What's in Your Political Pantry?

Now that it's inching toward campaign season, it might be time to check on some items every candidate needs in her political pantry. What's in yours?

The first item on our checklist is a good answer to the question "Why are you running?" Remember it's not about why you think you'd like to be a City Council member/Senator/school board member; it's all about what's in it for the voter. Be able to tell them how they will benefit from you being in office and you're halfway there.

Number two: A budget. It's never too early to start planning that next campaign by checking the bank balance and knowing what your race is going to cost. Look at other races in the same District to get an idea if this is your first time.

Next, a few good supporters. Your friends and family, your colleagues. Any elected officials you can call on now to lock in their support before another candidate snatches it away? Get them on your pantry shelf first.

A timeline, even a vague one. When is filing? How soon before you need to start interviewing for a consultant, a manager, a fundraiser? Now is the time to line up those items and be prepared to pop your campaign cake in the oven on time and with all the right ingredients.

Now that your pantry is on its way to being stocked, relax and enjoy this mouth watering Democratic Blue Velvet Cupcake recipe:

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1/2 lb. butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
2 eggs
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon Wilton royal blue gel food coloring
1 small dab of Wilton violet gel food coloring
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar

Frosting Ingredients
1 lb. cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cupcake pan with paper liners. In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter. Mix until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, and mix well after each addition.

2. Mix cocoa and food colorings together to form a paste, and then add to sugar mixture. Mix well.

3. Sift together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Blend in vanilla.

4. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to mixture. Pour thick batter into cupcake papers. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

5. To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together in a large bowl until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy. Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife, or pipe it on with a big star tip. Embellish as desired (Image