full of anxiety. 
Don't get me wrong, I have some amazing friends, as do the kids and Mike.
I just have this personality that forces me to hide so I don't hurt someone when I'm being bothered. True.
I'm not mean, just honest.
Sometimes, to those that may not agree with me, I may come across as harsh. Sorry.
Of course, if these people tried to get to know me, they would realize I am a very caring,loving, thoughtful and fun person...and, I can even crack a joke every now and again! You'd be surprised how witty I can be:)
Well, we came to the realization that because this said "ranch job"was not a good fit for us, we were going to make some other changes to perhaps...SIMPLIFY our lives.
To become happier by changing the things that make us uncomfortable or unhappy. 
Well folks?!  This is going to be done! 

We are simplifying... We are cutting back greatly! No more chickens!  No more pigeons! Cutting the number of dogs.  Cutting the cost of feed and the time it takes to chore around here!

I want to have fun! I want to enjoy going somewhere without the worry of hurrying home to feed! And it seems that when I'm tied down and can't leave, it's when I want to leave the most!

I have two major goals this year.  And no matter where I am, nothing is going to stop me from achieving these goals.  They are important to me! 

They are close to my heart!

Thinking about accomplishing these goals makes me a happy person!

Goal Number One:
I want to continue with my weight loss and stay healthy.  I am ten pounds from my final goal. 
I will do this by:
Eating healthy, smaller food portions
Taking ACE on a regular basis for energy and appetite control
Running

I started the Couch to 5k program last year and failed....miserably.  I gave up! I got too busy!  This year... no excuses!  I want to run with my friends, my ipod, my daughter, and even Mike if he'd go along!  I want to be a runner!

Goal Number Two:
I WILL FINISH MY COOKBOOK!!! 
I started the cookbook several years ago... my computer crashed and I lost it! EVERY.SINGLE. WORD.OF.EVERY.SINGE.PAGE.OF.IT..ALL.120.PAGES!
I will save every single thing on a thumb drive that hangs so neatly from it's hook.
I will take pictures of every item I cook and bake so that people can have something to look at besides recipes.  {i am a fan of picture books myself}
I will publish my cookbook... even if I have to publish it myself!  It will be published!

So there you have it!

I have rambled on until I'm sure you're yawning. Once again, I'm sorry!  Not my intention at all to make you yawn.... and please! Don't send hate mail!

Because then... my next post will be on crying.... again!

And wouldn't you all rather a recipe?

Thanks for listening my friends!

I feel much better!

Now on to baking!

Love,

Teauna

Cinnamon Pull-Aparts

Today is the last day of the Christmas vacation for my kids before they return to school.  So we decided to stay home and make the best of it! Together!  I thought I'd get up early and have them a nice breakfast made, but..... 9:30 isn't early by any means to wake up! And when I looked in the fridge to see pretty much nothing there, I ran to the store!  Oh boy! Did I get some ideas running thru my head! Came out of the grocery store quite a bunch poorer, but have everything to make a great ummmm..... brunch?! for my family and a big dinner tonight!  {and a couple candy bars that are hidden in a safe place... tee hee}  So, I came home, cooked up some sausage links, hashbrowns, and made this delicious treat!  It sure seems like more of a dessert to me... but that's just better when it comes to making sure the kids eat their vittles, right? Right!! This is what I came up with and it worked mighty well!  I sure hope you can share this with your family and enjoy a sit-down breakfast.  Nothing is better than time spent around the table together!

Cinnamon Pull-Aparts

Original Recipe by Tea

From Cupboard to Cupboard

4 cans refrigerated biscuits

2/3 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Cut each biscuit into fourths with scissors and roll in sugar and cinnamon mixture.  Place in a well-greased bundt pan.

Bring to a boil:

3/4 cup (1 1/2 cubes) butter

1 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Pour over biscuits and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.  Remove to cooling rack and let set for 5 minutes.  Tip out on plate to serve!



Happy New Year !

And Happy Cooking!

Teauna