On the LAST day of PUMPKIN.....

It just has to be FUDGE!!!!  

I'm sure you will really like this recipe as well! 

Pumpkin Fudge

3 cups white sugar
1 cup milk
3 T. light corn syrup
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 t. salt
1 t. pumpkin pie spice (I used cinnamon, cloves and ginger...didn’t measure)
1 ½ t. vanilla
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional, and I left it out this time)

Butter or grease one 8x8 pan. Alternatively, line it with Reynolds’s Release foil for easy removal. In a large saucepan (this bubbles up quite high, roughly quadruples in volume), mix together the sugar, milk, corn syrup, pumpkin and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium and continue boiling—do NOT stir.

When mixture registers 232 degrees on candy thermometer or forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water, remove pan from heat. Stir in spice, vanilla, butter and nuts. Cool to lukewarm (110 degrees on candy thermometer).

Beat mixture until it is very thick and loses some of its gloss. It will also lighten up by several shades. Quickly pour into the prepared pan and allow to set. Cut into 1 inch squares.

So SMOOTH.... CREAMY.... YUMMY! 

Well.... 

That wraps up the 7 days of PUMPKIN!!!!  

Be watching.... because later tonight.... 

I have a surprise!!!! 

You won't want to miss! 

I PROMISE! 

You can NEVER have too much PUMPKIN...

can you???? 

NAH!!!!! 

This is a GREAT pumpkin recipe for a cold, lightly snowing (ok, SNOW at all) need some WARM and COMFY smells breakfast.... Like Sunday morning..... 

The fun thing about this recipe is I've had it for a long time... I use to make it when my first 2 children were little... but I somehow forgot about it... probably with life's crazy crazes! I was digging through my OLD recipe book looking to re-BOOST my menu planning... and stumbled across this recipe again.... and I just can't WAIT to whip them up again! But as I was browsing around THE SISTERS CAFE again.... I found that they too had this recipe!  (there were a few variations - but the picture just made me have a hankering for a big ol' hunk of a ....... 

PUMPKIN PANCAKES WITH APPLE CIDER SYRUP! 

2 cups flour 

3 Tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground all spice*

1 tsp ground cinnamon*

1/2 tsp ginger*

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup buttermilk (I do an overflowing 1/2 cup)

1 cup pumpkin puree

2 eggs

2 Tbsp canola oil

2 Tbsp vinegar

In one bowl mix together the buttermilk, pumpkin, eggs, oil and vinegar. Combine dry ingredients separately and them stir into pumpkin mixture just until combined. Heat your pan or griddle (lightly butter or oil if it is not seasoned), using about 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot with apple cider syrup.

*The variation my recipe had was to use 2 tsp PUMPKIN PIE SPICE instead of the allspice, cinnamon & ginger and 1/2 tsp nutmeg.  

Apple Cider Syrup

 (Perfect over Pumpkin Pancakes)

3/4 Cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 TBs cornstarch

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2 cups fresh apple cider (or juice would work)

1 Tbs fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup butter

Mix sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg well. Add apple cider and lemon juice. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Store leftovers in the refrigerator, use within a week or two.

Pecan Topping.... optional, but you are going to want to make it mandatory! 

2 TBSP butter 

1 cup pecans (halves of whole) 

about 1/4 cup brown sugar 

Melt butter in a skillet.  Mix in pecans and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Mix, and let caramelize on medium heat for about 5 minutes.  Stirring occasionally.  Do not let the mixture burn....  top your pancakes and apple cider syrup.... mmmmmmmmm OH ...... SO....... DEEE-LIGHT..... FUL!  mmmmmmmmmm! 

(Photo courtesy of Melanie, from The Sisters Cafe THANKS!)

Is your mouth just WATERING!?!?!  

Oh how I wish it weren't Fast Sunday today.... :) 

 Maybe this will be Monday night dinner!  ... oh, and let me just add... the smell is DEEE-VINE!  I just remember getting up to make these before I would get the kids up for school, and everytime.... the SMELL would just "wake" them up... in a great mood of course! (and trust me... they were NOT morning people!) 

On the 5th day of PUMPKIN.....

It just wouldn't be complete without.....

PUMPKIN CREAM TRIFLE
(Gayle Holdman, SECRET RECIPES, World Wide Recipes)

1 18.25 oz. pkg spice cake mix
1 3.4 oz pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup pumpkin, canned or mashed fresh
1/2 cup vegetable oil (again... applesauce is amazing!)
1/2 cup water
3 lg eggs
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 3.4 oz. pkgs. cheesecake instant pudding mix
(can use 2 vanilla or 1 cheesecake/1 vanilla)
2 cups cold milk
2 cups frozen whipped topping - thawed
Pecans - chopped and toasted
English toffee bits (or chopped candy bars like SKOR or Heath)
Caramel sauce - (drizzle) optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray.  In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, pumpkin, oil, water, eggs, cinnamon and ginger.  Blend with electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute.  Stop mixer and scrape down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula.  increase mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 mintes more.  Batter should look thick and well blended.  Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 32-39 minutes or until cake springs back lightly when touched and toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool completely.  (Cake can be frozen at this point.  Thaw at room temp before assembling trifle.)  When ready to assemble trifle, cut or tear cake into 1 inch cubes.  Combine pudding mixes with nilk and blend with whisk until the pudding starts to thicken.  Fold in whipped topping, the quickly assemble trifle.   Place 1/3 of cake cubes into trifle bowl.  Top with 1/3 pudding mixture and sprinkle with 1/3 nuts and toffee bits.  Repeat layers two more times, ending with nuts and toffee on top.  Drizzle with caramel sauce, if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate, coveredm, no longer than 24 hours.  Makes 16 servings.

Doesn't this just look DEEE-LICIOUS!!!!! 

(it is! trust me!)

(Being that this week has NOT gone as planned SURPRISE!.... 

I asked Melanie over at THE SISTERS CAFE if I could borrow her picture of this HEAVENLY treat... she was ever so kind and gave me permission to use her picture.... but... feel free to bop on over to THE SISTERS CAFE...  take a look around... (if you haven't already!) it is simply YUMMY over there!!! .... Thank you Melanie!) 

I love that this can be frozen! Just bake up a few cakes - freeze and then when you get a last minute invite (or for me it is usually a last "OH CRAP! I JUST REMEMBERED I NEED TO TAKE....something...") this whips up in no time! Well.. kinda... got to remember to remove from the freezer!!!

Just two more days of PUMPKIN!!!! 

Punkin...punkin....punkin......

You can NEVER have too much PUNKIN.... Can ya!?!?! 

Well..... not here!  (I think that we have established it as a VEGETABLE ... and so therefore... it is GOOD for you - right?!?!?! :)) 

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread 

3 cups flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

4 eggs 

2 cups sugar

2 cups canned pumpkin 

1 1/2 cups oil (again, I use applesauce!...sneaking in the fruit too! LOL!)

1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (of course!) 

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.  In a separet bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil  Stir the pumpkin mixture into the dry ingredients just until moistened.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Pour into two greased 8x4" loaf pans.  Bake at 350 for 60-70 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pans to wire racks and let completely cool.  Makes 2 loaves.  **See note**

**NOTE:  I hate having a partial can (29 oz) can of pumpkin left over, and I hate even more buying the 15 oz can of pumpkin (just not cost effective) so, for this recipe I will again use 1/2 the can of the 29 oz. size - but... I usually end up making 2 batches of this and making the MINI-LOAVES to freeze and put away for neighbor gifts....now that is COST effective!!! I wouldn't recommend just DOUBLING the batch... mine never turn out - I play it save and just make 2 separate batches.... but you may be much more talented than I! Also I bake the mini loaves for about 45-50 minutes.  Each batch makes 3-4 mini loaves, depending on loaf pan size.... ENJOY!!!!

**Note: this is not my picture... I can't FIND mine... SERIOUSLY!!!!**

So, I borrowed from My Artful Life. Thank you!

Bye~Bye October.....

HELLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO November!!!! 

Could we just go back to October... for just a little... perhaps another 30 days????  

I loved October! It is so BEAUTIFUL! Love the colors! LOVE the smells!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE October! (of course, you already know that!)  BUT.... I will admit.... I am REALLY excited to look into November too! (and anxious to put away the spider webs, mummies and creepy-crawling things!!!- November means more colors... at least INSIDE my house... so I'm ok with that!)  I surely hope it SLOWS down... just a bit! I have so much to do still!

Well, as we put away the JACK-O-LANTERNS.... and bring out the PUMPKINS I got thinking about my FAVORITE PUMPKIN TREATS!  (and I do have a few! :)) .... (but I've also committed myself to FIT-N-FAB by 50! starting today!) agh.... oh well!  Anyway.... I thought it would be appropriate to share some of my FAVORITE pumpkin recipes this week..... (and don't panic, I've still got CHRISTMAS on the brain!) These are some of our favorite holiday treats too - so of course they are on the "shopping" list for holiday baking.... Go ahead!  Grab some PUMPKIN and ENJOY!!! They are DELIGHTFUL!!!!! 

Mom's Pumpkin Cake 

(this is by far the BEST, MOIST, THICK, YUMMY(and easy!) pumpkin cake I have had! And trust me... I've tried a lot! :)) 

(excuse the PINK plate... it was the last one left... the rest of the plates were just crumbs....and it was the only piece of cake that was left too! I tell ya! Ya gotta hurry!) 

1 18.25 oz box yellow cake mix 
(I quite like Betty Crocker ;) ) 

1 15oz. can of solid packed pumpkin
(I use 1/2 the 29 oz. can, and the other 1/2 I use for...
that will be tomorrow's recipe, just cover it and put it in the refer!) 

3 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

2 tsp cinnamon 

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp ground cloves 

(or you can do 1 TBSP pumpkin pie spice) 

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, sugar, oil and spices.  Beat on low for 30 seconds, then on medium for 2 minutes.  Pour into a greased 9x13" baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack.  

FROSTING 

(the best!!!) 

1 stick softened butter (yes butter - no substitutions sorry...) 

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese - softened 

2-3 TBSP milk (to spreadable consistency) 

2 1/2 - 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar 

1 tsp vanilla 

Beat the softened butter for 3 minutes on high.  Add the cream cheese and beat on high until mixture is smooth and creamy.  Start with 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, vanilla and 2 TBSP milk, mix well. (Add additional powdered sugar and milk until reaches spreadable consistency).  Frost cake.  Store in refrigerator.  For added festive-ness, sprinkle slices with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice VERY lightly.

And... beware... it will be gone before you know it! IT IS YUMMY!!!!!  

Oh... one more thing.... Be sure to come back... On November 7th.... well, before then would be nice too.... but...... I have a SURPRISE!!!!!

Ahhhh..... I'm in love.......

OH!!!! I can't BELIEVE that I'm even stating such a thing! 

I have a NEW love....

Well.... I'll give you 2 clues.... 

ONE.

and TWO..... 

Now... I know what you are thinking.... 

BIG STINKIN DEAL! 

THAT IS NOTHING! 

Well... Let me just defend my problem.... addiction.... NEW LOVE.....

my cupboard.

This cupboard USE to be filled with board games and videos... 

YES! the OLD VHS'S that are just ANCIENT...

Well - they got the boot

and Mr. Fabric moved in.... 

I know..

I know...

YOU all have MUCH MUCH MORE than I... 

That's ok... 

My New LOVE and I just met.... 

And we are SO IN LOVE! 

When I'm having a bad day... 

I stop at the local FAB SHOP

When I'm feeling sad....

I stop at the distant FAB SHOP

When I'm feeling HAPPY.... 

I spend HOURS with my new love, in the FAB SHOP! 

I've even contemplated putting in my application...

Just so we can spend MORE time together, 

and perhaps less suspicion.... 

I mean...

WHO KNEW?!?! 

The queen of philosophy....

"IF IT AIN'T HOT GLUED...

I DON'T DO IT!"

would EVER fall in love with MR. SEW-ME! 

Awwww.... 

OH! Did I mention... 

I do have projects in mind for all of this...

AND they will be completed SOON.... 

(MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!) 

OH!! and the best part..... 

I have 9 - yes 9 YARDS on it's way to me this VERY minute!
Wanna see?

Here's just a SNEAK of some that are on their way!

Aren't they ADORABLE?!?!?!?!

And I'm soooo excited!!! 

I can't even sleep! 

It's beginning to feel a bit like CHRISTMAS!!!!

OH!... and I'll just add...

I'm over 1/2 done with my Christmas shopping!
Couldn't be MORE happier!!!!



Visions of SUGARPLUMS are dancing in my head....

lists.... Lists.... LISTS!

Yes I LOVE lists.... that is NO surprise to most... there are LISTS everywhere! :) But I only LOVE them, when I get to actually "CHECK" something off! It is a visual thing for me... gotta know I'm makin' progress... :)

Today, as I was reviewing my "lists" for the month of February, I remembered something that my 8 year old said to me this year... and of course I just HAD to do it, but it was a "last" minute thing, and when the "remembering" came back to me today, I decided I better ACT on it! (It's gettin kinda scary that if I don't WRITE things down, when the "THOUGHT" hits, sometimes it is gone forever...never to be "THOUGHT" of again....) So, (because I was driving) I pulled over into a parking lot, opened my 2010 calendar (good thing I had it! :) ) and starting "JOTTING" my "LISTS".....
(don't worry, I just transferred it over to my 2011 planner :))

When my oldest daughter got married, for their first Christmas, I wasn't really sure what to do for them.... A few weeks before Christmas an idea came to me to do a "BOX" filled with her FAVORITE things. Being that this was her first year not only away from home, but she was preparing to move "far" from home. They were going to be moving out of state and she was really having a hard time. So, I thought that "maybe" it would help her to feel a little bit of "HOME" on Christmas morning and to take with her. I decided to do the "BEST" I could for her husband as well.

So I found a good sturdy "box"... (I used boxes from the reams of paper from my work... they are VERY useful boxes!) The next year... I decided to do it again... and now~ A traditions has been born... I have done it every year since. I tried to make "note" of things that she and he would mention through the year that they liked.... like, "hot chocolate mixes", "OREO cookies", "SALSA" (homemade of course), and "CHIPS" (he has a favorite brand), etc... she loves "JELLY-BELLY Jelly Beans", NEW socks, Homemade Strawberry jam, Anita Stansfield & Nicholas Sparks books, they both LOVE Disney Movies, word search books... etc... So, I would just keep the list from the previous year and add to it... sometimes they would mention things that they were in need of like "flashlights", dish rags, q-tips.... sometimes silly things, sometimes their favorite "junk foods", even things that they could do together.... or even things you just don't think about until you "need" it... so I would add them to my list. I think that they have enjoyed it. One year, they both love "lap blankets" so I made them each a "lap blanket" out of fabric that was completely their personalities. It has always been something that I look forward to doing for them. I wondered if my son-in-law thought we were "CRaZy" for the "WEIRD" gift... a box of "stuff"... but, I think overall he either "tolerates" us or he really likes it. I'm going with he "LIKES" it... :)

Well, this past Christmas I had to add 2 more "My Favorite Things" boxes for my son and his wife... as I was making my list and reviewing it, asking my other children to help me because I started too late and needed them to help by listening when either of them would mention something that they liked or needed and my 8 year old said, "Mom, why don't I get a box of my favorite things?".... I didn't have a answer other than... "well, because you still live at home" and she said "Well, I still have favorite things.".... She was right. So, I immediately started to prep "My Favorite Things" boxes for ALL of the kids...

This year, I had them all save their "favorite things" gift for the last - and they opened them together. I think that this is now becoming a family tradition. I LOVE doing "My Favorite Things"... I think it is going to be MY new favorite part of Christmas... (or at least running a close race with the stocking... Not everything "fits" into the stocking...) I found it interesting that this year they were "asking" for things in their "favorite things box"... like the homemade salsa, jam and even bottled peaches! (I just gave them a case of bottled peaches and told them they have to return the jars if they want them refilled the next year. :)) OH and HOME-GROWN and MADE pickles! Trevor LOVED my pickles this year! FUNNY BOY!!! This works really well with my "homemade" Christmas!

Today, I picked up these boxes at IKEA for next year... ($7.99 for 2 - DEAL!) I'm so EXCITED! Blue for the boys... Red for the girls... I think I'm going to "collect" the boxes back every year so I can just break them down and re-use them.... good idea don't you think? :)

I think I'm going to make a large ribbon for each that has their name on it and another one that says "MY FAVORITE THINGS".

EWE!!!! I'm so excited! If I keep my LIST handy... I'll be able to easily CHECK things off it this month! YEAH!!!

I'm so GLAD that this THOUGHT hit me today! It's going to be a great "MY FAVORITE THINGS" year!

What would your "favorite things" box contain... if you had a "favorite things" box... ???

OH... I think I'll have to "hint" for a FAVORITE THINGS BOX!
:)

Oh! Don't forget to read the next post... there is a SNOWBALL fight going on! and I KNOW you want to be part of it... HURRY!!!! The fight is about to start!

My top 12 day 2....

Another of my FAVORITE things about Christmas .... is CHRISTMAS CARDS! 

I LOVE getting Christmas cards!  Since the first Christmas that we were married, I have saved every Christmas card we have received. (I think...I'm pretty sure...ok, pretty close!)  I box them up every year with our Christmas decor and I just LOVE pulling them out and taping them to the door after we have reminisced.... taken our little stroll down memory lane... I especially love the cards with family pictures :)  It is so fun to see how everyone is growing up! I also date the card on the back - just in case ... and I try to put cards from the same families through the years together ... OH SO FUN!  I just LOVE it!  

One thing that I find very sad is that the cards have dwindled through the years... we use to get a lot of cards... and just the past 5-6 years they are pretty sparse... guess that goes to show you what the economy has done for most of us... so sad... BUT I still love to go back through the years... We have been so very blessed with so many WONDERFUL friends and family! 

Now...I know what you are thinking... "But SHE never sends out cards!".... weeeellllll.... let me explain.... don't get me wrong here - I do cards EVERY year.... but.... they rarely get sent out ... why? Because I am either "broke" or too lazy to go to the post office to get stamps...  or the biggest reason.... I start to "worry" that people don't want to hear from me... that maybe I say something in my "Christmas letter" that might offend or hurt someone...or sound whiny... or be boring.. or stupid... or they might laugh.... oh the torment I put myself through... it takes me MONTHS and MONTHS to get my Christmas letter done - and then months and MONTHS of editing it.... and pretty soon.... it's Valentines.... and it's just TOO LATE to send a Christmas card... so I tuck them away in a drawer... and I open that drawer - like on days like today - and I find 4 years worth of Christmas cards ... sitting there... in envelopes.... addressed...and all that is missing is the stamp.... but they are ready to go - and yet they sit!  AGH! Why do I do that to myself?? WHY!?!?!  Well, after going through my Christmas Cards today - and visiting with such amazing families (via my cards) I'm determined to just "SIGN" my cards and drop them in the mail!  HECK! No-one really cares what we've been up to,  do they? I mean - I LOVE getting CHRISTMAS LETTERS and CARDS! I LOVE reading about my friends and family and all that they have done through the year1 I LOVE IT!  But.... I don't really do much of anything - we're kinda boring... there really isn't much to share, so signed with "LOVE US" should be just great - or is that too "impersonal"...SEE! .... agh....the worries... what to do....I must send them! That's what I'm going to do! just SEND THEM! 

In the mean time.... I just LOVE Christmas cards!  Absolutely LOVE them! So... please.... keep em coming!  :)

Introducing.... My top 12 Favorites

First of all... I just have to say .....

Ahhh...

Doesn't it feel good to have Christmas all wrapped up... ready to be placed under the tree... Doesn't that just "FEEL" better?.... ahhhh.... I'm soooooo happy for all of you !!!

I'm still working on it... but I'll be there soon!
I PROMISE!

I thought that I would just start off the 1st day of Christmas by taking the next 12 days to jot down my "top 12 favs!" ....I'm sure it is going to be hard to do - because I have so MANY favorites - but... one has got to start somewhere ... so for this year - it will be my favorite 12  things of Christmas.....

So... stay tuned... Tomorrow starts "MY TOP 12 FAVORITES!"