♥♥Happy Mothers Day♥♥

 What a lovely day - to wake up with my two little ones bringing me their handmade cards and two bags of chocolates which 'had to be shared' straightaway.  I spent my morning making some cupcakes with pretty little pink and purple butterflies.  Lunch looked like it might be a lovely spring affair with the barbecue lit for the first time this year but sadly as hubby was half way through grilling the meat the heavens opened and the hail descended.  Still managed to have a nice family lunch with our special cupcake treat afterwards.

These cupcakes are so easy and foolproof.  For the simple recipe

Ingredients:
110g unsalted butter
110g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
110g self-raising flour
1 pinch salt
1 tsp custard powder
2 eggs, beaten

Heat the oven to 180 degrees C or 160 degrees if you have a fan oven.  Place 12 small paper cases or 6 large cases in a cupcake tin.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy and stir in the vanilla.  Sift in the flour, salt and custard powder and lightly fold into the mixture alternately with the eggs until well blended.
Spoon into the paper cases and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and springy to the touch.

For the buttercream:
140g unsalted butter
250g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsps warm water

Beat all ingredients together until light and creamy.  Pipe onto cupcakes using an open star nozzle and decorate.

Enjoy!!