Mom would make these for holidays and special occasions. I remember them the most around Halloween. Mom tried to make up for not letting us go trick or treating by making baked goods to compensate. No trick or treating for the Socha girls? Yep, Mom and Dad said the neighborhood wasn’t safe enough and we weren’t supporting “The devil’s holiday”. Eventually I wore them out and was able to go trick or treating for the first time much to Mom’s dismay when I was in 7th grade. She assured me that Aunt Val was rolling in her grave at the thought of me trick or treating. Mom’s guilt trip obviously didn’t work. Since we were lacking in the costume department and Mom wasn’t going to buy me a costume I went as a scarecrow. I went with my gal pals to Woodcrest Circle, which was THE place for Halloween. There were tons of houses in that development. I couldn’t believe all the candy I got. All the excitement was followed by a slumber party at Kristina Steves. BEST NIGHT EVER (for a 7th grade girl)
These cupcakes are super easy to make which is good because I hate to bake. You have to be exact with baking, not my strong suit. I was feeling cheap and didn’t want to buy cocoa powder since I saw a can in the cupboard and Kim is more than happy to share pantry supplies with me. After whipping up the batter and sticking these puppies in the oven I noticed the color of the batter was a bit off. That’s when I checked out the expiration date on the cocoa powder. November 2010. Whoops, a little bit old but the cupcakes were already in the oven. Oh well, I can’t let good food go to waste. I ate them anyway. In fact I ate them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is one of the pitfalls of living without Nate. I have to eat everything I cook. I offered some to my roomie but she obviously declined. She had a whole cake to eat, which I helped a little bit with that too (I hope she didn’t notice/care).
Auntie Val’s Black Bottom Cupcakes
Makes 18 cupcakes
8 oz cream cheese room temp
1 egg
pinch of salt
6 oz. chocolate chips
1 ½ c. flour
¼ c. cocoa powder
1 c. sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. water
1/3 c. oil
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix cream cheese, egg, salt and chips together and set aside.
Sift together dry ingredients and set aside. Mix fluids. Next mix wet and dry ingredients together by hand. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Add 1 tbsp of cream cheese mixture to top eat cupcake. Bake at 350 for 30-35 mins.