Well I was able to scratch that baking itch this morning by whipping up a batch of cupcakes. Decided on using recipes from Betty Crocker’s Cookbook: Bridal Edition. (I received this from a good family friend as a shower gift.) Good old Betty knows her baking. Here are the recipes that I used:

Starlight Yellow Cake
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour 1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened. 1 1/4 c. milk
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla 3 large eggs

Heat oven to 350°. Grease bottom and sides of 13x9x2 inches, Will also fill 2 round cake pans or approx 24 cupcakes.) and lightly flour.

Beat all ingredients with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan(s).

Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or until cake springs back when touched lightly in the center. (Cupcakes took about 20 minutes.) Cool completely before frosting.

Velvet Buttercream Frosting
3 c. powdered sugar 1/3 c. butter, softened.
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 2 tbs. milk
Food coloring (optional)

Mix powdered sugar and butter in medium bowl with spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Stir in vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the milk.

Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too thick, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time. If frosting becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of powdered sugar. Add food coloring, if desired.