This is just a reminder that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! Are you ready? If not … don’t panic … I thought that I would do a little recap of a few quick Valentine’s Day ideas.

Treats for the young and old …

Red Velvet Bottom Cupcakes

A few ideas that can be made in a big batch, divided up and packaged for individual treats …

I would like to say “THANK YOU” to everyone who voted for me in the Celebrations Cupcake Crown contest!

I am sorry for not posting anything for a while. I was out-of-town … no internet access! Now I am home and back in the swing of things.

Several weeks ago I was asked to make some cupcakes for a gathering of family and close friends. I chose to make a very easy flower with a little ladybug on it. Let me tell you why ladybugs …

Our sons grew up with a neighboring family’s sons … they are extended family, not just friends … the neighbors’ oldest son married and had two daughters. The younger daughter was named Kaitlynn … which became Katie … which became Katie Bugs … and ladybugs are Katie Bugs. In honor of Katie … these are really “Katie Bug Cupcakes”. Katie has been gone a year now … but whenever we see ladybugs … we think of Katie Bugs.

There are several new things that I learned while making these cupcakes … I had bought some cupcake papers that were a very different size … a small diameter and rather tall … so I “helped” them fit my cupcake pans by flattening out the bottom … I used a glass … now bake your favorite cupcakes …

The ladybugs can be made in advance … I used Peanut Butter M&Ms because they are bigger than plain M&Ms and flatter than peanut M&Ms … using a marker for food (Americolor Gourmet Writer) just draw ladybug markings … and let dry for a few minutes before handling them … but I decided that these little ladies needed to see … so I gave them eyes using melted white chocolate and a toothpick …

Now for the cupcakes … make your favorite icing … color about 1/2 cup of the icing green (for 24 cupcakes) … place a star decorating tip (I used #199) in a bag and fill it with white icing … place a leaf tip (I used #352) in a bag and fill it with the green icing … have candy flower centers ready for use …

Make a swirl flower , or I like to call these “fried egg flowers” … start at the outside edge and work your way toward the center … add a candy for the flower center … I used very large edible confetti … yellow M&Ms could be used if the Peanut Butter Addict that you are married to did not eat all of the leftover M&Ms! … OK, I admit that I helped him … I will plan better next time …