Pumpkin Bread French Toast

What's that you say?  You have a full house for Thanksgiving, you've never made a turkey, and oh yeah...you have no idea what to make everyone for breakfast.  Ta-da, pumpkin bread french toast!  Quick, easy, cheap, and everyone will be impressed.  

I started with the Trader Joe's box pumpkin bread mix, it's so good you might as well save yourself the time of making it from scratch.  I also made the pumpkin bread the night before and let it cool while I slept, sleeping in is always a plus!  So whip up a batch for Thanksgiving morning or brunch with friends.  A full loaf of bread will serve 12 and should cost $12 or less depending on what you have in your pantry.  Recipe after the jump!

Over The River And Through The Woods

Wouldn't you kill for this table setting?

Isn't it funny how short weeks can feel the longest. Sitting at your desk knowing in two hours you'll be on your way to family, turkey, turkey, turkey, and champagne!  It's like being a little kid in school on the day before summer at 2:15.  

Well the car is packed and at 12:00 I am on my way to my family's for Autumn happiness! Have a very happy Thanksgiving loves, may your weekends be filled with love and pie!

Food Porn Friday

What do you say we give Fridays a little twist and add some food porn?  I mean who doesn't need more delicious looking food in their life?  Well my tummy pooch doesn't but what the hell, these pumpkin cinnamon rolls look scrumptious and I want them!

Depending on the timing and just how much room we have in my parent's oven I may have to whip up a batch of these for Thanksgiving morning. I have been wanting to try them for a while and at least with everyone around I wont end up eating them all.  

I almost always have cooking on the brain but this weekend I am especially excited.  This Sunday my friend Abbey and I are off to a pasta making class and gourmet meal.  I've tried a couple times and have never been able to really master home made pasta aside from gnocchi so this will be a much needed class.  Anyone else have fun weekend plans?

Recipe: Homemade Apple Cider Doughnuts

A few years ago my brother and his wife took an October trip to Vermont, visited apple orchards, took pictures of leaves, and came back telling tales of these wonderful treats called apple cider doughnuts.  Growing up in California we aren't surrounded by apple orchards but the ones I had been to never had cider doughnuts...I've been lamenting this since. 

This fall I decided the time had come to make some myself and after seeing this delicious recipe from The SoHo I got my butt in the kitchen.  I've made a few adaptations  and my expectations were high but these little treats didn't disappoint. 

I have to say I was intimidated by the notion of frying,I had never fried anything before in my life, turns out..I was intimidated for nothing.  The doughnuts are simple and I didn't burn myself once, not that I'm accident prone or anything. 

Go ahead, try them out, and let me know what you think.  How perfect would these treats be on Thanksgiving morning all snuggled up watching the parade?  Recipe after the jump.

Loving...Ginger

There are somethings I can't be without in my kitchen and lately I have been craving ginger.  Like crazy craving it.  The first time I really became a fan of ginger I was surfing the crimson tide in high school, hating life with nausea and a headache when my friend gave me some candied ginger to eat.  Amazing!  Eased my sweet tooth and helped with my symptoms holistically.  Since then ginger and I have been best friends.  

I've started drinking Yogi ginger tea almost every evening and when it comes to cocktails I've gotten just a little addicted to Canton ginger liqueur (I buy the sample size).  There's something so energizing about the smell of ginger, I find myself constantly buying candles to keep around my place. And let's not even talk about cooking with ginger, well let's talk about it but we'll save that for another blog post cuz honey I love that too!  

Here's a link to some of the benefits of ginger and a few ginger liqueur cocktail recipes, I just can't get enough!

1.Yogi ginger tea / 2.Candied ginger / 3. Versatile ginger root 4.In everything / 5.Ginger snap recipe / 6.Wanting this ginger candle 7.Domaine de Canton

Happy Cozy Friday

Happy Friday lovelies!  We are finally getting cold and cozy weather her in southern California.  There was rain off and on all day yesterday and I loved every second of it!  I took this picture yesterday on my lunch break at my favorite coffee house. The walls are lined with books, it's filled with overstuffed chairs, warm lighting, and has the coziest sitting area around a great big fireplace...perfect for a rainy afternoon.  

Anyone have weekend plans?  It looks like Mac and I will be having another quiet weekend.  I have more Etsy orders to fill and after talking to my mom about her baking adventures I am now craving apple pie.  Looks like a weekend in the craft room, the kitchen, and the gym.  Have a great weekend, whatever you end up doing!

Pumpkin Eclairs With Chocolate Ganache

When I was a little girl and my family would go to the local bakery I loved to stand in front of the glass pastry case staring at the eclairs.  Dreaming of pastry filled with custard dipped in chocolate!  The first time I had one I was a gonner.  

Years later when I got to work behind the scenes at the bakery walking into the smell of eclairs baking I felt like I was in Willy Wonkas chocolate factory.  Sheer heaven and surprise.  Eclairs were far simpler to make than I imagined.  I thought they would be challenging like croissants but luckily even a novice could make them...and eat them.  

 It has been a few years since I made eclairs but I got to thinking about pumpkin filling and before I new it I was in the kitchen. I was so happy with the results that I have to share the recipe.  What's not to love?  We're talking pumpkin, pastry, and chocolate!  Recipe after the jump. 

Go Vote!

Left, right, or center please get out there and vote today! 

Weekend Review

Starbucks red cups are here, what more do you need to have a great weekend?  How about a spa day facial and massage?  I love Living Social sometimes!  Saturday was a relaxing morning with my coffee, a great workout, then an afternoon at a fun eclectic spa.  Messy hair and no make up after my day there but my skin feels fabulous!  

We spent Saturday night watching college football and somehow I ended up at the one sports bar in southern Californa that was filled with Oregon fans.  I didn't make a lot of friends.  

Sunday was Crispin cider on tap at Whole Foods after lunch and an afternoon in my craft room filling Etsy orders.  Loved having a weekend with no set plans after all the Halloween activities last week.  A perfect reminder to take care of my self, get lots of sleep, and the importance of sitting with my guy for a little quiet time.  

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!  We have a wonderfully chilly and foggy day here in Southern California, perfect to get all the little ones in a spooky mood.  We'll be staying in tonight, my brother and his wife are coming over to have dinner and pass out candy to the kids.  I love seeing their costumes and which are the most popular this year.  What are your plans?  Here's a few Halloween links that might come in handy tonight. 

Last minute costume ideas.
These 24 easy Halloween treats.
It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown download. 

And here's a little MJ to get you in the mood!  Have a great evening darlings whatever you do!

Weekend Review

What a busy weekend!  Friday after work Mac and I put the finishing touches on our costumes and headed out to a great backyard Halloween party.  Saturday morning was time for a much needed workout, followed by lunch and a beer at Whole Foods.  Then it was off to carve pumpkins with my brother and his wife, eat dinner, and put on a spooky movie in the background.  From their house Mac and I went to our second Halloween party which featured a pretty awesome disco dancing roller skater, more costumes need to come with their own soundtrack.  

Sunday was our relaxed day.  Mac worked while I ran errands, hit the gym, then made apple cider doughnuts for the first time!  Recipe is coming next week.  That evening we had a great french dinner to celebrate our 3rd year of dating.  The food was divine but my stomach let me that know that it wasn't such a fan of all the butter. Even feeling sick, it still turned out to be a great anniversary and a wonderful weekend!  But boy after how busy we were it's kinda nice to be back in the office.  

How was your weekend?  I'm thinking safe thoughts for all you lovelies on the east coast!

Happy Friday!

Friday is finally here, a few days before Halloween with so many possibilities for the weekend!  Mac and I are going to a party tonight and another tomorrow night.  I spent last night working on his Roman costume and I think it just might work.  Other than the parties we'll be carving pumpkins with friends and probably putting a few spooky movies on in the background!  

What are your weekend plans?  If you're in the mood for an old Halloween themed comedy check out Arsenic and Old Lace staring Cary Grant.  It's streaming on Netflix and is so much fun and perfect if you have little ones (or are not a fan of scary movies yourself). Have a great weekend!