I'm doing a special weekend post to help out a fellow MLK'er, but also to help kick off the upcoming holiday season!
So let's talk presents.
There's a giveaway below that might HELP you with your present giving.
What will you be buying for stocking stuffers? What books will you be buying friends and family? Giving a book is always a great way to give hours of pleasure to someone you love.
What else can you give them? How about home-baked goods? On MLK, we offer plenty of suggestions for sweet treats. I especially like to give home-baked treats to people that help me (or my family or Sparky) keep healthy all year long, like my doctor or chiropractor or vet. Yes, it takes a bit of time to make home-baked items, but when you wrap them on a pretty plate and you add a pretty bow, they really make people smile.
Well, below, I'm offering a fun one to bake . I know some of you might be pumpkin'd out by now, but I rarely am. I like pumpkin-flavored goods all year long. And this one is SO EASY!
If you want, make these goodies in mini bundt pans (I don't have a picture of that) and wrap them up individually.
I made this version gluten-free, but you who can eat flour may simply substitute regular flour for the gluten-flour and omit the xanthan gum.
Gluten-free
Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Blueberries
2 cups gluten-free flour
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (*1 cinnamon, ½ ginger, ½ allspice,
dash of nutmeg)
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 whole eggs
1 cup 100% pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
½ cup milk
1 cup
blueberries
Powdered sugar
or fresh whipped cream, if desired
Preheat
oven to 350.
Grease
a Bundt cake pan with non-stick spray or butter, dust with flour, then tap out
any excess. In a large bowl sift together the gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, baking
soda, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice (or substitute).
In
a separate mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the butter and
sugar for 2 minutes. Add the eggs and continue to mix until bright yellow and
smooth. Mix in the pumpkin puree.
Gradually
add half of the gluten-free flour
mixture into the pumpkin mixture. Pour in the milk and add in the rest of the gluten-free
flour mixture. Beat until well incorporated. Fold in the blueberries.
Pour
the batter into the prepared Bundt pan, smooth the top, then bake the cake for
50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
and the cake has begun to pull away from the sides of the pan.
If desired, dust with
powdered sugar or serve with fresh whipped cream.
If wrapping for gifts, let cool completely!
(*If you make these in small bundt pans, cook for 25 minutes. If you make cupcakes, cook 18-20 minutes. Yield: 6 small bundt plus 3 cupcakes or about 12-15 cupcakes)
(*If you make these in small bundt pans, cook for 25 minutes. If you make cupcakes, cook 18-20 minutes. Yield: 6 small bundt plus 3 cupcakes or about 12-15 cupcakes)
GIVEAWAY A COPY OF A DEADLY ECLAIR
As a special giveaway, I'm offering yet one more copy of my new
French Bistro Mystery,
A DEADLY ECLAIR,
in hardcover or e-book.
Leave a comment (and your email, cryptic if necessary)
and tell me what is your favorite gift to give
or your favorite baked item to ENJOY during the holidays?
I'll choose this winner on Wednesday.
French Bistro Mystery,
A DEADLY ECLAIR,
in hardcover or e-book.
Leave a comment (and your email, cryptic if necessary)
and tell me what is your favorite gift to give
or your favorite baked item to ENJOY during the holidays?
I'll choose this winner on Wednesday.
*

Praise:
"Talk about a culinary delight, this book is the pinnacle of deliciousness as I devoured all that was written in this exciting new series featuring Mimi and her friends." ~ Dru's Book Musings
"I have been looking forward to the book since I first saw the cover pop up on Facebook and it certainly exceeded my expectations. As a fan of the author’s Cheese Shop Mysteries
and Cookbook Nook Mysteries
, I knew the characters would be strong and the food descriptions would have my mouth watering and I was right." ~ Escape with Dollycas Blog


*
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The Wild West Extravaganza has come to Crystal Cove.
Click here to order.
FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE,
the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery is out!
the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery is out!
Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!
Click to order.
My favorite gift to give during the holidays is also my favorite item to bake: a batch of Blondies. EMS591@aol.com
ReplyDeleteLiz, love blondies! ~ Daryl
DeleteMy favourite stocking stuffer/gift is a gift card to Chapters. My favourite thing to bake for the holidays are sugar cookies. Decorating them is so much fun.
ReplyDeleteA gift card to a bookstore, I assume. What a great name for one. Lynne, good for you. ~ Daryl
DeleteMy favorite food gift to give is actually a Mystery Lovers' Kitchen recipe from Krista Davis, and I've made it for the last 3 years. She posted a recipe for salted caramel sauce (served with pumpkin pie) and it was so delicious and simple to make. I'll hand out about a dozen jars again this year to friends and coworkers. Thanks for sharing your recipe, Daryl - I have 5 more cans of pumpkin puree to use, and your recipe looks perfect! p.s. I've been meaning to get one of those pans with the mini-bundts - so cute! Happy holidays! Nicole nicolev.girldetective@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteNicole, sounds perfect. What a great idea as a gift. Goes on anything! ~ Daryl
DeleteSugar cookies or stout gingerbread.
ReplyDeleteOOps! forgot moodiesmum at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteRaquel, stout gingerbread sounds intriguing. ~ Daryl
DeleteI like a pecan praline cookie that is super easy to make. The praline sauce is poured onto a graham cracker base, baked, then frozen to help it set. Yummy.
ReplyDeletepatdupuy@yahoo.com
Pat D, sounds very southern and delicious! ~ Daryl
DeletePumpkin. Bleach. I’m just going to skip that ingredient. ���� roswita.hildebrandt (@) gmail.com
ReplyDeleteAutocorrect! It should say blech 😂
ReplyDeleteZita, sorry you don't like pumpkin. Not sure what you could switch it for, maybe carrots? ~ Daryl
DeleteI love my brother's chocolate chip cookies! No idea what's so different, he uses the same recipe I do but his are just way more amazing even in texture. He and his wife team up to make the cookies for our family Christmas. I actually love giving this same brother NCIS stuff like tees or mugs, we both just love that show! barbie17(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHmm. Are you sure he uses the same amount of butter or maybe he bakes them at a higher temperature? Whatever works, Tari, right? Enjoy. PS Love NCIS, too. Getting ready to binge watch a few. ~ Daryl
DeleteMake homemade stockings aruss1965@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteSweet, Anna. How lovely. ~ Daryl
DeleteI love Pecan Pie!!!
ReplyDeletewfnren at aol dot com
Wendy, woot! I cannot say Pecan Pie without thinking of Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally saying that phrase over and over. So funny! ~ Daryl
DeleteMy late Husband & I use to make his Mother's recipe for homemade fudge every year, it was such fun doing it together. I sure will miss doing this, he passed away a little over a year ago from Kidney Cancer. I love these mystery books & I would be so excited to win this one. Thanks for your great generosity. lindamay4852@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteLinda, my heart goes out to you. I know what you're feeling. There are so many traditions that I miss with my beloved Chuck. A part of my heart is missing as I approach the holidays. It's 2 years now and feels like yesterday. I will keep you in my prayers. ~ Daryl
DeleteI make different breads, cranberry, banana, pumpkin, and cookies to give as gifts. I have never put blueberries with pumpkin before, so new idea for this year! Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletedebprice60@gmail.com
Deb, glad you like the idea. I think people really appreciate home-baked goods. :) Daryl
DeleteI have small flower pots that I can bake in..so I make several "flower pot" breads to give....whatever I know that particular person likes, I bake for them..they are cute!!
ReplyDeleteI bought your book a while back so you do not have to enter me...
SueAnn, those sound adorable. What bread do you bake and do you add a "flower" to the wrapping? So cute! ~ Daryl
DeleteMy mother's cheese balls (recipe now in my hands) which cobmines Cheddar, Blue, and Cream cheeses. Can be made with our without nuts. This year I am making a 2nd one, with Gorgonzola instead of Blue, just to try it out. Sprinkle a little parsley on top and serve with hard crackers that can handle with blended cheeses.
ReplyDeleteClaire, I made a cheese ball for one of the first Cheese Shop Mysteries I wrote and it was a huge success. Hmm. Must go through the books and see where that recipe is. Oh, wait, it might be on MLK's list, too. Ha! Problem solved. Thanks for the idea. ~ Daryl
Delete