Experimental Cupcakes

I have updated this post! I think I may have perfected these cupcakes!

Original post:
I went to a Cupcake Open House (curtesy of 'Taste of Amazing' and Gail Kurpgeweit), again. Bad choice? Maybe. Maybe I don't care enough about the 20lbs I still have to lose. Gail's cupcakes are Da Bomb! That is SOOO not an overstatment. Anyway, while stuffing my face with delicious confections of various flavors, Gail and I were talking about her yummies, and how she makes them. And, since I like to try new things, she gave me a few tips on how to make a great cupcake from scratch. I tried it out, and although not nearly perfect, they were good! She wouldn't give me her recipe, though- why ever not? I wonder. ;)

Anyway, if any of you are wondering how I created my chocolate cupcakes from scratch, look no further!

1/2c butter
1c sugar
1. cream together.

1t baking soda
1/2t baking powder
1/4t salt
1t vanilla
2/3c cocoa powder
1 pkg chocolate pudding mix
3/4c buttermilk
3 eggs
1c flour

2. add eggs, vanilla, yogurt.
3.add dry ingredients and DO NOT overmix.
4. Bake in paper/foil-lined muffin pan for 16-19min at 350.
5. Remove cupcakes promptly from pan so they stop baking.
6. Enjoy and share with friends!

Learn Something New!

I spent some time today with a friend who really appreciates when I share something with her that she doesn't know. Whether it's a cooking tip, health info, or fashion bit (ok, so I don't usually have any of those), she is interested in what I have to say. How refreshing!

I love sharing what I know and learning new things, too. What unique tidbit will you share?

Saving at Safeway

I recently attended a coupon class and now am super pumped up to save money! I went to Safeway today to use a bunch of their store coupons and while there came across several peelies/blinkies/man. coupons that I used to get stuff for cheaper- not free *sigh*, but cheaper.

Classico pasta sauce 2/$4 sale price....buy 2 get 2 Barilla pastas FREE which were on sale for $1ea. (OK, that's technically something for free, but I break it down like I paid $1 ea for the 4 items. ....especially since I NEVER buy canned pasta sauce).

Pilsbury Grand rolls: (again, I never buy these, but Chris mentioned recently how much he likes them and since I had a couple of coupons, I thought, wth). On sale 2/$4. I had 1 man. coupon $.75 off 3, 1 man. coupon $1 off 2, and 1 peelie (is that what it's called when its a coupon on the item itself?) $.50 off 4. So I bought 4 (regular $3.79 ea) for $5.75 all together. Not bad, right?

Store coupon for $1.50 off Breyers ice cream. Sale price=$3.49 ea. Total OOP= $1.99 ea. Yea!

I like that I can get brand name food for cheaper than generic. Kinda thrills my soul. :)

Also, went to Rite Aid to take advantage of their 4oz Crest toothpaste and toothbrush for $2.69, and after $2.69 register rewards, FREE.....but didn't go at midnight when the sale started so someone else walked out with all my free toothpaste. whoops. Better luck next time.

Am also proud of myself for asking at Albertsons if they honor competitors' store coupons. They don't. Would have paid only $1 ea for the Breyers ice cream if I could have used Safeway's coupon.