Each year before the annual Home Tour, I’ve made it a tradition to host a little get together at our place before we head out for the long walk around the ‘hood. You know, build up our endurance. This year, my mom, my friend Carmen, three of my co-workers (Jackie, Kate and Mandy), and two of Jackie’s friends joined in the pre-tour festivities. Some of our neighborhood volunteers also dropped by for their morning break after working all AM.

Menu? Muffins & Mimosas. Simple, easy and festive: Have bubbles, will party.

How to be Neighborly: Add some sparkle to your weekend. Share a mimosa.

I set up a mimosa bar, with various juices, berries and liquors. Self-serve, be creative. We opened the doors, and we had an impromptu open house of sorts. Of course, there was the obligatory tour of our house for the first timers, and a couple repeat visitors, but the real fun was seeing this melting pot of friends getting to know each other. Such a treat, and that was even before the amazing tour! It was a great girl’s day out, and I couldn’t think of a better way for it to begin.

 

 

 

Mimosa Bar

• Prosecco (4 bottles, per 10 people, per hour)
• 3 juices of different colors (such as orange, mango, blueberry, pomegranate, grapefruit, etc.)
• Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)
• Liqueurs (optional)
  • Chambord
  • St. Germain

Spring has Sprung Muffins

Dry ingredients:

• 2 C flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 c sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg

Wet ingredients:

• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 c apple butter (or ¾ c apple sauce)
• 2/3 c oil
• 3 eggs

Mix-ins:

• 2 c grated carrots (3 large carrots)
• 1 c grated zucchini (1 zucchini)

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add in all wet ingredients and stir. Mix in carrots and zucchini. Spoon into muffin pan with liners. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.  Allow to cool and top with cream cheese frosting, and a pecan.  Makes 2 dozen.

Cream Cheese Frosting

I don’t like my frosting very sweet.  If you like it on the sweeter side, add 1.25 c more powdered sugar.

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 6 tbsp butter, softened
• ¾ c powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional mix-ins for Spring has Sprung muffins

• 2 tbsp bourbon
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix with an electric mixer until combined. Put frosting in a Ziploc bag, snip off the corner and pipe onto the muffins.