How Traditions Begin...The Bunny Cake

WE HAVE A CRUMBS CUPCAKE WINNER!

Susan of Massachusetts won the drawing for a

$25 gift certificate to Crumbs Bake Shop!

Her idea: "Wackiest cupcake ingredient?

How about a wacky cupcake idea

- pepperoni pizza. The cupcake could contain

bits of pepperoni and the frosting a hint of cheese.

Actually, this is kinda gross, isn't it??"

Very funny, actually! Congrats, Susan!

And now to the blog:

How do family traditions begin?

Some are passed down from parent to
child through the generations, keeping
alive the memory of those who've gone
before us. Others are new traditions that
we pick up along the way from friends or
family or new life experiences.


And then there are those that we find in the dollar bin at the grocery
store during a post holiday sale. At least, that's how the tradition of
the bunny cake started for us. Seriously, a cake pan in the shape of
a bunny for a dollar. I had to have it! Little did I know that it would
become the subject of heated discourse each Spring as we debated
what flavor cake and what color icing would decorate the
bunny that year.

The bunny review:

As you can see, we've been making the bunny cake for a few years now.
This year I was asked to make a black bunny cake, but I don't think my
skills are quite up to that. I believe we are currently having a toss up
between green v. purple and vanilla v. chocolate. I have, of course, informed
the dudes that I accept bribes.


The frosting is critical, so I will share with you my recipe for the perfect
buttercream frosting, which I use in my frosting gun (the only kind
of weapon I am qualified to shoot).




BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1/​2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/​2 cup (1 stick) butter softened
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 tspn vanilla extract
2 tblspns milk



Directions:
In large bowl, cream shortening and butter. Add vanilla. Gradually
add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Now
add the milk. Scrape sides of bowl often. Frosting can be stored for
up to 2 weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

No matter what you celebrate, how or when, enjoy your holidays and
your traditions. It's the stuff of which memories are made!

LAST CHANCE! To celebrate the April release of CUT TO THE CORPSE, I am giving away an autographed copy of the book. All you have to do is visit the contest section on my web page (http://www.jennmckinlay.com/) and cast your vote for Team Nate or Team Dom. For those of you who read the first book in the series STUCK ON MURDER, you know that our heroine Brenna is going to have to make a choice! Help her out and cast your vote today! The winner will be announced next week!

Jenn McKinlay SPRINKLE WITH MURDER Available Now!

aka Lucy Lawrence CUT TO THE CORPSE Available for pre-order