FLICKR FRIDAY INSPIRATIONS: THANKSGIVING

Blessed by jojodee

Chocolate-espresso sugar cookie acorns by whipped bakeshop

Apron by aunt pitty pat

turkey by bluecatknits

Thankful banner by cindyiscrafty

Thanksgiving cookies by whipped bakeshop

Tea on Tuesday: Chocolate Ganache Cake

Ingredients:
* 2 ounces 53% cacao dark baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 3/4 cup boiling water
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1/4 cup buttermilk
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* GANACHE:
* 1/4 cup half-and-half cream
* 3 ounces 53% cacao dark baking chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions:

* Place chocolate and butter in a large bowl; add boiling water and stir until smooth. Stir in the sugar, buttermilk, egg and extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; beat into chocolate mixture just until blended.

* Transfer to a 9-in. round baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Place rack on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet.

* In a small heavy saucepan, combine the ganache ingredients. Cook and stir over low heat until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl; cool for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.

* Slowly pour ganache over cake, allowing some ganache to drape over the sides. Refrigerate until serving. Cut into wedges.

Yield: 12 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 slice equals 179 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 26 mg cholesterol, 236 mg sodium, 28 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.

Sew Happy

...that's what I've been lately. :) I dusted off my Brother sewing machine that I've had for 20 years & decided it was time to make some Christmas stockings! I really don't "sew", but I do piddle a bit around with it. I bought this simple little sewing machine at Wal-mart 20 years ago when I was once again going through a sewing phase and swore I was going to learn to sew because of the high prices of plus-size clothes. Well, I did make a skirt or two, but I mostly made curtains and such for the apt we lived in then. I paid under $100 for it and it only has very basic stitches, but it's all I ever needed.

I hope to have my stockings finished and posted this week. I'm doing punch needle to add to them right now. I have officially quit the fall items and have moved on to the holidays! I love making Christmas items...it really puts me in the holiday mood! OK, I have a confession, my tree is up and standing at the front window! No, it hasn't been decorated yet, and actually my husband was clearing out the spare bedroom (where the tree hibernates all-year until the holidays) and he went ahead and stuck it out in front of the window. Maybe there's hope for the scrooge yet! ;) I have been saying I always wanted to put the tree up at Thanksgiving but it has yet to happen...until this year!

Am I the only one or do you have several projects going at once? ;) I'm doing punch needle, sewing, and embroidering! Yes, I do love the holdiays! And I have a few gifts to make too! I had better get busy! Can you believe next week is Thanksgiving? WOW. It will be Christmas before you know it!

Hump Day Humor :)

Tea on Tuesday: Pumpkin Spice Spread

With its hint of cinnamon, nutmeg and maple flavors, this thick and creamy pumpkin spread is sure to be gone in no time at your next brunch or special luncheon. I would suggest spreading it on quick breads, bagels or homemade oven-toasted tortilla wedges.

Ingredients:
* 1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese
* 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
* Sugar substitute equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon maple flavoring
* 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed

Directions:
* In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, pumpkin and sugar substitute; mix well. Beat in the cinnamon, vanilla, maple flavoring, pumpkin pie spice and nutmeg. Fold in whipped topping. Refrigerate until serving.

Yield: 4 cups (32 servings).

Note: This recipe was tested with Splenda No Calorie Sweetener. Nutritional Analysis: One serving (2 tablespoons) equals 25 calories, 1 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 1 mg cholesterol, 34 mg sodium, 3 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 1 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch.

Gooseberry Patch

It's nearing the holidays again...my favorite time of the year, of course, and I every year I start dragging out all my Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, recipes, and crafts! Every Christmas I make a strawberry trifle that came from one of their Christmas cookbooks from 3 years ago. It's become one of our favorites and one of our "Christmas traditions" foods. I made it the year we were married & now my husband insists that I make it every year! :) It is soooo good!!

Have you seen the Gooseberry Patch website? They also have a lovely blog and they announce specials, discounts, and giveaways. I love just browsing through their website. I am in love with these vintage Christmas towels. They have a tablecloth too that matches. "I'm dreaming of a vintage Christmas...." :)

I have always loved Gooseberry Patch. I like the simple ways they decorate and it reminds me of "the good old days". Am I showing my age? ;) They always have little "gems" at the bottom of the cookbook pages about decorating or ideas for entertaining.

My favorite Gooseberry book? I'd have to say, hands down, it's the "Christmas all through the house". It combines recipes & crafts, menus & ideas. A huge binder full of ideas! I remember the year I found it in our local bookstore and couldn't tear myself away from it. And that was before I even got it home!

So do yourself a favor, and check out their website. It's bound to bring back some precious memories of days gone by for you too.

Hugs to all,
Sheri

FRIDAY FLICKR INSPIRATIONS: SEWING FOR CHRISTMAS

harlequin patchwork holiday apron by sewing geek

dove by sunshines creations

white deer pin cushion by beths bagz

christmas makeup bag by eclipse etc

patchwork star by patchwork pottery

felt stockings by stephw916

New eBay listing!

Adorable little squirrel with an acorn, pumpkin background, and leaves! What a wonderful basket this would make on your kitchen table with fruit and nuts. Listing tonight on eBay. It is a 5 1/2" x 5" punch needle mat on a wooden basket. (Raffia bow is removeable).

HUMP DAY HUMOR

Tea on Tuesday: Lighter Cranberry Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup dried cranberries
3 tablespoons orange juice
3 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon grated orange peel

Directions:
In a small saucepan, combine the raisins, cranberries and orange juice. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin, cranberry sauce and molasses. Beat in the eggs, oil and vanilla until blended. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the pecans, orange peel and raisin mixture.

Transfer to two 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).

Nutrition Facts (1 slice)
Calories: 159, Fat: 5 g, Saturated Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 18 mg, Sodium: 192 mg, Carbohydrate: 28 g, Fiber: 1 g, Protein: 2 g.

Diabetic Exchange: 2 starch, 1/2 fat.

INSPIRATIONAL SUNDAY

To all my friends...

FLICKR FRIDAY INSPIRATIONS: HALLOWEEN

candy corn witchy poo! by beelicious

Halloween pinkeeps by deep fried cupcake

Halloween orange organza felt hanging ornaments by Natasha Smart Design

vintage style toy ornament HALLOWEEN CAT "whitey" by julibird

Handmade ornaments by Notabelle

fall in love with prim raggedy anne pumkin doll by Sweet Treat Dolls