Special Delivery

For the past two years, I have given out homemade treats to my special friends/neighbors. Last year I made so many different things and gave out baskets with treats. This year I decided to keep it simple, but still special. The hardest thing to do was to decide what to give out.

Everything for the packaging was purchased from Hobby Lobby. The bakery boxes, cake board rounds, gift tags and ribbon.

I decided to make my favorite chocolate bunt cake. While it was cooling I folded my cake box. This was very simple.

After my cake cooled I melted the frosting on low and continued to stir until melted. I then spooned, heaping spoonfuls onto the cake.

I added mini chocolate chips around the top, because you can never have too much chocolate!!

Now its time to close the box and wrap your special gift.

Measure your ribbon and cut two long strips.

Tie the first ribbon into a bow and then tie the next one like a cross.

Add your name tag. To save time you can also personalize and print name tags.



Now my homemade baked good is ready for a special delivery. Enjoy!!

Rudolph, is that really you?

No, its not really Rudolph, but it sure looks like him! I saw this cupcake in a magazine, now I can't remember which one. I think it was a Disney family magazine in a doctor's office and had to make them.....I knew I could make them! So, I took a picture of it with my cell phone and Nicholas and I replicated it. It was very fun!

Here is what you need plus, whatever the cake mix calls for, which I think is just 3 eggs and vegetable oil.

This is a really good cake mix. My tip is to always put pudding (the instant powder) in the cake mix.

I used a 1/4 cup measuring spoon and it filled the cupcake holders perfectly.

I got all my ingredients organized to make decorating the cupcakes fun and not stressful.

Don't worry, this is a tootsie roll that I tore in half.

Put your fingerprint in the tootsie roll by pressing down and then shape the ears with your fingertips by pinching the ends.

Cute, right?

I took a picture of Nicholas breaking the pretzels because I was making a big mess trying to create the prefect antlers. (see the mess in the background?) I wanted to jump up and down on the bag of pretzels. Then, Nicholas comes up and makes it look so easy and just snaps them perfectly in half. Guess who got that job?

Let your cupcakes cool before frosting them.

He is starting to come to life!

Bake these cupcakes for someone you love or with someone you love! Enjoy!

Santa's Sangria

Santa's Sangria is the perfect beverage for a Holiday get together. Especially, if you do not like the taste of alcohol. It's light and sweet like punch.

Sangria Recipe:

1/4 cup of Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice

1/2 cup of Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum

1 Bottle of Red Wine

1/2 to 3/4 of a half gallon carton of fruit juice ( orange juice or orange-pineapple-banana)

1/2 to 3/4 of a 2 liter bottle of Ginger Ale to your own taste

Stir to mix

Garnish with slices of orange, lemon, and lime.