Weekend Cooking

weekend cooking : cheating chocolate cupcakes

Posted on July 26, 2013
chocolate cupcakes

I have a confession. There are times when I cheat. No, I am not meaning cheat with document submissions, school marks, homework, or car parking, I mean with baking. I have always sworn by making the healthiest recipes with the healthiest ingredients. I mean Damn, I do here right on this blog.

But lately, every now and then, I have been bake cheating. Yes, I have resorted to the packet variety, well one in particular. In actual fact, because of our dietary and kosher religious beliefs, I am limited by packet options available. No, I can not use those gorgeous Donna Hay boxes or Sara Lee or those other packets that tell you you can make glorious macaroons in a second. So when I found this chocolate cake already in a box, gluten free (which my mum only eats when she is having those gluten free days and wonders why I don’t bake gluten free more often) and dairy free, and all I needed to do was add some eggs and water, it was the perfect recipe for my little girl.

In truth, she has a strange phobia about my mix master. For some reason she doesn’t like the noise, or the turning action, or something I just have not put my finger on.

A bowl, a box, 3 eggs, water, a spoon and just a little love.

What box is it you ask? A box of Well and Good

Sometimes we all need to resort to those packet options. Sometimes we just have to simplify things. And sometimes the best things come in a box.

Do you resort to the box kind of cake every now and then? Or are you a bake from scratch kind of gal?

I like red wine, coffee and a good book {not necessarily in that order}. Mum to 2 rugrats, ex-psychotherapist turned tech entrepreneur.

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  • http://www.DeepFriedFruit.com.au Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit

    I love cheating recipes!! Given I am not a foodie … nor a cook …
    Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit

  • http://freshhomecook.com Jodie@FreshHomeCook

    Hello Tahlia! Great to come across you via FYBF! I can admit to cheating every now & then also! I love those pancake shakers you can just add water too! Am known to have one to two in the cupboard for those I can’t be bothered times!! :)

  • http://pandoraandmax.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/jump-around.html Lydia C. Lee

    I love to eat but hate to cook – leave that to the professionals I say – all good things come in a box (unless you have a personal chef, then let him roam around freely…)

  • http://www.sakuraharuka.com Ai Sakura

    I do love my Better Crocker box mixes.. They can be such a time-saver! :)

    • tahlia @ the parenting files

      Good old Betty!!! SHe is fabulous! x

  • http://leannewinter.com/raising-liebsters/ Leanne Winter

    Hi Tahlia, I cheat all the time. It’s great to make a cake from scratch but as I am so time poor I find a good packet mix is a nice compromise – still home made but so much quicker and easier.

  • http://www.buttonbrain.blogspot.com Lisa – lybliss

    Hellz yes I use packet mixes. Unless I am entering a cake in the local Show (***falls on ground laughing at this ridiculous notion***) then I’m perfectly fine with using a mix. Yep sometimes, I like to cook from scratch, but if it is a quick bake item that will be scoffed down in less time than it spent in the oven, I’m not gonna get bent out of shape if it came from a box. My daughters birthday cake this year was a Betty Crocker Strawberries and Cream mix and it was divine. I am positive I wouldn’t have got the same results if I’d made it from scratch, but I am sure I would have been about $15 poorer.
    Be kind to yourself, cooking, baking and providing treats for your family shouldn’t be a competition or make you feel guilty.

  • http://randomactsofzen.com/2013/07/26/random-zen-ten-august/ Lisa@RandomActsOfZen

    Definitely a cheater here! I have to admit I always have a box of Betty Crocker in the pantry, so quick and easy. :)

  • http://countesschrystobel.blogspot.com/ Jody at Six Little Hearts

    Those packet mixes are looking better as my life gets busier! :D

  • http://www.jfgibson.com.au Jodi Gibson

    Nothing wrong with a little cheating now and again. I particularly love the coles gluten free vanilla or mud cake. Really tastes homemade.

  • http://www.newlifeontheroad.com/ Lisa Wood

    I so wished we could cheat – but our boys react to all of the Boxed ingredients. Every now and then we give in and do cheat with cooking, but the next day we all have to put up the side effects!
    Would love to be able to Eat Cupcakes from a box :)

  • http://cakecrumbsbeachsand.com Peggy

    I am a bake from scratch kinda gal but only because I love to challenge myself. I often concoct my own recipes by taking a part of one recipe I like and combining it with another, sometimes with disastrous results!

    Popped over from Maxabella’s linky. :)

  • http://sunflowerwebjournal.blogspot.com/ Niki

    Good for you! Glad you found your perfect treat – it’s simply working smarter, not harder! Looks yummy too!
    I think we all rely on the box now and then and there’s nothing wrong with that! There’s only so many hours in the day and we moms are busy creatures!

  • http://www.maxabellaloves.blogspot.com Maxabella

    Regularly and with no guilt whatsoever!!! x

  • http://themodernparent.net Martine@themodernparent

    I have to say I dont use packet mixes as I find there really isn’t that much difference in making from scratch, but in saying that I think if you have allergies etc and you find one like this that works then that’s a great option and certainly would be a good one to have in the cupboard when my gluten free friends come to visit. But I do cheat on other things…..probably much worse!

  • http://emhawker.blogspot.com Emily

    I always have a box of Betty Crocker triple chocolate brownie fudge slice mix in the pantry just in case I get caught out with visitors. (Or run out of chocolate. Or just want brownies…)

  • http://cookerandalooker.com Amanda @ Cooker and a Looker

    I cheat with pancakes – shaking them is so much fun! :)

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