Cupcakes for my darlin's birthday

Yesterday, was my dear husband's birthday.  Every year, I try to make his birthday special.  Part of my ritual for a great birthday is, of course, a cake!  Since we have been living in Poulsbo which is just a ferry ride away from Seattle, I have been heading over to Sluys' Bakery and ordering my husband a very delicious Champagne Cake each year.  (I have featured Sluys' Bakery on a previous posting on my blog.  Love Sluys...a great Norwegian Bakery.)   Even though I adore this delicious cake that Sluys' Bakery prepares and totally recommend it, this year, I decided to bake my husband something myself.   I wanted to put my love into something delicious....

I decided to surprise my husband with some cupcakes.  I love cupcakes, as do most people, which explains why cupcake shops are now the rage and springing up everywhere.  My husband and I attended a wedding recently and the bride and groom served cupcakes.  These little cupcakes are showing up everywhere! 

So, inspired by the red velvet cupcakes we had enjoyed at the wedding, I settled upon a recipe from one of my favorite food blogs, Joy the Baker, which I have featured on my blog in the past.   She lists this recipe under her cupcake category and mentions that these are her favorite red velvet cupcakes.  So on my husband's birthday yesterday, I headed off to the grocery store with my list of ingredients that I didn't have in my pantry and refrigerator.   My list included things like white distilled vinegar, cream cheese, baking soda, buttermilk and some fresh eggs.   After buying the ingredients, I pulled out my mixer, put on the paddle attachment which Joy suggested I use, put on some music, and went to work making the cupcakes.  I had my computer out and would refer to Joy's recipe from time to time.  I wanted to make sure I followed her directions so that my cupcakes turned out as delicious and beautiful as they were in her photos.

I mixed all the ingredients together and popped them in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  After the inserted toothpick came out clean, and I knew they were ready, I let them rest for 10 minutes in the pan and then removed them.  While  they cooled, I assembled my ingredients for the cream cheese frosting.  Joy's frosting recipe was very easy and delicious.  I love a good cream cheese icing which is part of why I love carrot cake so much.  Joy's icing has a touch of cinnamon in it which gives it a great taste.   After the cupcakes were cooled completely, I spooned the icing into my icing bag and piped some of the delicious, creamy icing onto each cupcake.  For fun, I put a few sprinkles on each one after they were iced.   Then, stuck a green candle on each finished cupcake. 

A few months ago, I had purchased a white wire tiered cupcake holder at a nearby World Market store.   I pulled this out and arranged all the cupcakes on it....putting a few on each tier.  I was pleased with my display and hoped my cupcakes tasted as good as they looked.   I put them on my dining room table and hung some balloons on my chandelier...just as I always do for family birthdays. 

Then, I pulled out some of my favorite desert plates that my sister brought back from England for me.  My sister and I both love beautiful china.  My sister, Jeri, was working as a flight attendant and hand carried a piece of the china back each time she flew to England several years ago.  We both have the desert and teacups and saucers in this pattern.   The name of the pattern is Provencial Flowers.   I selected plates from my china cabinet and then pulled out champagne flutes to set up near the cupcakes.

I placed two cards I had bought for my husband on the table.

Right before the birthday boy arrived home from work, I poured some champagne in our glasses and garnished each one with a fresh strawberry.   With everything in place, Sadie Mae, our Maltese, and I were waiting at the front door to greet my husband and wish him a happy birthday as he walked in the door.   My husband, Mark, was surprised and happy to see the cupcakes I had made him and the balloons tied to our chandelier.  We toasted his birthday together with the champagne, and then he enjoyed one of his cupcakes. 

My husband, Mark, had requested a new pair of cowboy boots for his birthday gift.  Having lived in Houston, Texas, for around 18 years, I know cowboy boots are something that you HAVE to try on.  I actually have about six pair of cowgirl boots.  So, after the toast and cupcake, my husband and I headed out to a local western shop before meeting some friends for dinner.  Mark tried on several pairs of boots and settled upon a nice, black pair.  I bought him the boots he selected and also a black and white cowboy-styled shirt.  The shirt looked great on him and will be great for wearing to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo when we visit Houston again during rodeo time.  He can also wear it to the local rodeo.  With gifts in hand, we left the shop and headed over to meet some of our friends at a local Japanese steakhouse.  Our good friends, Mike, Gina and Pam, were meeting us at the restaurant to have dinner with us and celebrate Mark's birthday.  Here is a photo of our chef for the evening...

We all enjoyed some delicious soup, vegetable stir fry and grilled chicken and shrimp. Everything was prepared on the grill in front of us.  All was delicious...

It is nice to have good friends to celebrate with.  Our waiter made this photo of our group after dinner...

And, of course, we made a few photos, too!  Here is Mark with our dear friend, Pam...

Thank you, Gina and Mike, for the beautiful new tie...

After a delicious dinner enjoyed with friends....and a few birthday hugs and kisses, it was time to head back home.

After we arrived home, we noticed this wine and card that was left by our door.  Another gift from some friends who were sweet enough to remember Mark's birthday.  They had called Mark's cellphone while we were out shopping for boots and told him that they had left him a little surprise by the door.   Thank you, Marilyn and Kristina...

Once home with Miss Sadie Mae, we lit Mark's birthday candles and enjoyed another cupcake....or two.....      :)

Thank you to our friends, Pam, Gina and Mike, for joining us for an evening out to celebrate Mark's birthday.  Thank you, Marilyn and Kristina, for the wine and card that you, thoughtfully, left by our door.  Thank you to our loved ones.....Ashley, Brandon, Amy, and Elliott and all who called to wish Mark a very happy birthday.  Thank you to my dear sister, Jeri, who never fails to deliver a beautiful and fun rendition of Happy Birthday on the phone each year.   Thanks to the many facebook connections...friends and family....who took the time to write a personal message to Mark on facebook. 

Happy Birthday, Mark!   I wish you many, many more wonderful birthdays!  I am blessed to have you in my life and so happy to be celebrating each birthday with you!  May all your birthday wishes come true!   I love you! xoxo       (I love it that Pam's lipstick from her birthday kiss is still on his cheek as he blows out his candles....never wipe off a kiss is my motto! )

Wait, there's more....

I would like to, last but not least by any means, thank our Granddaughter, Brenna, for the fun Happy Birthday dance she performed and posted on facebook for her "Papa" in honor of his birthday.   Thank you, Brenna....  We love you! xoxo  

 

  

Hope you enjoyed Brenna's video.  To view the recipe that I used for the cupcakes, click on the link that follows.  Please note, that I omitted the red food dye so my cupcakes will not be the color of the ones in the photos on Joy's blog, however, I can assure you, the cupcakes are just as delicious!  Hope you try them.  Have a beautiful day, and thank you for visiting my blog today. Thank you, Joy, for sharing this wonderful recipe on your blog.   Here is the link:  My Favorite Red Velvet Cupcakes

Comments

[Kim]

What a wonderful birthday celebration! Those cupcakes look amazing and your home is so beautifully decorated. Must've been a wonderful evening!!!

[Trish Rowley]

That was beautiful Kim, Happy belated Birthday to Mark looks like you had a wonderful day!! and what a beautiful tribute from Brenna very special!!! I love the photo of Mark blowing out his candles with the lipstick on his face. I'll be giving those cupcakes a go Kim they look scrumptious and I'm sure they were. Have a great day. Trish xox ;)

[Kim @ Bluebirds and Butterflies]

Hi Trish,
The cupcakes were easy to make and were, indeed, very good. If you go to Joy's blog, you will also see another recipe that I am hoping to try soon. They are cupcakes with chamomile in them. Trish, I am thinking this recipe with the chamomile would be PERFECT for a high tea! Hope you are doing well, Trish. Thank you so much for your nice visit and sweet comments. Love, Kim xoxo ((((hugs))))

[Kim @ Bluebirds and Butterflies]

Hi Kim,
Thank you for your visit to Bluebirds and Butterflies today. I soooo appreciate your nice comments. You have some delicious looking recipes on your blog, too. I am going to be visiting you over the next few days and checking them out. Have a beautiful day! xoxo Kim @ Bluebirds and Butterflies

[Red Rose Alley]

Happy Birthday Mark! What a wonderful celebration you made for him, Kim. All the thought and love that you put into it made it so special. First off, those cupcakes look so yummy, and red velvet is one of my favorites. You mentioned that you went to a wedding and they served cupcakes - did they have a cake too? That is something to think about for Nel's wedding. I really like the wire cupcake holder, and I LOVE the china that your sister gave you. I enjoyed looking at all the pictures of Mark's birthday. Birthdays are so fun. Such a beautiful day spending it with the one you love.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

[Sandy]

Happy Birthday Mark! You have one fabulous wife but of course you already know that! Kim, wow! I can see you doing a food blog, but then I would miss all those fabulous tours that you take us on. The photography and food presentation is stunning. Joy the Baker should see this posting! Your dining room is gorgeous and I love, love, love the chandelier. Brenna is cute as a button and boy can she dance! The photo of the chef cracked me up! I wish you lived down the street from me because I think we would have a whopping good time shopping, and going on photo excursions. Good to see you back writing and posting. I know you were very busy with the wedding the past few months. You are one great photographer and blogging about food (and especially the presentation) would really wow people. I couldn't imagine your dining room any other color.

xxoo Sandy

[Bluebirds and Butterflies]

Hi Sandy,
Thank you sooooo much for the nice comments and for your visit. Thank you so much for the sweet compliments on my cupcake photos. I am going to be meeting Joy in person in Seattle in about a week or so. She is going to be at the shop of the "Cake Spy" over in Seattle doing a book tour meet and greet. I am planning on making a quiche that she has in her recipe book this week and also some scrumptious chamomile cupcakes that look delish! I think these chamomile cupcakes would be so perfect with tea. I am going to let her know in person that I have tried these recipes and am looking forward to making more, more, more! I have to control myself with the cupcakes though....I had THREE, yes three, of them! They were soooooo good! I hope you make them sometime. I also wish you lived close to me. We would be bestest friend I know! Not that we aren't good friends already! I feel we have a lot in common and, of course, we share the memories of starting our blogs together. We kind of held each other's hands so to speak. Brenna was cute in the dance she did for her "Papa." They live in Florida. Wish they were closer! That chef photo that you liked makes me smile, too, every time I see it. I am hoping to keep one or two new postings on my blog a week. My next one will feature some artwork from a museum in Washington, DC. SO glad you like the red in my dining room....it is a southern thing to have red in that room. HA! What can I say? I love my color! Anyway, my husband and I are hoping to paint my den off my kitchen and kitchen itself very, very soon. I'll post some photos. Your redo of your kitchen is amazing! Great, great job! Have a wonderful day, Sandy. Love ya xoxo Kim

[Red Rose Alley]

Kim,
I just saw Brenna's little video. Such a cute little dance...so sweet.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

[Lavender Dreams]

Happy Birthday to Mark! I loved seeing all of the photos and the beautiful cupcakes you made! Red Velvet is MY hubby's favorite cake, too! Enjoy your afternoon sweet friend! ♥

[Ground Support]

So happy Dad had a nice birthday and you guys were able to celebrate with friends. Those kind of restraunts are Brenna's favorite. She had a great time making Papa's video and I'm sure we'll make more as I learn to use the editing program. I'll try to catch up with you guys soon, we're having a busy week. I'll be working on blog posts about the Grant Seafood Festival, The Strawberry Festival and the TICO Airshow that's coming up this weekend. It's the month of fairs and festivals! xoxo Ashley

[Jenny@vegetarianhatesvegetables]

Looks like a great time was had by all! You certainly go all out for your hubby. This was a sweet post.

[Red Rose Alley]

Just wanted to come on over and wish my dear friend a Happy St. Patrick's Day!! I hope you have a wonderful day.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

[Sandy]

Hi Kim, I've been thinking about you. Just dropping in to see how you're doing. Are you taking a little break from blogging? Any vacations planned? Just want to see how you're doing. Give sweet little Sadie Mae a hug for me.

Hugs,

Wandy