Jalapeno Popper Pastry Pinwheels

Just in case you have some last minute party plans pop up unexpectedly, you'll want to keep this recipe handy. I came up with this at the very last minute possible, when I needed to bring an appetizer to a BBQ. These disappeared FAST. This is a very quick & easy recipe, and the finished product is sure to please. Plus, you get to be the one that shows up at the party with "Jalapeno Popper Pastry Pinwheels". That sounds way more exciting than "I brought the green bean casserole", in my humble opinion.

Jalapeno Popper Pastry Pinwheels...with tequila!

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Plus, it has tequila - and I find that always to be a selling point. The tequila adds just enough moisture so that the cream cheese yields and everything mixes together well, but due to the alcohol content, this extra moisture will evaporate pretty quickly in the oven. It will leave behind some tequila flavor, but it won't make your filling so runny that it melts and dribbles out of your beautiful little pastry rolls, and all over your oven. The salt provides all the seasoning you need (simple is good, in this case). If you're concerned about these being too spicey, you could use green chiles instead of jalapenos, or half-and-half.

Carrot Cake Cutie Pies with Spiced Rum

I sometimes have a tough time naming my BIWB creations...This one is no exception.  This recipe if based on a carrot cake whoopie pie recipe in Whoopie Pies.  But then, I changed it.  Added the booze and tweaked the dry ingredients a bit. 

My original recipe adaptation goal being to by-pass the base recipe's instructions to refrigerate the batter for an hour.  Truthfully, I didn't have an hour on my furlough day...

The resultant "cutie pie" is more like a carrot cake cookie than a "traditional" whoopie pie.  These are much more "perky"...Chocked full of flavor with all the spices...Is it a cookie sandwich, a sandwich cookie, a whoopie pie or a carrot cake-what?

Which led me to another discovery during the photo shoot and subsequent sharing of my carrot cake creations...  

I'm sure, if you follow enough food blogs, you know that "props" are all the rage.  We've been counseled to add more props in our photos.  We've been told my photos suck.  At this point, I think I do my best and really focus on the recipe and end results.  If my photos are still too yellow, please excuse me.  Do I sound a bit defensive? 

Sorry, I digress...Back to props...I had purchased some baker's twine years and years ago (pre-blog) and who knew it would be used so much as a prop?  It's typically used to tie-up a stack of cookies or a loaf of bread.  I wanted to use it but couldn't wait for the next cookie post.  So, I tied up my cutie pies!

The results were like little Cutie Pies in Bondage.  The hula girl on the rum bottle doesn't hurt the image either...Definitely a conversation starter...And, a new subtitle...However, and much to my disappointment, I just don't think our media partners would have approved...

Maybe next time...And, yes, 2012 was my year of 50 Shades.

In the future, look for more BIWB in Bondage!  ;-)

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Wine and Cheese Cupcakes

Happy 2013! I rang in the New Year with some dear friends and these cupcakes:

Wine and Cheese Cupcakes

I kept things pretty simple this year, but I simply can't arrive at a party empty-handed. I wanted to bring something festive and a little different, but with a nod to tradition. Wine and cheese is a classic, so I thought, why not make a cupcake out of that combination? I'm very pleased with the results of my experiment, and they were a hit with friends, neighbors, and co-workers as well!

Rummy Hummingbird Cake

Today, I made a birthday cake for all the September Babies in my life!  My version of an old Southern favorite the Hummingbird Cake.  If you've never had this cake, you really should try it.  It's easy to make, real comfort food and super delish.  This cake really holds up to frosting and the cake is moist (bananas and pineapple) and full of flavor (cinnamon and rum). 

I think of this cake as:

(Carrot cake - carrots) + bananas = YUM!

Best parts, though, IMO are the rum and that it has THREE layers!  I also added rum to the cream cheese frosting to give it just that right amount of mellow rum kick.  :) 

Happy Birthday!

This recipe is adapted from a cookbook by Art Smith, who was Oprah's chef...As we all know, I'm not a fan of Oprah (that would take a few blogs to explain...), but hey, regardless this-guy-can-cook! 

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Coconut Daiquiri Cupcakes

If you love coconut and rum, these cupcakes are your Easter celebration E-Ticket!

I've REALLY wanted to make a coconut rum cupcake for a while since starting this blog.  I think I found a great combination of flavors and textures with this cupcake.  The cake is super moist, full of flavor, and the frosting is not too sweet.  This cupcake is a buttermilk coconut lime cake as the base with luscious coconut rum cream cheese frosting.  And, this is a recipe for a coconut daiquiri if you are so inclined...Coconut and lime?  Yes!

The coconut, sprinkles and Cadbury mini eggs are supposed to be my attempt to make them look like an Easter basket.  Again, more the "homey" feel here folks.  This is why imagination is still so important in life! 

This cupcake uses two kinds of rum: Malibu Coconut Rum and Myers Dark Rum.  Malibu is new to me and I discovered it's a combination of rum and coconut liqueur.  Very yummy, clear, and makes a FABULOUS addition to any daiquiri.  Myers is becoming my "rum of choice" for baking.  I think it has a really mellow and full flavor that hold up to baking.  All is good in the land of rum at BIWB!

And, I do have to mention my addiction to Cadbury mini eggs...I buy them every year.  I don't have childrens' baskets to fill.  I buy at least 3 bags.  I don't share them.  I consume one bag during the holiday and leave the other 2 bags in the fridge.  Yes, I hoard them.  I'm a Cadbury mini egg hoarder.  No, I don't need an intervention.  Please leave me alone with my Cadbury mini eggs.  Please. 

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Carrot Rum Cupcakes with Coconut Rum Cream Cheese Frosting

 I've wanted to make a booze-infused goodie using one of the cake mixes I have squirreled away in my cupboard.  I generally don't get a chance to use mixes much anymore, but I'm a fan of their great flavor, ease of use, consistent results, texture, and adaptability.  They are the foundation of my Kahlua Cake and Jacqueline's Chocolate Orange Cupcakes.  So, here is my first attempt to take a basic box cake mix and add some booze.  EASY!  I think the result is one of my favorites.  And, this frosting is a coconut lover's dream!

BIWB goes Gluten-Free: Rum-Infused Apple and Quinoa Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean and Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Whoa!  That's probably the longest title yet!  So, I wanted to show our appreciation for one of our guest photographers, Erika.  She was able to capture one of Mrs. Murphy's booze-infused creations when a camera wasn't available.  I ran into Erika in the elevator and discovered that she was gluten-free.  An interesting concept: could I find a booze-infused gluten-free recipe?  I found this recipe on The Cupcake Project.  It called for rum, NO PROBLEM!

Look at these little darlings!

Quinoa?  I didn't even know the correct pronunciation, let alone where to find it in the grocery store or what it even looked like.  Found it in the wonderful bin section of our neighborhood Winco...LOVE Winco...LOVE the bin section...Anyway, it was pricey for a little-bitty grain.  I was up for this challenge!