Ever find yourself in your dorm room craving one of your mom's homemade cupcakes? I know I do, especially around finals.
I found a simple way to conquer these cravings. I just made them myself.
You may be asking, "How in the name of Rachael Ray is this possible?" It's simple. All you need are a few ingredients, a mini-fridge, a few small Tupperware containers and the use of an oven (most dorms have a communal kitchen) or a convection oven (if you're lucky).
The best cupcakes are homemade. Yes, the ones from the box may be safe, and they can be a back-up option, but try and get yourself out of your culinary safe zone and try something new.
And don't worry about the Freshman 15 (or Sophomore 30). The best thing you can do is to share your treats and only save one or two for yourself. This will make your friends, and your waistline, very happy.
The Basics
Really, all you need is a good recipe and fresh ingredients. Making baked goods from scratch isn't all that difficult.
If this is your first time baking, just relax. The worst that could happen is you'll have to start over, and that happens to even the best bakers.
Some tips:
When you buy your ingredients, be sure to check all the expiration dates. Get the freshest eggs and milk. I've found that it makes a difference. If you're lucky enough to live on a chicken farm, use those eggs, but obviously that isn't practical for most of us.
Preheat your oven before you start mixing your ingredients. This will make everything moving smoothly so you aren't standing around the kitchen for 10 minutes just waiting.
Now if you're preparing for a party, especially a birthday party, you're going to want to have a backup plan. In other words, buy a box of cupcake mix when you go grocery shopping.
My favorite kind is Pillsbury Funfetti mix. It's very light and fluffy, plus the colors make everyone happy. It goes well with Pillsbury cream cheese frosting or chocolate frosting.
