Central Oregonian

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with flavorful green treats

Easy Green Velvet Cupcakes

March 04, 2013

St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect occasion to have fun in the kitchen with the color and flavor of the holiday — vivid green and refreshing peppermint.

“Food color and extract can transform an ordinary cupcake or cookie into a festive delight, worthy of any St. Paddy’s party,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens.

For a green twist on classic red velvet cupcakes, stir green food color into basic cake mix and add pure vanilla extract, sour cream and cocoa powder. Whip up minty green cream cheese frosting and decorate with green sprinkles or colored sugar to make them fun for kids of all ages.

For more St. Patrick’s Day ideas and recipes, visit www.McCormick.com, www.Facebook.com/McCormickSpice, or www.Pinterest.com/mccormickspices.

Easy Green Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 package (18 1/4 ounces) German chocolate cake mix with pudding

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 bottle (1 ounce) McCormick Green Food Color

3 eggs

2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract

1 container (16 ounces) cream cheese frosting or Vanilla

Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

Green sprinkles (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat cake mix, sour cream, water, cocoa powder, oil, food color, eggs and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moistened, scraping sides of bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.

Pour batter into 24 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.

Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire rack. Frost with cream cheese frosting. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.

Minty Green Cream Cheese Frosting:

Stir 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract and 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Green Food Color into canned cream cheese frosting or Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting.

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting:

Beat 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened, 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened, 2 tablespoons sour cream and 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 1 box (16 ounces) confectioners' sugar until smooth. Makes 2 1/2 cups.

Ultimate home bar

No matter if you’re planning the party of the year or just inviting a few friends over, a great home bar is essential to make it a night to remember.

Having everything you need on hand is the base of creating the perfect home bar.

Choose spirits carefully. Look for distinctive spirits that have a reputation for quality. New Amsterdam Vodka, for instance, is a premium vodka known for its unparalleled smoothness, which means you can drink it straight or mix it into a variety of equally- smooth cocktails. Flavor profiles are also important in some spirits, so look for brands that emphasize a good balance. New Amsterdam’s award-winning gin is renowned for its balance and subtlety, which makes it a modern approach to this classic spirit. Be sure to have a good variety of the most popular spirits available so that you're able to make a range of drinks to satisfy any whim.

Prep your cocktail supplies. Plastic cups are out — real cocktails made with New Amsterdam spirits need the right tools of the trade. That includes glassware, so make sure you have everything you need, from highballs and lowballs to champagne flutes, red and white wine glasses and pint glasses for beer. Other barware you might want to consider includes a shaker, a strainer, a muddler, an ice bucket and a jigger, which will come in handy when measuring out proportions.

Customize your cocktails. Since you’re home, you’re in charge of the garnishes, and can pick your favorites. A supply of citrus fruits like limes, lemons and oranges let you add twists or a squeeze of fresh juice. When you’re hosting, make it fun by setting out items like pickles, olives, cheese cubes or celery and letting guests create their own skewers to garnish their drinks. Keep up the customization theme by offering your guests a signature cocktail or two, particularly if you’re celebrating a special occasion.

Whether it’s a large party or an intimate gathering, hosting at home allows you to man the bar and personalize the evening. New Amsterdam offers two signature drink recipes that will show off your smooth bar skills, and are as easy to make as they are to drink.

Winter Toddy

A “wintry mix” of New Amsterdam Gin, maple syrup and a dusting of cinnamon, this steamy cocktail is the perfect storm.

Ingredients:

2 ounces New Amsterdam Gin

1 ounce maple syrup

1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

Fill with hot water

Directions:

Add ingredients in a mug. Garnish with a pinch of cinnamon.

Black Diamond

For those who don’t ski the Bunny Slope.

Ingredients:

2 ounces New Amsterdam Vodka

1/2 ounce sweet vermouth

1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

1/2 ounce maple syrup

Directions:

Shake ingredients very well with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lemon peel.