A Good Day for Cats, but not Frogs!

Go Cats! Beat the Horned Frogs!

This was an exciting weekend in Manhattan as our K-State Wildcats played the TCU Horned Frogs (yes, really!). After a tight game, the Cats won 33-31. A big part of the fun was tailgating with friends before the game with a frog inspired menu.
My contribution was Frog Cupcakes (thank you, Pinterest).

Frog Cupcakes

These froggies are ready to go to the game.

Ingredients:
1 (18.25 oz) package white/yellow cake mix
1 (16 oz) can prepared vanilla frosting
6 drops green food coloring, or as needed
1/4 cup green decorator sugar
12 large marshmallows
48 semisweet chocolate chips (or decorator gel)
decorator gel for face features

cupcakes, baked and cooling

eyes, ready to put on frogs

Directions:
1. Bake cupcakes according to directions on package. All to completely cool.
2. Mix frosting with green food coloring. If you like, you can reserve some frosting to mix with red to make mouths and tongues. Sprinkle some green sugar over tops of frosted cupcakes.
3. Cut marshmallows in half to make 2 circles. Dip each half in water then green sugar to make eyelids. With a little white icing attach chocolate chip for center of eye. Place eyes on cupcakes.
4. Add face features with red tinted frosting or decorator gel.
My tips: I made the eyes the evening before so they had a chance to dry before attaching them to the frosted cupcakes. Cut the marshmallows with kitchen scissors dipped in water. I used black decorator gel to add the black center of the eye instead of a chocolate chip. Also, I added a couple of tablespoons of meringue powder to the can of frosting to make it a little firmer when set. And, I used dark green decorator gel to draw the mouth.

The cupcakes went well with the menu which included grilled frog legs (for real) and Frog's Eye Salad (Acini de Pepe pasta and fruit salad - see a similar recipe in my blog of July 17, 2011).

The meal deal