Pin 26 & 27 Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread and Pumpkin Roll

Took a few days off for the holiday and for football, and was trying to decide whether or not to still blog about a few of the pumpkin desserts that I tried over Thanksgiving.  I'm going to go ahead and share because not only were they delicious, but I know my family still tends to do pumpkin deserts for Christmas too.....

The Pumpkin Roll

Now Pumpkin Rolls are a tradition in my household.  I think my kids look forward to the pumpkin roll more than the turkey itself.  We don't even usually do a pumpkin pie.   I pinned a few recipes that are pretty similar to the one I usually use.

Source: melskitchencafe.com via Nicole on Pinterest

and

 

Source: homeiswheretheholmansare.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

I always start by putting all my ingredients on the counter in one area.  I do this so I can make sure I have everything and as I use them I put them away so I know if I have forgotten to put anything in.   When I don't do this I usually forget to put something in, and remember after it's too late!

 

Cake:

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves *
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin puree*

Filling:

8 oz cream cheese, softened

6 T unsalted butter, softened
2 T maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar (plus more for towel and dusting)

*I don't usually add the cloves.  My kids don't really care for the taste.   I also had half a bag of mini chocolate chips to the filling of the pumpkin roll.   A normal can of pumpkin will make two rolls.

 

First you are going to make the cake portion.  This doesn't take long at all.
 

Next you'll want to take your Jelly Roll pan and prep it.  I used to use parchment paper to line my pan, but found it is actually easier to use Wilton's Cake Release.  Just pour some in and use a pastry brush to spread it all around.

 

Pour your mixture into your pan and put it in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes.  Since ovens vary keep an eye on it.  Pull it out when you can stick a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean.  Once you pull it out of the oven you are going to want to take it out of the pan.  I flip mine onto a cooling rack lined with parchment paper.  Before it cools completely you'll want to to take the pumpkin cake, with parchment still under it and lay it on a thin towel.  Sprinkle powdered sugar on top of it, then take the tip of the towel and cover the edge and then roll.




Then just throw it in the fridge.  I left it in the fridge till the evening because I was doing other things, but you really just need to leave it in long enough for it to completely cool off. 



While the Cake part is cooling you can mix up your filling (this stuff is way too good!!!) Once you have it mixed up, take your cake out of the fridge and gently unroll it.  Spread your mixture evenly through the whole cake, not too thick though or it will be hard to roll back up.  Once you have it all spread out just roll it back up.  I just re wrap mine in the parchment paper and put it back in the fridge till I want to serve it.  When you go to serve it, you can trim the ends to look neat and sprinkle some more powdered sugar over it.



My kids will literally fight over the last piece.  

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

How can anything baked with Cream Cheese in it be bad?!?!?!  My theory, it can't!  So I decided this pin was definately worth a try.  This was the first time I attempted this.  The picture for this pin makes me want to make it again, right this very minute!

Source: nancycreative.com via Nicole on Pinterest

You need to make the pumpkin and cream cheese mixtures seperate.  Not really a big deal,  one more bowl in my sink on a baking day won't even be noticed.

FILLING

   1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened

          1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you want the filling to be)     
          1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
          1 large egg
          1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

BREAD

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 to 1 1/4 cup(s) pumpkin puree, canned or homemade
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

 

CINNAMON GLAZE

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 to 2 1/2 Tablespoons half & half
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts for garnish

I will definately be using this Cinnamon Glaze for other things, so simple, but yet SOOOO GOOOD! Most of my kids do not eat nuts in baked goods, so we subsituted some chocolate chips in their place.
This was a good option to the pumkin roll for us, it's not as sweet, but will still satisfy your sweet tooth. Pumpkin Roll is really rich and sweet.

Gather all your ingredients and prep your pans.  I once again used Wilton's Cake Release, love this stuff!  Fill your pans with half your pumpkin mixture.  I didn't do so well with this part, but it's ok because once you spoon in your cream cheese mixture, then the rest of your pumpkin you will swirl then all together. 
 

Once they came out of the oven I made my glaze,  it took like 2 seconds.  Dribbled it on top and they were ready to be eaten.  One loaf disappeared before it could even cool down (Yummy while warm!)


I will be making these many more times.  In fact I might be making more of the bread as soon as I log off........

Pin 25 Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup

I love finding recipes that I can use in my Crockpot.  Football Saturdays are my favorite days to use my crockpot.  I can let the meal cook while I sit back and root on my Ohio State Buckeyes!  Saturday I tried something new.....I figure my kids all love cheeseburgers (well except my vegetarian!) so this soup couldn't go wrong.  The original pin wasn't done in a crockpot, but it worked well.

 

Source: tasteofhome.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Taste of Home is one of my favorite magazines.   I think for the most part the recipes they have in them are family friendly.   I could have made two crockpots full of this....The first one disappeared very quickly.  I used the recipe more as an inspiration.

What I used

Frozen Hashbrowns (square kind)
Chicken Broth
Velveeta
Cheddar Cheese Soup
Shredded Cheddar (to sprinkle on each bowl)
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder
Famous Dave's Seasoning for Burgers & Steak
Browned Ground Beef
Instant Mashed Potatoes (were just sitting on my shelf and I wanted to make it a little thicker)
Heavy Cream (totally optional)

First I browned my ground beef, and got out my crockpot and put my liner in (best invention EVER!!!) Poured in my chicken broth and hashbrowns, seasoning.  When the ground beef was done I added it in and turned the crockpot on high for a few hours.  I set an alarm on my cell phone so I don't forget about it.  I also threw in remnants of shredded cheese that were left in several bags in my fridge......



Once it had cooked for a few hours I added in the heavy whipping cream and instant potatoes.  I didn't measure.  I just poured till it looked right.  I reseasoned and let it cook for a little longer.   I'm not sure how long.... I lost track of time watching football.

I didn't take any pics of the finished product, but trust me it was good.  I made a huge crockpot full and when I went back for a second bowl, it was all gone.  This will be in my regular winter line-up for dinner.

Pin 24 Coffee Filter Wreath

I'm apparently on a wreath kick........Every wreath I see on Pinterest just seems to be calling my name.  I swear they are forcing me to try them!  I have no choice!  Lol!  I have been intrigued by the coffee filter wreaths.  I mean, come on, can they really look as in cool in person, as all the pics look online?  Well...........yes!  Yes, they do look pretty darn good in person too!  Simple, a bit time consuming, but worth it! 

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Source: thenester.com via Nicole on Pinterest

I gathered my supplies

Coffee filters ( I used about 250)
Wreath Shape (a piece of cardboard cut in a circle would work)
Glue Gun/Glue Sticks
Scissors
Any Embellishments you want

I used an MDF form that I picked up at Michaels a while back.

I went with the natural coffee filters for my wreath.  I just liked the look.  I was planning on putting it in my dining room if it turned out ok, so I felt the natural look would blend better with the Americana theme.  My next one will be white. 



Fold your coffee filter in half, then in half again.  Then lay them opposite each other on your form, with the middles overlapping a bit. Pretty much just eyeball it.  Lay them how you like 'em.



Then Just keeping gluing them all around the wreath.  I took a break half way through, not because it's hard, just because it got a bit boring.....If things look a bit wonky don't frett.  You'll be giving it a "haircut" once everything is all glued on.



Now is when it really shows that my photography skills are very minimal.  I just plain suck!  When I get good pics, it is purely out of luck........

I will definitely try and get a better pic, because this does this wreath no justice at all.  It does show that my trimming skills are not great either.  I still want to add another embellishment but I have yet to decide so I hung it up above the hutch in my dining room and I'm hoping that as I keep walking by it inspiration will hit......

A slightly better (I know,not by much) picture of the wreath.


I can't wait to try it again (even though it was boring)

Pins from the Past - Super Simple Topiary

Last year I was surfing through Pinterest, dreaming of all the pins I might try....this one officially peaked my interest, and was the first thing that I ever made from an idea found on Pinterest!  This one started it all!

 

Source: simplydesigning.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Now I changed it up a bit....I didn't have a star paper punch at the time, so I used a flower shape,  I didn't have the tin pails, so I used some small wooden planters that were just sitting in the garage, and I didn't use the paper "grass", I used moss.  Still the same idea though......

Items Needed for this Project:

Styrofoam Ball
Scrapbook Paper
Paper Punch of your Choice
Stick Pins (pearl tops preferably)
Dowel Rod
Floral Foam (for base inside pail/pot)
Hot Glue Gun/Glue sticks
Moss or Paper "grass"
Anything you might need to decorate your base

First since my pots already had designs on them I needed to paint them, first step was cleaning them and priming them.



Now I had to decided what I wanted these to look like.  I chose to go with a crackle finish.  So first I had to paint my base coat (color that would show through the cracks) then my crackle medium, then the top coat.

I did four of these, 2 rust and 2 blue.  Once the paint was dry I decided they looked a little boring and stenciled some stars.  I went with a tan/mustard color for the stars.


Next get your scrapbook paper.  I mixed and matched a few different sheets.  Start punching out lots and lots of punches.  I went with a punch that was sort of a flower shape.

Once you have what will feel like a million of punches done, take your Styrofoam ball, push pins, and punches and get to sticking.  You are just going to take a pin and put it through the middle of your circle (or whatever shape you used) and stick it right into the Styrofoam ball.  I didn't even take the plastic off of mine.  Leave some room at the bottom to stick in the dowel rod.

Take your dowel rod and push it into the bottom of the Styrofoam ball, then take your floral foam and push the other end into it until it comes through the bottom.  Put some hot glue on the bottom of the dowel rod and stick it into the bottom of whatever container you are using as your base.  The glue will give it a little more stability.  Your moss or paper "grass" will come next, spread it liberally to cover the floral foam.  Because I truly believe glitter can be added to just about every project, I sprayed my balls with a quick coat of glitter.  I also tied a ripped piece of fabric as bow at the base of the ball.  It helps hide any gaps that might appear where the dowel rod was inserted and I just liked the look of it.


And not the best pic, but all four sitting on the ledge above my kitchen sink (ignore the mess all around the kitchen)  These weren't hard at all.  And a year later they are still sitting in the same spot.  They have held up well, and I love that I get asked all the time where I got them. 

Pin No. 23 Coffee Bean Tealight Candles

Totally simple project.........I mean it almost seems ridiculous to count this as an accomplishment, but I am!  Lol!  Super Easy, Super Cheap, and Smelled FANTASTIC!  So here are my inspiration pins

Source: buzzfeed.com via Nicole on Pinterest

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Nicole on Pinterest

Most of my home is decorated in an Americana Theme, so when I stumbled across these star shaped glass dishes I knew they were perfect for this.  Even better I found them at the Dollar Tree! Woot! Woot!  I just used coffee beans that I already had on hand, and bought some vanilla scented tea lights.


Just pour in the Coffee Beans, and set in your tea lights, and you are good to go.  It took about 5 minutes for them to really smell good.

I'm thinking that I might add some ribbon or fabric to the outsides of the stars to dress them up a bit, or even some glitter (you can never have too much sparkle in your life, right?)  I'll probably do a few more of these throughout the house.

Pin No. 22 Removing that last bit of wax from Candle Jars

I have a ton of candle jars just sitting around with little bits of wax still sitting in the bottom of them.  I keep thinking I can reuse them, but could never get all that wax out.  I had tried freezing them in the past (works great to get the wax tarts out of your burners) but it didn't work for the candles.  I was looking for something else on Pinterest and came across this pin

Source: yellowbrickhome.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Simple enough just boil water then pour on top of the candle



You should start to see the wax slowly coming up to the top.  DO NOT dump the water.  If you do the wax will harden in your drain.  Let the water cool and your wax should firm up on the top.  Just break it and toss (or save if you want to reuse to make candles or tarts) then dump the water.  For a couple of my containers I had to repeat the process, but no biggie.



Clean and ready to go. These will be showing back up for another project......