Adorable Acorn Treats

This is a super easy treat that  you can make as a snack for your family, or as little gifts for friends, co-workers or teachers as a way to say thank you for all that they do. You could also place a jar of them in a basket with some hot chocolate mix and some flavored coffee and tea bags for a family friendly hostess gift. I've already told you that fall is my favorite time of year, and I have to add that I love acorns. I'm not sure what it is about them but I think they are so cute and I always use them as part of my autumn decorating. So, it stands to reason that these adorable treats just had to get added to my list of seasonal recipes...not that they can really be called a "recipe". I first saw these on the Our Best Bites blog a few years ago and I knew I had to make them. Sine that time I've seen them on other blogs and most recently on the cover of a magazine. In case you haven't seen them, let me show you what I am talking about.... 

  To assemble them you just need a  few ingredients:

  Nutter Butter Bites cookies

 Some ready made cookie frosting

 Hershey kisses

Minaure chocolate chips

You then simply use the frosting to attach a Hershey kiss to one side of the cookie and a mini chocolate chip to the other.

Once the frosting has set, you can decide how you want to serve or present your adorable treats. I love using wide mouth mason jars. This year I used a circle of fabric and placed it under the jar rim and then tied some raffia around it. You could also over fill the jars and leave the lid off. In the past my friend made the most adorable teachers gifts by tying some seasonal ribbon in a large bow around the jar and attaching a cute thank you tag. Creating the presentation is half the fun.

Turkey Chile

This is a great recipe that can offer comfort and warmth as the weather starts to cool. I would recommend doubling the amounts as the extras can easily be frozen and it tastes even better as leftovers because the flavors have more time to meld together.

Turkey Chile

Ingredients:

2  cans of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, sliced

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 pound ground turkey

1 can mild green chile peppers                                               

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

pinch of cayenne pepper (adjust amount to your liking)

2 Tbsp grated cheddar cheese

extra grated cheddar cheese to top when served

Brown the ground turkey, pepper and onion in olive oil. Once browned, add all ingredients except the kidney beans and cheddar cheese to a large pot and cook on low for 1 1/2 hours, stirring frequently.

After 1 1/2 hours add the kidney beans and 2 Tbsp of  cheddar cheese and cook for an additional hour, again stirring frequently. You can add additional grated cheese or a small amount of olive oil during this time to enhance the texture to your liking.

Serve with additional grated cheddar, rice and some multigrain chips.

Linking with:

Best DIY Projects and Recipe Party at The 36th Avenue

Bringing New Life to a Family Heirloom

      We have a drop leaf table that was given to us by my in laws. It is a very study piece of furniture that had been made by my husband's grandfather, but truth be told, it had seen better days. The finish on the top of the table was worn and had some water stains. It also had a long crack that extended along most of the table top.  Although it showed damage from years of use, I was always hesitant to do anything to the finish since it was made by Dave's grandfather. I just didn't feel right about changing a family heirloom. After refinishing several other pieces of furniture however, and seeing how they could be brought back to their former beauty, I decided to give the long neglected table the attention it deserved. Here is the "before" photo of the table...

 

 Our first job was to fill the crack with wood filler and then sand the top. As soon as we began, all feelings of doubt I had had about doing anything to the table diminished. It is  a treasured piece that had been in Dave's family for years, and although we were going to change it's appearance, we were going to enhance it's beauty, not diminish the sentimental value. Here's a look at the table with the leaves extended, the crack repaired, and the top partially sanded...

After a much deliberation, I decided to paint it with Miss Mustard Seed milk paint in a color she calls linen. Linen is another neutral color of this milk paint brand, but it is considered the cream color of the three options, whereas grain sack (which is the top color I used when refinishing the toy chest) is described as" a chameleon color that looks different depending on what is around it". The grain sack color can look white or sometimes gray, but the linen color has warm undertones and is more of a creamy white. There is also a third neutral that is called ironstone, and it is a cooler off-white that is considered the closest color to a pure white in this line. I am having fun experimenting with all of the options that are available.

      I ended up using four coats of linen on this table, because I was painting over such a dark stain color with a light colored paint. I did not use the bonding agent this time, and the paint had minimal chipping occur on the table top since it had been sanded prior to painting. However chipping did happen on the areas that I did not do any prep work to.  I liked the distressed look that occurred as I wanted to maintain the aged appearance of the table. Unfortunately, Dave wasn't crazy with the look. We were hoping to have some chipping happen, as we wanted to pay homage to the history of the piece, but in the end he wasn't thrilled with the sharp contrast between the two colors... 

 

To minimize the difference between the original dark stain and the light paint color, I applied a finishing coat of hemp oil over the entire table, but I  added a coat of white wax over the ares that had some chipping occur. This gave the stained base color more of a white washed effect and softened the contrast slightly.

 We really ended up liking how the finished piece turned out. We currently have it against the back of a love seat separating the living room from our dining room. For now it acts as a "sofa table" but is readily available if we need to extend the leaves and use it for extra seating when family and friends come to visit. I am really glad I decided to take the plunge and redo this heirloom piece of furniture. It still has an authentic aged appearance, but the chipped shabby chic look is much nicer than the old worn and water stained finish that it formerly had. Now I love having it an area where it can be appreciated and utilized, whereas before I felt the need to have it out of the way and the top always covered to hide the damaged area. I've changed the items I have displayed on the table a few times since I finished painting it, but the one thing that I have consistently kept on it is a tatted doily that my grandmother made. Tatting isn't a craft that I see a lot of any more, and I wish I had had my grandmother teach me how to do it. I especially love that both the doily and table can be displayed together. Although my children never got to know either of these great grandparents, having these items in our home, shows them what skilled artisans some of their ancestors were.

 

By the way, I am linking this project up to the Milk Paint Masterpiece Monday party at the Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint Blog. I am really learning to enjoy using this line of milk paint and Marian's two blog sites are always full of inspiring ideas..

I am also linking up with Angie from Knick of Time, to join her and some of her blogging friends for their Vintage Inspiration Party...be sure to stop by. 

Please visit My Salvaged Treasures as I will be joining their link party too.

Be sure to stop by the Get Your DIY On Link Party hosted by Abby at Just A Girl And Her Blog and 4 other great bloggers, as I will be joining that party as well. Their monthly parties are always full of inspirational ideas.

   

Seasonal Changes

     So far November has been a little odd here in Northwestern NJ. There have been several warmer than usual days that have resulted in a few surprises...like some jellybean tomatoes ripening on a plant that we had in a bucket on our deck...the plant was dry and brown but the tomatoes were red and lush...

 

 If newly ripened tomatoes in November were not a unique enough treat, one of our rose bushes continued to bless us with autumn buds...                     

The red tomatoes and the red roses may have been a little unusual for this time of year, but the blazing red colors of the Japanese red maple trees in our yard were right in season

  

 We weren't the only ones enjoying the benefits of a warm autumn....my friend's garden yielded some late season roses and hydrangeas that she used to adorn her home...

 However, this morning we woke to the sparkle of white snow and clear crystals coating the landscape...

 

 

This sprinkling of snow may finally be the end of our unseasonably late gift of vegetables and blooms, but it also represents a sign of the glitter and beauty that the next season will bestow.

Giovanni's Light by Phyllis Theroux....The Story of a Town Where Time Stopped for Christmas

     Since we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving and will be headed into the Christmas season soon, I wanted to choose a book for this month's selection that would reflect the meaning of this time of year and perhaps provide some inspiration and opportunity for reflection. Part of my decorating for the holidays includes bringing out and displaying some seasonal books around our home. While many of these books are classics or children's stories that we shared with our kids when they were younger, over the years I have also included some newer stories that I had discovered as well. They are books that remind us to focus on the true meaning of the season.  Giovanni's Light by Phyllis Theroux is one of the books I choose to read each year and put on display as part of our holiday decor. In this day and age it is so common to become frenzied by a harried pace and endless "to do" lists. This book is a reminder of the importance of taking the time to slow down and appreciate each moment. The story is short enough to be read in one sitting, but it's message is something that will stay with you long after you close the book. The story takes place in Ryland Falls, a quaint, quiet town that is forced to come to a halt when a blizzard blankets everything with snow just before Christmas. Families and the community are forced to come together and slow down as they take notice of the little things...the things that can really mean the most. The author states it best by writing that the townspeople are reminded "of what they had forgotten, or never knew - that life can be sad and beautiful, lonely and dull, but it is never unimportant" and that they are "encouraged to look long enough to see it all." The characters of the story, and thereby the reader, are forced to examine  their perspective on what is really important, and ultimately realize that time is a precious gift that should not be wasted. A paragraph towards the end of the book sums up the lesson well..."Most of the world quickens its step the closer it gets to Christmas. In Ryland Falls, the opposite is true. People become more peaceful, their steps become more measured, as if they don't want to disturb anything important that is getting ready to happen. Or not happen." So as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, take a moment to give thanks for the love of family, the support of community, the kindness of strangers and most importantly, the gift of time. I encourage you to sit down with a warm cup of cocoa and allow yourself to get snowed in in Ryland Falls.
  

Shepherd's Pie

     The basis for this recipe was given to me by a friend. My family and I made some minor adjustments and now it is a recipe that we turn to on a regular basis. The nice thing about this dish is that you can make and assemble it in advance and then heat in the oven later. I often prepare it on the weekend and store it in the fridge, then pop it in the oven when I get home from work. The leftovers can be reheated as well. It's a filling, family friendly recipe that is great to have in your collection.

Ingredients
2 lbs of turkey sausage, removed from the casing (we use hot sausage, but you can use sweet, or 1 lb of  each depending on your family's preference. It is however, important to use a quality sausage)       

1.5 lbs of ground turkey
1 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks of celery, chopped
small amount of olive oil to saute the vegetables in       

1 Tbsp minced garlic
5 lbs of mashed potatoes
2 12 oz cans of tomato paste
1  bag of frozen corn
2 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese


Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Prepare the mashed potatoes (you can prepare them however your family prefers. I add some butter, and a small amount of salt and milk when making mine. It is best if you have a somewhat firm mashed consistency as it will be easier when you cut and serve the meal later).

Brown the meat, drain and set aside.

Saute the onion, pepper and celery in olive oil until tender. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes longer.

Stir the onion, pepper, celery and garlic into the browned meat. Add the tomato paste and mix well.

Spread the meat mixture into the bottom of a 10x15 casserole dish. Sprinkle the frozen corn kernels on top of the meat. Spread the mashed potatoes over the entire casserole and then sprinkle the shredded cheese on top.

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until completely heated through.

Enjoy!

Toy Chest Becomes an End Table

      Today I want to share a project with you that has been a long time in the making. My parents had given my son a beautiful, solid, and well made wooden toy chest for his first birthday. My original intent was to stain it, but it was immediately put into use holding many of David's toys. The staining project was put on hold. Over the years I thought about painting instead of staining it, but since I couldn't decide on a color because the toy box was utilized in various rooms, it remained in it's unfinished raw wood state. It also acquired it's share of nicks and scratches along the way, as it was put to good use by both of our children.
     As the kids outgrew the need for a toy box, the piece of furniture was moved to the basement, again with the intent that some day I would finish it.  Well, my new found love of milk paint and the variety of ways it can be used, motivated me to pull out the long forgotten toy chest and finally give it the much anticipated makeover it deserved.

       After mulling over all of my color options, I decided to try something a little different from anything I had done up until this point. I chose to use trophy, which is a rich gray color, as a base coat. Since the chest was unfinished raw wood, the paint would soak into the wood and would not chip, even without the use of the bonding agent. After the coat of trophy was dry, I used the Miss Mustard Seed wax puck to create areas of resistance for the next layer of paint. The wax puck is a round disc of wax that you rub onto your wood pieces, causing the next layer of paint to resist adhering. I then painted 2 coats of grain sack, which is an off white color that is described on the MMS Milk Paint site as a "chameleon color, meaning it looks different depending on what is around it." At this point I used a fine grit sandpaper to gently remove some of the grain sack color where the wax puck had been rubbed over the chest. This allowed the gray color to show through, rather than sanding it down completely to the raw wood. I finished it with  a coat of hemp oil which really enhanced the tones. The completed piece had a weathered look, and with the rope handles that were original to the toy chest, it had a rustic, almost coastal feel.

     

      Unfortunately we don't have a guest room in our house, so when my parents or other family members visit, we end up utilizing an air mattress in the family room to create some additional sleeping space. The refinished toy box is big enough to store the deflated air mattress and linens when not in use. It keeps these items out of sight, and serves as a unique end table with hidden storage. It looks great next to a chair that is in front of our fireplace, and creates a cozy spot to read and sip some tea on chilly evenings.    

 

      I've redone a few other pieces of furniture with milk paint and I'll be sharing those with you soon. It is hard to choose which one I like the most, as I'm pleased with how they all turned out. I must admit however, that this piece is definitely among my favorites. Not bad for a project that was almost 20 years in the making. Some things are truly worth waiting for!

 By the way, I'm linking this project up with the Pretty Preppy Party this month that is hosted by some great bloggers. Be sure to check out Julie's blog at Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss.  

She has a really inspirational site with lots of great ideas!

I'm also linking up  with Milkpaint Masterpiece Monday on the Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint Blog  and Furniture Feature Friday on the main Miss Mustard Seed blog. You know how much I enjoy using the MMS Milkpaint products and her blogs have been among my favorites for a long time.
I am also linking up with Finding Silver Pennies. Danielle has a fun blog full of ideas and hosts a great Sunday link party, so grab a cup of tea and go stop by for a visit. And be sure to join Becky at Beyond the Picket Fence for the Vintage Inspiration Party she hosts with 3 other blogs as I will be linking up there as well.
Please come check out the great projects at My Salvaged Treasures as I will be displaying this project there as well.
Please Stop by the Get Your DIY On Blog Party hosted by Mandy at The Hankful House and 4 other great bloggers.

Butternut Squash Soup

     We still had several butternut squash from our garden that we hadn't used yet, and with  the little nip that was in the air today, I decided it would be a great time to make a very large batch of soup. We had enough squash for me to more than triple the recipe, so I'll end up freezing quite a bit and it will last us through the winter. This is a nutritious and flavorful vegetarian dish with a rich color that makes it a great choice to serve this time of year.

Butternut Squash Soup

2 Tbsp oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 Tbsp of finely chopped fresh ginger or 1 tsp dried ground ginger  
2 tsp curry powder
1 carton (30.4 oz) vegetable broth
1 large butternut squash(approximately 3lb), peeled, seeded, and cut into 2 inch cubes
1 tsp salt

In a 3 quart saucepan heat the oil and cook the onion, stirring occasionally till tender.
Add the ginger and curry and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally
Stir in the squash, salt and vegetable broth.
Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for 25 minutes.
In a blender or food processor, process the hot soup in small batches, blending on low speed until smooth.

Enjoy!

Versatile Magic Cookie Bars

     Today I am going to share a recipe for  a cookie bar that has multiple variations. Keebler has a basic form of this recipe but I have seen it made several different ways. Here is the version I made this morning:

Ingredients
1/2 cup  (1 stick) of butter melted
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 14 oz can low fat sweetened condensed milk                  

1 1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Spread the melted butter in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan
Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs over the butter and evenly pat into the pan
Drizzle the condensed milk over the crumbs
Sprinkle the coconut and then the remaining ingredients over the top
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until bubbly and slightly golden on top
Cool completely before cutting into bars

Aside from being easy to make, the beauty of this recipe is that it can be adapted to suit your family's taste or to use the variety of chips that you have on hand. A few weeks ago I made an autumnal version that Sara at Our Best Bites had listed on her blog a few years ago. For that version after the layer of shredded coconut, you add the following items:

1 cup of cinnamon chips
1 cup of white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Whatever combination of toppings you choose to utilize, these are easy to make and are easily packed in a lunch box or served as an after school snack.