You know me. I’ve already confessed that I don’t like to bake from scratch. I use a boxed mix most of the time. But once in a while, there’s a cake that I know has to be done from scratch. There’s something different, something special, about that one and you can’t use a mix. You have to do it the real way. With containers all over the kitchen, dirty dishes for days, and ingredients that you’ll use a tiny bit of then wonder what in the world you’re going to do with the rest.

It’s worth it, though.

Every year for Thanksgiving or Christmas (whatever holiday we spend with my family), red velvet cupcakes are on the menu. It’s my hubby’s favorite cake, so it’s something I make a couple times each year most years. The absolute best red velvet I’ve ever tasted is Paula Deen’s red velvet. If you’ve never tried it, trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

The other cakes I’ve made from scratch have been cake, not cupcakes. Sour cream pound cake and caramel cake. Even though they weren’t cupcakes, they were still delicious.

You know what I love about a cake from scratch?

The smell.

Now don’t get me wrong. A cake from the box smells good too, but there’s something different about a cake that took me an extended period of time to create. I’m sure it’s psychological, but the effort I put into it always makes me feel accomplished. It smells better, tastes better, feels better. The smiles on the faces of my family and friends always seem bigger and brighter.

People say the secret ingredient is love. I think that’s in everything we make. Whether we bake from scratch or mix it up with a box, we put love into everything we make. As long as we pour a little piece of our own heart into the batter, I think we’re in good shape.

What’s your secret ingredient?

I kept it locked up tight. I didn’t need it. It did its job for me, keeping me going. But then I met him, and everything changed. It was like it had a whole new purpose. And all of a sudden, my heart was beating just for him. 

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