Another year flew by giving way to a fresh and sparkling 2012, packed with new dreams and new memories. I wish you all a very Happy New Year and may you live every moment with joy, love and lots of laughter.
2011 was a very special year for me. It not only gave me new friends and new dreams but it also gave me two new passions – food and photography! The year gave me so many things to treasure that words can hardly express my feelings.
We reached home yesterday after 2 months long vacation and even though I wished to sleep and get some rest, I could not help but write this post. It’s a special day to celebrate! So, join me my friend to wish ‘Sunshine & Smile’ a very Happy 1st Birthday 
Yes, my blog was born last year on this date. It’s hard to believe that one year has passed by and today; Sunshine & Smile is 1 year old.
I started this blog with zero knowledge on blogging. It’s embarrassing but the fact is that I didn’t even know what a blog was, why people blog and how is it different from a website. Eventually, I discovered the whole new world of blogging and fell in love with it! Blogging is probably one the best things that happened to me.
Without your support, care and love, this blog would not have been where it’s today. I feel proud of my baby and I feel proud to be a part of the blogging community. Thank you for your comments, your feedback and your help. Thank you for being with me all the time. Thank you for all the motivation and inspiration. And THANK YOU so much my friend for making my blog shine and smile everyday!
Every celebration calls for something sweet and these cupcakes were perfect for the occasion. After 2 months of long break, it was really exciting for me to get back in the kitchen and bake these cupcakes. It’s a very easy recipe adapted from Nigella Lawson’s book. They are filled with espresso, coco powder, dark chocolate and decorated with whipped cream.
Preheat the oven to 400F.
Mix the butter and sugar properly.
Add the eggs and whisk until it's mixed properly.
Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, espresso, baking powder, baking soda and whisk until it forms a smooth batter.
Lastly, add the melted dark chocolate and milk and give one final whisk.
Pour the mixture into the muffin baking pan and let it bake for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Poke the cakes with a chopstick or toothpick and if it comes out clean, the cupcakes are ready.
Let it cool in the rack for 5 minutes before you start decorating.
I am not a big fan of frosting on my cakes but today, I wanted to decorate the cupcakes just a little. So, I used some whipped cream as frosting.Ingredients
Directions
Congrats for one of the most beautiful babies o line
Lovely clicks and wonderful presentation. 2011 has been great to treasure friends like you. Looking forward for more of foodie fun in coming year.
And the cupcakes look just right to celebrate this bash.
Love.
Congratulations Kankana! Here’s to many many more delicious years to come! The cupcakes look gorgeous and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this occasion.
Cheers!
A
congrats on 1st birthday …. cupcakes look delicious and tempting pictures …..
Congratulations and celebrations!! I am so happy for you and I can imagine how exciting it must be for you! No need to say that I love your blog
Keep going and here’s to mannnyyy more to come! Cheers!
Happy blog anniversary! Your pictures are stunning. The cupcakes look delicious.
Happy bloggy birthday dear… The cupcakes look so rich and yum
Congrats and wish your blog many years ahead …this looks so pretty ..
Congratulations! Such a beautiful blog!
Lovely cupcakes! That is one of my favorite flvors.
Happy Blogiversary and to many more.
Best wishes for 2012!
Cheers,
Rosa
Those look delicious! And congratulations on the blogoversary!
Congratulations on the first anniversary of your blog Kankana.. May you have many many more of such joyous moments
And those espresso cupcakes look adorable!
Happy blog birthday
Those beautiful cupcakes did was a perfect treat for the celebration 
Awesome Cupcakes
Ummm thy look delicious.,,,wish ya mny more milestones like this
Happy Birthday to the blog … and also to the blogger
Your recipes and photographs makes a cooking hater like me want to cook … I doubt it gets better than that
Hope both of you have many more such birth anniversaries …
Love ad hugs
Happy blogiversary! Those cupcakes are so cute. I really like your cupcake liners too!
Happy blog anniversary Kankana..and wishing you many more to come in the future.
The cupcakes look gorgeous. Beautiful presentation as always !
Good to see you back Kankana… A very Happy New Year… Those beauties are just perfect for your first blog anniv…
Happy Blogiversary and many more to come ! Love the photos and the one with batter is just awesome .
Congrats Congrats! and Happy Birthday to the beautiful blog baby. Love the liners and what a great way to celebrate. Kankana so glad to have found you and could not have done that if this was not born.
i am sure you had a great time back home and can’t wait to hear all about it!
Happy blog anniversary, Kankana. A very happy new year as well! Lovely cupcakes. And beautiful photography! I love coffee in any form, so I am sure I am gonna love this!
Happy Blog Anniversary sweetie. Wishing you many more years of blogging. Keep delighting us with eye candy pictures and droolworthy recipes. Hugs
THANKS A TON for dropping by and leaving a note:) Thanks so much for all the wishes!
Wow these look amazing!! Happy Birthday
I love the holders too.
“Sunshine and Smile” “Wish you a very happy birthday” Congrats Darling on this achievement, may sun smile for many more years on your blog! cake is so cute specially the icing! love ur cake tins too
Happy 1 year blogoversary! These cupcakes look like a wonderful way to celebrate-Yum! May your blogging journey be even more special this year!
Congratulations Kankana – well done on a wonderful blog so far, and here’s to many more years of fabulous blogging! Great way to celebrate with these beautiful cakes, and I’m so happy to have met you in 2011
happy blog birthday !! thanks for your support & thank you for blogging
your pics are inspiring. hope you had a great trip. the cupcakes are too pretty to eat 
i’d just stare at them all day long ….
Happy Birthday to your beautiful blog! I have enjoyed seeing your posts and photos
Here is to many many many more! Happy New Year Kankana!
Congratulations on your 1st Blogoversary!!! Yay! The cupcakes look divine!
Happy blog birthday and happy new year to u.
It was a delicious journey and these cupcakes are real treat for eyes and taste too. will be waiting for more…
Congrats Kankana,you seem like that friend you know since forever, doesn’t seem like a year old. Wishing you many many delicious anniversaries and HYN !!
Cool Post & Congrats !
are u back babe ?
Best Wishes…Sonia
WOOT?! Happy Birthday dear and lots of pats on your back for coming such a long way in such short years. You have places to go with your blog and talent. Keep up the good work!
Happy New Year and Happy Blog-anniversary Kankana! Wish you many more to come! Loved reading you and can’t wat to see what you’re having up your sleeves this year!
The cupcakes look stunning!
Congratulations!!
How exciting!
Gorgeous little treats!
These cupcakes look so, so wonderful – I adore coffee flavors in baked goods, especially in combination with bitter chocolate
Wow..1 year! Congrats sweetie! 2011 was special for all of us in a blogging world to know person like you, and we all enjoy your recipes and drool over your photos! I wish you many many more..and Have a Happy New Year..may you be more successful than ever!!!xo
Those look like the perfect way to celebrate your blog birthday! Congratulations and welcome back!
Happy first blog birthday! I had mine this weekend too
Lovely post and lovely cupcakes. I’m so happy to have found your blog!
Happy New Year and Happy 1st Brogiversary Kankana! When I was writing my 1 year anniversary post, I thought of you. Last year went by too quickly, and wished that I could have more time to visit blogs and take more time to improve my blog. But I’m thankful to find you and your blog. I look forward to your new posts and this espresso cupcakes look delicious and it’s my cup of tea!
Lovely cupcakes, they look amazing!
Kankana, happy 1st blog birthday! I wish you more birthdays like this one, more beautiful posts, recipes and inspiring photos!
Gorgeous cupcakes! What a delicious way to celebrate Blogiversary
Here’s to many more blogging days ahead!
Happy Blogiversary, dear! Glad to see you back!!
Happy first birthday! I just love your blog and I am so glad you started it to share your amazing recipes. These cupcakes are just one example of how fabulous your dishes are!
Happy blog birthday! And Happy New Year!
Congrats! The cake is absolutely decadent.
Gorgeous espresso cupcakes!
Happy new year and happy first anniversary to your blog, Kankana! I just love your site, and I want to wish you more wonderful years of food and photography blogging!
First of all WELCOME BACK! We missed you!!!
Congrats on your first year of blogging! I know what you mean… it was the same for me. I had no idea what blogging even was before starting!
The cupcakes look mouth watering!!!
Hey Kankana, Congratulations and wish you many many more to come!! I have been a silent admirer of you blog and photography for the past few months, you have a lovely blog. Keep up the great work!
That was quick!! I have to tell you, I fell for your blog after I saw the Raskadam photos. They are THE MOST gorgeous food pictures ever!! Loved the color theme you used, loved your composition and everything about raskadam. I saw that post on your page and somehow forgot the blog’s name. You don’t know how many friends I’ve tortured asking for “what is the Bengali sweet that ends with a kadam”!! Nobody knew what I meant, and thankfulyy I remembered sunshine and Kankana, and so I found you!! I’ve never eaten it before, but your past made me want to eat some right away. Then I went to Hyderabad, India and asked every sweet shop if they sold Raskadam and unfortunately I didn’t find any. So I guess I just have to make my own and eat or maybe visit you sometime
That is such a fabulous post, Thankyou so much for sharing that with us!! Happy Blogging 
Happy blog anniversary, my 1st visit here ,amazing clicks and the cup cake looks drool worthy.following your blog, do drop by simply.food some time.
Happy nlogiversary Kankana and a happy new yeat!! These cupcakes look delicious!! Been too long girl!!Are you back in the States??
Happy Blog Birthday! Thank you to Foodwanderings, I stopped by, and so happy to find you:-) Your Cupcakes look wonderful! Have a beautiful day:-) Take care, Terra
chocolate and coffee, my fav! I love that you used whip cream, i’m not a fan of sugary frostings either. And I love that your recipe makes 12 cupcakes, perfect!
A Happy New Year and Happy Anniversary! I had one year blog anniversary last month too. But look! You are so ahead of me in every aspects and ooh I’m bit jealous. I think your blog is so refined and fantastic. All the dishes you crated were divine including this. Congratulations on top 9!
Happy New year and happy birthday!!! Just fabulous blog!
Happy Blog Anniversary!! These cupcakes looks so tasty, can’t wait to try them. Happy New Year and congrats on Top 9.
Happy birthday to you and your beautiful blog!
The cupcakes are just delightful, and so pretty
A very Happy Blog Birthday to you! Looking forward to another delicious and beautiful year.
oh, i definitely love this cup cake recipe as me a coffee lover.
Happy bday for sunshine and smile and congrats for being top 9!
Thank you very much my friends. Thanks for your visit and for all your kind words.
Hi Kankana! Good seeing you back. Happy blogiversary and wishing you many more such successful years ahead. The cupcakes look like a perfect way to celebrate the occasion. I am also no big fan of frosting but seeing your cupcakes, for once I don’t mind having it
I love baked goodies with added espresso! These cupcakes look gorgeous!
This looks absolutely stunning! Congratulations!
Kankana….
A very Happy New year my dear…. I have been thinking abt you. Hope you had a great trip.
A Very Happy Birthday to beautiful Sunshine and Smile…
I had been crazy busy with guest and then got sick, will call u soon.
Congratulations!
Those coffee cupcakes look so elegant and fabulous.
Happy Blog anniversary,Kankana. I enjoy seeing your posts whenever I come. The cup cakes look lovely and no doubt your photography is stunning.
Congratulations on your 1st anniversary Kankana…the coffee cupcakes look great, like how light they are.
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead and again congratulations!
So good to have you back , Kankana. I hope you had a wonderful vacation.
Best wishes for your first blog anniversary. It is rather special. Shows how much you have persevered.
The cupcakes look sooo cute.
Congrats and happy birthday to your blog!! These cupcakes look like a wonderful way to celebrate such a great landmark
Happy 1 year blogiversary, and here’s to many more! The espresso cupcakes are perfect for such a happy occasion.
Welcome home and happy birthday sunshine and smile
Kankana you are one of the most talented bloggers I know, your photography is my inspiration. coming here is always a joy to the eyes and taste buds.
Keep up the wonderful job you are doing and wishing you great more success
Congratulations and wish you all the very best! These cupcakes look delicious and flavored with coffee…YUM!!
Cupcakes look divine .Excellent presentation and pictures
Happy Blog Birthday!!!!
Cupcakes looks delicious! 
Congratulations Kankana! I look forward to lots more yummy recipes on Sunshine & Smile in 2012.