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The other day I was going to visit friends and then to visit Rob and Joan at the nursing home. These little chocolate cupcakes were just the treat I needed to bring along.
Do you ever sit back and wonder about things? I’ll admit that since I began food blogging and it has consumed my life, I take less and less time to sit and wonder. I miss it. I wondered this morning as I was cuddled up in bed after thinking of all the things I should be doing.
Have you ever wondered why the first Beatles single, “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” was so successful? I’m convinced that it’s because it’s what we truly want in a relationship. Yes, the sexy bits are important and none of us would want to be without that part but what’s truly wonderful is to have someone holding your hand. Through thick and thin, facing the world as one and knowing there’s someone who’s always got your back – because they want to.
I cuddled just a bit closer and made an audible sigh – and fell asleep! Not the romantic ending one would suspect but still a feel-good moment.
This chocolate cupcake recipe is really easy to make and I’ve never had a complaint. I often make them in mini size because a regular sized cupcake is often too much at a gathering and really, the opportunity to eat two cupcakes is better than eating only one. This is the recipe my mother used and I’m pretty sure it’s a Hersey’s recipe from the back of a cocoa tin.
- 385 grams (2 cups) sugar
- 220 grams (1¾) cups plain/all-purpose flour
- 85 grams (3/4 cup) cocoa
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- ½ cup vegetable shortening
- ½ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups sifted icing sugar (confectioner's sugar)
- 2 tablespoons milk
- few drops food colouring
- Pre-heat oven to 180C/350F and line muffin pan with baking cups
- In a large mixer bowl whisk together the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add the wet ingredients (minus the boiling water), eggs, milk, oil and vanilla into a large measuring cup or small bowl and lightly whisk to combine
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Add the boiling water and beat on low until combined. (the batter will be thin)
- Fill the baking cups to ¾ full and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 22-25 minutes for regular sized cupcakes. Mini cupcakes took 14 minutes for mine.
- Cool completely before frosting.
- In a mixer bowl beat the butter and shortening together until light and fluffy then add the vanilla.
- Reduce speed to low and add sugar one cup at a time, when the one cup is incorporated increase speed to medium. Scrape bowl and add another cup of sugar until it's all gone.
- Slowly add the milk and food colouring if desired and continue to beat until light and fluffy.
- If the icing is too stiff, you can add a tablespoon of light corn syrup, some water or some milk to thin it down a bit.
If you’re wondering how Rob is doing – this is how he looked when we took him to dinner the other night. He might be nearly 94 but he gets a lot of joy from being alive.
Rob looks like a happy man indeed! And I should pay more attention to recipes on tins and packets! 😀
I always look there. I always assume the best recipes would be printed there. 🙂
I share your thoughts on relationships. I still remember the first time I held my husband’s hand and the thrill that was, but I also feel so blessed to get to hold his hand through this beautiful but messy and painful life.
Lovely cupcakes! Those from the back of the box sometimes are the best.
I always figure if the recipe isn’t great, they’re not going to put it on the back of the ingredient. 🙂
Aww I understand you so well!
I love blogging but sometimes I dont have time to all.
I have 4 recipes ready but Im not sure when I will make the post;)
BTW now I take blogging with calm and if I cant make spmething is ok:)
I love yours cupcakes and the frosting lool perfect!
I love Rob’s picture:)
Maureen, your friend Rob looks like such a nice man. I loved your remarks about wondering, etc. And I like to think it takes *three* mini cupcakes to equal one standard cupcake (of course, I’m probably just fooling myself)!
I like the idea of THREE cupcakes, Jean!
Rob is my father-in-law and he’s as sharp as a tack. He loves going out.
Such a great job on the icing…. the people at the nursing home love you, I am sure – how could they not love you even if you did not bake the cupcakes? 😉
Rob looks great, and the view through the window certainly doesn’t hurt anything either!
I totally relate to the “wanna hold your hand” – I just wish I could cuddle closer and fall asleep, but insomnia is one problem I somehow am not able to solve – oh, well.
Woke up at 4am today and decided to get started early by doing my nails 😉
Oh can I have a cupcake for breakfast, please?! 🙂
Hi Maureen, Looks like Rob really enjoyed your cupcakes, great idea to make smaller ones, will try that next time. I spend less time wondering about things too, your post has me thinking ……………
Rob looks great! I had dinner with my dad last night (he’s just a few weeks older than Rob), and he’s doing well too. Anyway, when it comes to cupcakes, totally agree that “the opportunity to eat two cupcakes is better than eating only one.” Words to live by. 🙂
Oh, these look so pretty – Maureen. I love mini cupcakes, would much rather have mini anything sweet:)
If someone brought me cupcakes like this, I’d get a lot of joy out of being alive too :-). They look wonderful, and the piping job is perfect! Really beautiful. Blogging has consumed me too – many of my non-cooking friends think I’m a bit crazy. I enjoy it too, but I know what you mean about time for just thinking. It’s harder and harder to find that window in every day to just let my feet and thoughts wander.
What lovely little cupcakes. I especially like the colour and piping of the frosting on top. The mini size is perfect for most parties, children and older people especially.
I know what you mean about someone having your back being one of the best things in life – I always say that a safe place is the best gift we can offer to our spouse, and our friends and family.
These are just the kind of cupcakes that I swoon over. Beautiful job with the frosting!
p.s. Rob looks nowhere near 94. Must be his Joie de vivre!
Oh wow, I imagine these to taste way better than any bakery, because they just look so mouthwatering 😀
Can’t wait to bake again and maybe give this a whirl!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
It’s lovely you took Rob out for dinner. He looks relaxed, well and a lot younger than his years. I’m a bit like you in that I don’t do a lot of sitting and wondering and I think it’s very good therapy so we should both do more of it. I do love the look of your cupcakes and how lovely to have a recipe from your mother, even if it’s not an original recipe. I think you did a great job of decorating the cupcakes xx
Sounds wonderfully romantic to this single live alone gal. I could eat 2 dozens of those little cupcakes without thinking about it. YUM!
I think a lot of old family recipes come from the back of food packets, they were tried and tested so pretty much guaranteed to work. I still check tins and packets just in case they have thought of something I haven’t 😀
It’s so lovely to have someone to wake up next to, snuggle with and hold hands on the Chesterfield when you’re watching TV… you and I must be on the same wave length, as I was just thinking about this the other day… I think a lot! The wheels are always turning. Rob is looking great…. and the folks must adore you when you turn up with a platter of these babies. Lovely job on the icing too!
Exactly and now I think I’m off to think on this gorgeous sunny Sunday.
G’day! Beautiful cupcakes Maureen! Wish I could come through the screen and try, but reckon these were devoured with love at the nursing home!
Chef Georgio and I always hold hands while watching tv!
Cheers! Joanne
I definitely agree with you on the relationship thing. The most memorable moments for me are often the mundane ones — listening to music, holding someone’s hand. 🙂
Rob looks so happy! I’m sure he loved the cupcakes.
Yummy cupcakes,loved the frosting
These cupcakes are gorgeous! I love the frosting on these!
Thank you for doing this, Maureen!!! I also want mine mini-sized so I could sample not one, definitely not two, but as many as I could!!! One regular size can indeed be too filling and sometimes I just feel sorry being not able to sink my teeth in the other great flavours… 🙂
Gourmet Getaways xx
Your piping is so pretty! 🙂 I always sit and wonder haha….and I’ve got plenty of time to do it when I’m on the bus everyday too!
Lovely thoughts Maureen. I actually enjoyed thinking and reflecting and analysing and all that stuff a while back but maybe now all I think about is food and the blog. These cupcakes are very pretty and who can refuse a chocolate cupcake!
I have a toothache right now….I feel my sweet tooth could do with a few of these 🙂
I also get a great joy in holding hands. The wonderful thing with that simple act of “connecting” is you express love even to your children by holding their hands. I love to hold hands and talk about their day as we walk home from school. Those are memories I cherish … especially if I’m lucky enough to get even close to your father-in-law’s age. Bless him!
Now hand over a cupcake. 🙂
The cupcakes look absolutely delightful. Rob looks content. Was this trip to the Beach House Restaurant a calm one? So tru about companionship. Today we went for a motorbike ride and just cruising along and sharing the sights n sounds is a very companionable and refreshing thing to do. Have a lovely week my friend x
It was fine getting there but he got sick half way through the meal. oh well 🙂
It is great to see someone at that age so full of life. The youngsters these days can take a lesson or two from him. My husbands granny is 96 and she thinks of life as a party!! She has to be reminded she is 96 😛
It has been ages since I had a cupcake and right now I wish I could grab a few of these pretty ones. For the time being I am consoling myself by just getting an eye full of the lovely pics.
I love your husband’s granny!
It is great to see someone at that age so full of life. The youngsters these days can take a lesson or two from him. My husbands granny is 96 and she thinks of life as a party!! She has to be reminded she is 96 😛
It has been ages since I had a cupcake and right now I wish I could grab a few of these pretty ones. For the time being I am consoling myself by just getting an eye full of the lovely pics.
Looks like my comment on this post got lost somewhere.
Those cupcakes are adorable, how nice that you take them to the nursing home. You’re so lucky with your FIL, mine is only 90 and can barely stay awake to be fed lunch let alone go out and feed himself. No, there is nothing physically wrong with him, he’s just given up. So sad, really. Considering both my parents and JTs mom were robbed of their lives much too early, you would think he’d be grateful and garner a zest for life.
Rob always has a smile and is ready to go at a moment’s notice. John’s mother, on the other hand, is always angry about something. 🙂
Your cupcakes are beautiful! I’m sure everyone looks forward to your visits.
Gorgeous piping there, my friend! And I like the idea of making them smaller – that way I can get a double dose of frosting. Rob is looking great!
Double icing is always better 🙂
This sounds like , what we call, an heirloom recipe – it needs to be passed on and now you’ve done it! I love keeper recipes like this.
I was trying to take a moment this morning simply to think about other things than my lengthy to-do-for-the-blog list! Your cupcakes look so yummy!!! What a thoughtful thing to bring these mini cupcakes to your loved ones; I’ll bet try look forward to visiting with you!
Love everything about this post, Maureen. Yes, having a hand to hold going through this crazy world is mighty precious…And making time to smell the roses – the real ones and the buttercream ones is important, too! Did you use the rose tip to make those gorgeous toppings? P.s. The Hershey’s recipe is my go-to, too =)
What a lovely moment indeed. 🙂 You are right, the passionate, amazing things are lovely, but there’s something inestimably comforting about that hand in yours.
What lovely thoughts indeed Maureen, very true! I also agree that two cupcakes are ALWAYS better than one- especially if they look as good as these ones do 🙂
Oh.. these cupcakes are totally divine.. what could be more delicious than a chocolate cupcake and a perfect frosting…
Love this post! I always end up making big cupcakes, but I really like the idea of 2 mini cupcakes. Rob looks so happy!
Rob looks like and kind man. I can’t believe he’s 94!
Those cupcakes are are wo pretty and tempting.
Cheers,
Rosa
Gorgeous little cupcakes and for certain two of these would be much better than one and double the frosting. I love how perfect your swirls are on top of your cupcake. Just shared! Rob looks fabulous and has a real zest for life. I agree that the only thing I ponder on now a days is should I post that soup recipe or that chicken recipe… hmm…. LOL
The alarm went off the other morning at 6am for us to get up and go for a run and told Rich I’d rather stay in bed and have a cuddle. I may have been being a little bit devious 🙂 The piping on these cupcakes are so perfect – I’d definitely be going back for seconds.
They look delightful, I think I could easily scoff two. I have never used vegetable shortening in icing before, something I should try one day.
I love how you have piped the buttercream – just gorgeous! Piping is something I really need to work on.
I also like the small mini sized cupcakes because it means I can have the satisfaction of eating a second one without really overdoing it!
I prefer mini cupcakes too, a bite full to enjoy the food moment. =)
btw you know to frost girl, these look perfect!
I know what you mean with blogging consuming life and having somebody hold your hand. I am a little philosopher and I like to question everything so at least while I have been busy blogging, I didn’t stop doing that.
Beautiful cupcakes Maureen!
Well these look about perfect! My favorite combo of chocolate and buttercream.. I could eat that frosting with a spoon! 😉
I’ve got a tub of the frosting left, come on over and I’ll pull out TWO spoons. 🙂
I love the look on Rob’s face and his smile! And I love what you said about what we want in that special someone “facing the world as one and knowing there’s someone who’s always got your back – because they want to.” ! That is such a beautiful thought, Maureen!
Gorgeous cupcakes! And food blogging consumes our lives? No! Say it isn’t so!
Agreed. Mini cupcakes are definitely the way to go, I reckon. And noone can ever pass up chocolate cupcakes!
Maureen, I like the way you think…two cupcakes will win every time in my book. I treasure recipes from the elders and using your Mom’s is as dear as can be. The photo you shared of Rob brought a smile. I hope I’ll be as spry as he in future years.
Love the old recipes and hand holding…… simple things in life are the best.
I love the look of these cakes maureen. And doesn’t Rob look happy? A lovely photo.
These cupcakes are lovely, as are your words! So glad to hear that you’re able to indulge in relaxing moments like the one you described.
I wish Rob and Joan love this cupcakes ! They are gorgeous!
I’m Eva from Bordeaux. I just see your name in Anne’s blog and I just want see yours !
A perfect food. And what a lovely essay on enjoyment and sweetness!
Would you mind telling me what vegetable shortening you used?
Usually I order Crisco from USA foods. I bought the last one at howtocook.com.au in Cotton Tree, QLD. Anyone who sells Wilson supplies should sell it. Good luck!
These cupcakes look lovely! And you’re absolutely right about relationships, couldn’t have said it better myself! 🙂
I know I need to get better about taking time every day to put everything aside and just sit and reflect. It actually ends up being pretty productive time even though I don’t mean for it too. I find my creativity really starts to flow if I can just clear my mind and stop trying to DO so much.
Love these cupcakes. The buttercream looks heavenly!