A Masters Themed Birthday Party!

My grandson turned 3 this past weekend, and my daughter threw him a Masters themed golf party.

Naturally there had to be pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches. So I made those and am sharing what I think is THE BEST version of the two – and yes, I think they are better than what you get in Augusta! I also made golf cupcakes that were a huge his as well.

A pic of the adorable birthday boy with his new prized set of golf clubs:

GOLF CUPCAKES

(Adapted from shesaved.com)

2 1/2 cups flour 
2 1/2 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tsp salt 
1 cup of unsalted butter, softened 
1 1/4 cup sugar 
3 eggs 
1 tsp pure vanilla extract 
2/3 cup whole milk 

GREEN BUTTERCREAM ICING 
1 cup salted butter 
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted 
1 TBSP vanilla extract 
2 TBSP cold milk 
Green Food Coloring
Other: Lindt white chocolate truffles, golf tees 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line muffin pan with paper cups.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar for about three minutes.
Add the eggs to the creamed butter, one at a time. Mix well after each addition. Add in vanilla extract.
Using a mixer on low speed, add half of the flour and then half of the milk. Mix until well incorporated.
Repeat step 7 with the remaining flour and milk.
Fill each muffin cup 2/3 full.
Bake 20-22 minutes or until golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to complete cooling process.

Frost with icing when completely cooled.

GREEN BUTTERCREAM ICING
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter. With an electric mixer on low, add half of the sugar until well blended.
Add the rest of the sugar and beat on medium speed until smooth.
Add food green coloring until you reach your desired color of dark green grass.
NOTE: to thin icing, add 1 T milk and to thicken icing, add 1 T powdered sugar.

HOW TO MAKE GRASS ICING ON CUPCAKES

Fill 3/4 decorating bag with green icing and attach a Wilton #233 tip.
Hold the decorating bag straight up and squeeze to create a glass blade.
Immediately after squeezing pull up and away when the icing strand is about 1/2 inch. Stop squeezing and pull tip away.
Be sure to keep the strands together so none of the cupcake shows through.
NOTE: for a more natural grass look, you can pull the tip slightly to the left or right.

Insert a golf tee in the middle of each cupcake.
Unwrap the Lindt white chocolate truffle and place on top of the golf tees.

BEST PIMENTO CHEESE

(Adapted from The Lee Bros)

16 oz freshly grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup softened cream cheese (4 oz)
7 oz jar pimentos, drained, blotted and finely diced
3-4 TBSP Hellmann’s mayo
1/2 tsp dried red chile flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Mix all together in a bowl, adding more mayo to get desired consistency.  Makes about 3 cups.

MY EGG SALAD

8 hard boiled eggs

Hellman’s mayo

Jane’s Crazy Mixed up Salt

Peel eggs and add eggs, mayo and about 1 tsp of Jane’s to a food processor. Pulse until all is mixed together but not pureed. You still want some “chunks”. Chill until ready to make sandwiches.