What does romance mean to you? Are you someone who loves armloads of gorgeous roses delivered to your door? Perhaps you’d prefer to share a fabulous bottle of wine with the object of your affection in an intimate cafe. Or, maybe romance for you is a simple, but tender, back rub while watching your favorite television show.
I’ve always thought it is mysterious how the spark of affection ignites. Chemistry. Either it’s there, or it isn’t. You can’t will it to happen with someone. When two people feel it on the same level for each other, it’s pure magic. Hearts race from a first soulful glance. Stomaches knot as one unsure hand slips into another. Breaths catch with the first brush of lips.
Will this flash of passion become love, and if so, can it last? The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks, presents one such example of time tested devotion. This book was inspired by the grandparents of the author’s wife. Sparks was deeply touched by the elderly couple’s long lasting adoration.
In the novel, when we first meet the two central characters, Allie and Noah, they are senior citizens. We are then transported back to their youth. Joining them on their life journey, filled with both jubilation and pain, we catch a glimpse of enduring love.
One day after watching the movie adaption starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling yet again, I was inspired to make cupcakes. Although teenage Allie and Noah visit a carnival in the book, the infamous ferris wheel scene is only in the movie. But as I adore Noah for risking it all for a chance at love, I had to incorporate it into my baking.
I hope today all your sweet dreams come true! 💗🧁💕
Decoration
Gold sugar sprinkles
Pink sugar cake flowers
Pink filigree cupcake wrappers
Vanilla Cupcakes
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Place rack in the middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Next, in a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Then add in the rest of the ingredients, and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour the batter into lined cupcake pans.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool so you can frost and decorate.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
First, with an electric mixer, beat the vanilla extract and butter in a medium bowl. Then slowly mix in the powdered sugar, and beat. Now pour in the milk. Lastly, using the electric mixer, beat the mixture until it is smooth and fluffy.
Now decorate the tops of the cupcakes with frosting. Then place the cupcakes in decorative wrappers. Shake sprinkles onto each cupcake. Lastly, place three sugar flowers on the tops of each cupcake.
Makes 14 cupcakes
Note: If you prefer an easier version use store bought cake mix and frosting. Or…just pick up undecorated cupcakes and embellish them yourself!
(You may want to be kind to your teeth and not eat the sugar flowers. The ones shown in my photo are not edible as they contain parts that are artificial, and therefore purely decorative. Please
let the sugar sprinkles melt in your mouth.)
