1st Place Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes

Last year, I won 3rd place in the Decadent Dreams Chocolate Festival's Cupcake Wars with a Raspberry and Chocolate cupcake, and this year, I won 1st place! I entered a Strawberry Chocolate cupcake made with local winter strawberries from the Bush N Vine. They were FANTASTIC!! One of the judges came up to me afterwards, and he was like, "How did you get it so moist??!" I have no idea how it ended up so moist, I guess the recipe was just perfect!

These strawberries were so perfect. If I had been unable to get local strawberries, I would've made a completely different cupcake because the supermarket strawberries just don't compare.

Strawberry Lemonade

Here is a quick and easy recipe for restaurant-quality strawberry lemonade! Simple syrup and club soda add complexity, and fresh local strawberries and lemon juice add sweetness with a kick. Feel free to substitute lime juice to make Strawberry Limeade! I halved this recipe, and it was the perfect amount for me and my best friend.

Strawberry Lemonade

From Food Network

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 pint fresh strawberries, halved
• 2 cups cold club soda
• Ice
• Mint sprigs, garnish
• Whole strawberries, garnish

Directions

• In a medium saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon peel and lemon juice, stir, and remove from the heat. Let cool completely, then strain into a clean pitcher.
• In a blender, puree the pint of strawberries and add to the pitcher with the lemon juice. Stir well to combine and refrigerate until well chilled.
• Add the sparkling water and stir well. Pour over glasses filled with ice and serve, garnished with mint and strawberries.