Cornbread Cupcakes & Scarlet Chicken Droppings

So...I like to challenge myself. Sometimes when I'm home and I'm feeling super unmotivated to do the same things I've been doing for nearly twenty years (load the dishwasher, wash the laundry, plan dinner), I set the timer for fifteen-minute intervals and see how much work I can get done before the timer buzzes. You'd be surprised with what I can accomplish. One time, I fed the chickens, cleaned up all the twigs and branches in the yard, AND started a load of laundry...with one minute to spare! Yes, it was a good day.

This week's challenge is all about the cupcake. My husband reminded me the other day of how much he looooves cupcakes. Then he made the mistake of mentioning that a coworker of his (who used to work in a bakery, mind you) brought in the most delicious cupcakes. Grrrrrr....

Challenge on!

I can make cupcakes. However, the only cupcakes I've made have come from a box. I wanted to be better than that.  I wanted to prove to myself (okay...and to my husband) that I could make a cupcake as yummy as ol' bakery girl. 

Day #1 of the cupcake challenge led me to find an online recipe for "the best vanilla cupcakes ever." Since when is a cupcake supposed to taste like cornbread? I mean, had I made chili for dinner that night, I may have welcomed the cornbread side dish, but that wasn't the case. So, as any good farmer girl would do, I fed them all to the chickens.

Day #2 of the challenge presented itself with beautiful red velvet cupcakes. I thought it was a nice touch for Valentine's Day. If you like buttercream frosting on Wonder bread, then you would like these. Luckily, the chickens were still hungry. 

Day #3 (I couldn't help but notice all the bright red chicken droppings in the coop today. Red velvet manure, anyone?) Third time's a charm in this crazy challenge with myself. I settled on the chocolate cupcake recipe on the back of the Hershey's cocoa canister and some homemade cream cheese frosting.  They're addicting! Make them at your own risk. 

And here they are....

I'm still in search of the PERFECT vanilla cupcake recipe. Got one to share?