A Tempting Treat for Valentine’s Day

Welcome blog hoppers!

As Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s time once again to enter our kitchens and hit the bake pans, perhaps unused since the Christmas gorging. Today, I thought I’d share my favourite Valentine’s Day recipe...

Red Velvet cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of sugar

1 stick of butter, softened

2 eggs

2 1/3 cups of cake flour

2 tablespoons of old fashioned cocoa powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of buttermilk

1 1/2 tablespoons of red food coloring

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 teaspoon of distilled white vinegar

Directions:

Set the oven to preheat to 350°F. Beat the butter and sugar very well (for about 3 minutes with an electric mixer), until smooth and light. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is mixed in evenly. In a large batter bowl, sift he cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together, ensuring there are no lumps. In another bowl whisk the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract, and red food coloring together. Add a handful or two of the dry ingredients and mix, then add a bit of the wet. Repeat, wet/dry, until it’s all completely mixed. Scoop into a muffin tin lined with waxed cupcake papers, about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Rotate the pan after the first 15 minutes of baking to ensure even baking. Allow to cool in the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting. Top with your favourite cream cheese frosting, and some shaved dark chocolate and/or sprinkles. (Raspberries are also nice on top, if you prefer.)

For maximum wonderfulness, I enjoy my red velvet with a very milky cup of Chai tea, though hot chocolate, warm milk, coffee, or Irish cream works just as well.

Enjoy!

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And now for a peek at V-Day, my erotic romantic comedy for Valentine’s Day:

It all started with a serenade…

A family like Daniel’s and the solitary pursuit of musical excellence is enough to make a young man crazy. No wonder all Daniel Vouks dreams of is getting away. He knows his violin will take him places in life, but the only place he really wants to be is next door. He’s been in love with his neighbor since he was fourteen, but can he ever make her see him as more than just a lovesick kid?

V-Day is the story of a Valentine's Day weekend Daniel fears he may regret, but will never, ever forget.

Excerpt:

Daniel retreated to the music room, thankful he didn’t have a class or a practice scheduled on campus today. He didn’t even have to give any lessons until next week. The weather really didn’t look all that welcoming and he was grateful he could huddle inside as his family bustled off to their various destinations. After school, his parents would be off for the weekend, dropping his sister and her flotilla of luggage off at Kayley’s so the girls could get ready to go to the dance together, which meant leaving Daniel officially on his own until at least Sunday afternoon. Glorious.

Allowing the noise of their departures to roll off him as he sat absently at the piano, he plucked out a few strains and watched the sun glint off the fresh snow in the backyard. It was really beautiful when you could view it from a cozy place.

Blah! Another Valentine’s Day. His nineteenth one as a single guy. And, he thought ruefully, his nineteenth year as a confirmed virgin.

Jesus, even his baby sister had more going on than he did. Selby, his girlfriend in tenth grade, had been about as close to any action as he’d ever gotten. Her pathological fear of pregnancy made it absolutely essential that he keep his pants on at all times. Other than that, any girl he’d ever liked had tossed him into the “friend” basket and never bothered to reassess him.

Kelly, his best friend, did that. After Daniel followed the cute redheaded soprano around for weeks like a puppy, she finally took pity on him and explained he was simply too nice to attract her. After that, they formed an easy relationship through which both had a pal, and a no-fuss “emergency date” when necessary.

Flipping open his phone, he hit Kelly’s number.

“This better be good,” she grumbled after the fifth ring.

“Hey early riser,” he chuckled.

“Well, if I had my mom bringing me my morning coffee in bed…”

“Okay, truce,” Daniel winced. “And my mom doesn’t let me drink coffee.”

“Why not? Afraid it'll stunt your growth, stretch?” Kelly asked with a crystal clear laugh despite having just woken up.

“Something like that,” he said, flecking a flower petal off the top of the piano. “Listen…You’re probably…I dunno…busy tonight, right?”

“Are you trying again, Danny?” she groaned.

“Well, no. I just thought if you weren’t, maybe we could do something.”

“I have a date.”

“Right,” he forced a chuckle. “Yeah, I figured you would.” He straightened in his chair. “Being Valentine’s and all. No problem, just wanted to check.”

“Ahhh, Danny,” she sighed. “What about you?”

“I got a hot date all weekend,” he said over a grimace. “With that friggin’ tango, I guess.”

“Danny, do yourself a favor,” she said firmly. “Go get yourself laid. I told you that’s what’s missing from your tango.”

“Well then,” he quipped. “Support the arts and break your date. I can be there in an hour.”

“Har har har,” she said and then laughed for real. “Seriously, go fall for someone. Preferably someone who will fall for you back.”

“Okay,” he agreed. “For you, I'll try my best.”

Daniel hung up and pounded out a few more notes on the keyboard in front of him, contemplating Kelly’s method music theory that said you could only sing or play what you’d experienced. If that were the case, his tango would remain a virginal one if his luck so far was any indication.

*

For more information about my adult (18+) Valentine’s Day erotic romantic comedy, V-Day, please see my holiday stories website: http://annehollyholiday.webs.com/valentinesdaytales.htm

GIVEAWAY!

Comment below, and tell us what your favourite Valentine’s Day treat is, and you will be entered to win any one of my currently-released titles in Amazon Kindle edition or PDF! One winner will be drawn at random, February 15, 2012. Contest is open only to adults, 18+.

Be sure to leave a comment, 

and then check out the other authors at:

http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/

Anne Holly is a Canadian writer of romance and erotic-romance, as well as a mother and teacher. You may visit Anne at her blog or website, or find her on GoodReads, Facebook and Twitter  (@anneholly2010). Sign up for her newsletter here. Email: anneholly2010@gmail.com.