Life really can be a picnic!

Everyone loves a picnic! This blog is about some of the things I love the most, and the term "picnic" just about covers them all. First of all, a picnic has to include food; simple food that is easy to fix. Next, you need someplace fun or different to visit; a nice, peaceful location. And of course, you always need to take along a good book to read and a well-used quilt to spread everything out on. So, there you have it! Easy recipes, good books, fun quilts along with some interesting, down-to-earth places to visit. You can even take your family or a friend or two if you want.



Sunday, November 10, 2013

Count Your Blessings!

"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel." ~Author Unknown


 Last year we had practically no fall at all and winter just barged in before autumn had a chance.  This year, however, fall just goes on and on and is more incredibly beautiful than I ever remember.  Added to that comes gorgeous sunsets night after night.  We are so blessed. 

     This is a simple pumpkin quilt from Thimbleberries. It works well as either a wall hanging or a table topper.  I call it Pumpkin Fence.  It worked up fast and easy.


 
 
 
Tater Tot Casserole is one of our Fall favorites.  It's easy to throw together which is nice because our schedules start to get a little on the busy side this time of year.
 


Tater Tot Casserole

               1 lb. lean ground beef                                  1/8 tsp. pepper

               2 stalks celery, diced                                   1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

              1/2 onion, diced                                            1 16 oz. pkg. frozen tater tots

               ½ tsp. salt                                                     ½ C. milk

               ½ tsp. seasoning salt                                    ½ C. grated cheese

            In a large skillet, brown ground beef.  Drain.  Add celery, onion and seasonings.  Cook until celery and onion are crisp tender. Add soup, seasonings and milk and stir until mixed.  Pour meat mixture into a casserole dish.  Top with grated cheese.  Place tater tots end -side-up to fill dish completely.  Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until tater tots are browned.

            This is good as a main dish or side dish.  One can of tuna may also be used instead of hamburger.

 
 
Here are a couple of pumpkin recipes that I am throwing in just for fun.  The Pumpkin Cheese Bread recipe comes from Allrecipes.com and the Pumpkin Spice Cake recipe comes from my friend, Julee.
 



Pumpkin Cheese Bread

1 (8oz.) package cream cheese                                            ½ tsp. cinnamon

½ cup white sugar                                                                ½ tsp. ground cloves

1 T. flour                                                                               ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 egg                                                                                       1 cup pumpkin puree

1 T. orange zest                                                                     ½ cup oil

1 2/3 cups flour                                                                     2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda                                                                 1 ½ cups white sugar

½ tsp. salt                                                                              chopped pecans, if desired


                Preheat oven to 325°.  Lightly grease 2 8x4” loaf pans.  In medium bowl, combine cream cheese, ½ cup sugar, 1T. flour, 1 egg and orange zest; beat until smooth.  Set aside.  Sift together 1 2/3 cup flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and pumpkin pie spice; set aside.  Place pumpkin, vegetable oil, 2 eggs and 1 ½ cups sugar in a large bowl; beat well.  Stir the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture just until combined.  Fold in the pecans if desired.  Pour ½ of the pumpkin batter into the loaf pans.  Spoon cream cheese mixture on top of this layer and then pour on the remaining batter.  Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.  Cool bread in pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.






Pumpkin Spice Cake


                                    1 box spice cake mix                           large cool whip

                                    1 large can pumpkin                            caramel topping

                                    4 eggs


Combine first three ingredients and spread on a greased and floured jelly roll pan.  Bake according to directions on cake mix.  Allow to cool.  Before serving, top with a large container of cool whip and drizzle with caramel topping.


 
     I love scarecrows!  I went to The Wood Connection and picked up a couple scarecrow kits and my friend, Patti and I had fun painting and gluing.  We thought they turned out cute.




     One of my favorite classics is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas.  I wish authors still wrote books like that.
 

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