Could it be? Red Wine Cupcakes???

As my Sober Wheat-free October looms.... a "last supper" of sorts has been on my mind... then it hit me... Bread and Wine.... the irony was not lost on me.

While trawling the internet I came across a sweet combination of my soon-to-be-forbidden fruit... wine and cupcakes join together... in RED WINE CUPCAKES....
what a concept :) Doubt I will get a chance to bake this weekend, so best keep this recipe for November.

Thanks to Big Fat Baker for blogging the recipe, and We Are Not Martha for the original recipe - check out both interpretations.

Big Fat Baker

Red Wine Cupcakes

Recipe from We are Not Martha (Makes 24 regular sized cupcakes)
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 140g chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup red wine of your choice

To Make the Cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line cupcake pans withs cupcake liners.
2. In a heat proof/microwave safe bowl combine the cocoa powder and chocolate chips. Pour in the boiling water. Stir until it’s completely melted (I had to microwave mine a little to get it to fully melt).
3. In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar.
4. Add in the eggs 1 at a time, mixing well between each addition.
5. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Fully mix it into the butter mixture.
6. Then add in half of the chocolate mixture and half of the wine, stir a few times. Then add in the remaining chocolate mixture and wine, stir until combined.
7. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3rds of the way full and bake for 20 minutes (rotate half way through).

New Name, New Look, New Focus

I have grossly neglected my blog and my challenges, probably because I feel too busy, but perhaps because I wanted to do more than just focus on the challenges... so I present to you "Seriously Sharon?" - which not only covers my mad challenges... but also any stories from my unbalanced existence.

It is almost October again, which brings up the question "To Sober October, or not?" Obviously if I opt out, I look like a total alcoholic. So, I will indeed be doing Sober October again, and adding all of January's resolution goodness in there too... so NO WHEAT EITHER. Indeed.... *rubs invisible beard*

My brother will be Wheat & Alcohol Abhorrent for October too - how sweet. I'm hoping for a repeat of the drastic weight loss from January... my birthday is looming... It's a big birthday... I'd like to be less big... More about that later *shudders*

That covers the upcoming challenge... so how about a story now?

Sharon Runs Out of Petrol (in the rain) (200m from garage) (in traffic)
Need I say more?
Just as I'm thinking,"I will go get petrol, but not at Shell, I don't like Shell", I break down, on an uphill, just after the bridge in Gardens, it is pouring with rain, people are desperate to get home. I vainly attempt to single handily push my car up the incline (yes, it obviously is impossible).

The Strawberry Man comes to my rescue... whilst the Uno is super light on a flat road, it is horrid and lump-like on a incline... the car rolls back 2m... just then, could it be? The ambling frames of two young gentlemen? The three chaps easily push my car out of the way and into a parking. The young gentlemen high-five and all I can sarcastically think is "wow, you are SO strong.... you pushed an Uno". They do ask if I will be ok and then amble off.

Strawberry man seizes his moment to make a sale and cons me into buying his last punnet of over-priced strawberries "It's my last one, then I can go home..." He did offer to go buy my petrol but I was a little bit over him and was sure he'd expect a tip. I am so used to running out of petrol, that I carry a convenient bottle in the boot. So I stomp off towards Shell with my pink 5l bbq sauce bottle, the rain seeping into my very summer inspired outfit and pumps.

After buying my petrol, I could not resist Narona and squelched through the doors, looking like a wet dog. I order a pizza for take away, wiggling my bottle at the cashier and saying "I've got to go sort something out, I will be back"

Armed with a filthy Vida take away cup that I rescued from the gutter and my pink bottle, I squelch back to my car. Just then, Strawberry Man yells across the intersection to ask if I need help. Strawberry Man magically has 4 new punnets of strawberries - I respond by forlornly screeching "you lied to me!!!!!" across the traffic.

Back at the car I fashioned a funnel out of the cup (what a pro!), get most of the petrol into the car, pump the accelerator with all my strength until the Uno roared back to life and speed off. Yes, to get more petrol and my pizza.

The End

xxx