The Lifegiving Woman

Reindeer Cupcakes

What is it about Reindeer Cupcakes that makes you want to smile?

It kinda like how I feel when my brand new grandson Noble makes one of those "Oh baby I know I am so cute!"  Totally yum I am telling you!

Not only are these easy to make they are a kids (okay a mom's) best friend. Chocolate everything with a red gumdrop nose.

Make some new memories and traditions this holiday season. Gather up your kids, grand kids, someone elses kids and have some fun.. And buy a few extra red gumdrops...you will be glad you did!

Reindeer cupcakes

24 chocolate cupcakes topped with chocolate frosting and rolled into chocolate sprinkles (Time tip: Buy your cupcakes baked and frosted at Sam's Club or Costco and just do the decorating!)

24 red gumdrops

48 white tick tacs

48 stick pretzels

48 pecan halves

Decorate your cupcakes buy using the gumdrop for the nose. The tick tacs for the eyes, pretzels for the antlers and the pecan halves for the ears. 

And you will have yourself one yummy Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer!

From The Christmas Kitchen A Gathering Place for Making Memories by Tammy Maltby and Anne Christian Buchanan

 

 

 

Totally Yumba Cranberry Guacamole

I was a guest on a TV show years ago and watched a chef whip up this special holiday version of one of my favorites! Since then, I’ve changed it up to suit my own tastes. Your mouth will LOVE this but so will your body. Listen to the amazing benifits of eating avocados!

Vitamin E Powerhouse
Avocados are the best fruit source of vitamin E, an essential vitamin that protects against many diseases and helps maintains overall health.

Lower Cholesterol
Avocados are high in beta-sitosterol, a compound that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. In one study, 45 volunteers experienced an average drop in cholesterol of 17% after eating avocados for only one week.

Heart Health
One cup of avocado has 23% of the recommended daily value of folate. Studies show that people who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower incidence of heart disease than those who don't. The vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and glutathione in avocado are also great for your heart.

Stroke Prevention
The high levels of folate in avocado are also protective against strokes. People who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower risk of stroke than those who don't.

Enjoy!!!

Recipe

3 ripe Hass avocados, seeded, peeled, and coarsely mashed

½ cup canned salsa verde (green salsa)

4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley leaves

1 fresh jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

1 teaspoon coarse garlic salt

Juice from one large lime

1 cup dried sweetened cranberries (such as Craisins) or dried cherries, soaked in water for ten minutes, drained, and squeezed dry 

Coarsely mash avocados and fold in remaining ingredients.  Guacamole is best made as close to serving as possible. For short-term storage, seal in an airtight container with a piece of plastic wrap pressed against the surface of the guacamole. Serve with tortilla chips—red and green if available. Makes about 12 average servings—or 6 for me. (I love guacamole!)

From The Christmas Kitchen by Tammy Maltby and Anne Christian Buchanan

For special discounted information on your purchase of The Christmas Kitchen please contact me directly at Tammymaltby@gmail.com or at my author facebook page Tammy Maltby

The Christmas Kitchen and Chilled Cranberry Soup

The Heart of the Home

I am happy to say the holiday season is soon upon us! I would love to suggest my Christmas Kitchen Cookbook to your family and friends! I am offering special discounts for the purchase of 10 or more copies...and I am happy to personally sign them.

Contact me at tammymaltby@gmail.com or message me on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tammy-Maltby/183239621709608

Even in today's busy times, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Author Tammy Maltby believes the true meaning of Christmas is realized when families gather to share activities that make Christmas "the most wonderful time of the year." More than any other holiday, Christmas is when family and friends gather for a cup of hot chocolate, fresh-baked cookies, and lots of laughter.

Look inside this holiday treasure for:

- Easy-to-do holiday recipes

- Hints for new traditions

- Personal gift ideas

- Kid-friendly activities

- Simple decorating tips

The Christmas Kitchen is more than a recipe book, it's a book designed to help you enjoy the holiday season, not be burdened by it. Take a few minutes each day to browse these pages for the help you've been looking for.

Merry Christmas and may your kitchen be filled, first, with the sweet aroma of love, and then with the spices of the season.

From  The Christmas Kitchen with Tammy Maltby

Chilled Cranberry Soup

I’ve served this fruity soup to kick off Christmas dinner for many years now. It’s cool, refreshing, and festive. Best of all, it can be made days ahead and served directly from the refrigerator.

4 cups fresh cranberries

3 cups water

1½ cups sugar

4 inches stick cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. allspice

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. finely shredded lemon peel

1 Tbsp. finely shredded orange peel

2 large cans mandarin oranges—1 for soup and 1 for garnish

Mint leaves (optional)

In a 3-quart saucepan, combine cranberries, water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 5 minutes or until about half of the cranberries are popped. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice, lemon peel, orange peel, and 1 can mandarin oranges, drained. Cool. Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours. To serve, ladle into soup bowls. Top each serving with mandarin oranges in flower/star shape with a mint leaf in the center. Makes 6 to 8 side-dish servings.

 

The Rose Cake

Well I never thought I would love a cake as much as The Maltby Cake but I might just change my mind.

The Rose Cake has captured my attention and that of everyone I have made it for.

It is a no kidding...MAJOR show off cake!

I found this beautiful wonder on I am Baker. She has the MOST amazing cakes.  When I first saw it I thought...I am NOT a baker and there is no way I could make this! Well I am still not a hearty baker...(alas) but it was a breeze to make! Ck out her site for great play by play pictures on how to do it!

I promise you, this could NOT be easier.  

For the actual cake I did use the Maltby cake recipe. It is simply fail proof and starts with a box cake mix (which is my kinda baking!)

I also sprinkled edible crystal glitter over the cake when I was finished making the roses. It was something else.

Use your cake recipe of choice. Make sure the cake is fully cooled.

Frost your cake all over so that there are no signs of the cake itself.

Put your 1M tip into the pastry bag then fill it up with buttercream frosting. (Recipe below) You will need lots of frosting...so don't be alarmed at how much the recipe makes.

To make the first rose, start in the center, then slowly move your tip in a circle around the center point.  I liked the look of a very full rose so I went over it twice.

To keep the roses all the same size I used a canning jar to indent the circles in the frosting and just placed them around that cake. Almost like a pattern before I started. Go all the way around the cake, starting on the sides and then move to the top of the cake. 

Dust with edible glitter. (I got mine at Hobby Lobby)

Refrigerate for several hours.

Smile and eat.

(adapted from allrecipes.com)

THE BEST BUTTERCREAM

2 cups shortening (This is what allrecipes suggests...but I used 1/2 cup cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup shortening...a bit more flavor)

8 cups confectioner's sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon clear imitation vanilla extract (I used almond)

6 fluid ounces heavy cream

In a large bowl, cream shortening with mixer until fluffy.  Add confectioners sugar (2 cups at a time) until well blended.  If the frosting gets to thick at any time you can add some of your heavy cream.

Add salt, vanilla, and heavy cream and blend until combined, then blend on high until frosting is light and fluffy.  If you need to add additional cream you can. (up to 2 tablespoons)