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New Mexican appetizers and song-worthy cupcakes.

High School Musical 2 is premiering at the end of this week. My kids adored the first, and I'm sure they'll adore (and, much to my chagrin, memorize each and every song of) this newest release. The kids will most likely be watching at their grandma's house this week. There's nothing like a premiere party, and since High School Musical is set in Albuquerque, I came up with these fabulous appetizers with a Southwest flair.

Mini Chicken Fajita Pizzas
1 pound chicken tenders
1/4 cup lime juice
2 cloves garlic-minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 cup sliced bell peppers
1/2 cup sliced onion 
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
8 (6-inch) flour tortillas

Mix lime juice, garlic, cumin and oregano together. Toss chicken with this mixture and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Sear in a hot pan until cooked through--about 5 minutes per side. Cut into thin strips.

Top a flour tortilla with salsa, cheese, chicken strips, bell pepper and onion. Bake in a 425 degree F oven for 10-15 minutes or until browned and cheese is melted. Makes 8 pizzas

Two-Bean Salsa
1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 (4 ounce) can diced jalapeno peppers--optional
3 large tomatoes--seeded and diced
1 clove garlic--minced
1 tablespoon minced cilantro
salt, pepper and sugar as needed

Combine all and mix well. Season to taste and chill for several hours to blend flavors. Serve with tortilla chips. Makes 4 cups

Taco Cups
1 bag Tostitos Scoops!
1 can refried beans
1/2 lb cooked taco seasoned meat
1 cup shredded cheddar
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sliced black olives

Set chips on a large platter and layer with beans, meat, cheddar, salsa, sour cream and black olives.

These taco cups are bite-sized and delicious!

Sing Out Cupcakes
1 pkg cake mix
1 can dark chocolate icing
tiny silver dragees
1 box of 12 cake-type ice cream cones

Make cake mix according to directions on box. Fill cake cones set into a muffin tin nearly to the top with cake mix. Bake until puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center of a cone comes out clean. Cover the cake part of each cone with icing and add dragees to look like the holes in a microphone.

These were made to look like microphones. We tried two different ways (see photo); one with cupcakes set into sugar cones and one with cupcakes made right in cake cones. This is the recipe for the cake cones.