Pilot Post: Something as sweet and simple as a Vanilla Cupcake

When in doubt, bake cupcakes! That's what i always do. Nothing can go wrong with plain vanilla cupcakes. And if it gets too boring-looking, you can always dress them up with some fancy icing, or simply color the batter for the rainbow effect. I have been making plain vanilla cupcakes for as long as i can remember. I usually like them plain or with a small amount of whipped cream (butter cream has never been my thing). Lately i tried these rainbow cupcakes with cream cheese frosting left overs from my red velvet cake and the outcome was delicious.

                                                                               

Vanilla Cupcakes with whipped cream frosting

For rainbow effect, simply divide the batter into four halves and add one color to each portion. Fill the cupcake liner using batter from every portion.

Here's an inside view of the cupcake. Don't you brighten up seeing all the colors?

Here's the recipe:

Vanilla Cupcakes:

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsaltedbutter, room temperature

2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated whitesugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Zest of 1 large lemon(outer yellow skin)

1 1/2 cups (195 grams) all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup (60 ml) milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl whisk together the lemon zest, flour, baking powder, and salt.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 17 -20 minutes or just until set and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. (Always check a few minutes before the stated baking time. Do not over bake or the cupcakes will be dry.) Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing. 

Welcome Foodies

Hello and welcome to my readers out there. I'm Zoya and simply put; i love to cook, hence the reason for starting this blog. I am an IT graduate by profession so a total tech savvy person. I have been blogging since 2005 so yes you can say i'm a writer by nature; the kind of person who spins up phrases in her mind about the tiniest bit of thoughts. Cooking hasn't been a recent hobby of mine. I have been baking since i was in school, even though i know that baking out of a cake mix box doesn't really count. But cooking is something i have always enjoyed. It's that perfect getaway they all talk about. The moment when all your endeavors turn into a perfectly moist sponge cake, a chewy cookie or a dense chocolate cupcake is simply worth explaining in hundreds of words.

About Zoya's Bakeshop:
Zoya's Bakeshop has been a recent endeavor of mine. Its a small scale home-run business which i hope to expand someday into a complete catering service. But there's a long way to get there.

A few years back i started a similar food blog, sharing a few recipes every now and then, but i didn't follow up and soon it was forgotten like many other things i do. Somehow i feel like i hardly finish things that i start. Lets hope its not the case with this blog of mine.

This blog is more than just a place to write about food and share recipes. I don't just want to share the things i create, but analyse and learn about my own self, allowing myself the room to grow and eventually accomplish my dream of being that famous cook who's the talk of the town. I have many inspirations this time, so i'm hoping i will continue working towards my goals (taking baby steps!). My biggest inspiration is Glory Albin! The woman from Glorious Treats. I have been a silent follower of her blog and i must say she is the reason i started my own. Her cake decorating, party planning and photography skills are just really admirable. Other than that there are some catering businesses in Pakistan that inspire me. Funky Bake Cupcake Cafe and Mint to be from Islamabad, Lal Majid of Lals Chocolate from Karachi and Muneeze Khalid from Lahore are a few good names.

So here i am at the starting line, looking far far ahead and hoping all of you will support me in getting there. Cheers!

That's all for now, cookies for the next post!