How's your VD?

Hi Hi! How was your Valentine's Day?

Sean & I aren't big Valentine's Day people, so we spent the day pretty much like any other sunday.

First we went to Malibu State Park and took some pajama pics for a series Sean's working on at The Haul.

 {via the haul}

Then we took the monster-face puppums to the beach and let her frolic among the waves. Well, she was scared shitless of the the water, but we still had fun!

Then we went home and braised some wieners in beer:

and then I made my famous Red Velvet Cake!

{cake stand courtesy of JenniPatti}

When making the forsting, I accidently grabbed red food coloring instead of vanilla, so it's Pink for VD!

Cake

 2 1/4 cups sifted flour

2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 TBS red food coloring (I always add more, so eyeball this)

1 tsp distilled white vinegar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp.

2 eggs

Frosting

2 12oz tubs cream cheese, room temp

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp.

1 TBS vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar

For Cake: Preheat oven to 350. Butter & flour two 9 inch diameter cake pans. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in a large bowl until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until fluffy. Beat in dry ingredients in 4 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 3 additions.

Divide batter between the two pans. Bake cakes until a tester toothpick comes out clean, about 27-32 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks, cool completely.

For Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. 

For a sweet surprise, spoon 1 cup of frosting into a small bowl. Stir in 2 heaping spoonfuls of raspberry preserves.

Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on cake stand. Spread sweet surprise frosting over top of cake. Top with second cake layer, flat side down. Spread remaining (regular) frosting over top and sides. Dust with red sprinkles or fresh berries. 

This also makes excellent cupcakes!!