{Sweet Treats Recipe} Mimosa Cupcakes for Mother's Day

I made these Mimosa cupcakes last year for my good friend's Big Hat Brunch and thought they would also make a perfect treat for a Mother's Day Brunch. 

Mimosa Cupcakes (Updated as of 5/13/2011)*

Ingredients:

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 Tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda

3/4 Cup Sugar

2 Large Eggs, slightly beaten

3/4 Cup Champagne

1/4 Cups Fresh Squeezed OJ

1/3 Cup Canola Oil

2 Tbsp Orange Zest

1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/2 Tsp. Orange Extract

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin pan with paper liners.

2. Mix flour, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl, set aside.

3. In a separate bowl mix sugar, eggs, champagne, OJ, oil, zest and extracts until well combined.

4. Combine wet ingredients to dry, mix on medium speed in two additions, scraping bowl between additions.

5. Add batter to liners and bake for about 20-22 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

6. Allow cupcakes to cool in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely on the rack before frosting.

*(Editor's Note: This recipe has been updated as of 5/13/11 - the original published recipe included 1/2 cup Buttermilk, which is NOT supposed to be in the list of ingredients.  Sorry for any inconvenience>)

Champagne Frosting

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Softened Butter

3-4 drops LorAnn Champagne Flavoring*

1/2 Tsp. Orange Extract

6 Cups Powdered Sugar

2 Tbsp. Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate

Champagne Syrup (Recipe Follows)

Orange segments (optional)

Directions:

Starting out with butter, creamed, combine all the remaining ingredients together until well blended and frosting has a creamy texture.   Drizzle with Champagne Syrup and top with orange segments.

Champagne Syrup

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Sugar

3/4 Cup Champagne

Directions: In a medium saucepan combine sugar and champagne. Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool. 

 

 * I recommend LorAnn Flavorings - be cautious when adding to mixture as the flavors are highly concentrated and too much can ruin the taste.  Be sure to test the frosting as you add the flavoring.

Enjoy!

Get Your Fiesta On!!! Cinco de Mayo Celebration Ideas

Get Your Fiesta On!!! Cinco de Mayo Celebration Ideas

Growing up, I remember my Grandmother always taking me to various Mexican restaurants around town.  The best ones were always the little dives owned by a husband and wife team - everything was just so authentic and tasty.  I wish I could go back to those days - but for now, Chipolte or Chili's will have to do!

If you love Mexican food and celebrations as much as I do, why not throw your very own quick & easy Cinco de Mayo party?  Here are some ideas to get you started.

Invitations:

Its seed planting time, pick up a few hot pepper seed packets from the dollar store and use this seed packet template to create your own invitation. 

Another fun idea is to hand deliver a mini bottle of your favorite hot sauce to your guests as an invitation.  Place details about the party on the bottle's label inviting your guests to your fiesta!  You can even ask that they bring along their favorite hot sauce and have a hot sauce tasting contest - SPICY!

Food & Beverages:

Source: Martha Stewart

This is a given - you have to have salsa & chips.  I like to make my own homemade salsa ; be sure to have a variety of corn chips on hand!  They come in all sorts of varieties, white corn, yellow corn, red corn, blue corn and multi-grain....yessir, chips and salsa is a MUST.  Another must have and might I say, quite a delicious dish is Carne Asada!  Place some flour tortillas in a warmer and set out some fixins’ and you're good to go!

Personally, I loooove margaritas.  In fact, that's how my two babies got here (wink-wink)....okay, so, you will definitely have to serve margaritas for the cocktails.  If you're feeling brave, kick it up a notch by putting a spin on the classic margarita and make this delicioso Watermelon Agua Fresca (recipe below)!

Recipe (courtesy of Food Network)

Ingredients

8 cups cubed seeded watermelon (about 6 pounds with the rind), divided

1 cup water, divided

1/3 cup sugar, divided

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1 liter (4 cups) club soda or seltzer water, well chilled

Lime slices for garnish

Directions

Combine half the watermelon, half the water and half the sugar in a blender; puree. Pour through a coarse strainer into a large container. Repeat with the remaining watermelon, water and sugar. Stir in lime juice. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 4 hours.

To serve, stir in club soda (or seltzer) and garnish with lime.

.....and btw, please don't forget the CORONAS!!!!!

source

Decorations

Make them bright and bold!!!  I remember going to amusement parks as a kid and getting these big huge Mexican tissue paper flowers and then learning how to make them in art class.  It's such a fun and quick project that you can make a few of these in various sizes and put them up as decoration!

Source: Fresh and Vintage

You can also cut out and hang papel picado (cut paper) banners for a truly festive setting

I also really like these beautiful paper flower crowns. 

Source: 1000 words

They are super cute, right?  These would make lovely favors, especially if you have little divas in attendance. 

Musica!

A party is no party without good tunes. Download the perfect Cinco de Mayo celebration music on iTunes and get ready to salsa and shake!

Whatever you decide to do for Cinco de Mayo this year, make it lots of fun.  Now, bring on the cervezas!!!

***  (Don't forget to check out Quintessential Consulting's Blog for a Mother's Day Giveaway.  Enter for a chance to win a beautiful diamond necklace courtesy of Washington DC's DRZ Jewelers.

I'll also be posting pictures of my little guy's Caterpillar party later in the week.) ***