Pumpkin Crunch Cake with Candied Cranberries

For Thanksgiving, I baked a delicious cake adapted from this recipe.

My cake looked quite different, the layers more defined, the crunch darker.  It was delicious!

To make this cake, just follow the link recipe above.

The only thing I changed was to put a tiny bit of maple syrup in the frosting to give it a more complex flavor.

I didn't want to cover my whole cake in the crunch topping because its a TON of butter (the whole cake has almost 7 sticks), and the cake is so sweet it needs a tartness to balance it out.  I decided on cranberries.

How to candy cranberries (or anything really)

In a double boiler, bring 1/2 cup of sugar and a few tablespoons of water to point where the sugar has completely dissolved.  It won't be boiling.

Add in your cranberries.  I didn't measure, but you don't want too many.  I probably had a little over 1/2 a cup.

Cook for about 45 minutes, and take off heat.

Let the cranberries sit in the juice overnight, or at least a few hours.

Strain the juices off and put 1/2 cup of sugar onto a plate.

Put your cranberries on the plate with sugar and roll them around.

Tah-dah!

As you can see, I garnished the top and sides of the cake with the cranberries, and it was enough to cut the richness of the cake.  Everyone loved it!

On that note, no cake I have made fits in my portable cake carrier.  They need to make those lids taller...

Thanksgiving weekend

We took Griffin on his first over night to my mom's house, aka Babcia.  He did pretty excellent in the car considering he didn't sleep, and slept wonderfully at night in his pack and play.  His naps were a little off, since I didn't really try to keep him asleep after he would wake up, so he ended up falling asleep at the dinner table during our Thanksgiving meal.

He seemed to enjoy the new environment and was pretty happy, which makes me hopeful for our week long trip/flight coming up before the new year...

DIY Baby Tree Ornaments

For the holidays I've always loved those ornaments that have the baby hand or footprint.  I decided to make my own, and its so easy, I'm including a tutorial for you all to do it as well!

Materials 

-Crayola Model Magic (one pack will make 2-3 ornaments for a baby)

-your choice of 2 craft paints.  I chose blue martha stewart, because who can resist her packaging?

-Mod Podge Hard Coat

Steps

1. Press out your model magic to the shape you want, depending on what you are stamping.  The right one is for a hand, and the left, a foot.  You want to leave it thick enough that you will see the impression.  Model magic is super light, so no worries that it will weight down your tree branches.  The edges look rough, but in the end you can't really tell.

 2. Put your clay on a hard surface, like a book and press your child's hand or foot into the clay.  Make sure to keep steady and press hard.  The best part about model magic is you can do it over and over again.  Mistakes are ok!

3. Poke a hole at the top of the ornament for the ribbon.

 4. At this point, you can let it dry OR stamp in some information.  I used alphabet stamps that I had and stamped Griff's name into both of them, and the year.  Let it dry.  I waited 2 days.

 5. After your clay dries, pick one of your colors and paint the inside of your hand or foot.

6. Take a wet paper towel, or wipe and wipe around the indent so that it looks how you want it. I wanted the higher parts to have less paint, and I wanted some of the color around the rest of the piece. Let it dry.

7. Paint your second color into the numbers and letters, or whatever other design you made on your ornament.  Do the same technique with the wiping.  I chose dark blue. Let it dry at least overnight.

 8. Coat your dry piece with the hard coat modge podge at least 2 times.  I will probably do 4 or 5 over the course of a few days.  Even after 2 coats, the ornaments are a little squishy, as is the nature of model magic.  I want them to be able to withstand living in my ornament box.

 The back.


9. Take a thin piece of ribbon and fold it in half sticking the middle through your hole.  Thread the open end through the closed end, and there you have it!  All ready to tie on your tree!

Sitting up

 My little baby is 4 and a half months old now, and is trying so hard to sit up.  He hasn't been very successful, but here is a compilation of his accomplishments.  Unfortunately for him, he probably won't be reaching his physical milestones as quickly as some because he is so big.  He's got more weight to throw around, and his head is somewhere on the gigantic scale.  The positive thing is that he tries, and he is HAPPY!

Santa Hat!

The past couple of weeks I've been crocheting a ton, trying to make gifts for the babies in my life.  Usually when I get a new pattern it takes at least one try to get the sizing right, because most patterns are usually off.

I'm on my 2nd attempt at Santa hats, one of which I will be sending off to my niece soon. Just needs a pom pom and some shaping.

Here is the pattern if you are interested. When stretched a bit the white brim just needs to be measured for your child's head circumference (don't follow the pattern).  The rest of the pattern works just fine :)

 The pattern for this hat was SO off, calling for 37 stitches across for a 6-12 month old.  I ended up with 53 for my niece's head circumference, which means my boy will need a bit more...

The package will have a couple other surprises, that I will hopefully get some photos of!

I've got quite a few other projects, one of which I can share with you all one I begin, and that is a crochet Hobbes.  The rest are gifts and will be shared after xmas.

I am glad to say that I am done with my xmas shopping for my little one, and my niece (babies are VERY easy to shop for) and even though I felt like I was being conservative, bought way to many things for their first xmas...

My petite popover

When I saw this, I knew I had to have it.  I'm ok at knitting, but I've only ever knitted in a straight line, and there was no way I could attempt this.  I just didn't have the time.

Luckily, I have a friend that is wonderful at knitting, and she agreed to make this for me!

 I picked out the yarn and sent it to her, and she knit it.  Its going to be perfect for the winter under his sweaters for that extra layer of warmth in the chest!  It fits my huge baby perfectly!  (Its a 12-18 month pattern)...

etsy update

New item in the shop!

Check it out!

Yummy Roasted Tomato Soup Recipe

You will need:

Soup pot

10 tomatoes

olive oil

4-6 cloves garlic

1 onion

tsp fresh oregano 

tbsp fresh basil

2 cups veggie stock

salt and pepper

1/3 cup cream

steps

you will slice your tomatoes 

place face up on a pan

place cloves of garlic there with the tomatoes

drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Bake in oven at 375 for 1 hour.

Afterwards, you can let it cool, or use right away.  I roasted in the AM for soup in the PM.

Place tomatoes and garlic with all the juices from the pan in soup pot over med/high heat.

Chop your onions and add them to the pot.

Add your herbs.  I have these two growing in my garden, consequently, so they are easy to get!  Just hop out the back (or front) door.

After you feel like the ingredients are to your liking, add your stock and bring to a boil.

Add salt and pepper to taste.  I don't think I added any, and it didn't need it really.  I always forget this step...

After the pot has been boiling for at least 20 minutes, immersion blend your soup.  You can strain it, but why?  Thick soup is yummy!

10 minutes before serving add you cream and mix well.  

Its ready!

You can add a little sprig of basil on the top for decoration.  This went really well with the bread i posted about yesterday!

The original recipe calls for chicken stock, but we are vegetarian, so I substituted an olive oil/veggie stock.  It also calls for butter, but per my husbands request I omit butter from almost all recipes...

ENJOY!  This soup is so yummy and perfect on a cool fall or winter day.

This soup serves 4, as a appetizer serving.  You can increase the recipe accordingly.

adapted from this recipe

40 cent bread

An easy bread recipe for any meal

Ingredients

3 cups of warm water

1 1/2 tbsp instant yeast (2 packets)

1 1/2 tbsp kosher salt

6 1/2 cups flour

Directions

Add the yeast and salt to the warm water and let it sit for about 5 minutes.

Add flour and let it rise for 2 hours or more, covered, but not airtight.

Here is mine after it had risen.

At this point, you can refrigerate for 3 hours, overnight, or not at all.  If you cool it, it will be easier to make a loaf.  I made mine the night before I needed it, and it was ready for me when I wanted to bake it for dinner.

When you are 1 1/2 hours from needing the bread, shape it into loafs.  Shouldn't take more than 1 minute.  Break them apart, make the top tight, and put it on your baking mat.  You can add ingredients at this time if you wish.  I added garlic and oregano. You can add whatever you like.

Let it rise for at least 25-30 minutes or more.

Sprinkle with flour and bake in oven at 450 for 30-35 minutes.

I like this bread because its easy and takes no effort.  You can add whatever you like to make the bread your own, and who doesn't like homemade bread.  Always impressive when you are hosting a dinner!

adapted from this recipe.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

For my fall dinner I made these pumpkin cupcakes that I adapted from this recipe.  The frosting was from this recipe.  They turned out awesome.  I think the best cupcakes I ever made.  Not too sweet, a little crunch. Perfect.

You need - 

1 cup flour

1tsp baking poweder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (I used fresh)

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (original recipe asks for allspice)

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil (I always use olive oil...)

2 large eggs

1tsp. vanilla extract (always use the real stuff)

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Steps

PREHEAT TO 350 degrees

1. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices

2. Add in pumpkin, sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla.

A lot of time people will mix dry and wet separately, then combine later.  I don't really want to dirty TWO bowl (lazy), and it always works out just fine for me.  

3. Stir in pecans.  I crushed mine even smaller in the blender before adding.

4. Scoop into lined cupcake pan about 3/4 full. 

Bake for 22 minutes.  Let them cool for a bit, take them out of the pan, then cool them completely.

FOR THE FROSTING

1 stick of col unsalted butter

1 8oz pack of cream cheese

4 cups powdered sugar

2 tbsp of REAL maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp of cold heavy cream

Mix it all together.  I used my stand mixer with the whisk attachment.  Worked wonderfully.

The frosting can be put on the cupcakes any way you like.  I used a pastry bag.  

Finally, top with whatever fall decorations you like.

Here are mine.

Caramel Apples

First, gather your ingredients.

I used 6 apples, but you can make as many as you like.
You will need parchment paper, or a silicone baking mat (the best thing ever, get one if you don't have one)
Caramel Apple sticks.  I bought mine in a restaurant supply store, but I'm sure they are available online.  What isn't?
Toppings.
I used: sprinkles, chopped nuts, toffee pieces, mini chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, and white chocolate.  The possibilities are endless.
For 6 apples I used one pack of Kraft Caramel Bits

I don't know why this bag says it comes with sticks.  Mine didn't.  Awesome if yours does, then you don't need to buy them separately.

While this is happening, wash and scrub your apples.

Once your caramel is melted, I suggest getting your toppings ready in little bowls if you want to dip them.  You can dip or sprinkle.  

Turn the boiler off, let it cool for a minute or so.

The next part is quick and messy, so no photos.  

You dip your apple in the caramel, and using a spoon, you can help the caramel up on the sides.  Once it is done, you can dip or sprinkle your toppings, and place the apple on the baking mat.  Caramel will drip everywhere.

You want to do all your apples fairly quickly so you can get the in the fridge.  You can see that I took my sweet time and the caramel was sliding off the apples.

Once those cooled for an hour or so, I melted white chocolate in the double boiler and drizzled it on some of the apples.  If you want to do this, follow the same rules as the caramel.  A tiny bit of water for 1 pack.

I also did some milk chocolate after.

The final product.

Overall, a messy but worthwhile project!  Your fall guests will appreciate the gourmet-ness of your apples.  Who doesn't LOVE caramel apples???