a deposit in the bank of experience

The edible chemistry lesson didn't end how I hoped it would.  The colors weren't right, and the consistency was a bit ... um ... sludgy. 

So instead we whipped up some cream cheese frosting, left it white, lopped it into a zip-top bag fitted with a star piping tip, and decorated the cupcakes (which we inadvertently left at home when we departed for our Fourth of July festivities).  Both lads had great fun with the piping bag (and sampling the frosting for quality control).

This is one of those experiments my beloved would call "a deposit in the bank of experience."   Not that we won't give the other icing another go some other time, but in this case, we're likening the white frosting to the snow-capped mountain peaks for that whole patriotic association. 

Here's the whole recipe...