It is with great sadness that Terri's family informs you that she passed away suddenly on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012.

Her blog, followers and fellow bloggers meant the world to her. She talked about you and promoted your blogs on a daily basis to family and friends and thought of all of you as her friends.

You meant the world to her and we, her family, thank you very much.

Should you look up into the sky one day and notice clouds that could be words you cannot quite make out, you will know it is Terri blogging away in heaven.

Twinkies DIY recipe

TWINKIES!

What, no more Twinkies?

Are you in a panic over the news that Hostess who makes Twinkies, DingDongs, Cupcakes, Snowballs are closing up shop?  Since the 1930's families have bought and enjoyed the sweet, gooey treats as snacks.

Well calm down, just make your own....

See the video here

 Recipe: Twinkies DIY

Todd Wilbur

Ingredients

• Non-stick spray
• 4 egg whites
• One 16-ounce box golden pound cake mix
• 2/3 cup water
• Filling
• 2 teaspoons very hot water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups marshmallow creme (one 7-ounce jar)
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

You will need a spice bottle, approximately the size of a Twinkie, ten 12 x 14 -inch pieces of aluminum foil, a cake decorator or pastry bag, and a chopstick.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Fold each piece of aluminum foil in half twice. Wrap the folded foil around the spice bottle to create a mold. Leave the top of the mold open for pouring in the batter. Make 10 of these molds and arrange them on a cookie sheet or in a shallow pan. Grease the inside of each mold with a light coating of non-stick spray.

Disregard the directions on the box of cake mix. Instead, beat the egg whites until stiff. In a separate bowl combine cake mix with water and beat until thoroughly blended (about 2 minutes). Fold egg whites into the cake batter and slowly combine until completely mixed.

Pour the batter into the molds, filling each one about 3/4 of an inch. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.

For the filling, combine salt with the hot water in a small bowl and stir until salt is dissolved. Let this mixture cool.

Combine the marshmallow creme, shortening, powdered sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl and mix well with an electric mixer on high speed until fluffy.

Add the salt solution to the filling mixture and combine.

When the cakes are done and cooled, use a skewer or chopstick to make three holes in the bottom of each one. Move the stick around inside of each cake to create space for the filling.

Using a cake decorator or pastry bag, inject each cake with filling through all three holes.

Serving Size

Serves 10

Linking to;

apumpkinandaprincess
madeinaday
uncommonsliceofsuburbia

Thanksgiving 2012

What blessings are you thankful for this Thanksgiving day 2012?

What traditions will you and your family enjoy while celebrating Thanksgiving day?

The traditional turkey dinner with dressing, and for dessert pies?

Watch all the football games, and the parade? Wonder if there will be the Macy's parade this year after the devastating hurricane in N.Y. 

Whatever plans you have  for Thanksgiving 2012 and will be enjoying  this year with family and friends let's take time to say a prayer for those affected by hurricane sandy.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe...

Heb 12:28, NIV

This year we will not only celebrate Thanksgiving but also my Son's birthday that falls on thanksgiving day.

Blessings, 

Terri

Linking to:

Craftberrybush

All about White Pumpkins

Nothing says Fall like Pumpkins do.  The beautiful colors of Fall, oranges, yellows, reds...natures colorful display!  Pumpkins are orange with green stems but lately the trend has been white pumpkins.
What's up with that?

Orange

White

Which are your favorite?  White or orange?

My fall mantel with pumpkins

A Pumpkin tree

I am wondering why this year white pumpkins are so popular.  I have to admit that I never knew there were white pumpkins before seeing so many this year, some even paint the orange ones white. Somehow I can't imagine a white pumpkin pie! I'm a die-hard orange pumpkin fan.

I found this interesting explanation on About.com :

Definition: Orange is so yesterday. Here in New England, white pumpkins, once a novelty, are becoming increasingly common, and these intriguing white orbs are all the rage when it comes to chic autumn decorating.

Blog parties

TheDedicatedHouse

TwiggStudios

Debbiedoo

KatherinesCorner

UnderTheTable

Mr. and Mrs. Jack'O Lantern

I just had to share these adorable pumpkins that were made by modpodging dictionary pages unto plastic pumpkins.  

So cute and creative!

See more about them here.

Pumpkin fudge recipe from RealMomKitchen

Pumpkin Fudge

3 cups granulated sugar
¾ cup melted butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
½ cup canned pure pumpkin
2 Tbs corn syrup
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
12 oz package white chocolate morsels
7 oz jar marshmallow crème
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional, but I highly recommend))
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Line 9″ square pan with aluminum foil. Spray with nonstick spray.
2. Stir together first 6 ingredients in a 3½ quart saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer registers 234° (soft ball stage) or for about 12 minutes.
3. Once mixture reaches 234°, remove from heat and quickly stir in remaining ingredients until well blended.
4. Pour into prepared pan. Let stand 2 hours or until completely cool; cut fudge into squares.
Yield: About 3 pounds

Sounds yummy, have to make this!!

Blog Hopping:

swtboutique
pinnertakesall
hereComesthesun

Pumpkin Spice Latte copycat recipe

You know summer's over and fall is in the air when Starbucks offers their Pumpkin Spice Latte. YUM!! We treated our neighbor friends with a cup recently because they never tasted it before plus they are great neighbors who are there whenever we need them.

CopyCat Recipe Pumpkin Spice Latte from Food.com

I discovered several variations of copycat recipes to make your own Pumpkin Spice Latte at home for when you can't get to a Starbucks.

This one sounded good, quick, easy:

3 tablespoons canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons vanilla-flavored syrup
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup milk
3 ounces espresso (1-2 shots)
Directions:

1
In a small saucepan, stir pumpkin puree into milk.
2
Add vanilla syrup and pumpkin pie spice.
3
Heat gently, continuing to stirring occasionally just until steaming and foam begins to appear.
4
Pour pumpkin flavored milk into a tall mug and pour espresso over.
5
Top with whip cream and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
6
Note: If you like it slightly sweeter; add a bit of vanilla flavored coffee cream.


Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte-copycat-270550?oc=linkback

Breakfast tablescape

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Do you grab a piece of toast and coffee? (my favorite) Or do you prefer a bowl of cereal and fruit?  Usually on weekends everyone enjoys a leisurely sit down bacon and eggs large breakfast. For those times that the family all gathers for a large delicious breakfast why not set the table with bright, fun table linens, dishes, bowls, serving pieces. Like the one pictured, from WorldMarket.

A diagram for setting the table"

World Market Gave us some great ideas for a breakfast, brunch tablescape. I love the idea of using a lemon or orange as a placecard, use a Sharpie and write each guests name on it and place it by their setting. 

Everything tastes better with a bright cheerful tablescape, don't you agree?  Wake up your family this weekend with a delicious breakfast served on a cheerful good morning tablescape!! Make every meal a celebration of life!

Surprise them with a Country Apple Dumpling

Click on photo for recipe!

Linking to

MyUncommonSliceofSuburubia