Yummy Christmas Cupcakes!

Ingredients:

4 oz Butter
¾ cup Sugar
2 eggs
2 oz Instant Vanilla Pudding
4 oz Milk
1 TBS Madagascar pure vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups flour
½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ TBS baking powder
1 tsp Lemon zest
Juice of 1 lemon
Strawberry Jam

Directions:

Mix milk and pudding mix together. Add other wet ingredients, except the strawberry jam, then mix in the dry ingredients.

Spoon the mixture into a cupcake tin, in which the cupcake papers have been placed, in the following manner:

1 tablespoon of cupcake batter, then 1 tsp of Strawberry jam, then finish off with 1 more table spoon of the cupcake batter.

Cook in 325 degree oven for 40 minutes.

Remove, let cool and then decorate as desired.

Here are pictures of more Christmas treat ideas if you have left over frosting and sprinkles make festive sugar cookies.

Santa is Coming to Town Pancake

The most exciting and busiest time of the year has arrived. This eggnog Santa pancake recipe is a fantastic way to cook with kids as they learn to enjoy family time in the kitchen. Danny helped me to put Santa's face and I'm sure your children, nieces, nephews, and friends will have a fun time as well.



Ingredients:

3.2 ounces all purpose flour
A pinch of salt
1/8 tsp Madagascar Ground Vanilla
1/2 tbs baking powder
1/3 tps baking soda
1 egg lightly beaten
2/3 cup eggnog (or 6.5 oz)
2 tbs melted butter or oil
Non stick spray
2 raisings
1 marachino cherry
1 peppermint hard candy
1 container light-whipped cream
1 tube decorating gel in white

Preparation

Preheat the oven at 400 degrees.

Sift together dry ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl.

Add wet ingredients to flour mix and whisk until thoroughly incorporated.

Spray non stick oil on to a pizza baking sheet and pour your pancake batter in it. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until center is cooked.

Remove pan from heat and place it on top of iced water to cool off quickly.

Once cooled, draw a hat with the whipping cream.

Use your decorating gel to make the eye balls and insert the raisins.

Cut cherry in half and use it as a nose.

Draw the beard with the whipping cream leaving some space for the mouth. To do the mouth, just cut two slices of the other half of the cherry and place them facing each other. Finish beard with whipped cream. Place hard candy at the tip of Santa's hat and watch your kids say, "WOW!!!"

Visit us soon for more exciting ideas for non-expensive Christmas treats to share with friends and neighbors.

Caramel Apples - The Perfect Holiday Gift (in my opinion)

Apparently I am in love with apples lately, because I sure have been eating and cooking a lot with them :) That being said I found some caramel apple containers and I knew that I should make caramel apples for my neighbors and friends for Christmas gifts. Once I decided that was the gift to give this year, I could not wait to get them done...so on December 2nd I went out and bought loads of candy and sweets to top the apples. So of course as soon as I got home I got going on my caramel apples. I cheated and bought caramel candies and melted them in my crock pot, then I got some semi-sweet chocolate chips and added a teaspoon of Pure Mexican Vanilla Extract and 1/4 teaspoon of our Pure Almond Extract, which by the way adds such an excellent flavor that really makes a difference...mmmm...it's so good, then after adding some vegetable shortening I melted the chocolate concoction in the microwave. I put my topping into containers and got going with the fun stuff. Make sure that you use sturdy sticks that will bear the weight of the apple. Dip your apple in the caramel be sure to give it time to drip before you roll it into the topping and set it on the parchment paper to cool, just if you get too much caramel your toppings might end up on the bottom of the apple. You can top them with crushed oreos, crushed nuts, mini chocolate chips, peppermint sticks, m&ms, mini marshmallows....the possibilities are endless, have fun with it.

After decorating, let them cool for at least 5 minutes. Then you can put them on a paper plate or in a nifty container and then you can put them in a bag add a card and they're ready to be delivered.
With my holiday gifts done for some of my neighbors and friends, I'm just left to wonder, am I doing this too soon?!? It is only the second and I'll deliver them on the third.....well I'm glad to have that almost checked off my list, but I am sure I will think of another excuse to make more treats for the people I love over the Christmas season. I love the holidays, in case you hadn't noticed. Caramel Apples are an inexpensive way to share holiday cheer with your neighbors and friends. Using the Totonac vanilla and flavor extracts made it taste so delicious, you have to try it.

German Apple Pancakes - Apfelpfannkuchen

Yesterday I woke up and it was chilly in my apartment and all I wanted was something warm and delicious for breakfast. I had all the ingredients to make German Pancakes and I saw a recipe from Better Homes and Gardens and they used apples in the pancakes and I just happened to have apples so I had to make it. I added Madagascar Pure Vanilla Extract to the recipe, it added a smooth and creamy flavor. The pancakes were just what I needed to warm up on that chilly morning, they had the perfect degree of sweetness and Chris (my husband) loved them. So this recipe is definitely a new favorite of ours :) Give it a try. For more of our Gourmet all natural products visit www.arizonavanilla.com

Ingredients

3 eggs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon Madagascar Pure Vanilla Extract

2 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons margarine or butter

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 medium cooking apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (2 cups)

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Sifted powdered sugar

Directions

1. In a medium mixing bowl beat eggs with a wire whisk until frothy. Add flour, milk, 1 tablespoon of the melted margarine or butter, vanilla extract and salt; beat until smooth.

2. Heat an 8-inch round baking pan or ovenproof skillet in a 450 degree F oven for 2 minutes. Add remaining 1 tablespoon melted margarine; swirl to coat pan. Pour batter into hot pan. Bake pancake in the 450 degree F oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until puffed and golden.

3. Meanwhile, for filling, in a medium skillet melt the 2 tablespoons margarine or butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar until combined. Stir in apple slices, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook, uncovered, for 3 to 5 minutes or until apples are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.

4. To serve, remove pancake from oven. Spoon some of the filling into center of pancake. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into wedges. Pass the remaining filling. Pancake will collapse as it cools. Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 217, Total Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 108 mg, Sodium 223 mg, Carbohydrate 26 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 5 g. Daily Values: Vitamin C 3%, Calcium 4%, Iron 7%.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet