Delicious Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Now is the season when everyone is enjoying Pumpkins!  Pies, Cakes Beverages and that's why I'm sharing this Pumpkin Bar Recipe.  I hope you'll try it.  Enjoy!!

PUMPKIN BARS

2c flour

2c sugar

2t baking soda

1t cinnamon

1t nutmeg

1/2t salt

1/2t cloves

1c oil

1-16oz can Pumpkin puree

4 eggs

1/2c raisins

1/3 chopped nut (optional)

FROSTING

2c powdered sugar

1/3c butter softened

3oz cream cheese softened

1T milk

1t vanilla

Pre-heat oven to 350.  Grease 15x10" pan.  Combine bar ingredients except raisins and nuts.  Beat at low speed until moistened.  Beat 2 minutes at medium speed.  Stir in raisins and nuts.  Pour into greased pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool.  

Combine all frosting ingredients and beat until smooth.  Frost bars when they are cooled.  Cut and store in refrigerator.  

You can use a 12x9" pan and bake 45-50 minutes.

Apartment Living - Where My Dog Teddy and I Lived a Year Ago

HOME SWEET HOME

A Year ago, Teddy, my ShihTzu and I lived in this small 1-bedroom apartment.  Within a few days of moving in, we met most of the other tenants and someone who turned out to be a very good friend.  It was comfortable, but I had plans for making it much more than just comfortable.

We had the necessary things like...a Bed, A Dinette Table, TV, 2 Recliners and all the necessary kitchen untensils to be able to cook.  But I wanted homey and very very comfortable.

But Artwork, Lamps, An Area Rug, Entertainment center/stand and a Love Seat, as well as a few other things were still needed to accomplish my vision.  When I saw a sign for an Estate Sale I had to stop.  I'd never been to one before so I didn't have any idea what to expect.  With my money in my purse - mind you I had a small budget with which to complete my mission of making an apartment into a warm, loving home.  I had a $1000 budget.  I walked into a beautiful old Farm House and I immediately heard items calling my name.  Does that ever happen to you?  You walk into a shop and things call your name?

I quickly knew that most of what I wanted/needed was right here in that home and the prices were reasonable, too!  Several items I knew would go relatively quickly and weren't the most expensive of the ones I wanted so I tagged them, checked out and got them home.  The others could wait for a better discount day.

So I waited for the BEST DISCOUNT day and just as I hoped, everything was still there and mine for the tagging.  I paid for those items and headed home.  75% off...what a bargain!

I only splurged on ONE item, when I walked into a little shop in Plymouth, WI.  It put me over my intended budget...but by only $100.  The Burgundy Leather/vinyl Love Seat did it...but it's beautiful and very comfortable.

This is how my apartment look after getting everything in place.  It was everything I could have hoped for...It was HOME.  

The total spent for most of the items...Was $1100.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oh, I made the BEST and easiest to make Chocolate Chip Cookies today.  Only 5 ingredients and done in a flash.  Delicious as can be.   Here's the Recipe, I hope you try them and love them too.

Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter

1 (16.5 oz) box yellow cake mix

2 (1.5 oz) packets Maple & Brown Sugar

2 large eggs

1 bag (12oz) mini chocolate chips

Melt one stick of butter until golden brown watching constantly.  Immediately pour the butter into a large mixing bowl.  Add the cake mix, oatmeal and eggs and beat on low just until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Scoop 2 tablespoons of dough onto prepared cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 12-14  minutes, until edges are just starting to turn golden brown.

1. 
   
   
   
   

Quick Fire Hydrangeas Planted and Mulched and Looking Good

Good Morning Everyone!  Hope you're having a wonderful week.  As I promised, here are the pictures of my Garden full of Hydrangeas!  

A reminder of the preparations...big holes in which to plant each beauty.

My ShihTzu, Teddy Loves to Watch out the Door,

You'll see Him in almost Every Picture. 

These Hydrangeas can be in full sun or partial sun.

Hydrangeas are easy to grow.

They don't take alot of effort to grow.  I may prune off something here or there, but that's about it.

Right now I am watering every day...but next year...I won't have to water as often.  I don't use any special things to make them grow...bloom or look beautiful.

I can just sit back and look at them.  Oh and I can take cuttings for a vase in the house.

I love how they instantly created curb appeal.

There's something so unique about EVERY variety of Hydrangeas.  They are only alike in how beautiful they are...but yet so different in style, size and color.

Thanks for popping in, please leave a comment for me before you go.  And have a wonderful day!

RECIPE...PASTA, CHICKEN & BACON

 Oh my, I found this Recipe on-line and decided it sounded so delicious I just had to make it.  And it certainly was everything I thought it would be.  I did change a couple of things and I re-wrote the Recipe so it was easier to follow.  I hope you try it and enjoy it like we did.

(borrowed photo)

Chicken & Corn Pasta with Bacon

PASTA, BACON & CHEESE

10oz Farfalle pasta

1/2c shredded Parmesan cheese

6 strips Bacon

1 ½# chicken tenders or breast

1t smoked Paprika

1t Italian Seasoning

1t salt

2T EVOO

CORN 

1T EVOO

1t Salt

2c Corn Kernels (4 ears) cooked (***SEE NOTE BELOW)

1/2t smoked Paprika

1/2t Chili Powder

1c Heavy Cream

Fresh Thyme to taste

 Cook Pasta 10-12 minutes.

Cook the Bacon and set aside.

 Shred cheese.  Cut chicken into large bite-size pieces.  Season with 1t Smoked Paprika, 1t Italian seasoning and 1t salt.  Heat 2T EVOO in a large pan and cook the chicken til cooked thoroughly.  Set chicken aside and Do not drain the pan.

 Corn Sauce

In the same pan add Corn, 1T EVOO, 1t Salt, 1/2t Smoked Paprika and 1/2t Chili Powder.  Cook on medium as you stir for 3 minutes.  Add 1c Heavy Cream and bring to an EZ boil and then simmer for about 2 minutes, stirring…til slightly thick.  Watch carefully during this time.  Add the 1/2c Parmesan cheese and let it melt.  Add the Pasta, Chicken and herbs to the pan and serve…with Bacon pieces on top.

***You can use frozen, drained corn or fresh corn on the cob.

***If you use fresh corn You can boil the ears of corn…Or…
***If you use fresh corn, like I did…leave the husks on the corn and put them in your microwave.  I put them on the glass turntable about an inch apart and turn that feature off.  Cook them for about 3 minutes each…if you have 4 ears of corn that would be about 12 minutes…more or less.  When done, remove from the microwave and cut the wide bottom of the cob off and then shuck the rest.  Slice the kernels off and you’re good to go.

Enjoy!

Getting Started Planting Hydrangeas

I can't believe it's been a week since I posted!  I've been so busy doing things and going places and of course getting ready for my Quick Fire Hydrangeas to be planted.  When I lived in Michigan, I had several different kinds of hydrangeas and fell in love with all of them and their beautiful blooms and colors.  I moved back home to Wisconsin in 2018 and finally...I have Hydrangeas again!  They make me so happy and they add a beautiful "Curb Appeal" to our home.

I went to the local Nursery and with the help of an expert found just the right Hydrangeas.  I bought and paid for them and had them delivered...for only $30.  They would never have fit into my car...a Taurus.  A few days later they arrived and by the end of the day they were planted.  My next post will show how they look today.

Have a great week everyone!

 

Getting Ready for Our New Hydrangeas!

 I can hardly wait for our Hydrangeas to be delivered tomorrow morning!  I know they'll look wonderful and we'll enjoy them after all our work of prepping the 2 areas they'll go and all the aches and pains from all the work!  (I'm so all over!)

Here's a sneak preview of the Hydrangeas...a picture we took at the Nursery the other day.

Sorry about the short post...but there's more work to be done yet today.  Now to get ready for tomorrow!

I'm Back!! But Can't Show Pictures! Geek Guys What Happened?

After all the work I did to my Blog after deciding I wanted to start blogging again...I accidentally Logged Out...and couldn't find or remember my Google Password.  That meant for the last 2+ days I couldn't post...see if I had received any comments or work on a new post!  That was definitely hard to do. 

 Tomorrow is Church and some work in the garden afterward.  Monday and Tuesday and probably even Wednesday Dave and I will be preparing for plants we purchased at the nursery today.  They're going to be delivered her on Tuesday morning.

When I lived in Michigan (from 2005 through half of 2018) I had an awesome 900sf enclosed patio and about 30 Hydrangea plants around it.  

I moved back to the Milwaukee area in 2018 and finally I'm getting some Hydrangeas here.

I just discovered that I have almost NO pictures in my files!  Or the Cloud!  I went to have some things tweaked by the Geek Guys today and now I don't know why my pictures (tons of them) are gone.  Back to the Geek Guys tomorrow!

So, I can't show you pictures of my new Hydrangeas or anything else.  I hope they can be found!

Wish me luck!!

New Addition...

 New Plates...a Gift from a Friend

 This beautiful cabinet has glass shelves and it is lit with candle light.  On top of the cabinet are 5 beautiful plates I was gifted by a great friend

Door County Wisconsin Water Views

Beautiful Surroundings for This Week's Home Tour -  Door County, Wisconsin - the most marvelous Water Views Ever!  
Most of you know I have a passion for Door County Wisconsin Vacations.  While searching various things in Door County on line, I found this lovely home.  It's for sale!  But, alas, it's way over my budget.  But who says we can't dream?  So, I am sharing it with all of my Home Tour Dreamers!  This is truly a beautiful place, surrounded by water - Door County is a 72 mile long peninsula, filled with beautiful scenery, beaches and homes.  There is alot to do and see in Door County.  If you're considering a vacation...check it out!