MORE YUMMY Treats!

We are trying another Pumpkin Pancake Recipe this morning!  Tell me which one you like better!

Bisquick Pumpkin Pancakes

These pumpkin pancakes are a cinch to prepare, because they start with a baking mix, such as Bisquick. If you want really fluffly pancakes, substitute 1/4 of seltzer water for 1/4 cup of the milk.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups baking mix, such as Bisquick
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Preparation:

1. Preheat an electric skillet (compare prices) to 375 degrees F, or heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
2. Whisk together all ingredients until well-combined, but do not overmix.
3. Let rest for 10 minutes.
4. Turn griddle down to 350 degrees.
5. Ladle quarter-cupfuls of the batter onto the griddle. Cook until the edges of the pancakes start to set and bubbles start to form on the surface of the pancakes.
6. Flip. Cook another 1-3 minutes until pancakes are golden brown on the other side.

Serve immediately with butter and syrup.

WATER is the SECOND most Marked up item you can buy! Who Knew!?

I just read an article about the most expensive things you can buy and Bottled water is #2 with 4000% mark up!!   Awful right?   So at your next HOLIDAY gathering, SAVE money and do it OH so gracefully by using a Beverage Server filled with water and slices of lemon, orange or even cucumber and mint!   YUM!    It'll be your Favorite piece you'll use OVER and OVER again!   If you own one, share your favorite story!  You can get it on my website at http://theda.willowhouse.com or host a party of your own to get it 70% off or Free!

It makes a GREAT present for the holidays too!   Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Here's a GREAT alternative to Pumpkin Pie - Enjoy!

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.

Fall Weekend Breakfast - Pumpkin Pancakes!

TREAT YOUR FAMILY to a GREAT breakfast this weekend and make them feel special!  It really feels like FALL!

These are very easy to make, recipe doubles well too.

Pumpkin Pancakes (presented by 1882 Aleksander House Bed & Breakfast)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 TBS sugar
dash of salt
2 tsps baking soda
1 cup milk
2 TBS vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup sour cream

Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Spray grill with cooking spray. Bake pancakes on grill using medium heat until bubbles rise to the surface and edges are brown. Turn and bake until golden brown. Serve with Honey-Pecan butter. Serves two.

Honey-Pecan Butter:
1/2 cup pecans, toasted then chopped
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup honey

Beat butter and honey together until smooth. Add pecans. Serve with Pumpkin Pancakes. Makes one cup.

Warm Pumpkin Spice Bread!

Something to do over the weekend!   Try making Pumpkin Spice Bread and freezing it!  You have the time now, why not enjoy the holiday weekend and make the bread ahead?!  Better yet, it travels great and if you want to tie it up in a pretty hand towel and ribbons like a piece of candy, it makes an even MORE special gift!     Let it cool, wrap in aluminum foil and then in an air tight zip lock bag.   Thanksgiving weekend it will make a nice treat!  Just thaw, slice and toast slices in the oven with butter for a wonderful morning treat!

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Pumpkin Spice Bread (1 loaf)

Recipe from Southern Living Magazine

1 stick butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 2/3 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 3/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°. butter & flour a 9" loaf pan. Cream the butter & sugar in a large bowl until light & fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves & salt. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with 1/2 cup water, mixing well after each addition. Beat in the pumpkin; stir in nuts. Spoon into the prepared pan. Bake 1 hour. Cool in pan for 10 minuters; remove to a wire rack to cool completely.~~ From the Best of Wheeling

This sure makes your kitchen smell good. While it's still warm, serve it with whipped cream.

Pumpkin Martini

Want a little special cocktail for your weekend dinner party or for your Saturday Dinner "IN"?   Try the Four Season's Hotel's Pumpkin Martini!  

Epicurious  | October 1998

Four Seasons Hotel

Ingredients

• 3 ounces spiced pumpkin vodka
• 1 ounce Amaretto

Combine in cocktail shaker with ice, pour and serve! Garnish wish toasted pumpkin seeds or rim the glass with sugar/cinnamon!   YUM!

You can also create a non-alcoholic cocktail by doing spiced apple cider but just SERVED in a beautiful Martini Glass!  The glass makes it SO special!!!!   Don't forget the Garnish!!!

PUMPKIN!

Here's a great thing you can do with a pumpkin!    You may not have carved your pumpkin for Halloween, or you can find a great bargain on a pumpkin at your local farmer's market!   Hollow it out and make it into a beautiful Thanksgiving arrangement for your family gathering!

There are 3 ways you can create a look similar to this one!

1.   Insert a glass or a container in the bottom of the pumpkin and fill with water, then just add and arrange flowers! (EASY)

2.  Purchase a fall mum, plant, or prearranged grouping of flowers and set inside the pumpkin!  (EASY!!!) 3.  This one is my favorite but I am creative! I would consider this a little more challenging for the novice floral designer.   Soak a block of OASIS in water ( the green foamy stuff that is in flower arrangements).  Place it inside the pumpkin.   Insert lots of greens first such as florists fern(plentifully available at local flower shops and grocery stores) and if you have greens from the yard, clip bushes, plants etc to create a more organic look and simply create a "bush" of green!  A good idea here is to copy a photo to start.  Note the greens are at different heights and so are the flowers.   Now it's time to add color!   Grab a bunch of flowers from your local grocery store and start inserting the flowers.   Play with it and have fun!   If you want to add the pumpkin lid like is shown in this photo, just get a wooden skewer and attach it to the "lid" and place it in the oasis/pumpkin to secure it!  If  this option scares you becuase you don't feel creative enough, just add a beautiful potted mum!  It'll look stunning!

Email me photos of YOUR pumpkin arrangements!

EAT the FROG!

Have you heard this expression before?   It's strange I know, but it is to illustrate the point that if you do what you don't feel like doing FIRST in the day, you'll get to the other stuff that you want to do and it WILL all get done!

So "design" your day with a plan, don't react to your day, take control of it and see how much you get accomplished!

What are you procrastinating on today?  What FROG do you need to eat?  Please share your comments! It's appreciated and I would love the input!

Theda

Get those Holiday Cards done today ! :)

Promo code: PSC9-C6F5-CC9G-SE584E Two day sale ends November 11, 2010 Just thought I would share Shutterfly has a deal!  I know a week ago I encouraged you to do your holiday cards.... now you are READY!

Think past Monday!

I know it is Monday, but let's think ahead!  What do you have planned for the weekend?   A few projects, a few social get togethers or will the weekend come and go without much of a plan?

I encourage you to get some friends together for the game or just because  and do a fun tailgating theme - Keep it easy!  BUT YOU will need a Party bucket!  You know why?  It keeps people out of your fridge!  Hee hee!  You can use the party bucket for stashing cold drinks... chilling a bottle of wine.... It's awesome!   I have to put in a plug here.. because this is truly the BEST deal EVER!!!   You can buy one Willow House Entertaining Bucket and Tray ( drip proof)  and get one for HALF price!   One for you.... one for a friend!   Or, if you want the bucket and stand.... then host a November party because you can get it completely FREE with a qualifying party!   FREE is GREAT!   You don't get FREE from your local housewares store and you don't get to get together with your girlfriends either     I get to come to you, share ideas, fun and a night out with friends and you get a shopping spree to die for!

If I don't live near you, talk to me about doing a Virtual party! :)   Where there's a will there's a way!

Okay... so hope your weekend is filled with friends in some way.... because FRIENDS make LIFE awesome!  Invite a friend over today!

Entertaining Bucket, Tray and Stand

Graymont Party Bucket and stand

Add Texture!

YOU are going to LOVE this!!!   If you are having a holiday dinner at your house.... you'll love this simple solution for table linens!

Burlap is inexpensive and adds great texture to your table.   You can cut and fringe everything from placemats to runners, table toppers (a square turned diagonal on a table on top of another table cloth)  or you can even make entire table cloths!  I also love using burlap for summer, outdoor events instead of plastic.  It's heavy enough to not blow away, looks natural, casual and actually washes pretty well too!  I have washed my burlap over and over again!  

Even though I just said that burlap is casual, don't let it fool you!  You can use it in the dining room and it comes in many colors!  Even red!

Get to your fabric store today and have fun creating a great look for your table!

Get ready for the Holidays!

Whether you are ready or not, the holidays are coming!   In previous posts, I encouraged you to get that calendar out and plan, pick out your holiday photo for your cards if you do that, and start planning your menus so you can stock up on the non-perishables to take away stress!   I even provided a great Christmas cookie recipe you can do ahead when the mood strikes you!   Get those ingredients on hand so you can do it when you "feel" like it!

So, if you are having Thanksgiving dinner at your house, you can start creating some simple centerpieces and really getting your house ready for the season!

I love focusing on what we are thankful for and incorporating that into the decor!  Get family and friends to write on tags made out of brown paper bags or construction paper,  punch one hole and string a festive ribbon through each tag.  Have each person write something they are thankful for and have them tie it onto your Decorative Card Holder that you have in the kitchen, or tie them onto the base of a glass hurricane as a collar of THANKS!  You can start making your tags now ( better yet, get the kids to work on this project) and part of your decor will be done!

Trace a leaf from the yard for your tag template or download a free tag template from the internet!  Just google "leaf template"   EASY!

Recipes!

Here come the holidays!   I am excited to hear about YOUR favorite family recipes! Please share!

I have a recipe below I know you'll love!  You can  make ahead, slice and bake when you have that cookie exchange or need to give a gift!    Bake a pecan or apple pie in our beautiful Alfresco Deep Dish Pie Plate!!!  Harvest ready and Beautiful!  

What are you planning on making for the holidays?

Theda

Vanilla- Pecan Icebox Cookies -
Roll this vanilla scented cookie dough in wax paper and chill until firm or freeze up to 6 months.   Slice and bake cookies when you need them.  They'll be ready when you are!

1 cup butter or margarine softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans

• Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well.  Add egg and vanilla; beat mixture well
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture, beating well at medium speed. (Dough will be stiff) Stir in pecans.  Cover and chill dough at least 2 hours.
• Shape dough into 2( 6" x 2 1/2") rolls. Wrap rolls in wax paper, and chill or freeze until firm.
• Slice chilled dough into 1/4 inch thick slices; place on un-greased cookie sheets.  Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool.  Yield 4 dozen.

Photos!

Get ahead on your holiday cards this year and select or take your holiday card photo (if you include one)    I have found a few great time-savers that I think you'll enjoy!

Shutterfly will allow you to import your address list and you can literally have Shutterfly address and mail your cards for you but if you don't want to be that technical, just select that photo, get the quantity that you want ordered and be prepared to select your cards so you'll be ready at the beginning of December!

There's a free service from Picassa ( http://www.picassa.com/) that is great for organizing those photos that you have downloaded and are somewhere in your computer! :)   Check it out! It's fun!

Bottom line, start the process now and you won't be behind the eight ball later!   Let's get moving!

Theda

Plan your work, Work your plan!

As we approach the holidays... we tend to get overwhelmed with things, let's simplify the process!   Follow my blog for a week or so and get some great tips to help you get control over your calendar and get it done!

Get that Calendar out and decide what's coming up for the Quarter!  Are you going to have Thanksgiving at your house?  Are you having a holiday party?  Do you want to have a party with your girlfriends before the holidays get too busy or in January when there's nothing to do? (of course I can help you plan an event too, just ask me)    Put it on that calendar today In PENCIL - just in case!   I did find a great website you may enjoy to help you get a concensus on a date.  Try http://www.mypunchbowl.com/ and you can query your friends on a few possible dates!  It's easy and fun!  

Confirm that date with your friends/family and send out a Save the Date!  Cross that task off your list and on to the next thing tomorrow!!!!  

Share what YOU are planning for the next few months!  I'd love to hear! Let's share ideas!

Halloween Hurricane!

 

I told you I love hurricanes!   This is our Hawthorne Hurricane and it works great for putting all that Halloween Candy that was collected last night in something beautiful!  Go ahead and empty the trick or treat bags into your hurricanes and they not only make a pretty display but it reminds everyone to take a piece as they walk by and get rid of it! :)