Cupcake Monday - Lemon Cupcakes!

A Labor of Love...

Okay, first things first, I'll be frank and share with you it's Tuesday night at 10:00pm.  I just made Monday's cupcakes - so there.  I have discovered I can not do it all.  I hate that feeling.....

You see I'm heading on vacation this week and was trying to cram 1 1/2 weeks worth of homework into 3 days.  You remember I got the nerve to go back to school right?  Well, I'm not sure I should have started during my kiddos summer break.  I'm also not sure why the stars weren't ailinged correctly and I got the online instructor that I did.  He is a man of few words (or typed messages I guess).  That could be fabulous for some, but I haven't taken a college course in like, FOREVER.  And I started back taking English II - which means lots of writing and research.....  So I had to pick a topic for an eight page paper......I picked OCD.  That's right.  So if you see me washing my hands for hours on end, or checking my door to make sure it's locked 35 times, please admit me to the nearest psych ward.....I seriously think all of this research is going to MAKE me develop rituals I did not have before.

My children asked several times yesterday which cupcakes we were making, and I had to put it off until today, at 9:00pm when I was DONE with the 1 1/2 weeks worth of homework.  Okay, I was a maniac mother for a couple of days - but the monkey is off my back.  Ready for vaca.

I saw an orange creamsicle cupcake recipe that I was dying for, but they don't sell the orange cake mix at my store.....so that is going to take some searching.  So here is what I whipped up - literally:

Lemon Cupcakes with Fluff Frosting:

• Mix a regular lemon cake mix as directed
• Add small box of instant lemon pudding (I used vanilla in a pinch, but lemon would have rocked it to the next level)

Pour into cupcake liners and bake as directed on box.

I decided to use the frosting from the orangesicle cupcakes - the fact that you use marshmallow cream intrigued me.  The orinigal recipe can be found here.

Fluff 7-Minute Frosting

• 1 c. Marshmallow Fluff
• 2 egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 c. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/4 c. water
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

 In double-boiler top over hot, not boiling water, combine all ingredients except vanilla. With hand mixer, beat until soft peaks form. Remove from heat and continue beating until stiff. Beat in vanilla. Makes enough to frost 24 cupcakes.

I don't own a double-broiler, so I used a heat resistant bowl (glass) inside a large pot with a few inches of water.  I read a tip that you can insert a knife between the bowl and pot so the bowl doesn't get stuck.  Worked like a charm!  Remember whipping the frosting takes a little time so be patient.

The frosting is pretty good - and I love that it looks so shiny!

I'm going to go to bed now.  (right after I check my alarm clock 157 times)