#Recipe for gift ideas + A DEADLY ÉCLAIR #giveaway from @DarylWoodGerber

From Daryl aka Avery:

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)

  

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.

 *

Mimi Rousseau is throwing the bistro’s first wedding—the nuptials of a famous talk show host. She is sure things will go awry when the bride’s father shows up drunk to the out-of-towners’ dinner. By the end of the evening, things look sweet again…until the next morning, when her benefactor is found dead at the bistro with an éclair stuffed in his mouth. All fingers point at Mimi, whose loan is forgiven if he dies. It’s up to her to éclair—er, clear—her name before the killer turns up the heat.

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

Savor the mystery!

*

Friend Daryl and Avery on Facebook
Follow Daryl on Twitter

Follow Avery on Twitter

Follow both of us on Pinterest

Plus check out my website.

A DEADLY ÉCLAIR, the 1st in the French Bistro Mysteries, is coming November 2017. Can Mimi clear her name before the killer turns up the heat? Click here to order.

GRILLING THE SUBJECT, the 5th Cookbook Nook Mystery, is out!

The Wild West Extravaganza has come to Crystal Cove.

Click here to order.

FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, 
the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery is out!

Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!

Click to order.

GIRL ON THE RUN a stand-alone suspense

When a fairytale fantasy night becomes a nightmare, 

Chessa Paxton must run for her life...but will the truth set her free? 

Click to order




DAY OF SECRET my new stand-alone suspense
A mother he thought was dead. A father he never knew. 
An enemy that wants them dead.
Click here to order.