Not Your Mama's Margarita Cupcakes

Stop the Presses....

You're taste buds will NEVER be the same after this post.....

Last week, I had the immense pleasure in partaking in bunco group's annual Drunko game.  This usually is played around a gorgeous pool...on a warm summer evening.  Tiki torches are burning, the harmonious sounds of Jimmy Buffet playing in the background....

some hunky husbands/bartenders, to cater to our every whim....

and since I'm obsessed with Themes.....I had to bring a little sumthin sumthin...that screamed "drunko"

so why not combine my love of Cupcakes.....with one of the best summer drinks in THE universe....

FANTASTICO!!!

Before I could say "guardar uno para el chef"

translation: "save one for the chef"

my bunco playing friends had snagged them all....only leaving me with a few crumbs...a lime wedge...and plenty of "oh my god"...and "those ROCKED"

The only other downside, besides not being able to partake in the overload of yumminess....

was trying to explain to my 4 year old, why he couldn't lick the batter.....

I could just imagine explaining to my husband, why our son was completely ripped....singing a bad rendition of the elmo song, and calling him stud....

Margarita Cupcakes

Ingredients

Cupcakes
1 box white Cake Mix
8 oz. liquid Margarita Mix
2 oz. tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier
3 egg whites
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 Tbs. grated lime zest

Lime Buttercream Frosting:
8 Tbs. softened butter
8 oz softened cream cheese
Juice from 2 Limes
1 Tbs Margarita Mix
1 tsp lime zest
5 Cups confectioners sugar
cane sugar
Fresh limes

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350º and prepare muffin pans.

2. Combine margarita mix, tequila, and Grand Marnier in a large measuring cup and stir well.

3. In large bowl, combine cake mix, egg whites, lime zest, vegetable oil, and margarita mix from step one.  beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for approximately 2-3 minutes.

4. Spoon the batter into prepared muffin pans. Fill each cup about 2/3 full.

5. Bake at  350º for 20 – 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. (Make sure you check the baking temperature/time on the back of the cake box, some times/temps may vary)

TRICK:   Place your pan of cupcakes in the freezer as soon as you remove them from the oven.  Leave in the freezer 20-25 minutes.  This will stop the cooking process immediately, and will create a super moist cake.  

Icing:

6. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, lime juice, margarita mix, and lime zest. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

7. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and continue beating until smooth. If icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar, a couple tablespoons at a time.

8. Spread icing generously on each cooled cupcake or use a pastry bag to frost. Let the cupcakes sit for 5 minutes then roll edges of each cupcake in the cane sugar to give it a salt rim...and garnish with your lime wedge.

How Cowboys Celebrate Birthdays

I don't know too many Buckeroos that Get to relive their first Birthday a second time, but if we were going to relive it, we were going big or going home! Since The Air Force called Daddy away for The Bugster's Actual Birthday, there was no better time or place then the Ohio Farm to throw the Rootin-ist Tootin-ist First Birthday Bash This side of the Mississippi....

The following is a instruction guide on how to throw yer-self a Rough and Rowdy Cowboy Worthy Shindig....

First you just need to find the perfect cowpoke invitation, letting everyone know to bring their appetites and spurs....for a ho-down to beat the band.

Our invitation came Via Pony Express from Tinyprints. And just so it wouldn't take forever for the mail coach to deliver our RSVP's....guests could reply directly on the website...

we'll I'll be flipped.....ain't that somethin....

Then you rope yerself a location that can hold all that rowdiness! Nothin worse than spot too small, in case anyone wants to break out into some impromptu square dancin....

Rustle up 25 of your best pals, to fill that big ole space....though I wish we could have sent the stage coach out to bring in the rest of our favorite people....it just takes too darn long!

Aren't they a handsome crowd?

Then you have to make sure your dressed the part, a pair of bibs, barefeet and a sheriff's badge are all you need to complete the perfect cowpoke ensemble...

and a gigantic lollipop for the perfect accessory and pop of color

Besides having a wagon-load of tasty vittles, .....

and for the record, I would have taken pictures of all the amazing fare of hamburgers and hotdogs, homemade lemonade, more fruit than a fruit stand......and the best coleslaw in the entire world....

but I was stuffing my face......

You also need the peace de resistance....the Biggest, Baddest, Cowboy Cake anyone has ever seen! Ryan's Amazing Cake was created by Creme de la Creme Cakery.....

I take my hat off to her!

The Cake Destruction of course is the highlight of any Cowboy First Birthday Party.....The messier, the better, and since you are hosting it in a Cowboy worthy local....it won't matter how much cake gets on the floor!

After the culmination of the Cake Smashing.....with full bellies, and full hearts, it's time to have some good all american, ole-fashioned fun! A Good Natured Corn Hole Competition....including some razzing on both sides of the line......more sugar.......water.......

and company......

that's all you need.....

You'll know you've succeeded in your quest to creating a Cowboy worthy First Birthday, if the cowpoke of honor ends his day plum tuckered out.....

I think it was an all out success

and no one squatted on their spurs!