Fall Flavors From Scratch: Pumpkin "Pop Tarts"

Oh hey guys, long time no blog! I'm sorry i've been away for a while, life got busy!

But not to fear, I come bearing gifts, the gift that keeps on giving! A recipe you'll use for years & years...I promise! You can make this with the kiddos, the grandparents or alone, these are all easy steps for anyone, any age & any ability! 

Feel free to tune in to the song I can never seem to get out of my head & then read on!

This recipe has been adapted from this awesome blog.

There are 3 parts to make & in total it takes about 2 hours (only because you have to let things chill in the freezer for a bit). The great part is, you can make all kinds of delicious "pop tarts" with the crust & icing, so if you or someone else in your family is some freak that doesn't love pumpkin, you've got options! ...who doesn't love pumpkin?

Crust:

2 Cups & 2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 Cup unsalted butter  (cut in cubes & keep chilled)

4 Tablespoons water

Filling:

1 Cup pumpkin puree

1/4 Cup dairy or non dairy cream cheese

2 Tablespoons light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (only if you have it)

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

dash of all spice

pinch of salt

1 egg yolk 

Icing:

1 Cup powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons half & half ( I used Soy Vanilla creamer INSTEAD)

1/4 teaspoons vanilla 

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice (only if you have it)

Don't forget the SPRINKLES!

Step ONE: Cut a hole in the box....err.... Mix flour, sugar & salt on low for a few seconds, then slowly add in your cubes of butter. At this point it becomes pretty clumpy, just break up the butter & if you have to don't be afraid to use your hands ( good fun for the kiddos with clean hands!)... Add 4 Tablespoons of water & your mixture should start to form a ball of dough. Divide your dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap or parchment paper & squeeze into fat disks. Place in freezer, chillin'!

Step TWO: In a new bowl mix cream cheese (or non-dairy cream cheese), granulated sugar, brown sugar. Use your spatula & blend smooth. If its the right season & you have a pie pumpkin (click here to learn how to cook it), if you buy a can like I had to just portion out 3/4 of a Cup & mix in with your cream cheese, add your egg yolk & vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, pumpkin spice, salt & chill in fridge!

Step THREE: In a clean bowl blend powdered sugar, half & half (or soy creamer like me), vanilla & pumpkin spice. blend til smooth, leave out on the counter.

Step FOUR: At this point you should put everything away & wash your dishes, all good cooks deserve a clean work area & again this is something great to do with the kids or grandparents, if I were you I'd also have a sweet dance party (to this song!), you're welcome!

Step FIVE: After the clean up your dough should be chilled enough, I'd say 45 minutes to an hour in the freezer should be perfect. Powder your work area & roll out your dough about 1/4 inch thick, cut into long rectangles that are roughly 4 inches wide & 10 inches long. place filling on one side of the dough & fold, if you have any cracks in your dough wet your finger & smooth the crack away, next pinch the sides with a fork. Once you've formed your "pop-tarts" place them in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Step SIX: Pre-heat at 375º & bake for 25 minutes, at this point again, I recommend more dancing (you know you wanna click it)! remove from baking sheet & cool. Ice with icing, sprinkle on the sprinkles & nom the noms! YUM!

It's just another everyday, holiday with Jillie!

OH Happy Day! It's The New Year 2014!

I have missed updating the blog with you all more than I could ever imagine! Life was wonderful during these past few weeks & all is well, but how I was busy!!! 

I am just certain that you all had lovely a lovely Christmas & romantic New Year!

 

I will be back later this week to kick things off once more! Here's to new food, friends & furniture! Travels, adventures, & tea time! 

XOXO -jillie

P.S. I hope you're all staying warm, we are just fine down here in sunny Florida...

Do It yourself: Christmas Party Invitations

Is it freezing, or what? I am absolutely frozen solid down here in the Sunshine State & I know all of you that are in the midst of snow are furious with me right now, but I really am cold! I'm sitting here, windows open, wearing two sweaters, with one warm puppy snuggled by my feet & a little music... go ahead & follow the link, you'll love it I promise...I love how they use this playful song in the movie Moonrise Kingdom, it is one of my favourite Wes Anderson movies!!

I have missed you all & am so sorry to have been away, but I have a wonderful craft that anyone can make! Not only is it easy, it's totally customizable which I love, because to me crafts aren't fun unless they're personalized!

We (Sydney & I), even busted out the Cricut Expression for this project, but I made sure to choose a very simple design so you in no way need more than just a pencil & scissors! I have not done a full review of my Cricut yet, but if I could shout from the rooftops, " I love you Cricut!", I would. I was gifted this about four years ago for Christmas by my husband & it has been used more times than I can count. Valentines, invitations, signs, scrap-booking pages, photo albums, & even a wedding!

As I have mentioned, Sydney's birthday is December 4th, we are having a birthday party for her the following weekend at our house. I was so worried about Christmas overshadowing her big day that I was totally caught off guard when she asked for her birthday party to be Christmas themed! I will be back soon with a party mood board & all of her plans! 

Once I got over my initial shock I got really excited & started writing down all her ideas: first of which was to make her own invitations. These are great for an office party, Christmas party or Christmas card for the family! It is teenager approved & I think all ages  I hope you all enjoy!

Do it yourself: Christmas party invitations

Card-stock
Scissors
Glue
Crayons
Markers

Begin by choosing a card-stock sheet you'd like to be your card base. Trace the pattern on your paper, or if you have a Cricut use the Wild-Card cartridge & select the "ornament" design. Use the image below as your template.

Fold all four sides.
Choose a paper for your tree, Trace around the tree, cut & glue.

Again choose paper for the star, trace, cut & glue.

Next you can embellish.
I cut out "snowflakes", glued them on & then colored over then with a white crayon.
I used a gold Sharpie on the star & outlined the tree with black.

 You could add glitter, beads, cotton balls, draw your family...the possibilities are endless! Next line the inside of your invitation with a paper of your choosing. Print or handwrite inside & you're ready to go!

Sydney does not like crafting, I have mentioned that before, but this was a great way for us to spend time together. All nine invitations took about two hours to make & she worked on all of them! I am so proud of her craftiness!

So who is throwing a holiday party? Any other December birthdays???

It's just another everyday, holiday with Jillie

herb gardening indoors

I don't know if I have ever mentioned but December is the craziest month out of the entire year for us! It is not only Christmas Eve & Christmas, but it is also my mom & Sydney's birthday on the fourth. Because that's not ridiculous enough  it's also my dad & nephew's birthday in December! Phew... needless to say I have to get creative, I have to plan early & I have to do a lot of DIY! I try my best to make as many gifts by hand as possible, so there is always a little TLC for everyone year round. Things I like to make are; lotions, calendars, candles, stained glass, anything crochet & of course made with love food!

So when I saw this little number at Target toward to end of summer on clearance I decided to snag it! 

It was listed as a condiment holder. I'm guessing it would be for a big BBQ party, because that would be a lot of ketchup!

 Anyway, at under 3 dollars I considered it a steal, the little pots are plastic & the cute stand is metal.

When I saw it, I immediately thought of my mom. She always has small potted plants on her windowsills & when I thought a little more I realized none of the plants were herbs.

So, I made my purchase & patted myself on the back all the way home. I let them sit in my holiday bin I mentioned here; for the last four months or so. Last week I decided it was time to do something with it, I went up to the local nursery & found three smallish plants that I thought would work well in her window, I needed full sun herbs because there are no trees out her kitchen window.  I found basil, oregano & mint, & thought those would all be nice to have at home, so I scooped them up & headed home, All three cost me 8$.
Once home I began decorating the pots. First I tried using some scrap booking paper to make nice big labels around the pot...I realized a little late it wouldn't be that easy to read, oops!

 I took them off & made smaller labels for the upper lip of the pot, I covered the entire label with tape so it could get wet when outside.

 Next, I flipped the pots over to make drainage holes with a knife.

 

Then I went outside & began the planting process. I took each plant out of it's pot & began to break down their root balls, I wanted to separate each plant into two so I would have six total.

I have learned that there is a fine line between being delicate & rough with it & you need to be somewhere in between the two. Once you have them mostly separated you can use scissors to finish the job. Place some soil in the bottom of the pot, place the plant on top& wiggle it into place.

Add more soil to firmly hold the plant in the pot without flopping to one side. water them in & you're finished!

I know my mom is going to love her birthday gift & in the end, the entire project cost me about 6$. Not too shabby!

It's just another everyday, holiday with jillie

Fall Flavors: CornBread Stuffing

It is officially cold today! I am wrapped up snug as a bug in my soft velvet throw, sipping on some warm tea & thinking about eating a biscuit with homemade applebutter, yum! Post on that later this week! Yay! 

I am so enjoying this fall back in time we had on Sunday! I don't know about you guys, but I'm waking up early & getting some serious work done! Really the only thing I've noticed that I don't like, is that my mail is getting delivered after dark & I'm getting the wrong mail, Whoops! I think I might have to slip the mailman a flashlight tomorrow, maybe it will be part of his Christmas gift this year, a nice fancy LED flashlight. What do you guys think?

Here is what I'm listening to while I write, thought you might like to get the full effect, windows open, velvet throw, warm tea, & a little Stevie Nicks. Plus a pup wandering by, placing his head on my lap for a sweet pet & then moving on.

This is it, an everyday, holiday everyone can experience. Snuggling with a pet, sipping on tea or just having a quiet moment for yourself, make time for it!

 Last night we had pork chops, pan fried with a little seasoning & butter. They were juicy & delicious! When ever we have pork chops I like to use a tweaked Susan Branch recipe that we just love for cornbread stuffing. The only reason the recipe is tweaked is because the original recipe calls for hazelnuts & none of my local stores have had any in months!  

Susan Branch Corn Bread Stuffing 

One (1) shallot, diced

One (1) medium yellow onion, diced

Two (2) ribs of celery, diced

One (1) egg

One (1) box Jiffy cornbread mix

Two (2) Tablespoons butter

1/3 Cup milk

Heavy dash thyme

Set your oven to 350º.Begin by mixing the box of corn bread mix with one egg & 1/3 cup milk, mixture will be slightly lumpy, let sit for 5 minutes. 

While corn bread mixture rests, dice shallot, onion & celery. Place in pan & sauté on low with a heavy dash of thyme & butter, stirring frequently. 

Place cornbread into loaf pan & bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven & immediately scrape the entire loaf of bread with a fork, crumbling all of it.

 Pour into sauté pan & if needed add more butter. Stir & soak up all flavor, serve warm.

This recipe is such a hit in my home that I am being forced to make THREE types of stuffing for Thanksgiving & this is one of them! I really hope I can find some Hazelnuts by then! If I do, I  will bake them in the oven for 10 minutes at 350º, then remove & roll under my hands til the shells crack off, chop roughly & add to stuffing mix. You can also add water one tablespoon at a time if your stuffing seems dry.

Magnifique & Franklin approved!

It's just another everyday, holiday with jillie