Cupcakes for Kingy

This recipe is known in our family as the 'Birthday Cake' Recipe because it is our go-to recipe when we have to make a birthday cake.  Aaron was good at making and decorating cakes so I thought this was a perfect choice to make for him - in Hawthorn colours of course.

The recipe is usually put into a 20 cm tin and baked for 35- 45 minutes until the skewer comes out clean.  I however decided that mini cupcakes were the go and made 1 1/2 batches of the cake mix which gave me about 75 (give or take) mini cupcakes.  I hope you enjoy them.

Birthday Cake Recipe:
125g butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
3/4 cup milk
2 cups SR flour

Method
Preheat oven to 180 C.  Prepare mini cupcake cases in mini cupcake tins.
Beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy
Add eggs, one at a time, beat well
Add half of the sifted flour, then half of the milk alternately into the mixture.
Repeat with more flour and milk, mixing well.
Using teaspoons, spoon mixture into cupcake cases.
Bake in oven for 7 - 10 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

For the icing I used this American Buttercream Frosting recipe which iced all of my cupcakes so if you are planning on making a smaller batch you may want to reduce the quantity of icing you make too.

I topped my cupcakes with malteaser balls but they are also delicious (and not quite as sweet) with fresh raspberries which I made at Christmas and for Chloe's Birthday.

So Kingy I know you would have outdone me if we had a decorating competition but these are the best I could come up with  for a Hawthorn theme.

Also,  I had them sitting in containers and on a platter ready to go and Chloe thought she had hit jackpot when she discovered them when she should have been sleeping.  There were holes poked through the glad wrap and squished cakes - I didn't know what to say I was frustrated my work was destroyed and had to re-ice the cupcakes that were not squished flat - hubby reckons you would think it was cute and Kobe probably would have done the same.  That made it all okay :)

Our Hearts are Breaking

The other night we received some terrible news that I am still in complete and utter shock about.  So please excuse my jumbled words because at this time my thoughts are not clear and words really cannot express how I feel.  And truly - what can a person say?  No words seem adequate at this time. 

You see my lovely friend Lisa lost her husband and best friend Aaron who was a wonderful person and father to their boys.  This in and of it's self is devastating to all who knew Aaron but for him to pass less then four months after the loss of her son is incomprehensible!  My heart truly aches for Lisa and the boys.
 

Aaron was such a kind and gentle person always sharing a joke.  He was a great leader, teacher and and example.  All who knew him are all the better for it.  He helped teach me how to teach (I was fortunate enough to be trained by him on my 3rd year teaching prac ).  In the classroom there was nothing else like him.  He loved each of his students unconditionally and genuinely wanted the very best for them - and expected it.  The students all knew of his love and concern for them no matter who they were.  As a father he was gentle and kind and you could tell by the way he treated his boys just how much he truly loved them.  As a husband he treated Lisa with such love and devotion and was always helping with the difficult jobs (although gardening was not his thing until recently ;p )  and lightening the mood with a joke or ten in the sadder times.  As a friend Aaron would do anything for you.  He loved his sports and was always up for shooting some hoops or kicking the footy (and if that wasn't possible talking about sport was good too).




I just keep waiting for someone to tell me this was a terrible sick joke.  I wish it was.  My heart aches for Lisa and the boys at this time.  They are all so strong but I am sure at times like these they feel weak.  One thing is sure - they need never feel alone there are so many who love and care for them which is evident through comments on facebook and blogs. 



I know that Aaron will be hand in hand with Noah watching over them all at this time but that doesn't heal the hurt of knowing that our lives will not be continually enriched by his example and actions while we are left behind. - We hold fast to the memories we have and hope these will strengthen us in the tough times.We love you King family and wish we could take this pain away from you at this time.  Know that we like so many others are here for you no matter what!