Strawberry Cupcakes

These Strawberry Cupcakes were created in an effort to get rid of some very ripe strawberries that I didn't want to go to waste. They are very similar to the Devil's Food and Banana Cupcakes I already posted, but they are even better...and much cuter...so you should try these too!

Strawberry Cupcakes
1 box yellow cake mix
1 sm box vanilla instant pudding
~2 C strawberries (mashed...although I kind of like a few chunks!)
3 eggs
1/2 C veg oil
3/4 C milk

Sift together cake mix and pudding mix. Beat in eggs, oil, and milk. Stir in strawberries last. Line muffin pan with papers. Bake according to box directions. Let cool and frost with Cream Cheese Frosting (below). I put a slice of strawberry on top for a garnish.

Cream Cheese Frosting
(you could use any cream cheese frosting. I stole these proportions from a cook book, authored by an award winning cook, one of my mother's dear friends (and a friend of my own), Gayle Holdman. From her cookbook, "Only the Best," comes this Cream Cheese Frosting recipe:

1 8oz pkg. cream cheese
1/2 C butter or margarine
2 tsp vanilla
3 3/4 C to 4 C powdered sugar

In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Gradually add enough powdered sugar to achieve desired consistency. (I think it would be cute to dye the frosting pink too!)