Tropical Theme Cupcakes

My husband's Dad is celebrating his 75th Birthday this summer and his sister-in-law is looking for Tropical/Luau ideas for his party ...............I have had these dessert plates, for a couple of years and I think they might, make a perfect addtion, to this party theme.

Even thou Coconut cupcakes may not be a real favorite with lots of folks, I think with a pineapple filling this makes for, a fun twist and a little out of the ordinary.

I, found a recipe, for a Pineapple Meringue Pie, in the April, 06 issue, of Cuisine at home magazine, that I thought would work great for a filling......................

Pineapple Filling

1 Cup sugar

2/3 Cup pineapple juice concentrate, thawed

1/3 cup Water

5 Egg yolks

3 whole Eggs

6 T. unsalted butter

Pinch of Salt

Juice of 1/2 a lime

1 Can 5.25 (drained) crushed Pineapple

Whisk all ingredients for the filling in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens, 8-10 minutes, stirring often with a rubber spatula, Strain the hot filling and refrigerate for about 2 hours, stir in crushed pineapple before filling cupcakes.

These definitely have a Tropical Flair..................

"Through The Grinder" a Coffeehouse Mystery

Upon finishing this book, Through The Grinder by Cleo Coyle (2nd in the series) I came to the realization, how important a really good cup of coffee can be.......... Also using coffee as a marinade, adding Espresso to various baked goods, trying out different types of coffee, whether it be Dark Roast or a nice Morning Blend................ And yet,I still enjoy, one of my all time favorites, a Vanilla Latte.
I have also discovered a wonderful coffee company in San Leandro, California called Peter James Coffee, they have everything from Exotics, Blends and Water Process Decaf plus Flavored Coffee. My favorite is the Kahlua and Creme. They're customer service is superior. I called them one morning before 11 AM and received my order the very next day.............I just could not ask for better. They're website is worth checking out at www.peterjamescoffee.com

One of the recipes I tried in this book was the Coffee Marinated Steak, with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Hearty Coffee Gravy, a definite comfort food

A Special Cupcake for Our First President George Washington

Fact, fiction, or plain myth...........George Washington, never told his father, "I cannot tell a lie, I cut down the Cherry tree!".....................Where this story comes from, no one seems to know, But what we do know is that George Washington, was our 1st President from 1789-97. He was born February 22nd 1732 and then died in 1799.

In honor of this holiday, I made a cupcake, that is very much like a Hidden Treasure cupcake, only this time, I used a basic white cake mix and I put in a Queen Anne Truffle Cherry Cordial in the center. I frosted each with a very basic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.........and then topped it off with a Cherry.

These were fun and very simple to make, I also choose, a cupcake liner with lots of flowers on it........in hopes that Spring will come soon.

"Happy Birthday"

Mr.President

Raspberry Rose Cashew Cupcakes

I'm really not to happy with the presentation of this cupcake, but it sure tastes good.........Next time I will thin out my glaze even thinner and put more color in the cupcake itself.
I bought this pan from www.Kitchenkrafts.com and plan on buying more. This pan is the Sweetheart Rose cake pan made by Nordic Ware and is from their Platinum Collection. When you consider all the nooks and crannies in the design of the pan, you would think, that the cakes would get stuck , but they don't.............The release of the cakes is quite easy.
I also loved this recipe that came with the pan, it is actually called Raspberry Rose Cakes, but I added a 1/2 cup of cashews to give it a little more Sweet and Salty taste, which turned out very pleasing to the palette.
These would also be great addition to a Morning brunch.............Instead of muffins.

Raspberry Rose Cashew Cupcakes

1 1/2 Cups sugar

1 Cup unsalted butter

3 Eggs

3 Cups Flour

1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 1/4 Cups Milk

2 teaspoons Vanilla

1/3 Cup Raspberry jam (seedless)

1/2 Cup salted cashews (chopped)

Makes 24 cupcakes

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour pan (if that is what your using, you could also line a cupcake pan, if you so choose)

In a large bowl, combine sugar and butter, mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add remaining ingredients, except raspberry jam; mix well, scraping bowl occasionally. Spoon into individual cups until they're 2/3 full. Spoon dollops of half of the jam on top of the batter , dividing evenly among the cups; reserving the other half of the jam for the second batch of cakes. Using a small knife, gently swirl jam just into the top of batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted come out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan. Turn out on to cooling rack and continue to cool. Repeat with second batch.

To finish cupcakes you could sprinkle with powder sugar or a nice thin glaze.....................

Orange "juice" Cupcakes

Here we are in the middle of cold and flu season and giving the immune system a little boost, just seemed like the right thing to do.

A Orange "juice" cupcake recipe was not easy to find, I found a lot of recipes for Muffins but not cupcakes and none using fresh squeezed orange juice.
This was a must................

Finally, I found a recipe in a cookbook, that my mother had bought at a Ralph's Super Market back in the 70's, it appears to be from the Home Cooking Library series, Cakes and Frostings. This cookbook even gave bonus information on making cakes in Crockery and Microwave Instructions. Truly a different kind of a cookbook.
Personally, I have never made a cake in a crock pot nor the microwave. Perhaps worth trying some day or not.............To me, there is nothing like the aroma of fresh baked goods coming from the oven.
I had to make a few changes but over all, I think the out come was pretty good. And the frosting adds a little extra vitamin C as well.
The hearts were made from candy orange slices, that you can buy at most grocery stores, I rolled them flat with a rolling pin and cut the hearts with a very small cookie cutter that is used when making Linzer cookies.
Be Well........

Orange "juice" Cupcakes

Line cupcake pan with paper baking cups

Sift together and set aside:

3 Cups sifted cake flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 salt

Blend together:

3/4 Cup unsalted , softened butter

2 teaspoons grated orange peel

1 teaspoon fresh squeezed orange juice

Add gradually, creaming until fluffy after each addition:

1 1/4 Cups sugar

Add in thirds, beating well after each addition:

3 Eggs, well beaten

Measure and combine:

1/2 Cup Fresh squeezed orange juice

1/2 Cup water

Beating only until smooth after each addition,

alternately add dry ingredients in fourths, liquid in thirds, to creamed mixture. Finally beat only till smooth. Fill papercups one-half full

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes

Cool completely and frost with:

Orange "juice" Butter Frosting

Cream until softened:

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter

Add gradually, beating well after each addition

3 Cups sifted Confectioners sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

Blend in:

3 Tablespoons Fresh squeezed orange juice

Beat until frosting is at desired spreading consistency.

Makes about 24 cupcakes

"On What Grounds" A Coffeehouse Mystery

Recently I started reading Cozy Murder Mysterys, at the moment, I am reading & enjoying, the Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle.

The first book in this series is call "On What Grounds" At first, I did not think I was going to get into this book, but soon found myself, very absorbed, and could not pick up the book with out a great cup of coffee in hand.
I am a person who does have a hard time, taking time for myself..................These books really do help me,to find that time and I am learning to relax more.................."A Good Thing!" as Martha would say.

In the back of the book are some great recipes and coffee-making tips. The one recipe I found that I had to try was:

"Clare's Cappuccino Walnut Cheesecake"

A real coffee lover's delight..........................

Punxsutawney Phil

Happy Ground Hog Day!!!!!! Rain or Shine, the legend that the groundhog comes out and is frightened back into hibernation if he sees shadow, on February 2nd of each year...............that traditionally indicates six more weeks of Winter if sunny or an early Spring if cloudy............Punxsutawney Phil at Sunrise this morning let us know by seeing his Shadow.

Not that I am celebrating 6 more weeks of Winter, but who can resist this little guy...............

I found this design in "Cupcakes from the Cake Doctor" by Anne Byrn , it is made with a German Chocolate cake mix and really quite fun to make......A whimsical way to celebrate this day

What I find amusing about this day is that I think Punxsutawney Phil does a better job than Doppler Radar....................
If you would like to learn more of the history and traditions of this day, you can go to www.punxsutawneyphil.com or www.groundhogstuff.org