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Silent Sunday #14: Fall Harvest
RumChata Cupcake Recipe, Oh Yeah!
Rumchata Cupcakes Recipe
Those who know me know I LOVE Rumchata, it is a tasty creme based treat that taste like drinking Cinnamon Toast Crunch, yes really. So when I saw this Rumchata Cupcake recipe I had to get out my bottle and start baking!
Can you say yum yum?
I’m not really a drinker, seriously. But I do enjoy margaritas and sweet drinks. You know the ones, they go down smooth and taste oh so good. But you can also cook with it, and when I found Rumchata cupcakes on Pinterest I had to give it a try.
I’ve learned that Rumchata is not available everywhere in the country, but it’s spreading fast and the mix recipes are popping up everywhere from Rumchata French Toast to a yummy sounding RumChata Rootbeer float.
There is even a Rumchata Phone Recipe App!
According to the official Rumchata page, this oh so yummy drink originates from a concoction the ancient Egyptians made for the Pharaohs from the tiger nut. It’s been extremely popular in Spain, “Antonio Banderas popular”, so that says a lot.
Since the tiger nut is hard to come by in the Americas, rice-based Horchata 
I’m not a proponent of encouraging people to drink, but ladies (yes it’s a ladies drink) this stuff is awesome!!
Ok, maybe I do encourage people to drink Rumchata, heck it was an after topic at our ladies Bible Study one week. Two of us went home and got our bottles and shared them with those who had never tasted it before. It was agreed upon that Rumchata is “Sinfully” delicious.
I have taken to rationing my Rumchata to make it last longer, so I now add it to hot Chocolate, and my summer drink favorite, Rumchata and Rootbeer.
Make Your Own Rumchata
Yes, you can make your own Rumchata, and a few of us have been known to make our own stash using Horchata mix
Klass Horchata, Rice and Cinnamon Drink Mix, 14.1 Oz, (Pack of 3)
Sunfruit Horchata Concentrate Drink Mix 64 ozTang Horchata Drink Mix, Packets make 2 Liters (Pack of 24)Lorann Hard Candy Flavoring Oil Horchata Flavor 1 Ounce
When I saw this recipe for Rumchata Cupcakes (where else, Pinterest) I just had to try them. I would say this was my inspiration for a Pinterest party as I can’t (ok won’t) eat 20 cupcakes all by myself.
Rumchata Cupcake recipe
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick, at room temperature)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 4 egg whites
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup RumChata
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350*
- Combine sugar & butter and beat until fluffy
- Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, & cinnamon, set aside
- Mix the RumChata & vanilla together, set aside
- Alternating, add in the flour mixture and RumChata mixture into the butter and sugar. Start and end with the flour mixture.
- In a clean mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form (this will be easiest in an electric mixer)
- Fold egg whites into the batter – do not do this in an electric mixer, use a spatula
- Fill cupcake liners
- Bake for 20 minutes or until cake “bounces back” when touched.
RumChata Cream Cheese Frosting
This makes A LOT of frosting. I cut the recipe in half since I don’t smother my cupcakes in frosting.
Ingredients:
-
- 12 ounces of cream cheese (1 1/2 packages, at room temperature)
- 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick, at room temperature)
- 1/2 tsp of vanilla
- 5 tbsp of RumChata
- 1 package of confectioners’ sugar (2 lb. bag)
Directions:
-
- Combine butter and cream cheese until smooth
- Add vanilla
- Slowly add confectioners’ sugar
- Mix in RumChata (use more or less based on the thickness of the frosting. The more you use, the more flavor)
- Frost the cupcakes
Reviews were mixed, the cupcakes tasted like spice cake, a little heavy, but,…the frosting took the “cupcake, so to speak. It’s a very sweet, vanilla flavor with a touch of cinnamon. Since the alcohol bakes out of the cake, and there is very little in the frosting these were not 21 and older restricted. My daughter loved them and could have eaten just the frosting.
What to do with the leftover Rumchata? Drink and be merry of course.
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I’m a huge fan of Rumchata. Probably not surprising since my favorite drink is rum, but still. I never knew alcohol could taste that smooth and dreamy. If you haven’t tried it the best way to …
Friday Night Lights
High school football is king on any given night in the Midwest. Especially in Nebraska where it’s said we raise corn, cattle and football players.
It’s where young men learn how to play like a team, where sportsmanship is learned, and fair play. There are rules to football, that must be followed, or there is a penalty. Respect is earned, not given. A hard work is encouraged, and rewarded.
I can’t say I understand all the rules, like holding, but I respect and admire the tenacity of the game, as well as the character it builds.
There is nothing like the Friday Night Lights over a football field in small town America. It’s the social event of the week and people look forward to it all year. From Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, Michigan, and Oklahoma families and friends come to cheer their favorite player, eat BBQ, and hand out money to the little ones who run to the concession stands during half-time.
With this much Midwest and Southern tradition it’s no wonder a whole TV show was built around Friday Night Lights.
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Garlic Knot Bread
A little over a month ago we had a BBQ and party. Why? Just because we could. It was a combination Pinterest party, BBQ, and excuse to feed my oldest Marine son who was home on leave. We started at noon with hamburgers and hot dogs and progressed throughout the day, moving through the meat groups. Here is just a start of the various foods we served.
My friend Beth brought fixed this wonderful delight, recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray, who else, her favorite chef.
My son came outside while it was cooling and said “What is that wonderful spectacle on top of the stove? I want to eat it!” In no time at all it was gone.
Recipe
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 pound store-bought pizza dough, cut into 1-inch balls
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped rosemary
- Coarse ground sea salt
- Black pepper
- 1 cup shredded provolone
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- Tomato sauce, homemade or store-bought, for dipping
- Pieces of cooked bacon (optional, but we added it, bacon is good with EVERYTHING)
Preheat oven to 400ºF.
Prepare a bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray.
In a small saucepot, melt butter with garlic. Pour into a large mixing bowl and toss together with pizza dough balls, rosemary, sea salt and black pepper. Place half of the dough balls into the bundt pan, top with half of the cheeses. Top with remaining dough and finish with remaining cheese. Bake 30 minutes.
Serve with tomato sauce alongside
*This reminds me of the dessert treat monkey bread with butter and cinnamon. I’m sure thawed dinner rolls could be used in replacement of pizza dough
The Legendary Musical Tunnel at Harvest of Harmony Parade
Every first Saturday in October the Harvest of Harmony marching bands fill a certain tunnel in Nebraska with music. For years I heard about it, my kids have told how awesome the music is when it reverberates in your ears, but I never witnessed this phenomenon until my son’s senior year in high school.
At the beginning of the Harvest of Harmony parade is a long viaduct and the sound of the and music just echos. Over the years I’ve sat at the reviewing stand and various points along the route. Last year I took video of them coming “out” of the tunnel. But being IN the tunnel is awesome!
The sound is amplified and reverberates off the concrete walls. The Elmwood-Murdock band was entry #185, so I had plenty of time to watch, listen, and enjoy other bands.
The Harvest of Harmony parade, held in Grand Island Nebraska, is one of the largest marching band competitions in the country and in 1996 broke a Guinness World Record for the most marching bands in a parade.
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This particular year, 2012, the Elmwood-Murdock High School band was one of 93 bands from across the state and received a 3rd place out of 25 bands in their division. In years past they have received second place and even came home with the 1st place trophy in 2009.
The weather is anything but predictable and this day was no exception. Bundling up is the key to staying warm, as the spectator above was sure to do. The parade starts at 8 am and ends three hours later.
The full parade is not only broadcast live on the Grand Island NTV/ABC television station, but they post videos of each band on their website in a yearly directory going back to 2008. In 2009 the Elmwood-Murdock marching band took first place in Class C and third overall.
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At the end of the parade the buses take the schools to the stadium for formal photos on the bleachers. It’s a tradition for a senior photo, my favorite is the “goofy” pose. Yup, this is how the kids really are, in their raw form.
Band Moms Unite
Yes, I’m a band Mom. I have literally chased the band down the parade route at many events. I’ve done it for years, from Washington DC to the Nebraska City Apple Jack festival. You take video, take pictures, run ahead, dodge people and baby strollers, and zig zag down the sidewalk, all while juggling a camera and try not to run out of breath. This time I only chased them a few blocks, found out I’m getting too old to chase bands anymore.
Band Mom Clear Crystal Heart Silver Chain Necklace Music Marching JewelryBand Mom sticker *H321* 8.5 inch wide vinyl march guitar drums kit microphoneInktastic Band Mom Gift Idea Women’s T-Shirt XX-Large Deep Royal BlueInktastic Band Mom treble clef T-Shirt XX-Large Maroon
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So I leave the next few years of following the bands to my friend and fellow blogger Tracy (Nebraska Wheatie). Her daughter is also a senior, but she’s lucky to have one more still in band. Yes, we both chase bands, this year I was only 5 feet behind her as we ran through the tunnel. Her husband Jim saved my hide by noticing my cell phone which bounced out of my coat pocket. THANKS JIM!!!
So while I will miss watching band performances, and yes I shed a few tears, I will NOT miss the chase. It’s been quite the journey.
Fun Facts about the Harvest of Harmony Parade and Band competition.
- First Harvest of Harmony was held October 20, 1938.
- 8 Schools marched in the first parade: Grand Island, St. Paul, Ravenna, Gibbon, Scotia, Central City, North Loup, and Broken Bow.
- The parade was originally named the Central Nebraska Music Festival. Changed to Harvest of Harmony in 1946.
- The 1st Harvest of Harmony Queen was Pelorice France of Gothenburg.
- St. Paul has the most candidates named Harvest of Harmony Queen with 8.
- 21 bands performed in the 1948 parade.
- In 1996, 130 bands marched in the parade “A Guinness World Record”
Harvest of Harmony brings Nebraska’s Finest Bands to Grand Island
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Hello all! Below you will find a link to the GI Chamber of Commerce where you can find… the order of march the parade route the stadium schedule and the Pageant schedule. Good luck to all our students and our Queen …
