Wednesday, October 30, 2019

One More Sleep...





One more sleep till the big night and as you can see....I'm very excited!!  

Our plan is an early dinner and then meeting up with friends to trick or treat at 5:30.  The weather is looking like rain, so praying it will hold off so we don't get soaked.  Fingers crossed! 

Have a happy and safe Halloween celebration, friends!  

I can't believe Friday is November 1st. The holiday season has officially begun! :)



Monday, October 28, 2019

How I Prepare Acorn Squash ♥

Hello Friends! Happy Monday! 

I hope you all had a nice weekend 

Last night on a whim I decided to make a quick video while I was making dinner.  I shared with you how I like to prepare acorn squash.  

Squash is one of my favorite fall/winter veggies!  I eat it all different ways but here's a simple method I do the most.  

After cutting and seeding the squash, I steam it in the microwave.  After it's cooked I add butter, cinnamon, a tiny dash of nutmeg and a sprinkle of BROWN SUGAR (which I forgot to show you in the video : ) and pop it into the oven to get all melty and delicious.

  The brown sugar will give the squash and extra added sweetness, so try not to forget it like I did! 





Once it's done just take a fork and dig right in!  It's a great side dish.  Last night I made meatloaf with potatoes & onions, broccoli, salad, and squash! It had been raining all day so this was the perfect October comfort meal.  


Please forgive my bad lighting and wonky camera skills.  I'm still getting used to this!  





I hope you enjoy this little video and have a great day!!!


xoxo

Friday, October 25, 2019

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate ♥

Hello Friends! Happy Friday! 


So it's no secret I am a lover of pumpkin spice coffee.  I know, it's not for everyone, but for me I'm all in!  From Sept-Nov it's pretty much all I drink.  That is until I discovered pumpkin spice hot chocolate!  Have you ever had it?  I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago and I was instantly hooked.  This hot drink combines 2 of my favorite things.  Chocolate and pumpkin!
How could I go wrong?

I will admit it takes a little effort.  You have to get a pan out and plan on whisking for a few minutes. But I assure you, if you want to treat yourself to something festive on Halloween night, give it a try!
It's DELICIOUS~ 


The recipe comes from The Striped Spatula 





1 1/4 cups milk
1-2 tablespoons  pumpkin puree
1-2 tablespoons light brown sugar (depending how sweet you want it)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground ginger
a pinch of ground cloves
a pinch of sea salt
3 oz. chocolate chips (or about 1/2 cup)

In a small pot whisk together all ingredients except for the chocolate.  Heat over medium-low heat, constantly whisking so all the spices and pumpkin are incorporated into the milk. Continue doing so until bubbles start to form around the side of the pan. 

Reduce heat to low and add chocolate.  Whisk constantly until the chocolate is melted, glossy, and slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. 

Pour into a mug and top with whip cream and sprinkles! 

*TIPS*

It's important to constantly whisk while this is cooking.  You want to make sure all your spices and chocolate are incorporated and also make sure the milk doesn't burn.  If you keep WHISKING your hot chocolate will be thick and creamy  ♥

The recipe calls for using semi sweet chocolate. I used milk chocolate chips because that's what I had.  It came out delicious.  

I used 1 heaping tablespoon of canned pumpkin and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.  In my opinion it was just enough.  Not too sweet and not overly pumpkin-y.  Just right : ) 

This recipe makes one large mug or 2 small mugs of goodness! 


Click the link to The Striped Spatula for more tips and variations of this recipe, including an adult version (spiked with bourbon!) and a white chocolate version which I am dying to try! 







Enjoy! 

Tonight I am taking John and a few friends to a haunted house here in our town.  I've heard it's very scary so needless to say I'll be waiting outside! 

Have a cozy weekend everyone!

XO 


Monday, October 21, 2019

An October Sunday ♥

Hello my Friends~

Welcome to another week.  They are just whizzing by aren't they?  Especially the weekends!  We were blessed with beautiful seasonal weather this past weekend so I couldn't help snapping a few pictures of the foliage.  We still aren't at peak around here but what has changed is certainly bursting with color.  The air is crisp and cool and the sun is warm and bright. A beautiful combination.

Simply delightful!   

I spent the whole day yesterday at home, pottering about the house.  Cleaning, organizing, and keeping busy.  It was a day long overdue for me.  I changed the sheets on the beds, washed the floors, cleaned the bathrooms, vacuumed, dusted, turned apples into pie, and treated myself to a homemade pumpkin hot chocolate.  There was also football watching, napping, a pumpkin bread break on the back deck, and I helped John with a school project on the Titanic, which I found quite interesting.  Overall it was a good Sunday! 
















(**husband enjoying his Sunday.....napping**) 














Don't you just love days that are productive AND relaxing?  It hardly ever happens!  

I hope you all enjoyed your Sunday and are getting off to a good start this week! 

Happy Monday Everyone! xo  

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Friends That Feel Like Family


We live 8 hours apart and I would travel it everyday to spend a weekend like I just had.  Once again my very dear friend Billie Jo & her amazing family hosted Rob, John, and myself for the most wonderful FALL weekend! 




We talked, laughed, ate delicious food, played games, watched TV while wrapped in blankets, drank pumpkin spice lattes, told stories, and laughed some more.  It was my PERFECT weekend! 




We went for a walk while the leaves blew by in the breeze.  

The foliage in Pennsylvania was simply beautiful! 






Her home is so COZY.   So warm and welcoming.  I feel at HOME here.  






They were the best hosts and clearly spoiled us! No wonder I didn't want to leave :) 






Friends that feel like family is the greatest gift.  




My favorite photo of the weekend.  Me and my friend Kirby - living our best lives! 






And just like that it was over.  We were in the car heading home, taking with us all the memories we made this weekend.  Can't wait to make some more! 

See you soon, Billie Jo! xoxo

Have a wonderful October week everyone!  Wishing you all the beauty of the season! 

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Rice Pudding ♥

Hello Friends!

First I would like to say a big THANK YOU for all your kind words regarding my little apple picking video! It really meant the world to me that you guys liked it!  I was really nervous putting myself out there like that. If I can get past my awkwardness I would like to do more videos. My brain is full of ideas!  Stay tuned! : )

Anyway, a few weeks ago I posted this picture on my Instagram of my favorite rice pudding!  It's so yummy and creamy! I like it as a nice alternative to oatmeal on these cool October mornings.  It's a little sweeter than oatmeal so it feels a bit decadent but hey, we only live once right?! 

You can make it the night before and then just heat it up in the microwave as needed.  I've even brought some to work with me to enjoy as a late morning treat.  

Some of you asked me for the recipe so here you go.  It's very easy!!  






3/4 cup white rice
2 cups milk, divided
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
 cinnamon for dusting (optional)

Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil.  Stir in rice.  Reduce heat to low, cover, and summer for 20 minutes.

Combine cooked rice with 1 1/2 cups milk, sugar, and salt.  Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15 - 20 minutes.  Stir in remaining 1/2 cup milk and beaten egg.  Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Stir in butter and vanilla. 

Scoop into individual serving bowls and sprinkle with cinnamon (as much as you like!). 







Or put it all in one big bowl and eat the whole thing. Up to you! 


ENJOY! 

Sunday, October 6, 2019

I made a little video : )

Hello Everyone! 

This past weekend we went apple picking.  It is one of our favorite days of the season! 

For some reason I decided to film a little video.  I downloaded an app on my phone to edit it so it's a little wonky.  I honestly don't know how YouTube vloggers do this all time.  
Besides the fact that I felt pretty cringy talking into my phone! 😛 LOL





I uploaded it to my YouTube channel (and I may delete it later) but for now here it is....




Thank you for watching and I hope you enjoyed that little sneak peek into my day!




Have a great week everyone!  XO  

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Apple Bread ♥

Hello Friends!

Happy October!  How are things in your corner of the world?  I know some of you are still experiencing extreme heat.  Fear not, cooler days are coming.  Here in my world we are in full blown Fall mode. And it's nice! 

The leaves have started to turn (bursting with color) and everywhere I look there is a mum plant or a pumpkin.  You can't get a parking space at the nursery!  The days are cool and the nights are chilly.  I am really enjoying my afternoon walks these days.  It's the perfect point in the season where we don't need the a/c on OR the heat! Don't you love that?! I know it won't last long so I'm taking advantage of it while I can! Trying to embrace the season before moving on to the next one....




It's the month of all things cozy and comfy. The month of Halloween and pumpkins and new "cold weather" pajamas.  I wore mine for the first time last night.   I've been waiting for a night that was chilly enough and last night was the night.  My family had a good laugh at my expense.  I have a thing about quirky jammies lately.  I can't resist them! 

They are valour and have coffee cups and little gingerbread on them.  I think they are darling! : ) 




Also..... - it's APPLE SEASON!  

Someone at work mentioned to me the other day that it was "National Hot Apple Cider Day".  Hmmm.. Is that even a thing?  I figured there's a day for everything else, so why not? I'm in.  

Hot apple cider it is! 





I always make mine the same way.  Heated with a little splash of orange juice and a cinnamon stick. 
It's so goooood! 

I don't know if you remember me telling this story before but one time I made Rob a hot apple cider and when I came back to get his empty mug I notice the cinnamon stick was gone!  He ate it! He said he thought he was supposed to! Oh my word, I'll never forget that! I think of it every time I make this! LOL 

Autumn in a mug 




And speaking of apples, here is a quick little recipe that I know you will love.  The recipe comes from one of my favorite blogs (and one of the first blogs I started following many years ago when blogging was a "new" thing : ).

Cherrymenlove.com.  Cherry lives in England and is the mom to two adorable twins!  She's completely lovely and I hope you check her out!  

I've tried a few of Cherry's recipes over the years and they all have come out delicious.  This apple bread was no exception.  Cherry totally gets me   




Here's is the recipe if you want to give it a try!  

7 tbls unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla 
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
small splash of milk
2 large apples, peeled & chopped 

*cinnamon-sugar mixture*
(To make combine 1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 tbls cinnamon. Use the extra on hot buttered toast : ) 




Heat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease a 2lb loaf pan.

Peel and chop apples and place in a bowl.  Sprinkle with 1 tbls of the cinnamon sugar mixture and mix well.  Set aside while you make the batter.

Cream together the butter, sugar, and cinnamon until light and fluffy. 

Gently beat in eggs, vanilla, and a splash of milk. 

Add the flour and the baking powder.  Mix gently until combined.  

Stir in the apples (with all the sugary juice in the bowl).

Pour into prepared loaf pan.  Bake for 1 hr and 10 minutes. 

*Keep a close eye on it.  Mine needed a few extra minutes for the middle to set.  Make sure a knife inserted in the center comes out clean*









Let cool on a wire rack, slice, and serve! 




I like mine served warm with butter and a cup of tea on the side. 

So yummy on a crisp October night!  

Enjoy! 




I hope your October is off to a good start! 

So far I've seen the Downton movie twice! Once was just not enough.  Have you seen it yet? 
It's SO GOOD!  

And if I'm not obsessing over Downton Abbey you can find me watching the Brady house renovation on HGTV.  I know, two totally different things but I LOVE them both!  So fun, right? 

Have a wonderful day friends!  




Be back soon! XOXO