Guess Who....

is posting from her new laptop? That's right, me! It finally arrived today and I love it. The best part is that it's RED, my favorite color!
Isn't it purty? XP is installed, but I was also sent Vista in case I feel the need to change over (although I'm sure that won't be the case). It is partially running at this point - the wireless is working and I just loaded itunes. All my "things" are still on the old computer so it will take me some time to transfer that over. In the mean time, it can just sit on my table and look pretty. It is pretty isn't it?

Happy Birthday To Me!

No, no, it's not my birthday (thank goodness!). One year ago today the Pumpkin Delight Blog was born. I can't believe I remembered since I missed the 100th post milestone, but that's neither here nor there. In order to follow in the footsteps of some great bloggers, I was planning on reposting one of my most commented on posts, but since today is Tasty Tuesday, I didn't
want to break tradition, so, I am reposting my most favorite dessert recipe - Red Velvet Cupcakes. Maybe you'd like to make them this week to celebrate my blogibirthday! Slàinte!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

For the Cupcakes
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tbsp food coloring
1 tsp white distilled vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
4. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer.
5. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled.
7. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
Ingredients
1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth.
2. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated.
3. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Sexy Appliances

As mentioned in a previous post my vacuum cleaner broke a couple weeks ago when I foolishly tried to clean my house without the supervision of my housekeeper. Who knows when she's coming back and I had dirty floors, so I had to find a new vacuum. I did some research online and asked some friends for recommendations. I have a dog and needed something that was good at sucking up dog hair. The Dyson commercials make it sound like it's the best thing out there, but my research seemed to prove quite the opposite. After a few days of looking around, I found the Sunpentown. "The what?" you ask. Yes that's right the Sunpentown; Not to be confused with Supentown and Supertown which was how I numerously tried to look it up on google. Well Sunpentown is a local (LA) small appliance company that makes one and only one vacuum. The reviews are very good and it's red (my favorite color) so I bought it. I received it from the company the next day! I opened up the box, put it together, and I have to tell you that this vacuum is HAWT!. It is candy-apple red and sparkly. It's like a sports car vacuum.

I told Jason from the Jason Show about my new purchase and after some dirty comments about vacuums (yes, he can turn anything into something dirty), he told me that his brother-in-law just purchased a red washer and dryer. He said that they are amazing and called them "sexy". It's true, these red appliances are sexy. My vacuum is sexy. I've been vacuuming all week because I just like looking at it. Some day I want to have a house full of sexy, red appliances.

What Do You Think ...

of the new look?

Cast your vote -------->

Easter Cupcakes

Today is Easter and we are going to see friends. Yesterday I decided to make cupcakes to take with us. Now, in about 24 hours I am leaving for Amsterdam and then off to South Africa and Zambia for an almost 3 week trip and I have yet to even begin packing. We are leaving in a couple of hours for Easter and I am going to try to get some packing done, but it may have to wait until I return home. I am a terrible packer. I would really prefer to bring my entire closet and bathroom with me when I go on a trip - god knows I've tried. It's not like I need to be all fancy and dressed up, why start that on vacation, but I get worried that I won't have what I need when I arrive. Packing is so overwhelming to me that I put it off and put it off (and even make cupcakes) until the very last minute when I then just throw everything in a bag and hope that it resembles something to wear when I arrive. Another issue I am facing on the trip is that as we speak it is snowing in Amsterdam and about 80 degrees in Africa. Hello! How I am supposed to pack for this situation.
Anyways, back to the cupcakes. My friend Mike has had a red velvet cake from a bakery near his house at most of his birthday bashes and he even brought two to Tami's and my 80s birthday party. It is to die for and I don't even like cake. I have seen some recipes for this cake here and there, but figured that I couldn't do it justice like that bakery. Well, yesterday I got a bug up my butt and decided to make it for Easter (seriously trying to avoid packing), however I don't have cake pans so I made the recipe into cupcakes instead.


The recipe called for 2 tablespoons of red food coloring. After 1 tablespoon it was so red that I didn't add anymore. Here they are, ready to be put in the oven. The batter was RED.


Here they are baking in the oven.



Here they are baked and frosted. Aren't they pretty. I must admit, they are delicious! The cream cheese frosting is so yummy. Mike, I think I can bring them to your birthday next month and you will be very, very happy.
See more pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pumpkindelight/.
Now I am off to pack, maybe!