Grinch Christmas Cupcake Toppers

I made these Grinch Christmas Cupcake Toppers simply because I love the Grinch!

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is my very favorite Christmas movie.

Seriously, Dr. Seuss was a creative genius.

 

"You're a monster, Mr. Grinch,

Your heart's an empty hole,

Your brain is full of spiders, you've got garlic in your soul,

Mr. Gri-inch...I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!"

My favorite part, of course, is when the Grinch's heart grows three sizes.

The despicable bad guy becomes a good guy!

I just love a happy ending.

You can make these edible cupcake toppers with candy melts or chocolate.

 To download my Grinch template below, click on the image to open it.

Then right click on the image and select "Save Image As".
Print the template and tape it to the back of a cookie sheet.
Tape a piece of wax paper on top of the template.

 What You Will Need: 
Frosted cupcakes 
Black candy melts or chocolate chips
Green, red, white and yellow candy melts
Piping bags fitted with small round tip (Wilton #2)

First, fill a piping bag with melted chocolate chips or black candy melts.
Pipe the Grinch outline on the wax paper.

Next, use red candy melts to fill in the santa hat and pupils.

Continue to fill in the green, white and yellow parts.

I found "Vibrant Green" candy melts...a perfect Grinchy color!

If you can't find this color, just mix green and yellow to get the right shade. 
 

Helpful Hint: Use a toothpick to push the candy melts into the corners
and clean up the edges.

Don't worry if they look messy when you are done...this is the back side!

When the toppers have hardened, carefully peel them off the wax paper and turn them over.

 Place each Grinch topper on a frosted cupcake and enjoy!

"Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before...

Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.

Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

Merry Chrismas!

 

 I share my recipes and tutorials at these fun link parties.

Another Christmas cupcake idea...

Strawberry Santa Hat Cupcakes 

New Video Recipe: Easy Leftover Turkey Stroganoff

Easy Leftover Turkey Stroganoff

Today's new video recipe in conjunction with CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is another timely, seasonal recipe idea to help turn both leftover turkey and gravy into a super fast and easy comfort food pasta dish. This one so so quick and easy, you can have it on the table in under 20 minutes. After all those hours slaving over Christmas dinner, a tasty meal-in-minutes should be well appreciated after the Holiday chaos subsides. This dish will let you do all that Boxing day visiting and still have dinner on the table in no time. It would also make a terrific pot -luck contribution at post Christmas get-togethers.

For certain mobile users if the video does not load below, then please click here.

For the full printable recipe click here.

50 + Real Food & Gluten Free Holiday Desserts Round-Up

Real Food + Gluten Free + Holiday Desserts

I've gathered a bunch of yummy, gluten free, Real Food desserts from many of my blogging friends.  So many delicious treats to choose from - cookies, brownies, homemade candies, fudge, hot chocolate, pies, cakes, smoothies, tarts, ice cream, sweet sauces and more!

Wishing you a beautiful holiday season.
  

HOT DRINKS

Peppermint Mocha Latte from Healing Cuisine by Elise
Gingerbread Man Latte from jarOhoney
Mexican Hot Chocolate from yours truly - Recipes to Nourish
Spiced Pumpkin {Chai} Tea from yours truly - Recipes to Nourish
Honey Sweetened Hot Chocolate from yours truly - Recipes to Nourish

Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie

SMOOTHIES + FRUIT

Cranberry Ginger Smoothie from Happy Healthnut
Real Food Candy Canes from Nourishing Minimalism
Gingerbread Smoothie (Gluten-Free & Vegan) from Tasty Yummies
Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie from yours truly - Recipes to Nourish

Sprouted Cut Out Cookies

COOKIES + BROWNIES + BARS

Grain-Free Chocolate Almond Crackles from Food Renegade
Red Velvet Bars (GAPS/Paleo) from The Sour Path is the Sweetest
Easy Homemade Vegan and Paleo Fudgy Brownies from The Real Food Guide
GAPS Snickerdoodles from Gutsy
Honey Toffee Shortbread Cookies (GAPS/Paleo) from The Sour Path is the Sweetest
Dark Chocolate Truffle Cookies from Tessa the Domestic Diva
Healthy Peppermint Oreo Cookies from The Healthy Maven
Grain-Free Ginger Snaps from Real Food Whole Health
Chocolate Vanilla Cookies (GAPS Legal) from Gutsy
Fudgy Brownies from Real Food Girl: Unmodified
Grain-Free Jam Thumbprint Cookies from With Food + Love
Amaretto Snowballs (Vegan + No Bake) from Pure Ella
Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies (Paleo) from Gourmande in the Kitchen
Sprouted Cut-Out Cookies from yours truly - Recipes to Nourish

Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

CAKES + CUPCAKES + PIES + TARTS

Maple Cardamom Mini Cupcakes w/ Chocolate Icing from Real Food Carolyn 
Caramel Apple 'Cheesecake' from Healing Cuisine by Elise
Orange Blossom Pomegranate Cheesecake from Mama Rosemary
Three Nut Chocolate Torte from Nourish with Karen
Crustless Sweet Potato Pie from Happy Healthnut
Pecan Pie (Grain-Free/Paleo/Primal) from Deliciously Organic
Fig Tarts from Gluten Free SCD and Veggie
Chocolate Pumpkin Cake (Egg Free) from yours truly - Recipes to Nourish 

Chocolate Vanilla Marble Freezer Fudge

FUDGE + TRUFFLES + CANDY

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles from Common Sense Homesteading
Chocolate Covered Coconut Snowballs (Grain Free) from The Nourishing Gourmet 
Cocoa Mint Holiday Truffles from Paleo in PDX
Peppermint Bark Stir Sticks from jarOhoney
Old Fashioned Caramel Corn from The Nourishing Gourmet
Chocolate Covered Cherries from A Girl Worth Saving
Apple Cider Honey Caramels from A Nerdy Farmwife
Chocolate Sunflower Freezer Fudge from your truly - Recipes to Nourish
Chocolate Vanilla Marble Freezer Fudge from your truly - Recipes to Nourish

Chocolate Fudge Sauce

MOUSSE + WHIPPED CREAM + SAUCES

Cranberry Mint Mousse from Happy Healthnut
Chocolate Mint Mousse from Nourished Kitchen
RealFood Milk Chocolate Mousse from Food Renegade
Maple Whipped Cream from The Nourishing Gourmet
Chocolate Coconut Whipped Cream (Paleo) from The Nourishing Gourmet
Easy Peasy Caramel Sauce from The Nourishing Gourmet
Chocolate Fudge Sauce from yours truly - Recipes to Nourish

Chocolate Elderberry & Rose Hip Ice Cream

ICE CREAM

Chocolate Pumpkin Ice Cream from The Tasty Alternative
Pumpkin Custard Ice Cream from Food Your Body Will Thank You For
Honey Vanilla Ice Cream from your truly - Recipes to Nourish
Chocolate Elderberry & Rose Hip Ice Cream from your truly - Recipes to Nourish

Crockpot Lunch Carrier

I featured this the other day here at Welcome Home and over 500 of them sold in one day! Thank you so much for your contribution to the NO Kill Advocacy Group in their fight to save the lives of healthy dogs and cats who are killed in shelters while waiting for a home. This little tote is just perfect for all these wonderful soups I posted today. There are still a few available at the same price for Welcome Home fans. Just click on the link below and it will take you there.

What a great little gadget for under $20. It's the new "CrockPot Lunch Crock" portable food warmer. I like it because you can leave the warming base at work and simply carry the lightweight tote container to and from home with the little carrying handle for easy travel.

I used to get so tired of heating my food in that dirty microwave at work. It had food splattered all over it and it smelled bad. This little gadget plugs in right at your desk so you can enjoy last nights casserole or leftover soup or stew. Then take out the bowl with the handle and carry it home for the next day. It's dishwasher safe and holds up to 20 ounces of your favorite foods. It has a storage compartment for the cord and it comes in several colors too!

Remember whenever you order anything from Welcome Home at Amazon, your donation goes to the NO KILL Advocacy Group. Over 6 million dogs and cats are killed each year while waiting for someone to come and rescue them. We can stop this by supporting this group who needs our help. Click on this link that has the code of welchome08 and they will know you are a Welcome Home fan.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006H5V8US/ref=as_li_ss_sm_fb_us_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=399837&creativeASIN=B006H5V8US&linkCode=shr&tag=welchome08-20

♥ White Chocolate Cheesecake w/ Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Here is another cheesecake I made for you this past weekend. If you look closely at the one I posted yesterday and now this one, you will see that I actually used the same basic cheesecake filling for the recipe and just added different toppings. Never be afraid to make cheesecakes...they are so easy to make and you can be as creative as you like in changing them up with all kinds of additions. This one my friends is the most popular cake I make for friends and family. Why? Because it's chocolate and peanut butter!  Need I say more? 

White Chocolate Cheesecake w/ Reese's Peanut Butter Cups


Crust:
10 ounces graham crackers, crushed into crumbs
7 tablespoons unsalted butter

Cheesecake Filling:

3 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 ounces Ghirardelli or any premium white chocolate, chopped
5 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch salt
boiling water

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter and press into the bottom and 1 1/2 inches up the side of a 10 inch spring form pan. Bake for 10 minutes and then allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees while crust is cooling and you make your batter. Place the chopped white chocolate into a heat safe bowl and set aside. Bring the 1/2 cup of cream to a simmer over medium heat in a small sauce pan. Pour the hot cream over the white chocolate, and allow to stand for one minute. Stir the chocolate gently until melted completely.

In your mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth and lump free. Add the sugar and mix, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. On medium speed, slowly add the white chocolate mixture. Once combined you can add the eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed until each egg is incorporated. Once you've added all the eggs, mix in the vanilla and salt and pour into your prepared crust that has cooled in your spring form pan.

Set the pan onto a couple of heavy duty, large sheets of aluminum foil and smooth them up the sides of the pan to waterproof. Set the cheesecake into a large roasting pan and then place in the oven. Pour the boiling water into the roasting pan, filling to about one inch. Bake at only 325 for the first hour and then reduce heat again down to only 300 degrees and bake for another hour or so or until the center is just set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool chill for at least 2 hours before adding topping.

Chocolate Ganache and Peanut Butter Cup topping

1 cup chocolate chips (use dark chocolate or milk chocolate)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup Reese's peanut butter cups, chopped
Hershey's caramel ice cream topping

Add water to a large pot and bring to a simmer. Place a heatproof glass bowl over the pot and add the chocolate and heavy cream. Slowly stir with a spoon until the chocolate has melted, careful not to incorporate too much air. Once melted, remove from heat. Pour chocolate ganache over cheese cake and allow to drip down sides. Top with chopped peanut butter cups. Drizzle caramel ice cream topping over the top.

Photograph is copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home.

SNOW!

We got snow Monday here in Maryland. Nothing significant but it was so pretty when it was coming down. This is the view from my kitchen window yesterday. I love the snow when it's falling...but that is the extent of my love for snow! This was actually snow and sleet coming down when I snapped this photo

Collapsible Cake Carrier

I love this food carrier....I am always baking cupcakes, pies and layer cakes and even deviled eggs to take to parties and cookouts. I could never find a carrier that would work for me. If I baked a three layer cake the frosting would always touch the top. Cupcakes and deviled eggs would slide everywhere. But this past week I ordered this carrier and I love it.

It is collapsible so I can make it tall for cakes or short for pies and deviled eggs! I can even fit a tall 5 layer cake in it and it holds up 12-24 cupcakes. And the best part...I can collapse it and store it flat in my cabinet!

Thought I would share my find with you today.....here's the link if you're interested. Remember, anything you buy through Welcome Home supports the NO KILL Advocacy Group to save the lives of dogs and cats who are killed unnecessarily while they wait for their forever homes. So any purchase through my page goes to support a good cause.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZSCTMO/ref=as_li_ss_sm_fb_us_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=399837&creativeASIN=B00AZSCTMO&linkCode=shr&tag=welchome08-20&qid=1376943980&sr=8-1&keywords=progressive++cupcake+and+cake+carrierSee More