Octoberfest 2013 - Home & Hearth Blog Hop

Hoorah! 

October 2013 has arrived!

A Splendorous, Splendiferous, & Splendacious Month! 

It's time to celebrate with Rita of Jewel School Friends in the Home & Hearth Blog Hop about Beads, Jewelry, Home Decor, Food, Family & Friends!!!

October has always been a special month in my life.

#1  I was born in October - Yahoo! :)  53 years ago - Boohoo! :(  Time is moving on!

#2  I got married in October - Yeehaw!  32 years ago :)  We thought we were so OLD - 21 & 23 yrs!

                                                                Oh, to be that young again :)

#3  My daughter was married in October - Woohoo!   9 years ago :)  Where has the time gone????

#4  The weather finally gets cooler & the leaves change in October - Yeah! Only in our area not as much as further north.

#5  I'm getting ready for my first jewelry show in November, so I've been working in my "spare" time. Here are a few of the pendants.

#6  Pumpkins become plentiful & can finally be purchased to make yummy Pumpkin Butter - MMgood!

#7  Lastly, here is a pumpkin pie recipe I hope you enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie has never been a favorite of mine until now. I have altered several recipes until I came up with one that is tasty not blah. If any of you try it, I would love your feedback on what you think.

Crust: 

• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 stick of chilled butter cut into pieces & slightly softened (not quite at room temp)
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Sift flour & powdered sugar together.
3. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly either in the mixer, food processor or with a whisk (you choose - I prefer my Kitchen Aid mixer).
4. Add vanilla & whipping cream until dough clumps.
5. Form dough up by hand into a nice ball & then flatten. Wrap with Seran Wrap (plastic), place in glass pie pan & chill both for about 15-30 min. 
6. Remove from refrigerator, roll out dough on a floured surface until about 14-inches round. 
7. Place dough in glass 9-inch pie dish. Trim edges.
8. Line crust edge with foil, bake for about 15 minutes, until crust is pale brown.

Filling:

• 2 solid packed cups of fresh mashed pumpkin or a 16 oz can of pumpkin
• 3 Tbsp packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1-2 Tbsp corn starch or flour

Directions:

1. Mix brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, vanilla, corn starch until well mixed.
2. Add in pumpkin, blend until no lumps.
3. Add in whipping cream & sour cream.
4. Add in eggs.
5. Mix well, pour into pie shell.
6. Bake until filling puffs at the edges and center is almost set, about 45 min. Remove foil from crust, bake another 10 min.
7. Chill until cold or serve warm. 

Topping: 

• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. Place mixing bowl & whipping cream in freezer for about 10-20 minutes.
2. Remove, & whisk in sugar until stiff peaks form.
3. Dollop each piece of pie with "cream"!

NOTE: THIS IS A SWEET PIE!

• To reduce sweet, reduce brown sugar to 1-2 Tbsp & sugar to 1/2 cup.  
• To reduce fat, use half-n-half instead of heavy whipping cream & use reduced fat or no fat sour cream.

I, of course, feel that if you are going to eat sweets, you might as well do it right & enjoy the moment! Then walk, walk, walk or exercise! so you can enjoy another "moment".  :)


Now it's time to go blog hopping!  Thank you Rita for putting this wonderful hop together! :)

Caroline                                       http:// Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
  Andrea Glick-Zenith                     http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/               
Dolores Raml                               http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/   
Karla Morgan                               http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com       ME
   Susie Harris                                 http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/          
    Susan                                              http://libellulajewelry.com                           
Mischelle                                      http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Billi                                               http://billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com/
Kay Thomerson                           http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/
Jean Yates                                  http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Kelly Hosford Patterson               http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com
Kathy Lindemer                           http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com
Liz E                                            http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel                              http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Christie Murrow                           www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Jodie Marshall                             http://marshalljodie.blogspot.com/
Andrea Trank                              http://heavenlanecreations.com/
Dini Bruinsma                              http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
Elsie Deliz Fonseca                     http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Pepita                                         www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan                              http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/
Kathleen                                     http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/
Vera Lynn                                   http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/
Rana Wilson                               http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Catherine King                           http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com/
Lily Vincent                                 http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Janice Hidey (Janimar)               http://drawingthelinesomewhere.com/
Cory Tompkins                           http://TealwaterDesigns.blogspot.com
Candida Castleberry                  www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Cynthia Kent Machata                http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache                         http://www.allprettythings.ca
Linda Anderson                          http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Leah Curtis                                 http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Reno (JenRen)              http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/
Robin Reed                                 http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/
Tanty Sri Hartanti                        www.tjewellicious.blogspot.com
Lisa Lodge                                  http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/
Ingrid A.                                      http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/
Judy Turner                                www.silver-rains.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett                               http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/
Nelly May                                    www.smellynelly.blogspot.com
Tanya McGuire                           http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/
Ahowin                                        http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Sonya Stille                                 http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Pam                                            http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Carol D.                                      http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Asri Wahyuningsih                      http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com/
Ginger Bishop                             http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Janine                                         http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Shaiha Williams                          http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Toltec Jewels (Rita, our hostess)  www.JewelSchoolFriends.com