Orange Cranberry Cupcakes

Orange Cranberry Cupcakes - 

Convert your favorite vanilla cupcake into a holiday explosion by adding diced cranberries, orange extract, freshly grated orange zest and a dash of cloves ... 

Top with vanilla cream cheese icing and a sugar coated cranberry to finish into a mouthwatering dessert!

Where did Thanksgiving Go?

What is Thanksgiving to You?

• Turkey and gravy ...
• Family and friends ...
• Football ...
• Sweet potato casserole ...
• Stuffing ...
• Pie ...

As a child I remember the stores promoting turkeys, pies, family, and gathering for dinner long before they put up a single Christmas decoration. We enjoyed the holiday and relished it instead of trying to skip it to the bigger sales ticket experience.

Family dinner was important then, good food and thoughts of thanks. As was the traditional family football game we lovingly called the "Toilet Bowl."

Now, Christmas promotions begin before Halloween, and it's not uncommon to see a brightly decorated tree next to zombies and skeletons.

Yeah, that gets me in the spirit ...

I have noticed a growing trend on FB of people giving daily thanks and that's been encouraging - and inspiring! The retailers may have forgotten to enjoy one holiday at a time, but the spirit of Thanksgiving still appears to be strong among individuals.

So tell me, what's your favorite Thanksgiving tradition or dish?

WIN Matching Aprons or a Flirty Cupcake T!

Sweet Mercy! wants to give gifts for Christmas, but we can't give them to everyone, so here's the deal ... Earn entries via this rafflecopter giveaway and you could get matching mother & daughter aprons or a flirty cupcake T, just in time for Christmas! 

You have a chance to win up to 20 entries, so what are you waiting for? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Easy links to the Sweet Mercy Top 5 Cookbooks for extra entries via the giveaway link above.

Breakfast Cookie Link

Chocolate Chip Cookie Link

Granola Bar Recipes Link

Please note, that when leaving reviews on the cookbooks, they should be honest, real reviews.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 15oz can pumpkin puree
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 large eggs
1 cup white flour
1 cup wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 425. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Combine pumpkin, spice, sugar, oil and eggs. Mix until well blended. Scrape sides of bowl and mix again.

Whisk flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt together. Add to wet mixture and combine. Scrape sides of the bowl and mix again. Add chocolate chips and mix one last time.

Scoop into paper liners until about 3/4 full. I use a large scooper, size 16.

Bake for 13-15 minutes or until set.

Blueberry Pie Almond Milk Ice Cream

Ice Cream:
6 cups Silk Vanilla Almond Milk*
1 small pkg vanilla pudding

Combine and put in ice cream maker. Freeze according to mfg directions. While it's freezing, make the blueberry glaze and crumb crust.
*MUST  be sweetened, not the unsweetened vanilla

Blueberry Glaze:
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups blueberries
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Cook over med-high heat, stirring constantly until it boils, reduce the heat and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and place in the fridge to cool.

Crumb Crust:
2 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients and spread on parchment-lined pan. Press together like a crust. Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool and crumble.

When the ice cream is done, scoop it into a large bowl. Add the blueberry mixture and the crumbs and stir until incorporated. Freeze until ready to serve.

If you want to double the blueberry glaze recipe, you can top the ice cream with blueberries as shown.