Rainbow Cupcakes

Inspiration: rainbow pancakes

Prep: 30 minutes

Cook: 15-20 minutes

Makes: about 15 cupcakes

Description: I have had some fabulous computer problems.  A total rehaul of the computer and some updated software was needed, and now I'm ready to go!

These latest experiments are a bit late. But they were pretty neat so I'm going to post them anyway.  I created these cupcakes for St Patrick's day. They could easily be for a birthday party, a special event, or just because. This did take a lot of time and effort. The kids thought it was great and were surprised that the cupcake matched the frosting.

Ingredients:

1 box of vanilla,butter,or white cake mix

2 cans of vanilla, cream cheese, or white frosting

assortment of food coloring drops (I use wilton gel)

disposable spoons,cups, and/or bowls

Directions:

1.  Mix the cake according to package directions.

2. Separate the batter using measuring cups into  7 bowls or cups.

3. Add food coloring to the batter according to the rainbow colors (ROY G BIV)

4. Put the mixed batter into muffin tins and bake according to package directions

5. Separate your icing into bowls or cups.

6. Mix the food coloring into the icing in the same fashion as the cupcakes

7. When the cupcakes are finished baking and cooled, ice them.

Separated cupcake batter with food coloring

The batter with the rainbow colors

This was a regular muffin tin. 1/2 cup of batter. It made two cupcakes each color

The frosting from a can

The frosting with the food coloring

The cupcakes baked and cooling

All the pretty cupcakes....in order of course

St Patrick's Day Picnic/packed lunch

inspiration: st patrick's day
prep: 15-20 minutes
cook: none
serves: depends on how much you pack
this was enough for three


Description: This is a fun way to pack the kids lunch or have a picnic on St Patrick's day. It is as simple as finding things in your fridge or at the grocery store that are green. We were having a family picnic at the park so I had many different options.  The kids thought it was fun and didn't notice there were mostly healthy fruit and vegetables that happened to be green!

Some Ideas:
 guacomole chips
shamrock pretzel bites
green apple roll up
pickles
spinich tortilla (with turkey and cheese)
green grapes
green applesauce (tinted with green food coloring)
green jello
green gummy bears (found in the bulk section)
cucumber slices (not pictured was the guacamole dip)
green apple
key lime yogurt
limeade (lemonade with a drop of green food coloring)
etc....

Rainbow Pancakes

inspiration: st patty's day
prep: 15 minutes
cook: 15 minutes
serves: 1 rainbow stack



Description: Unlike the rainbow cupcakes, these were quite easy to make.  The kids gobbled these down and were quite surprised when they came down for breakfast.

Ingredients:
favorite pancake mix  (krusteaz is mine)
food coloring


Directions:
1. Mix enough batter to make at least one rainbow. (or more, depending on the size of your family)
2. Add 1/2 cup of the pancake mix to 6 disposable bowls, keep some extra plain batter handy for the first pancake.
3. Add food coloring to each bowl. (I use Wilson's food paste)
4. Stir each bowl until incorporated
5. It is some weird rule that the first pancake never turns out right. I used extra plain batter to cook the first one. Then make the pancakes as usual. If one messes up it is always good to have some plain batter to remix and do again.
6. Stack as a rainbow (ROY-G-BIV) and enjoy!

7. I had an extra pancake that had a bite taken out of it...and was inspired.

Shamrock Pinch Free Shake

inspiration: St patty's day

prep: 5 minutes

cook: none

serves: 2-3  shakes

Description: I love holidays and will find any reason to celebrate them. This week I have been planning surprises for my family to come home to, wake up to, or as a sweet treat. This is a basic mint shake. Nothing special until you tell your kids it's a shamrock pinch free shake. Leprechauns won't pinch you if you drink this. (the 10 year old rolled his eyes, the 6 year old thought it was awesome) It was fun and a special surprise for the family. 

Ingredients:

3 cups of mint ice cream

1 cup of milk

whip cream from a can

sprinkles

Directions:

1. Pour the milk into a blender

2. Scoop the ice cream into the blender

3. blend the two together until it is the consistency you like your shakes to be.

4. Pour into tall glasses

5.Squirt some whip cream into your mouth, then into the glass

6. Garnish with sprinkles and a big straw!

Tips and Tricks
vanilla ice cream with mint flavoring and green food coloring will work also.