Decoding your Teens Text

So excited......I have been chosen to participate in a wonderful program with LG as a “LG TextEd Ambassador”. I will get to blog about my tweens and teens and their mobile phone use and what I think about it.
And in return, I will ask for your comments on my posting and for every comment 50 cents will go towards DoSomething.org. My posting will go up next week, but to check out the latest topics go HERE to “Mobile Meanness”. This week's Moms take on "Decoding their Teen's Text"

Fall Home Tour

Julia at Hooked on Houses is sponsoring a

Fall Home Tour Today.

She wanted everyone to show off their best Fall items in their homes.

Fall is one of my favorite seasons.

I love the weather and the colors are wonderful!

Here in New England the leaves are starting to peak.

I also love to decorate with pumpkins and mums.



As Halloween gets closer we will be carving up some of these pumpkins.
I also set smaller lit ones all along our driveway.


As you come up upon our porch,
you will be greeted by this lovely collection.
Nice place for the Candy on Halloween Night....


Pop into our front door,
and this antique like pumpkin and placemat will greet you!


And on the console in the foyer,
you will find this lovely pumpkin collection.
I like the idea of placing the pumpkins on a candle holders.


Turn the corner into the parlor,
and on the mantle you will find my Dollar Store Pumpkins.
I simply love them!


And on my dining room sideboard,
I have set up my Halloween plates and sugared gourds.
The ivory cage, I picked up at Hobby Lobby....

And on the dining room table,
You will find a basket full of real gourds and pumpkins.
I love the small ivory ones,
And the glass pumpkin, that you can light a candle in,
I found at Salvation Army for $1.

LOVE IT!


And to end the tour,
On the Kitchen mantle you will find two more Dollar Store finds.
What a great buy right???

I think you'll have fun checking out other homes joining in
at Julia's Fall Home Tour,
so pop on over HERE!

Tarte Fine...Simply Fine

Today’s oh-so-fine tart was selected by Leslie of Lethally Delicious. Everyone is probably now bursting with apples. I know I am, I have 5 or 6 kinds on hand right now. Here in New England the picking is still going strong.

Why not celebrate with something simply and easy. Easy, of course meaning, if you buy your puff pastry in the frozen food section. Because we all know making puff pastry takes forever. After slicing these apples. it will take all of 10 minutes to put together. Super simple! I used Rhode Island Pippin Apples, a close relative to the Granny Smith. I like it tart! For the recipe go to Leslie's Blog.

We give this 5 glasses of milk,

for utter goodness.

The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.

Mandy wanted to challenge everyone, by making a cooking that meant September to them. Around these parts September means soccer and football season. Being that soccer balls are harder to make, I thought they would be more of a challenge. And they were! I love making sugar cookies. They do take some time, but the are so cute and delish after!

Recipe SourceBasic Sugar Cookie recipe adapted from Peggy Porschen:http://www.peggyporschen.com/images/press/pdf/Coso-Bride-Oct-Nov-2008.pd...Also found in her book: “Romantic Cakes” http://www.peggyporschen.com/book-detail.asp?ID=2Royal Icing recipe adapted from The Joy of Baking:http://www.joyofbaking.com/RoyalIcing.html courtesy of Sherry Yard's book The Secret of Baking

I seem to get this all the time....

They only want me for one thing!

Sutter Home gives back to Breast Cancer!

There is a few good things to say about one of my favorite cheap wine today. First, the cookoff starts tomorrow in Miami for the Make a BetterBurger Contest, promoted by Sutter Home. Contestants will be vying for $100,000 prize. I was thinking about entering and then ran out of time.....:( And second, they have some great things going with Breast Cancer Awareness. Sign up for the special package, I did!

October is breast cancer awareness month, and for the fourth year Sutter Home Winery is promising to donate $1 to breast cancer research for every bottle sold of Sutter Home White Zinfandel-if consumers remember to send them the special pink "quality seal."

Sutter Home and Colavita have joined forces and are giving away FREE “Night of Hope” Kits in honor of breast cancer awareness month!

They’ll send you a party-ready kit, filled with all sorts of goodies: Sutter Home for Hope pink Chico Bag, pink ribbon bracelets, pink corkscrew, wine tasting skirts, recipes and more, for a spectacular night-in, in honor of strong women and breast cancer awareness!

Just go HERE to “Like” Sutter Home Wines on Facebook, then click on the Night of Hope tab to request your kit. Hurry, because this is only available while supplies last.

NOTE: This offer is not available outside of the U.S. or to residents of California.

Coffee Break Muffins....Mocha Espresso!

This week's choice is Coffee Break Muffins found on page 14 of Dorie's Book "Baking from My Home to Yours". I decided to add a little bit more of instant coffee and mini chocolate chips, to pop the flavor. These are wonderful. So simple, you can mix them up fresh in the morning. I used this great pan from IKEA. So cute..... it makes the muffins look like mushrooms. They just started making papers for these pans at a great price,so I'll be going back soon so I will be able to make cute cupcakes.

The next time I make these, I will sprinkle some crystal sugar on top...perfect!

Thanks to Rhiani of Chocoholic Anonymous for hosting this week’s selection. For the recipe, visit her blog or buy the book.

We give this 5 glasses of milk,

for utter goodness!

Looking for an Great Recipe for the Apple picking you did last weekend....

Apple Cake it is! This is a great start to the school year. Especially with School Open Houses everywhere...and bake sales too! This is a moist delicious cake that you can't resist. It is a great brunch idea or an afternoon tea perhaps. What teacher wouldn't give you an 'A' for effort.

I first developed this recipe for my kids class that I taught at my former place. It is quick and easy. The only hard part is chopping up all the apples. Now, you could use one of those fancy corer, peeler, slicer thingy, that you crank. Which I have, but didn't use. I prefer to keep the skin on and slice the apple thin. A little skin never hurt anyone, right??

You can bake it in a 13 x 9 pan or a tube pan like I used here. You can also add nuts to the struesel, like almonds, pecans, or walnuts....




Apple Cake
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 c. applesauce
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. LF sour cream
3 c. chopped or sliced apples
---------------------
2 c. AP flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
******************
Struesel Mix -
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 T. AP flour
1 tsp. ginger

**Spray a 9 x 13 or tube pan, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
** In a bowl combine sugar, brown sugar, eggs, applesauce, cinnamon, sour cream, and apples.
** Add flour, baking soda, and baking powder
**Spread into prepared pan.
**In a small bowl mix together struesel mix and sprinkle on top.
** Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Now, after cake has cooled , pop it out of the pan. I promise this will be the moistest cake ever.....and you'll probably want it all to yourself. But, if you want your son or daughter to brown-nose the teacher the first week, then I suggest you give it to them! But, make an extra one for your afternoon tea, as you celebrate the beginning of school and the daily chaos that goes along with it!!! Bon Apetite!

Cran-Apple Upside Down Cake

This week's recipe from Dorie is "Cranberry Upside Downer". I chose to change it up a bit by adding some of the many apples I have around. It is Apple Harvest season right now in New England so they are abundant. I didn't have fresh cranberries on hand so I added in dried cranberries and crushed pecans. It was lovely...simply lovely!

This is like a autumn fruity teacake. Great for a brunch or an afternoon tea. The only downfall for me is , I wish it was a little thicker. And next time I'll add a little more apple on top. Other than that it id definitely a keeper! Enjoy!


Thanks to Sabrina of Superfluous for hosting the Cranberry Upside-Downer. For the recipe, visit her blog or buy the book.

We give this 4 glasses of milk,

for utter goodness!

School is in Session....

School is back and so is the dreaded school supply list! This pile is about 2/3 of what I actually bought. I just couldn't get it all in the camera shot.

The savings tip when you have a brood like we do, is to start buying supplies in July. Staples, Office Max, Target, and Walmart, all run specials each week on school supplies starting the 2nd week in July. Early for us, but not for some of you who start out the first week of August in school, sorry...

Staples and Office Max are the best bet when they have those freebies or 5 cents specials. The key is watching for the Sunday ads and being there first thing. When they are free or super cheap, they always say "while supplies last".
So what I would do is get a little each week of what I knew my kids would need to start school. And then I get a few extras to last through out the year. So when they run out or get lost in the shuffle, there is a replacement. I know that if I waited until the week of school starting, I would've have spent hundreds for everything that I picked up along the way. Just for the 3rd grade needed list, I heard one parent say they spent like $55, and that doesn't include things to get you by during the year.

And once they get in Jr. High they even have summer reading books that should be purchased. So I was able to find those on Amazon.com, used for like 10 cents to $1. So next year if you have school supplies you will need to get, think ahead of the game!
I Love Being Frugal!

Simple Little Tarts.....

Simple and Easy......

The Motto of Today!

Looking for a Dessert to take to your Labor Day BBQ.

This one is sure to please!

Simply take puff Pastry from the freezer section at your local market. Let thaw slightly and cut out circles. Then cut a inner circle down halfway into the dough, not all the way through. Follow the directions for baking on the box, usually 15 minutes.

After cooling down a bit. Take the inner circle out leaving the bottom, like a little pie shell. At this point you could paint the inside with melted chocolate, so they will hold their shape and not get soggy. Be sure to do this of you are making and filling them way before serving.

I sprinlked mine with powdered sugar . Then you fill each cup with pastry cream or custard. Then put any fresh fruit you may have on top. Now you are ready for the Party!!!

Back to School Celebration!

Are you looking forward to the kids going back to school? Are they looking forward to going back, so they won't be so bored???? Why not celebrate this occasion, by having a little party and making some ice cream cone cupcakes.

They are simple and easy..... I think the hardest part was getting them to stay upright while placing them in the oven. You can make it easy for yourself by taking a angel food pan, cover with foil and poke hole in to place your cones. Or use a mini muffin pan, and with steady hands you will make it....

All you need is:

**Your favorite cake batter

**cake cones

**buttercream or whip topping

**sprinkles

*I fill mine about 2/3 and bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool, before poking a hole in the middle and filling with topping, and continuing to top.

Add some sprinkles just for fun!