Apple Hill

We took a little road trip up to Apple Hill today. We couldn't have asked for a better day. The weather was perfect, a little cloudy, and in the low 70s.

This is one of my favorite farms to stop at. The produce was beautiful. I picked up butternut squash, yams, granny smith apples, and we couldn't leave without a blackberry pie, a couple of apple pies, and fresh apple cider.

This is a fully stocked pond at one of the more popular farms.

It seemed like everyone brought their dogs. Rosie made quite a few new friends.

Although I don't think she was too sure about all of them.

We stopped here for the best bbq ribs. We were the only ones there the whole time, but these two were a hoot! The secret's in the sauce ;0)

The End of My French Country

Well this is the end of my french country decor, (other than a couple of pieces of antique furniture I can't part with) it has been sitting in my garage for a while now. Rather than risk it being broken out there I thought I would take it to a local consignment shop. Maybe it will make someone else happy, and I can make a few dollars. It's definitely not doing anyone any good in my garage. So off it went today. Wish me luck.
Of course I didn't come home empty handed. I scored a cute little retro night stand. It's already sanded and has it's first coat of paint. I'll show you guys when it's done.

White Inspiration

chic shack
with a little red. So cute... love the red and white chair, and the tub.


chic shack



chic shack

cottage living

Someday I would like to have a guest room with twin beds.

One of my Favorite Blogs is having a Giveaway

Tanya @ Sunday Baker
In honor of Sunday Baker's one year blog anniversary, Tanya is having a fabulous giveaway.
Taste of Home Best Loved Cookies and Bars hardcover cookbook. Just in time for the holidays. So go head over to her wonderful blog and get in on the fun. And check out all of her delicious recipes. Happy anniversary Tanya!

The New Cookbooks are Here, The New Cookbooks are Here!

As you can see, I'm very excited that Barefoot Contessa's much anticipated cookbook, Back to Basics, arrived at the store today. It does not disappoint! I can't wait to start trying some of the recipes. They look wonderful, and the pictures are fabulous!

It's time for more white kitchens

What a great work space. I love the island, and all the windows are fabulous. Of course the well organized cabinet here caught my eye.

Love the bead board on the ceiling and back splash. I normally go for a dark wood floor, but I'm really liking the flooring here. And I have always liked glass cabinet doors with white ware in view. The thick crown molding and around the window really does complete the room.

Isn't this wonderful? I love the white subway tile, the sconces, the sink... it would be really nice to have that faucet!

This is another kitchen that I have loved the minute I saw it. How fun would it be to have that cute soap dispenser?

This refrigerator would definitely be incentive to keep it clean :)

I hope you enjoyed looking at these kitchens as much as I have.

all images House Beautiful

Ruth's Applesauce Muffins

With apple season here, I have been making a few apple recipes. I made applesauce a few nights ago. Although you can use homemade applesauce in this recipe, jarred or canned turns out just as well.
This recipe comes from Ruth, a lady that my mom and I used to work with, oh probably 25 years or more ago. She would bake these muffins in the morning and bring them to work. They wouldn't last long... so delicious! She was nice enough to share her recipe so many years ago, and it has been a family favorite ever since. I hope that you enjoy them as much as we have.

Ruth's Applesauce Muffins

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup shortening

2 lrg. eggs

1 cup applesauce

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

cream together the sugar and shortening. Add eggs and mix, then the applesauce. Mix well. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and baking soda. Barely blend in sifted ingredients. Spoon into greased or paper lined muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

Glaze

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

2 tsp. butter, softened

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2 Tbsp. milk

In medium bowl, mix sugar and butter. Add vanilla. Gradually add milk until desired consistency; mix until smooth. For thinner consistency, add additional milk.

I've been tagged

Paintergal has tagged me on her blog. I'm supposed to share six quirky things about myself and links to six other blogs.
I think I'm the most normal person that I know, and don't have any quirks ;) so I had to ask my daughter. This is what she came up with, although in my defense I think everyone should have these "quirks" ;) and they are all perfectly normal. lol
1.) I always have to be the driver. When we go somewhere with friends, my family etc... I have to drive, I don't like leaving my fate and the fate of my kids in someone else's hands. I don't see anything wrong with this. This is also probably the reason I don't like to fly.
2.) I'm also a checker. I have to double check that the iron is off, the doors and windows are locked etc...
3.) Ok, I don't think this is quirky either, but I love scary movies. Not chop them up, bloody scary movies, just spooky scary movies. I can watch them over and over.
4.) When I start reading a book I have to read it until I'm done. That means nothing gets done, and I'm up until I finish it. That is probably why I don't read a whole lot of books.
5.) When I clean house I get side tracked and start to re-arrange things, cupboards, drawers etc... my family never knows what drawer to find the silverware etc... If I had a dime for everytime I've heard, " What drawer is the silverware in this week?"
6.)I don't think this is too quirky, but we couldn't think of a number 6. I'm double jointed, my fingers, my hips. maybe more weird than quirky.
Ok, that's it for me. Now I tag these people to play (if they so choose).
1) Sarah
2.) Sue
3.) Jersey Girl
4) Tanya
5) Beth
6) You, if you'd like to play.

Rules:*Link back to my blog.
*List six quirky things about yourself OR
*List six things you collect.
*Link to six others' blogs.
*Feel free to change the rules.

Halloween Decorating

I did a little decorating today. I don't really do a lot any more now that my kids are grown. But I did find a few cute things. And my brother made the pumpkin for me many years ago.
I spent the afternoon at my friend's house and we decorated sugar cookies. This is my absolute favorite sugar cookie. It is kind of soft, I bake just until set. And I use a basic buttercream frosting, they don't really set up hard, so you do have to be careful with them. But they taste so much better than hard sugar cookies with the hard decorating frosting made with meringue powder.
And even Rosie got into the spirit.

Pumpkin Pie and a New Apron

Is it too early for pumpkin pie? We couldn't wait any longer. I wish you could smell my house right now ;)
I plan to try a few different pumpkin pie recipes this year. I really want to try Martha Stewart's. But this one is the one that my mom has always made, and the one that I have always made. The recipe comes right off the Libby's 100% pure pumpkin can. I do tweak it a little, I substitute the eggs for fat free egg product, and use non-fat evaporated milk. Don't tell, my family has no idea. I still haven't found a better recipe, but am willing to give it a try this year. I'm going to try to keep an open mind.

And how fun is it to bake in this cute apron? Yes, the new aprons from City Girl finally came in, and I snagged this cute half apron. And the owner of the kitchen store ordered the plain black full aprons with the v neck and the bow that ties on the side for all of us to wear at work. So much fun! We also have some really cute holiday aprons that we will be wearing in a few more weeks. I'll share pictures of those too.

Fun Fall Finds

I have been coveting this little green buffet from Pottery Barn
I wonder if I would eventually tire of the green???


Maple pumpkin cannoli
looks delicious, I might have to make this


It's made with Maple Pumpkin Butter from Stonewall Kitchen
If you haven't tried this, pick some up! Stonewall has many recipes to use with, or it is
delicious just spread on a scone, yum!
Rosle's pie server. So simple and sleek.

Dean and Deluca's Metropolitan Spice Rack, for all that baking that is coming up for the holidays

And also from Dean and Deluca, isn't this bowl too cute?

Love this table runner and napkins from Pottery Barn. This is just what I need for the holidays :)
Well, that's it... I hope you liked some of my finds!

Rate My Space

I found this kitchen while browsing rate my space. It is a wonderful renovation! I love the stainless steel cupboards, the open shelving, the dark hardwood floors.

Very simple and clean

Not a huge space, but so well done. I love that you can see the dining room off the kitchen.

more open shelving

It doesn't look like they are quite finished, but I think they are doing a fabulous job!

kitchen built-in

Our home doesn't have a dining room, well not that we know of. I suspect the room that we use as the family room right off the kitchen, and this little eating area might have been meant to be the dining room. It's long and narrow, would make a great dining room except it is open to, and right next to this eating area, and I think that might be weird??? Anyway, didn't mean to get sidetracked. I love this little built in and wanted to share it. It is so convenient, with this space being so small there really wouldn't be room for a separate hutch.

It's the perfect place to store my cake stand and cloche collection.

I just added the Martha Stewart cake stands.


I love the little cupboards on the sides, perfect for extra dinner plates etc...

and the cupboards at the bottom... more cake stands, table linens, candle sticks, and my pewter flatware that is safely stored away. Oh, we used to use it for everyday until my hubby thought one of the spoons would make a great ice cream scoop, never mind we have 3 ice cream scoops, and pewter is a soft metal, hello... You guessed it, snapped in two. So now my pewter is for "special occasions" . So that's it, there is another little built in seperating this little area from the family room that I store my cookbooks in. I'll share that another time.

A Few of my Favorite Things

I wanted to share a few of the things that I have been daydreaming about, and a few of my favorite kitchen items.

I have been coveting this pastry stand from Arte Italica for sometime now.


This is my favorite garlic press. So easy to clean!
Rosle

Le Creuset enameled cast iron french oven. It's my go to pot for roasts, stews, and soups.

Of course, always at the top of my list, Barefoot Contessa

I love pendant lighting. It won't work in the house that we are in now unless we did a complete kitchen renovation, which I'm not up for, but I still love it nonetheless. Maybe someday...


picture source unknown

Industrial kitchens, I know they are a little cold for some people, but I am always drawn to them. I just had to share a picture of a kitchen ;)



All Clad stainless steel canisters. I actually have these, love the industrial look, and they have a really good seal.