PUMPKIN PIE DIP

PUMPKIN PIE DIP (Makes about 3 cups)

Beat 1- 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese with 2 cups of powdered sugar.

Add 1- 15 oz. can of pumpkin and mix well.

Then add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon & 1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger, blend well.

Chill 4 hours.

Serve with gingerbread cookies or gingersnaps. Also good with pear or apple slices.

Wishing you and your families a most Holy & Glorious Christ mass!

Peake Christmas Party

I did not get to completely set out all the food prior to the event- I had a previous engagement- so the host set out the rest of the food later. But, you can get an idea of the tablescape. Here we have a favorite of mine, the Chicken-Artichoke Tarts with Walnuts. (Recipe to follow tomorrow)
Gourmet cheese & olives with fresh fruits

Mini Herb biscuits with Herb & wine infused roasted pork tenderloin.

One of the holiday's favorites: Pumpkin Dip from Southern Living (the tray is waiting for the Gingerbread Man Cookies)

View of her lovely dining room & table setting

Stay tuned for recipes in the next coming days.

Dining Room CHRISTmas Decor

The dining room is set. The Center Piece-Mary & Jesus

The place setting. Simple & elegant all in one.

Burlap all over the house this year.

The Nativity. My Favorite Angel & the Wisemen

This is the first year I've had two trees downstairs. This one is decorated with birds, angels, crosses & stars. I had it in the pink bedroom last year with pink & white roses.

Pretty new birds to add to my redbirds.

Hope you enjoyed.

Please post your decorations and leave your site for us to visit.

RASPBERRY-LEMONADE CAKE

Really it's all about the icing! Start by baking two recipes of your favorite two layer white or yellow cake. Bake & freeze the cake. (2 boxed cakes are okay if you don't have a cake recipe you like.)

Icing- Divided- This is for a 4 layer cake.

10 cups (or more) of confectioners sugar

1- 8oz. pkg of cream cheese, softened

1 pint of heavy cream (you will not use all of it)

1 tsp of vanilla flavoring

1 small jar of seedless raspberry jelly

1 small packet of unsweetened koolaide-lemonade

1 lemon- grated & juiced

Almond slivers (optional)

Mix together confectioners sugar and cream cheese until blended. Add heavy cream in small amounts to make a stiff, creamy frosting. Then divide by 1/3 to 2/3's.

To the first 1/3 add the vanilla flavoring and the raspberry jelly. Mix well. Use this to fill between each layer.

To the remaining 2/3's add the lemonade, lemon juice and grated peel. If the icing becomes too thin, add more confectioners sugar to stiffen. Use this to frost the outside of the cake. Top with almond slivers if using. After frosting- freeze again. (Wait until the frosting is frozen then wrap in plastic and keep frozen until ready to serve.) Defrost for at least 4 hours before serving. Make sure to unwrap as soon as it's removed from the freezer.

Note: Plan this cake at least 3 days ahead. Cook one day & freeze. Frost the next day, then freeze. Serve after that.

Also, to help stabilize the 4 layers of cake, place long wooded skewers into the layers as soon as you have finished frosting between layers.

Well, there you have it!

Simple, time consuming, but simple. Enjoy!!

Dessert Table for NuLink

Assorted baked cookies
My Fav! Tropical Carrot Cake

Raspberry-Lemonade Cake (recipe to come)

Chocolate Thunder & Lime-Grapefruit Poundcake

Now isn't YOUR mouth watering! Call me, I can make one for you too!

M.I.A.

I'll be back in a few days- busy time of year for me.

So have a cup of tea with me & don't forget me while I'm out. Have a great week!

Christmas Table Scape

Going a little "Down-Home Country" this year. I'll be using burlap, red & green plaid & natural decor a lot this year.
I bought this set of plates several years back. They show all Santa's reindeer dressed to the 'Nines'

Isn't Donner dapper

Waiting to get displayed.....somewhere. Ha!

Most of the decor is waiting in the attic still. Will post as I go.

What will your home be like this year? Post and let us know, or better yet show us how you decorated this year.

HAPPY THANKGIVING

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, BLESSED AND GLORIOUS THANKSGIVING.

NO. 2 THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE

With leftover burlap from Melanie's wedding, I made runners to accent my breakfast room table this year. After you get over the rustic, musty smell, the shedding and wrinkles it makes a lovely fall table. (LOL!)
Of course you KNOW I must include my bunny & birds aren't they adorable.

These pictures were taken at round 3:30 in the afternoon when the shadows are the best.

Thanksgiving Tablescape

Of all the dishes I own, these are by far my most favorite.

I love them & wish I had at least 8 more place settings.

Waiting for tea & pumpkin pie.

Of course the Chandelier needed decor too.
Sideboard

A NEW TEA DISCOVERY

NOVUS(www.novustea.com) I discovered this tea at dinner on Saturday. It is the Kenilworth Ceylon. I kept the tea package so I could look it up. The tea was very smooth, great flavor and packed whole leaf in a sachet. I found the site and plan to order some. If you know where it might be sold on the shelf, please let me know.

"HELLO CUPCAKE"

No, it's not a greeting of affection. It's the name of this great new cupcake cookbook I found at Michael's.

Aren't these the cutest things.

This one is spagetti & meatball cupcakes- they really look like it too, but it's all in the frosting! Incredible. You have got to see this book if you love to bake or not!

This was my first try. I ususally HATE making cupcakes, but these make me want to bake some every day!

There are so many options and fun things in this book and they are all made with EASY ingredients. Candies, frostings, cookies. Nothing complicated at all.
I hope you rush out to find this one. I LOVE IT!!!

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VETERANS!

You are thanked beyond words. You are hero's beyond hero's. You are appreciated more than you know.

And for those still serving I leave you this:

Isaiah 35:4

Say to them that are afraid, Be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance, even with recompense; He will come and save you.

God Bless you ALL! And God bless America!!