Brittneys Amazing Mint Brownies & Finished The Tree Finally.

Hi

 The other day I added a couple of snow flakes to my Header.
 I will probably be changing it several times adding and taking away things until Christmas.
 Thats me always creating..

I finished the tree yesterday and I think it turned out pretty good.

I like to take pictures that way I can tell by the photo what needs to be moved and filled in.

 I see a couple of areas I have to adjust.

Here is a little something I was playing with in PSP

That is actually hanging on my front deck.

The bottom snow flake floats around and really sparkles when the light shines on it.

So beautiful I should take a movie and post it.. maby today I will.

I don't have a clue what happened but my computer must have had a hiccup  I went out for a few hours and did some work came back added things and their not their..

So I will finish this tomorrow taking a break and giving you a break from me.

Recipe Share From Me

 

Brittneys Amazing Chocolate Mint Brownies

 

Two packages of ghirardelli brownie mix

 One bag of ghirardelli peppermint bark squares 

 Break the peppermint bark into pieces and add it to the mix

 make brownies  according to box directions.

For the frosting

 

 One  container of plain white vanilla frosting,

 1 1/2 teaspoon  peppermint extract

4 candycanes that are very well chopped

  (you can do it in the food processor).

 Mix and spread over brownies when they are fully cooled.

 

Thanks Brittney!

I hope you will like them as much as we do.

 

Thats all from me have to get busy have lots of work to do.

 

Tree # 2 & Jessica's Cranberry Relish

Cold this morning 24. I cant believe Southern California where we have family.
their temperature  is the same as us this morning.
 Of course they will get a lot warmer during the day than us in the Mid West.
I know you want the weather report from me.. :)

Pretty isn't it I wish I could preserve it.

My Grand Daughter Brittney brought it for our Thanksgiving center piece.

Steve and Liz brought in my tree from the garage befor they left thanksgiving so I could get started on my tree. I started yesterday so far I only put it together and put lights on. Today I will decorate it.

I love Christmas Trees their a lot of work but they make me happy.

That's the box of ornaments sitting next to the tree waiting to be put on.

I thought I would share a tip I found this morning.

 I will definitely go out and buy them today.

 I love them and haven't had them for a long time.

http://wannabetvchef.blog.co.uk/2010/11/14/tip-of-the-week-super-sprout-9972365/

Sharing a Recipe of one of my Great Nieces

 Its especially good around the holidays when we are eating fresh cranberries.

Jessica's

Cranberry Relish:

1bag fresh cranberries,

1 whole orange-cut into chunks(with the peel on)

1/2 cup sugar.

In food processor grind cranberries.

Add orange chunks & grind again.

 Remove mixture to bowl and add sugar.

Let sit, add more sugar if needed.

 Refrigerate. Tastes best if made 24 hours in advance.

Thanks for looking have to get busy got work to do..

PS

If you find mistakes Im not perfect but I try.

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise



The Day After

We had a wonderful Thanks giving so much food it was crazy!!

Thanks to all our family for helping prepare food to bring over it was so appreciated and delicious. Also to the Sebans for the beautiful plant! so pretty I love it.. We also celebrated  Sara jeans,  my oldest sister and Brent who is my Grand daughters husband. birthdays as well.

Sara, Freda and Trish

Brent and Julie

Today we are planning what to do with some of the left over turkey. I definitely know I will make my very favorite turkey sandwich, a must have and of course turkey a la king on toast one of my very favorites.. YUMMM

I took a few pictures not to many they hate it when I get the camera out LOL.

 Oh well to bad guys its me the camera nut..

 Some day down the road they may enjoy all the pictures I took..

 I feel sorry for the ones who had to work very early on Black Friday like Cindy at 4 am and Liz also at 4 am.  two of my Granddaughters did the Black Friday shopping they left at 11 pm to get in line with all the rest of the shoppers and it was 18 degrees out during the night but it sounds like they might have been in the Mall where it was warm.

Bill and I  the hard working Chefs

Freda, Megan and Cindy

Brittney and her Dad Bill

Megan and Brent

Steve and Liz

Our special girl helping get the paper plates out for the birthday celebration.

 She has become one of our little helpers.

Everyone looks so great!

 Thank you all for all your hard work and your help.

Here's the beautiful plant I talked about

Thats all for today I have a lot of work waiting for me to do.

Enjoy your Day!

Happy Thanksgiving & Pumpkin Pie

Good Morning

Thanksgiving Day is one of my favorite holidays besides Christmas and Easter.

 It's a time to personally reflect upon every reason one has to feel thankful.

 We're most fortunate to have been born in our beautiful, scenic country. There is not one state that does not simply take your breath away with its special charm. From California all across the Midwest to the Southern states, God has blessed this land with His special touch of natural splendor.

 I look forward to the holidays, a special time when family members will be together.And of course eat the famous traditional Turkey,Dressing, Sweet potatoes and Pumpkin Pie..Of course other dishes are always introduced to the table. This year we are having along with the turkey, dressing and sweet potatoes we are having  mashed potatoes, corn, brussel sprouts, cranberries, mostacolli, pickles olive tray, rolls, Chocolate mint brownies and teramisu..

Pumpkin Pie

Not a Diet Meal on Thanksgiving not at our house.

1 15oz can pure pumpkin

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp pumpkin spice

1/4 tsp cloves

1 12oz can evaporated milk

2 large eggs

combine all ingredients and mix well

with electric mixer.

pour in to a 9 inch pie shell

place in preheated oven 

Bake 425 for 15 minutes 

reduce heat to 350 for 45 to 50 minutes. 

remove to wire rack to cool

refrigerate after pie has cooled. 

pour into a preheated oven

Dont forget the sugar
one year I did and created a family rememberance.

My favorite Pie Crust

I have been making this pie crust my whole married life.

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Crisco

1/4 cup of water

combine all the above in a food processor until it all comes together in a nice ball.

If you don't have a food processor mix well with a pastry blender or electric mixer.

Roll out in between two sheets of wax paper

I discovered that works really well.

testing to see if pie pan will fit over the dough

 when it looks like it will fit remove the top layer of wax paper

 place pan over and flip into pan.

 remove last layer of wax paper crimp sides and pierce pie dough all over with a fork.

 pour in batter and bake. according to directions above.

serve each pie slice with a dollip of whipped cream. 

Thanks For Looking

Three days befor Thanksgiving!

I have a lot planned for this week.
 I want to finish decorating my one Christmas tree.

This is our slim line with just the lights on perfect for our family room.

 We had to take a box of tree lights back only half worked while we were out we did some other shopping, so crossing fingers today will be the same, getting  things done..

Here it is with the ornaments on..

 

 I made a new header I like it just enough I could have added more but wanted it to be sort of a mild look hope I accomplished that look. I wanted ll the work I did on the reindeer and scene to show.
I was thinking of the snow flakes sparkling but that didn't turn out for some reason maybe after thanksgiving Ill try again now I have to much going on to work with that..

Its really dark this morning and slightly warm out their very unusual 63 at 5:30 in the morning that wont last we don't have weather like that at the end of November..

I even have a lone Iris that is opening up and its the end of November all the other plants I cut down but this one had a bud so I left it most of the time by now they freeze.

Not a very sharp picture I must have moved a bit..

Just heard thunder so that means rain I think..
Yep it rained really hard for about five minutes and that's all
even hail mixed in.

I went out to get the papers and took a shot of the moon going down in the west.

Now I'm waiting for the sun to come up in the east.

Not a very good sun rise this morning very cloudy.

That's all from me today.

I have to get into a working mode and get things done..

Have a good day!

I Baked a Chocolate Cake..

I hope you noticed I'm trying to get into the holiday spirit.

 I made a new Header for the Holiday Season.

 It took me a while so I  decided to post it.

 Before you know it will be over and Ill be busy doing other things.

 Hope you like it..

I would like to get started putting up my tree I know its early but I don't like putting up a tree and going Thur all that work decorating and bamm its time to take it down..

 I have been doing my own tree for ever Bill never helped

 probably because I used to get crazy when I worked and tried to do it all thanksgiving weekend..

That's probably why he never got into the habit of helping me,

only with emergencies LOL

This morning don't ask me why I had a box of Chocolate cake mix in the pantry and wanted to use it. I rarely ever make box cakes always from scratch, I'm old fashioned. I don't like the taste so I thought I would jazz it up with Cherry pie filling on top and Heath bits in the cake batter.. I baked it in a cast iron skillet me new way to bake. LOL I hope it taste as good as it looks, Ill let you know..

Sunday Megan, Brent and Julie came over we had dinner together.

Cindy stopped by Thursday and stayed for dinner it was nice she has been working a lot of hours so she doesn't stop by every other day like before.

  Brittney stopped by  yesterday we went to lunch.

 I had a gift card from my neighbor we finally got to use and still have money left on it..

 Almost forgot to mention Aletha came over Monday.

 We are really lucky that we always have a lot of visitors.

Tuesday I went to a circle group I belong to at my church.

So all in all Life is good

We are so lucky our family is very close.

Below is my Recipe for

 Chocolate Cherry Heath Bits Cake

1 Box Betty Crocker Moist Chocolate Cake Mix

3 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1 1/3 cups water

1 can Cherry Pie Filling

1 cup Heath Bar Bits

Prepare Pan I used a large Iron skillet

 because thats the look I wanted.

after spraying with Pam

add 1 can cherry pie filling to prepared skillet.

Prepare cake mix according o directions

after beating amounted time 2 minutes  stir in heath bits.

Pour over pie filling in the skillet.

Bake in preheated over 35 to 40 minutes test for doneness after 35 minutes.

When tooth pick comes out clean cake is done.

let set in skillet 10 minutes befor placing on to cake plate

Place cake plate over cake and skillet  turn both together up side down..

Enjoy

Thanks For Looking

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

Getting Ready for the Holiday and Impossible Pie by Bill..

I love Christmas Cactus!

I bought this white one yesterday and I put it in a rustic looking pot I just like the look.

I have been waiting for them to come out for the season I used to have one years ago it was a gift from my friend Janet, it was her mothers and it was very old. I am still into Orchids and I have three that are starting to re bloom so excited about that but it will be a while..

I even have my Poinsettia  actually  the leaves that turned green over the past year

 starting to turn red.

 I'm so happy to see that..

One more week and the eating frenzy begins..

 I love Turkey especially the next day when I have my turkey sandwich loaded with Mayo and big queen olives on the side. I have been doing that for years a tradition as far as I'm concerned.

  

I cant decide weather to put up two trees or one crazy isn't it..

I'm really seriously thinking one this year.

I started our Christmas shopping we don't have to buy much just one  or two gifts and the rest is the green stuff so much easier. Except of course the family princess. Now that's another story :)...

I was also taking a few pictures thought I would share with you.

Its really starting to look like winter is on its way

  I had a few visitors the other day.

Looks drearie doesn't it.. Some of the flowers are actually still their..

I think Im going to plant the same kind in front next year,

they last a lot longer.

The look of the end of Fall.

A Rose on the arbor

Here are a couple of birds that I managed to take a picture of yesterday.

Blu Jay at the very top of the tree.

A big crow!

 we seem to have a few hanging around.

Thats all the picture share for today.

 Bills all time old favorite pie..

BISQUICK IMPOSSIBLE COCONUT PIE RECIPE

Looks like a little mouse tried a piece..

Ingredients:

2 cups milk

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup Bisquick Baking Mix

1/8 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs

1/4 cup butter (softened)

1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Place milk sugar, baking mix, eggs, butter and vanilla in blender container; cover.

3. Blend on low speed for 3 minutes.

4. Pour into a greased 9-inch pie plate. Sprinkle the coconut on top after pouring into pie plate.

5. Bake for 40 minutes or until pie is set and the top is golden brown.

6. Cool on a wire rack. Store in refrigerator.

Diane Louise