BABYCAKES

This is our new puppy Babycakes. She is a babydoll faced Maltese, she weighs in at a whopping 2 1/2 pounds and she is 15 weeks old. I have been waiting a long time to get another maltese and now Babycakes is here and taken over our lives.

FRUIT CAKE

Well this is the kind of fruitcake I really like. It won't last as long as the traditional fruit cakes made this time of year, but in my opinion it tastes way better!!! I made this cake last week for my hairdresser. She was giving it to the owner of the shop where she works for his birthday. It was a chiffon cake with pastry cream filling. Frosted with whipped cream and decorated with fresh fruit. The berries this time of year are not as flavorful as they are in the summer so I glazed them with a sweet neutral glaze.

They were thrilled with the cake and even called me from the beauty shop as they were eating it to tell me just how good it was.

CLASSIC CARROT CAKE

The Classic Carrot Cake from Rose's Heavenly Cakes was simple to make and has a lovely white chocolate cream cheese frosting that is easily made in a food processor.

The kumquats are from my garden, I candied them a couple days ago.

I make carrot cakes all the time so I was anxious to try Rose's recipe. My recipe calls for crushed pineapple, Rose's uses raisins. My carrot cake has some spices like cinnamon, allspice and clove, Rose adds cinnamon and cocoa powder.

The flavor of the cake is great, my husband loved the raisins. I put walnuts around the outside and on top because he loves them too.

We both enjoyed this cake, I don't think I will abandon my regular recipe but this is a nice alternative and I loved the white chocolate cream cheese frosting.

CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Getting into the Christmas spirit making decorated sugar cookies.

FRUITS FROM MY BACKYARD

Just picked this beautiful Mineola off my tree in the backyard. They are sweet and delicious and I feel so nutritious eating one right after plucking it from the tree.

Next I need to candy some of these kumquats.