This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by! The winner is Deb (#68). Congrats!!

Earlier this week I was at a “foodie” blogger event and had a conversation with Pamela, who writes the site My Man’s Belly, about those who cook v. those who bake.  We agreed that in most cases, a person either has a passion for one or the other (she just happens to do both well).  I’m certain you know which one I am.  And while I’m quite content to be the baker in the family, I’m convinced after reading her bio that it wouldn’t hurt to advance my culinary skills.

I love to bake.  I like the precision required to make gourmet treats and the opportunity for creative expression during the decorating process.  Ironically, I get more fulfillment out of giving baked items away than I do from eating them.

This Valetine’s Day, McCormick wants to help you say “I Heart You” to those who are important in your life.  They’ve developed the Relationship Recipe Matrix to guide your baking endeavors.  According to their guide, I should make Red Velvet Cupcakes for Aracely (which just happens to be one of her favorites), Vanilla Rich Chocolate Chip Cookies for my son (Vegan, of course), and Red Velvet Bon Bons for the hubby.

McCormick offers a variety of products designed to help you bring flavor to your baked goods.  From spices to extracts, you can easily turn a simple cookie or cupcake into something extraordinary.  Here is a recipe for Red Velvet Cupcakes:

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup milk

1 bottle (1 ounce) McCormick® Red Food Color

2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.

2. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in sour cream, milk, food color and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until just blended. Do not overbeat. Spoon batter into 30 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.

3. Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely. Frost with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting.
Tips

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened, 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened, 2 tablespoons sour cream and 2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 1 box (16 ounces) confectioners’ sugar until smooth.

Win It! One of you will win a Valentine’s Day Baking Kit (ARV $60) from McCormick which will include the following:

“I Heart You” McCormick Apron
Valentine’s Cookie Cutters from Crate and Barrel
Valentine’s Dish Towels from Crate and Barrel
Valentine’s Spatula from Crate and Barrel
Sweetheart Candies
Valentine’s Cupcake Papers from Crate and Barrel
Valentine’s Sprinkles
McCormick Red Food Color
McCormick Vanilla Extract
Relationship Recipe Matrix and Two Recipe Cards

To enter, simply leave a comment with another Valentine’s Day recipe or idea you found on the site. Comments will close on February 14th, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST.  US Residents only.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.  Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

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Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

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No compensation was received for this post.  Review and giveaway items were supplied by the company.

Photo Credit: McCormick