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Tiber Canyon Ranch

Tiber Canyon Ranch Olive Oil is proudly sold at Mix It Up Kitchen Studio. The olive oil is a flavorful blend of rich Tuscan flavors mixed with a fresh Californian style. The oil is perfect drizzled over fresh greens or with pasta. They also feature citrus flavored oils – delicious on chicken and fish.

The ranch is situated on 50 acres just south of downtown San Luis Obispo. They use sustainable farming practices, which I love. That means, no petrochemical fertilizers or pesticides and no herbicides. Beauty abounds at Tiber Canyon Ranch as more than half of their 50 acre ranch is undeveloped and served as a wildlife preserve.

You can learn more about the Ranch at their website www.tibercanyon.com and come by Mix It Up to purchase a bottle of the extra special, extra virgin olive oil. My favorite flavor of their infused olive oil is Yuzu. It will be on all of my familie's stocking this year.



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Amy Bakes Cupcakes - gorgeous!

Amy O’Kanes welcoming smile and cheerful demeanor always brightens my day, as do her scrumptious cupcake treats. That is why her fabulous business, “Amy Bakes Cupcakes,” is on my Top Ten List Gift Picks. Why give a bouquet of flowers or a bottle of wine, when you can present your hostess, relative or friend with a dozen fresh and personalized cupcakes?

Amy bakes the most delicious cupcakes, baked by hand and made to order, in her health-department-certified kitchen. She uses quality ingredients like organic chocolate, homemade vanilla extract, organic lavender, and local seasonal fruit and spices. She also offers gluten-free and vegan cupcakes, and to top it all off, she creates handmade cupcake wrappers and decorations from recycled materials.

Amy describes each cupcake as “tiny presents.” The description could not be more accurate. Her flair for combing extraordinary ingredients, enable her to create flawless decadent delicacies. The outcome is tantalizing flavors like Chocolate Merlot with Dark Chocolate Ganache frosting, Champagne with Raspberry Cream, and one of my all time favorites, Salted Carmel Chocolate Cupcakes (it’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty).

Without a doubt, all of Amy's cupcakes are little treasures that are thoughtful, unique and heavenly. Amy Bakes Cupcakes cost $32 per dozen, with gluten-free cupcakes priced at $34. For more information, including a cupcake menu and cupcake photo gallery, visit amybakes
cupcakes.com.