Friendsgiving 2013

 I hosted the first Friendsgiving brunch this week.   It was a chance to get together and enjoy a peaceful morning with a few friends before the craziness of the holidays begins.  I think technically Friendsgiving means having Thanksgiving Dinner with your friends, but I thought brunch the week before sounded like a fun twist.  

It is potluck style,  so I encouraged my guests to bring something they have been dying to try. Maybe something fancy that their families would never eat, or a trial run on a new recipe for the holidays.  I had them let me know what they were bringing to make sure we didn't have only muffins and to help me decide what to make.

As hostess I also provided the drinks, a clean house and a cute baby for entertainment.  We had really yummy food and it was fun to hear how Thanksgiving ttraditions are so different for everyone.  And even though our views on turkey are different we all agreed that we are already looking forward to our new tradition of friendsgiving.

Ivy's Pumpkin Party

On Monday Night Ivy hosted her First Annual Pumpkin Party.  She has been asking if it was Halloween yet for 2 months, and has been wanting a party if the worst way.  So we invited all of Darin's family over to carve pumpkins!

I turned to my trusty friend, Picnik to help me out with the invitations.  I saved a blank image  in photoshop the size that I wanted -4x8- then imported that in to Picnik and used their halloween stickers and fonts to whip this up.   Then I imported it back into photoshop so I could print three on a page.  I know, I know, sometimes I cheat on Picnik, but as much as I love it, there are some things it just can't do ;)

 After I  printed it out, I used my favorite Halloween paper and my big shot to decorate the other side. Check out that creepy spider shadow!

  We hand delivered the invitations then waited for our party.  After my apple-palooza this weekend I decided to buy all of the food go easy on myself for refreshments  We had chips and salsa, apples with caramel dip, and pumpkin donuts.  

Since I went the easy route on the food it freed up some time to make a couple of decorations!  {Cuz I would much rather do that then make cookies!}  I made some food label thingy's using picnik - of course- to put by the food and drinks.  I also put together a little banner using cardstock and some baker's twine. 

Ivy had a blast playing with her cousins more than anything.  It was all we could do to tear them away to carve pumpkins for a few minutes! Darin had elaborate plans for a witch, but he decided to go the easy route too, and went for the goofy smile instead.

And that, my friends is exactly why we moved here.  So we could do things like have pumpkin parties with our family and Ivy could be the bestest friends with her cousins.  Thanks Warnicks for coming!   

I Feel Like Forest Gump

 {source}

I've told you one of my favorite things about living in the Tri-Cities is all of the produce.  Well we are up to our ears in apples lately. It is Washington after all.  And if you are here also then chances are you have that many apples too.  And if you don't you don't have to go very far to find someone who is more than willing to share theirs.  We know a couple of apple farmers and have really nice neighbors who just bring us apples so we have been getting creative.  

Need some new ideas on what to do with your apples?  Here is a little taste of what we have made so far. {And what has kept me so busy this weekend!}

Applesauce, apple pie filling, apple butter, squash and apples, dried apples, can't forget EATING apples {I think Ivy eats three every day} and one of my faves  ~ apple cinnamon rolls.  My friend Kim so kindly requested the recipe so I thought I would share it here for all of you!

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

{via Gooseberry Patch}

FILLING

1 c. brown sugar packed

2 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 cup apple butter

2 c. apples, cored, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup butter, melted

Make roll dough according to your favorite recipe.  I like this one because it is a lot of dough, so you can make rolls and cinnamon rolls at the same time! Because we don't need that many cinnamon rolls around here.  Although regular rolls are just as bad since I can't resist them hot out of the oven, can you?!  But back to the recipe. ;) While your dough is rising chop your apples and mix together your filling.  

When the dough has risen, punch down and place on a lightly floured surface.  Divide dough and let rest 10 minutes.  If you are making rolls also, then go ahead and do those first.  Then using your remaining dough roll into a  big rectangle.  Top with the filling.  

{The recipe is for a full batch of dough so you will have some left over}

 

Roll up your dough , jelly roll style.  It is going to be messy and squish out the sides but thats ok.  Cut your roll into slices and place cut side down in a greased 13x9 pan. 

Let rise until double, then bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. 

{Since they take longer to bake is why I suggest doing your rolls first}

After you take them out of the oven and are waiting for them to cool, go ahead and make a glaze for them...

APPLE CINNAMON GLAZE

1cup powdered sugar

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1 to 3 Tbsp. apple juice or cider

Mix together, slowly adding the juice to desired consistency, then drizzle over warm cinnamon rolls.

Seriously so good.  And definitely going on the I shouldn't make those again any time soon list!

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Any other fabulous ideas for apples?!  I would love some new ones.

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PS:  If you want or need apples I would check Craigs List, ask around, or let me know!  I've got connections! ;)

Fall Has The Best Food!

We had the best fall-ish  weather this weekend.  I never mind if it rains on Sunday because I just want to be home and cozy up with my family on the couch and watch some football.  And its even better when we get brilliant blue skies on Monday morning!

I also had the baking bug this weekend and tried a few new recipes.  REALLY yummy recipes.  Good enough to share recipes! 

{Darin has our drive with all the pictures at work this week, so all photos are from their respective posts}

 Baked Donuts

I made these baked donuts from 101 cookbooks in two shifts this weekend.  I tried them out Friday night and refrigerated the rest of the dough for Sunday.  You probably shouldn't make them.  Because then you will eat them all up.   You will convince yourself they are perfectly healthy since there is only like 2 tablespoons of butter in the whole recipe-really its true .  Or go ahead and make them.  You probably have more will power than me!  Just be sure and eat them hot out of the oven, since that is when they are the best!

{A little side note, I used a pastry brush to put the melted butter instead of dunking them like she suggests.  Gotta keep them healthy!} 

  Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies are seriously some of the best I have ever made.  I made them a couple of weeks ago and used a bag of dark and milk chocolate Reeses. Have you tried the dark chocolate reeses?!  Seriously way better than the original.  Next time I'm using all dark.  They were a huge hit for First Friday at Greenies.  I even broke my no shortening rule to try them out.  I'm definitely going to have to try them with all butter next time.  Although, I probably shouldn't make those again either.  ;)

Buttery Caramel Sauce

Our neighbor dropped by some awesome apples so it was the perfect excuse to try out this homemade caramel.   I'm actually not a huge caramel fan, but I thought I would give it a shot.  Its really good.  And just like Missy, I ended up skipping the apple and using my finger! I'm thinking it would be a great gift for our new neighbors down the street, with a bag of apples of their own.  

Creamy Corn Chowder

Sunday has become soup day in our house.  Ivy loves soup and will actually eat things that aren't fruit or cheese when its in soup.  So we've been trying out some new recipes and this one was a big hit.  I know I'm only trying to please three people in this house, but when a recipe is from Our Best Bites then its bound to be good!  And if you froze some corn this summer than this is one of the yummiest ways I know to use it.  

{The only thing I did different was to NOT add the hot sauce.  My three year old does NOT like spicy!}

So get out your grocery list because you need to add some more ingredients to try out some new recipes!

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{And here are a couple other recipes I am storing away for the next rainy day...}

Honey Caramel Apples

Cinnamon Toasted Pumpkin Pie Tarts

Best Buttermilk Pancakes

Boo-tiful

I've had about 10 projects started this week and haven't quite finished a single one!  Its been driving me crazy.  Some things I can't help, like the fact that Hobby Lobby isn't open yet and they have the wood shapes that I need. On others I just hit the wall and can't figure out quite the right way to finish it off.  Does that ever happen to any of you?  

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I've also been adding touches of Halloween to Ivy's room with some of the fab scrapbook paper out this year! I love using paper because Its cheap, and you can change it every year if you want, without feeling too guilty!

  

This cute little witch comes by way of my mom's cricut.  I cut her out a couple of weeks ago, and the oval frame I cut probably six months ago.  I added a tiny black stone to her wand tip.  I love her cute little nose.  

Ivy is loving all the "BOO" everywhere. She reads the letters and tell me that it spells BOO.  Which is too crazy for me.  The other day we were at Costco.  As we were walking in she stops outside and points to the letters.  "Thats a C and an O and an S and a T and a C and a O.  That spells Costco!" 

Why yes Ivy it does.  Now stop growing.  

{In case you were thinking, WOW she is incredibly smart!  She is.  But she also kept telling me that she learned about the letter C at school.  When they most definitely learned about the letter E.}

The glitter candlesticks are a Martha Stewart thing from Michaels.  And I need to cut the tag off of that Bat pillow! I got the letters from Hobby Lobby a long time ago, but they now have them at Craft Warehouse!

 

This is the most perfect Halloween kids craft.  They get to paint somewhere besides paper, use glitter and its not too spooky.  One of the hardest parts about doing crafts with Ivy for me is letting her have the control.  I think I did pretty well this time.  Just take a look at that  not quite right cute mouth!  We added a sweet bow for good girly measure.

Thats just a couple of little things we've done,  but all the little touches make it BOO-tiful! We hope you have a BOO-tiful weekend!

Fall Pillows

I am definitely heading to Goodwill tomorrow to look for some plaid (hopefully flannel) shirts to do this!  Hopefully I can find some other good stuff too.  Maybe a cake stand?