Week 3 & 4: Carrot Pineapple Cupcakes

Yes, I have squeaked weeks three and four together. Don't judge me. I chose this recipe because both my better half and my favorite Coonhound love carrot cake and carrots, respectively. Tucker gets exactly three carrots every morning. He waits for me every day to give them to him. I know it is probably the whole Pavlov thing but I choose to believe it is because it is a "thing" me and Tucker have. You know the depths of love I have for Tucker and I am sorry you had to read that.

I am going to be honest and tell you I have decided henceforth I am going to use a cake mix for the base of my cupcakes and embellish them according to my recipe. Shoot, Duncan, Betty and the Doughboy have worked long and hard to perfect them so who am I to question it? Maybe a sign I am lazy but I choose to believe I am smarter than the average baker. I also happen to have inside knowledge that most bakeries also use a cake mix. So call that a helpful hint if you wish.

I am thinking you also are wondering how these cupcakes fit into my workout schedule.They don't. I am still getting up before work to either use the exercise bike or do Pilates. Remember that part about not caring if I went down a pant size, blah blah blah? Well, I haven't and now I am kind of mad. This part is no joke, the ONLY thing more bendy and flexible after all these weeks of exercise are my toes. I am not kidding! I could sit on a perch like a bird for hours, no problem. My toes are so flexible it is kind of weird. I am not going to quit, make no mistake because I could always become a tight-rope walker in the circus with my new acquired skill.

I used these stand-alone baking cups. They look so serious.

I read that if you tap your egg on the counter it makes a crack around the entire middle and it is so much easier to crack open. It really works!





I am sure you noticed the funky color of my nail polish. You like? It ends up looking camo green. I kind of like it and my Silpada ring. What do you think?

  

The delicious pineapple filling gets nestled in the middle. Mmmm.

Finished product. Finally, a cupcake I can be proud of.

Back to the cupcakes, this recipe is a winner, finally!  It is from last month's Southern Living. I love that magazine and realize I do not live in the South but it is a highlight of my month when I get my issue. They are moist and have a great texture and the pineapple filling is just tart enough to make the sweetness of the cupcake just perfect. The Buttermilk Cream Cheese Frosting is light and not too sweet either. If you want to impress someone, these would probably do the trick.