Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Guest Post: Cows, Cupcakes & Clearance

Welcome Jordan Kuhn!

Miss Jordan & Missy
Wow, the past couple days there has been quite a stir on the Crystal Cattle blog. My post about Chipotle's Grammy's commercial has caused a lot of reaction from people with varying opinions. However, today we are going to throw a little sweetness into the mix for Valentine's Day.

I "met" Jordan though Instagram, and can't wait to meet her in real life one day. She is a pretty amazing girl that loves cattle as much as I do, and is passionate about her cupcakes and shopping the clearance racks. She even shares one of her favorite recipes with us!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I grew up in Shelbyville, Indiana until I was eight. When my parents split I moved to Greenfield, IN with my mom and step-dad John Gunn. That’s where my passion for agriculture began. Here we raise cattle, hogs, corn and soybeans. This coming fall I hope to attend Purdue University and major in agriculture communications. I’m entering my last and 10th year in 4-H. This past year I was the county fair queen. I’m an active member of Jr. Leaders, the 2nd Vice President of the Indiana Jr. Beef Cattle Association, Vice President of the Indiana Jr. Shorthorn Association and was 2011 Indiana Shorthorn Lassie Queen. In high school I was a varsity cheerleader and a member of Best Buddies. 

2. What is your favorite thing about agriculture?
The “F’s”... Family, friends, and foundation. I feel there’s no other vehicle like agriculture that leads you into a bright future. Through agriculture my family spreads the wealth and knowledge of our products to our friends - farmers and city folk alike. What I have gained through living on a 3rd generation family farm is something I can hardly explain. 

3. If you could tell consumer's one thing about agriculture what would that be?
I’d tell consumers to keep in mind that those eggs didn’t magically appear in the grocery, rather they “poofed” out of a chicken. I think consumers forget the from field to fork aspect. With the world consuming more and growing faster than we can put food on their plates, we have to be mindful of who’s making that happen.

4. Do you have a favorite heifer on the farm?
Bon Qui Qui
I do. Her name is Bon Qui Qui. (The name is an inside joke. Watch Bon Qui Qui at King Burger on YouTube.) She was my show heifer from last year, she wasn’t a big winner. I just loved her pink nose and spunky attitude, plus she calved a heifer for us this year! 

5. I'm always seeing your cupcake pictures on Instagram, how did you get interested in baking?
I’ve been baking since my first year in 4-H in 2003. It was something my mom and I liked to do and it kept us together. We were always baking and the boys were always eating! I got into cupcakes two Christmas’s ago when I got a cupcake maker. I just think they’re so personal and cute! I recently got a KitchenAid mixer that I use quite often, her name is Mrs. Mixalot. 

6. What is the best cupcake you have ever eaten?
There’s a place called Gigi’s at a local fashion mall and myyy oh myyyy do they make good cupcakes. They have thee best red velvet cupcakes with a pudding surprise inside. My mouth is watering just talking about it.

7. What are you favorite places to get a deal?
Macy’s. Just about everytime I go in I buy something on sale. And if it’s not on sale I usually don’t buy! TJ Max is a place I always like to hit as well. I call it – looking better for less.

8. Now on the other end of the spectrum what is one thing you love to splurge on?
Jeans. I own more jeans than anything else. Big Stars, Rock Revivals and Sevens are my favorite. I think splurging on jeans is a must; a good pair of jeans is a necessity in everyone’s closet. They’re easy to dress up or down. One day I’d love to be able to buy a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes. (No riding in the tractor in those bad boys.)

RED VELVET CUPCAKES

Makes 18

2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 (1 ounce) bottles red food coloring
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup butter
2 eggs
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp baking soda

1 container cream cheese icing (Yes I cheat on the icing) 

1. Preheat oven 350°F and ling your baking pan with paper baking cups.
2. Combine flour & salt in medium bowl. Stir in food coloring into cocoa in small bowl until blended and smooth. Combine buttermilk and vanilla in separate bowl.
3. Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl with electric mixer at a medium speed, 4 minutes or until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add cocoa mixture; add flour alternately with buttermilk mixture. Beat until blended.
4. Combine vinegar and baking soda in small bowl; gently fold into batter with spatula or spoon (don’t use mixer). Spoon batter into prepared baking cups.
5. Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into it comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Decorate as you wish!

I made these red velvet Valentine’s Day cupcakes and used fondant to jazz it up! Ready made fondant can be found at a craft store or you can make it (which I do not recommend doing, very messy). I wasn’t very good at piping to begin with but practice makes perfect. 


Working with fondant.
Give Jordan a big welcome, and check her out on Twitter @Kuhngirl 

3 comments:

  1. Jordan is a great girl and fellow Hoosier! My brother and I are lucky to know her and her family and be a part of the Indiana Shorthorn "family."

    ReplyDelete
  2. She is adorable! I am so glad we are Instagram friends as well—she loves cupcakes just as much as I do!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for sharing the red velvet cupcake recipe! I've been wanting to make those for awhile. Yours look so good!

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Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear from all my readers. Hope you have a fabulous day.

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