Happy New Year!!
I hope everyone has had a great holiday break with friends and family and is ready to take on the new year. I sure am! I couldn’t be more excited to start 2014 off right because this year has felt like a whirlwind. Or at least this past month sure has been this way.WARNING: This post is longer than usual. As a blog, not only do I enjoy sharing my favorite recipes, I also enjoy writing my life adventures. This post is Part 2 a continuation of my move to the city. As always, recipes are posted at the end 🙂
As mentioned before, Wes and I moved into Manhattan the beginning of December and if you don’t take away anything from this post, just remember one thing: never move between Thanksgiving and Christmas because you might not be able to celebrate either holiday! We completely underestimated the amount of time needed to settle in. We were for sure everything would have been done by Christmas yet it’s soo far from actually being done.
For the most part, it has gotten better. I’m no longer tripping over boxes and soon those extra 30 minutes spent on trying to find that shirt in the piles of bags (happens every time) will come to an end all because the dresser was assembled today. Yay! Completion is getting close but not quite done. We still have other furniture being shipped late in January. Boohoo, right!
But one thing I’ve missed the most and this is what I meant when I said not everything is all glitz and glamour is the car. Boy, I’ll tell ya, I wanted to cry when I came to the realization we wouldn’t have the luxury of driving anymore. I miss it so damn much. But there’s simply no parking in this Free Parking zone where I live. If you’re not from New York free parking here is like gold! You could easily spend 30 minutes minimum circling around for a spot.
I must admit, I did get spoiled with having a car but when you’ve relied on it for years to get you everywhere you needed to go at a moments notice, it doesn’t even come close to taking mass transit. Taking the bus and train in the rain, snow, heat or whatever is NOT fun. As a matter of fact, and I’m going to speak truthfully here, I absolutely despise it. Now I understand there are over 4 million daily MTA riders but hey, I’m allowed to speak my mind. Sitting or standing shoulder to shoulder next to a smelly and/or sweaty stranger is not my thing. It’s just gross. I’m not saying I don’t ever smell or sweat, hell I just might but at least I’m in the comfort of my own car, no one needs to know, right?! So my goal for 2014 is to earn my way to getting a car parked under the building I reside so I can take it out whenever I please. I think that sounds good don’t ya think?
For the most part, I’ve finally stopped bumping into the fridge every time I turn around. Oh! Did I mention by moving into the city I had to downsize my kitchen. I know this may sound sadder than the car situation. Honestly, I prefer the car. However, on the flipside, I did get my own step-in closet to hold ALL of my baking supplies and props! That was definitely a plus!
In general, I’m getting used to it here. It isn’t so bad. I remember writing the last post thinking of how many negative things I wanted to say. I’m glad a week went by where I was able to cool off in a sense to gather my thoughts rationally.
For the most part, letting go of the car and downsizing my kitchen isn’t the end of the world. My biggest focus is getting this new year off on the right foot, keeping my chin up and strive for more. And I’ll toast to that with a Champagne cupcake! *Cheers* What are your goals?
If you’re curious to know how these cupcakes taste, they are definitely worth a shot in trying. I made these yesterday and stored them unfrosted in the fridge. When I opened them today, oh my goodness, they smelled absolutely amazing! I never thought the aroma of champagne can smell so good.
The cake itself wasn’t over powered with champagne which left the champagne frosting to be the highlight of the cupcake! The frosting was soft and silky smooth with a taste of champagne, ugh irresistible! You just have to make it for yourself to find out and it’s easy too. With New Years in just about 24 hours from now, simply go to the grocery store and pick up a box of cake mix, a bottle of champagne and bake! And there you have it! Easy and delicious cupcakes just in time to celebrate!
Happy New Years everyone! I’ll see you next year!
Print
Champagne Cupcakes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 regular-size or 36 mini cupcakes 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
CUPCAKES
- 1 box white cake mix with pudding
- 1 1/4 cups champagne, room temperature
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large egg whites
FROSTING
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1/4 cup champagne, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Place a cupcake liner into each cupcake well or 36 mini cupcake liners into each mini cupcake well.
- In a medium bowl, whisk all cupcake ingredients together until smooth. Note: Do not over mix batter. A few lumps may be present which is okay. Pour batter into cupcake liners about 1/2 to 3/4 full.
- Bake as directed on box; about 15 to 20 minutes for regular cupcakes or 7 to 10 minutes for mini cupcakes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
- Meanwhile in a medium bowl, beat all frosting ingredients with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and frost.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Cupcakes
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: champagne cupcakes, mini cupcakes, new years eve cupcakes, new years cupcakes
Champagne Cupcakes recipe adapted from Betty Crocker’s Pink Champagne Layer Cake (p. 283) of The Big Book of Cakes
More Champagne Cakes
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