4th of July Cupcake Fun!

This 4th of July (or any occasion!), you don't need to have to be a Cake Boss to design a beautiful dessert for your picnic.  Simply arrange cupcakes in a pattern and Whalla! instant fun dessert. Arrange your creations on a piece of heavy cardboard covered with aluminum foil. Here are a few ideas:

• Color some cupcake icing blue, some white, and some red.  Place the cupcakes according to the flag, and don't be afraid to make your flag wave! Add sugar stars to the blue cupcakes.
• Color all of your cupcakes yellow and arrange in a star pattern.  (Better yet - leave them white and place them on patriotic napkins!)
• Using multi-colored sprinkles on random colors of icing, randomly place your cupcakes on the platter, then add slices of red licorice for fireworks.

What other patriotic patterns can you develop?  Here is a website with some hints: http://cake-decorating.lovetoknow.com/4th_of_July_Cupcakes

Meatloaf Cupcakes?

My friend had trouble getting her child to eat protein, so she made meatloaf into a cupcake and she loved it!  Here's how she did it:

1. Take any meatloaf recipe using ground beef, turkey, pork, or any combination of meats.  Add ground or pureed veggies.
2. Put the meatloaf into greased muffin cups and bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees F.
3. Remove the meat muffin from the cup and top with mashed potatoes.

It's that easy!  Try turkey cupcakes with mashed sweet potatoes on top for an autumn treat.  Add food coloring for holiday fun  like green for St. Patrick's Day and pink for Valentine's Day.