Thursday’s Culinary Adventure and Valentine’s Par-tay

Tonight, on Thursday’s Culinary Adventure.

You can’t tell very well until you bite into them, but these cupcakes are a beautious deep, dark RED color.

 

See?  Perfect for Valentine’s Day, no?  I had heard of them, but had never tried them before.

Okay, I feel a bit bad about this Adventure.

I totally wimped out.

After reading the “from scratch recipe,” I felt slightly nauseous. (or is that my stomach illness?)  I went to the store and got the good ol’ mix.

So, since this is a rather…well…unadventurous adventure, I am supplementing it with a Valentine’s Par-tay! 

AKA me, alone, taking pictures of things that are Valentines-y at my house.

I know, I just keep giving.

For the Red Velvet Cupcakes.

Open the box.     

I was surprised at how brown the mix was. Looks like a Brownie mix to me.

Follow the directions.

Pour into cupcake pan.

Bake.

 

See?  Wimpy.

But delicious.

Both Brian and I agreed that it had a slight chocolate-y flavor, but not overpoweringly so.

Moist.

Not too rich.

Top it with some Cream Cheese Frosting if you want.  I actually think that I prefer it without.

Now, on to the Par-tay!

Above our table

these are double-sided.  For some reason almost all of the black sides are showing, which looks slightly gloomy.

A garland that I made.

Brian wouldn’t let me strongly discouraged me from putting it anywhere that would be “symmetrical.”  Like above the doorway.  Personally, I am all about symmetry.  In fact, I would like to make another one just to hang on the other side.

There are also some decals on the windows, cupids and hearts, but it is too dark to see them.

Finally,

my pride and joy

The mantel.  Mantle?

I especially love the little bird.

There are lots of places where you can get the phrase “Love” spelled out- usually in wood- but I cheaped out got creative and made them myself.

If I had the time, I would totally make these.  They are just so cute!

Also, if I had a cooperative child, I would have loved to have homemade valentines plastered on the walls.  Not so much.

My goal from now until the end of the weekend is to make one thing in every meal either RED or HEARTSHAPED. 

Lots of heart-shaped pancakes, heart-shaped sandwiches, and red oatmeal comin’ at ya!

Don’t you wish that you were here?