Red Velvet Peppermint Cake...Yum!

I made this cake for our family progressive dinner, and it was so yummy!

Red Velvet Peppermint Cake

Yield: 1 (3-layer) cake
Ingredients

* 1 (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix
* 3 egg whites
* 1 1/3 cups buttermilk
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1 (9-ounce) package yellow cake mix*
* 1/2 cup buttermilk
* 1 large egg
* 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 tablespoons liquid red food coloring
* 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
* Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting
* Garnishes: Holiday Trees, 6 (5-inch) red and white peppermint candy canes, crushed; 12 (5-inch) green candy canes, broken; 12 round peppermint candies

Preparation

Beat first 4 ingredients according to cake mix package directions.

Beat yellow cake mix and next 6 ingredients according to package directions. Spoon red batter alternately with white batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans. Swirl batter gently with a knife.

Bake at 350° for 22 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool on wire racks.

Spread Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. (Cake may be chilled up to 2 days or frozen up to 1 month.) Garnish, if desired. Serve within 2 hours.

*1 3/4 cups yellow cake mix may be substituted

NOTE: For testing purposes only, we used Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe White Cake Mix, Jiffy Golden Yellow Cake Mix, and McCormick Red Food Color.

If cake is frozen, thaw completely before garnishing to prevent crushed candy from running. Do not refrigerate after garnishing.

Peppermint Frosting ~


Yield: about 5 cups
Ingredients

* 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
* 1 (2-pound) package powdered sugar
* 2 teaspoons peppermint extract*

Preparation

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at low speed until smooth. Add extract, beating until blended.

*2 teaspoons vanilla extract may be substitute

9 Great Christmas Entertaining Ideas While Staying on a Budget

by Marley Majcher – (a.k.a. The Party Goddess)

1. Think like a Beatle.
Or at least his wife. Currently Yoko Ono has a “Wish Tree” project installed in cities around the world because when she was a child in Japan she used to write wishes for the coming year and leave them in the temple. Why not create your own wish tree? Cut out squares of paper and pre-string them. Invite guests to write their wishes for the new year on a card and place them on your tree (or in a vase). Then, when the holidays are over, save the cards and put them in a scrap book to whip out the following winter.

2. Get personal.
Place card holders should be fun and festive enough to glam up the table while also letting guests know where they will be sitting (think individual snowflakes, ornaments or even mini evergreens tied with beautiful ribbon scraps and each person’s name).

3. Collect it yourself.
Take a nature walk and pick up fallen branches, evergreens and pinecones. Take interesting branches and evergreens and “flock” them using the store bought canned stuff or spray paint pinecones silver. Don’t forget to use spray adhesive to add a little extra glittery fascination. Create a centerpiece or buffet decor with what you found and adorned.

4. Repurpose what you’ve got.
Tired of your old holiday gear? Why not just switch it with a neighbor. You deliver two boxes of ornaments or supplies to them and they deliver two boxes to you. That way the house will feel totally festive and no one has spent a cent!

5. Or just reorganize your manpower.
Don’t feel like switching with a friend? Then why not simulate your own version of Trading Spaces? Pull out all of your usual holiday decorations and have a few close friends or family members decorate your place using your own stuff (then of course you do the same for them!) Tuck things in unexpected places like the bathroom windowsill or even the counter of the master bath. You’re guaranteed not to get stuck in your same old holiday decorating rut.

6. Spell it out.
Create unique and memorable place cards for your guests by using seasonally inspired “Thank You/Gratitude” cards. The hostess (or family members or dinner guests) should jot down on the card why they are thankful for that person. Place the card in its envelope (the envelope can also be seasonally decorated if you enjoy creating paper crafts) and with a calligraphy pen (color coordinated with the predominate color from your holiday decorating palette or gold), write their name and place the gratitude card at their assigned seat.

7. Be healthy, drink tea!
Tea has gotten a big boost in the media lately for its healthy properties, but it’s also easy to make and a really inexpensive addition to your bar menu. Get creative with options like Sweet Tea with Rum and Funky Tea-tini’s that will get your buzz on and keep you cancer free (well sort of.)

8. Back to the basics.
The really basic, like 1950’s basics. No one believes me but casseroles are fabulous. They are so inexpensive to make, can use leftover ingredients, freeze well and will KNOCK YOUR GUESTS SOCKS OFF. Guaranteed!

9. Create edible centerpieces.
Individual sweets on a pedestal in the middle of each table double as décor and dessert. Example: Picture candy apples dipped in caramel or chocolate and then individually wrapped in cello with beautiful ribbon and nested among evergreen sprigs. Not only will the centerpieces look festive and different, guests can either eat their candy apples for dessert or take them home as favors at the end of the party.

*****

More info on Marley:
Leading Entertainment Expert, Entrepreneur, TV Personality, Coach, Author and Sought After Speaker, Marley Majcher is CEO of The Party Goddess! and publisher of the ezine, “How To Be A Party Goddess.” If you are ready to take your career or business to the next level, make more money and just be happier with your work life, then get your free tips on how to be a rockin’ event planner at www.howtobeapartygoddess.com.