Black Friday 2011

Hello friends.  

I think winter is finally rearing its ugly head in Ohio.  We have been enjoying unseasonably warm weather and sunshine.  Now, it has been raining for three days and was sleeting a few moments ago.  Time to post my Days Until Spring countdown.  Alright...ALRIGHT!  I’ll wait until after Christmas before looking toward Spring....if I must.

The house is as decorated as it is going to get.  There’s just too much going on for me to go all out this year.  I just need to store the boxes and clean up after myself.  Hopefully, I can get that done before Christmas Day.  

Did you go out shopping on Black Friday?  I did for a bit.  I prefer the midnight shift so I can get done and then go home to bed.  I arrived at Kohl’s at 12:10 AM with my own shopping bag.  They were still corralling people through the doors.  It was fairly warm and everyone was courteous.  No knives or pepper spray, thankfully.

I am a strategic shopper...no browsing for me.  I know what I want before I leave the house and like a Stealth Fighter Pilot, I fly in-strike-and go.  According to plan, I flew in and within 20 minutes had zig-zagged through the store and found the items on my list.

GREAT!

Time to get in line...

There’s the line...

No wait; there’s the line...but it’s going in a different direction.  Where’s the end of the line???  After several minutes, I heard a Kohl’s associate yell the end of the line is right here.  Droves of people clamoured toward her voice.

I’m in line!  GREAT!

The line...that I was so happy to be in...wrapped around the entire store, TWICE!  Needless to say this left lots of time for browsing.  I guess browsing IS for me.  I was good and only picked up one item that was not on my list, a remote controlled car for one of my nephews.

I stood in line for an hour and 40 minutes.  I was thirsty, tired, and more than ready for bed when I got home just after 2:00AM.  Everyone was snuggled in bed except for Jordan’s girlfriend, Ashlee.  She was up and ready to out on the morning shopping shift with her aunt.  Good night Ashlee.  Have fun!

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

Pumpkin Bread and Butter

Hello Friends.

How was your Thanksgiving?  Did you get your fill of turkey and stuffing, potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie and whipped cream?  Our family certainly did.  


I have two recipes that I came across from Better Homes and Gardens.  Both are delicious and go hand-in-hand like bread and butter...pumpkin bread and pumpkin butter that is.  

I have two recipes that I came across from Better Homes and Gardens.  Both are delicious and go hand-in-hand like bread and butter...pumpkin bread and pumpkin butter that is. 

 

The coffee is on and I still have some pumpkin bread and butter in the fridge so have a seat and share some with me. 

Double Decker Pumpkin Bread

4 Ounces Cream Cheese

1/4 Cup Sugar

8 Ounces Sour Cream

1 Egg

2 Tablespoons Crystallized Ginger, finely chopped

3 Cups All-purpose Flour

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

1 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

4 Eggs

15 Ounce Can Pumpkin Puree

1 Cup Oil

1/3 Cup Water

Preheat oven to 350* F.  Spray the bottom of 2 loaf pans (9"x5"x3") with cooking spray.  (I line the bottom with parchment paper and then spray) 

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar.  Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until combined.  Add sour cream and 1 egg; beat until combined.  Stir in the crystallized ginger and set aside. 

In another medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the 2 cups of sugar, 4 eggs, pumpkin, oil, and water.  Beat on low speed until combined, scraping the side of the bowl occasionally.  Gradually add flour mixture, beating until combined.

Spoon 1-1/2 cups of pumpkin batter into each prepared loaf pan.  Divide the cream cheese mixture between pans and spread evenly.  Spoon the remaining pumpkin batter onto cream cheese layer, spreading evenly.

Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.  Remove bread from pans and cool completely on wire racks.

Wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.  Makes 32 servings.

 

What is bread without butter?  No worries.  Better Homes and Gardens also had a recipe for pumpkin butter.  If you like apple butter, you will like this spicy butter.  It is such a pretty color; perfect for your holiday table. 


Spiced Pumpkin Butter
4 Cups Pumpkin Puree
1-1/4 Cups Maple Syrup
1/2 Cup Apple Juice
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Salt


In 5-quart Dutch Oven, combine all ingredients.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat.  Cook, uncovered, over medium heat, stirring frequently,25 minutes or until thick.  (If mixture splatters, lower heat to medium-low).  Remove from heat and cool.


Ladle into jars or freezer containers, leaving 1/2 inch head-space.  Cover and refrigerate up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
 

These recipes are so simple and very tasty.  What a wonderful gift this pair would make for co-workers, teachers, neighbors....or yourself!  ENJOY ~

 

 MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Rose for You

A Simple Rose

Author: Kevan Mends

A simple rose I have found
It's not the flower that grows from the ground,
Its beauty is one of such delight ...
This rose is soft to the touch in all its perfection.

The envy for all the flowers in this garden
Its fragrance will consume your every obsession.
This rose must be a gift, a gift from above
A gift from Heaven to show us love.

Every morning I wake to see its petals glisten
Its easy to see how one could be so smitten
If love was a rose it would shine so bright
Because all I need is this rose in my life.

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

Post Halloween Horror Story

Warning: This may be disturbing to some.

 

It is coming....

There is no stopping it....

It is bigger than Frankenstein....

It is more destructive than zombies...

It grounds even the nastiest witch...

Some of you have already been victimized...

WINTER WEATHER

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

Happy Veterans Day

Let's take a  moment to thank  all the brave men and women in the armed services who provide the freedoms we enjoy.

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!



Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Blueberries.....Cream Cheese.....Coffee Cake.  I love all these things and the idea of marrying them all together sounds like a brilliant culinary idea.  

Let's bake.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee CakeBatter
1 1/2 Cups Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Butter, softened slightly
2 Eggs
2 Cups All-purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Water
2 Cups Fresh Blueberries
8 Ounces Cream Cheese, cubed

Topping
1/4 Cup Flour
2 Tablespoons Butter
1/4 Cup Sugar
Cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, and mix thoroughly after each egg. 

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk and water. 

Toss blueberries in 1/4 cup flour.  Fold cream cheese and blueberries into the batter.  Pour into prepared 9x13 pan.  

Combine topping ingredients and mix until it is crumbly.  Sprinkle over batter.  Bake in preheated 375* oven for 1 hour.

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

 I'm sharing this recipe at Potpourri Friday.