Strawberry Shortcake Bites

My husband and I rarely argue, but when we do it is usually due to something I am upset with him about.

He always says, “How come whenever we fight it’s always because of something YOU’RE mad at ME about?  You don’t see me complaining and getting mad at YOU”.

And I’m like, “Well, DUH it’s not MY fault that I don’t do rude and inconsiderate things, maybe you should try it”.

I mean really, it’s so easy to figure out.

The rare times that he does get irritated with me it’s usually because of my inability to say whatever it is I am obviously SUPPOSED to say at the right time.

He’s all,  “Why can’t you just say, “okay honey” or “sounds good” or something normal people reply with?? Why do you have to make things difficult?”

And I’m all,  “YOU ARE NOT THE PRESIDENT OF MY VOICE, THIS IS NOT A VOICEOCRACY!!!”

Then he shakes his head and walks away.

I really don’t know why, but I just cannot make myself say what I am supposed to.

Like you know how someone might say, “Ugh, I am having SUCH a bad hair day” and you’re supposed to say, “Oh no, it looks GREAT!!”.

I will not say that. I mean, I won’t AGREE either, but I just don’t like someone practically FORCING me to pay a compliment. I do LOVE paying compliments, but I like them to be my own idea, not extracted from me unwillingly.

I JUST WANT TO BE THE BOSS OF WHAT I WORDS I SAY.

The first time I can remember this causing problems for me was when I was in the 3rd grade and a friend came over to play Barbies. In our scenario, her Barbie was playing tennis while my Barbie was headed towards the condo. As my Barbie passed the tennis court, my friend’s Barbie said “Great game, Steffi!!” at which point she told me that my Barbie was supposed to say to herself, “Wow…she’s playing Steffi Graf?!”

I refused to make my Barbie say it.

After about five rounds of my Barbie walking by, hearing “Great game, Steffie!!” and continuing to the condo in silence, my friend packed up and went home, furious.

And I don’t even have anything AGAINST Steffi Graf.  I just didn’t want to say that stupid thing.  I mean, Barbies talking to themselves is stupid, people only do that in soap operas.

Really, this whole thing isn’t even my fault because I have no control over it.  You know how some people have talents that they were born with and it just comes naturally?  Well this is sort of like the opposite of talent.

An anti-talent if you will.

So if you are fishing for compliments or want someone to mindlessly agree with you, seriously don’t come to me. We will be mortal enemies and you will hate me and it’s not even MY FAULT like I said it’s my ANTI-TALENT.

No one’s perfect, right? (except for me, but only when I’m mad at my husband. At that time, I am perfect and I will not waver on that fact).

Anyways.

Most of you know that I’ve been moving, so I haven’t had a lot of time to bake. But these Strawberry Shortcake Bites are so SO quick and easy, I whipped them out in no time.

(click here for printable recipe)

You’ll need:

Your favorite yellow cake recipe or mix, plus ingredients to make

1 stick butter, softened

8 oz block of cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup VERY finely diced strawberries (I thawed out frozen strawberries, but fresh would be fine too)

8 oz tub Cool Whip (or you can make your own whipped cream if you prefer)

In the bowl of a mixer, combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla. Beat on medium until smooth and combined. Slowly add powdered sugar and beat on low until just barely mixed in. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for about a minute until light and fluffy. Fold in your strawberries (NOTE–make sure your strawberries are VERY finely diced, maybe even mash them a bit. You need to be able to pipe this filling, so large chunks won’t work). Cover bowl and place in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven and line 48 mini muffin tins with liners. Prepare cupcake batter as directed on box/recipe (I used a box of Duncan Hines). Fill liners 2/3 full and bake for 7-10 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Remove to cooling rack and cool completely.

Remove filling from fridge and fill a piping bag fitted with a medium-sized piping tip. I used a Bismarck tip for filling, but even a size 8 or 9 round tip would probably be just fine. Squeeze filling into the middle of the cupcakes.

Top with Cool Whip or whipped cream. You can either pipe it on with large star tip, or just spoon it on the cupcakes.

These are so easy and perfect for a last minute party or get together. If you don’t have a good tip for filling cupcakes, I really recommend getting one. It’s such an easy way to make a simple cupcake stand out.

To buy a Bismarck (filling) tip on Amazon, click HERE.

Have a happy Tuesday!! Thanks for stopping by!!