Creative Fall Ideas

Hello, friends and Happy October!  I am so glad that it is finally cooling off.  Autumn is one of my favorite seasons and today I want to share a few fall ideas with you from previous posts to inspire you this month. Below I have linked different posts for some Fall ideas.  I hope that you enjoy them.

1. Felt Leaf Garland; 2. Pumpkin Pie Frappe; 3. Autumn Wreath; 4. Fall Washi Tape Decor; 5. Spiced Pumpkin Nut Bread; 6. Cupcake Stands; 7. Grow Sunflowers; 8. Apple Cider; 9. Acorn Garland; 10. Monster Paper Clips; 11. (Below) Best Pumpkin Cookies

Hello October!

It's the beginning of a new season, a season of harvest celebration, of gathering seeds for sowing in the spring, it's a month of scented spices that are warmed on the stove, a month of watching the leaves paint a colorful canvas in nature, a month of piling the fallen leaves on the ground for the children to jump on a cool brisk day, a month of warm apple pies, a time of flannel blankets, plaid, coziness, apple cider, hay rides, fall decorating, gathering, gratefulness, forgiveness... and pumpkins.  Speaking of  pumpkins, below are a couple of pumpkin items I found on Etsy.

pumpkingarland

felt wool pumpkins

pumpkin soap

Gather some Fall inspirations from my Harvest board on Pinterest and follow along for more to come.  What are your favorite pass times during Fall?

Spiced Pumpkin Nut Bread

We are still experiencing hot weather in this area with no sign of Fall.  It is still beach weather,

but I am hoping that it will cool down a bit in the following weeks.  There is usually no sign
of cool air until October here and I am already craving all things Autumn.  I decided that
I was not going to wait around for Fall, so I brought Fall into my kitchen.

I baked a Spiced Pumpkin Nut Bread.  The ingredients are at the end of this post.
To make this recipe, follow the directions below and I hope that you enjoy it.
(What is your favorite part of Autumn?)

1. MIX flour, spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

2. In another bowl, MIX pumpkin puree, brown sugar, juice, eggs, oil, and extract; mix well.  

3. Stir into the pumpkin puree bowl the flour mixture and 3/4 cup nuts until moistened.

4. SPOON into two (9 x 5-inch) greased loaf pans.  Sprinkle remaining nuts over the top of loaves.

5. BAKE in preheated 350 degrees oven for 60 - 70 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in 

the center comes out clean.  Let the bread cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove the bread from the pans onto the wire rack to cool completely.  Makes two loaves.  

Tip: Make a sweet glaze and drizzle it over the top of the bread to give it sweetness.

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1 can (15oz) Pure Pumpkin Puree
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 cup apple juice
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
• 1 cup chopped nuts, divided

Follow directions for this recipe above and I hope that you enjoy it.

Linked to:
This Mind be in You
Jennifer Rizzo
Cherished Bliss
Liz Marie
The 36th Avenue
Salt Tree
So Much Better with Age
The Dedicated House
Uncommon Designs
Line Across
Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Craft-O-Maniac

I Should be Mopping the Floor

Create with Joy

Vanilla Swiss Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich: Semi-Homemade

Who does not love a chocolate chip cookie sandwich?
I'm sure you have probably made these time and time again.
This is a no brainer, an easy afternoon fix or quick dessert after dinner.
Since we are busy moms with little time for great desserts, here is
an easy sweet treat that everyone will love, and the best part is that it's
semi-homemade, so go ahead and take some credit.

If you want to make your cookie dough from scratch, by all means go ahead.
But to save time, I managed to get already made cookie dough from the supermarket.

Bake your cookies and let them cool.
Once your cookies are cooled, layer your favorite creamy ice-cream.
In my case I used Vanilla Swiss for the double chocolate and crunch.
Then to make it look pretty, I added sprinkles.  Your kids will love that part!

Make a few for everyone to enjoy.

 Have fun with it and indulge in the wonderful sweetness of this treat.

My family was happy to find these special sweet treats waiting for them after supper.

If you loved dipping your cookies in milk as a child, you will enjoy this.

My son had the Dulce de Leche Ice Cream and it was, oh so good.

Mr. M was thrilled to know that they were not completely store bought, 

even though the ingredients were already made.

He appreciated the effort in making the finishing touches at home, Sandra Lee style.

Hope that you enjoy!