Pumpkin Charlotte

Here's the recipe I promised when I posted last. It's the easiest and tastiest recipe I make for the Fall. I think you'll love it.

Pumpkin Charlotte

2 3-oz. pkgs. (24 total) ladyfingers*, split
2 cups whipping cream
2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
2 4-serving-size pkgs. instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 15-oz. can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 cup milk

Chill a mixing bowl and beaters. For the crust, line the bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan with the ladyfingers, cutting to fill all spaces. trim bottoms of the remaining ladyfingers slightly to stand in the pan, then place them, round side out, against the inside of the pan. Set aside.

Cream cheese filling:
In the chilled bowl, beat 1-3/4 cups whipping cream and powdered sugar till soft peaks form; reserve 1/2 cup. Beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar till combined. Fold into the whipping cream mixture.

Pumpking filling:
Stir together pudding mixes, cinnamon, ginger, and pie spice. Add pumpkin and milk; beat till thick. Fold in reserved 1/2 cup whipped cream.

Spread the cream cheese filling evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Carefully spread the pumpkin layer over that. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

To serve, remove sides from the pan, place charlotte on a platter. Beat remaining 1/4 cup whipping cream to soft peaks (add additional powdered sugar to taste) and spoon on top. If desired sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice. (I sprinkle with a few chopped pecans or walnuts.)

*ladyfingers are finger-shaped sponge cake found in the produce section or in the freezer section at the grocery store. (Do not use the crisp, cookie like ladyfingers.)

Enjoy!

Putting Out the Pumpkins

It's time for Fall touches and I usually put those out the first of September. Huffing and puffing and sweating the whole time, just knowing that fall weather will kick in at any minute. Well, looking at pumpkins at least makes me feel a tiny bit cooler in this hot and humid spot in South Texas. There's really not much difference in the temperature between August and September down here, but it's just the idea that August is gone!


I fringed this table cover just a bit more so that's it's smaller. I like this look better. I decided to keep the light colored one where it was and put the black one on the kitchen table. The girls were coming over for dessert and cards, so I had the right incentive to get it all done.


This 3-tiered stand on the kitchen counter is something I bought back in April. It's big and holds lots of stuff. I decided to fill it with gourds and fall-colored fruit. I had to promise St. Wayne an apple pie when the Granny Smith's start to look bad. But for now, I like the bright colors mixed in. There's even a little bottle with three white roses on the top tier, but because I'm not the best photographer, you probably can't tell.


For the kitchen table, I bought an orange, pumpkin-shaped basket and placed white roses in it. Filled an old wooden dough bowl with tiny pumpkin-shaped potpourri for fragrance, added a candle and a few gourds, and called it a day. Whatever is on the kitchen table has to be simple and self-contained so it can be moved...either for a quick card game or those rare dinners at the table.

The dessert you see in the last picture is a Pumpkin Charlotte. It's an easy, no-bake, impressive dessert. Looks like you've worked for days on it...and that's my kind of recipe. I'll share it in my next post. I also have an easy and very unusual hors doeuvres that is fun to make. And not only is it tasty but it makes your whole house smell like Fall...

Until next time...

Monogrammed Table Cover

Just a quick post to show you Wednesday's project done over at Debby's from Debby's Gracious Home. This is simply a big square of burlap that she put an "S" on. She also monogrammed a black piece in a taupe "S".

I brought it home and cut and fringed it. I wanted you to see it before I bring out the pumpkins. Now the big question is do I use this color or the black one? I'll go work on it, decide, and then I'll be back.

And I have big plans for using this for Christmas, too. Can't you just picture mercury glass on top? Jingle bells, jingle bells...

A Very Productive Day

Yesterday was monogram day! I spent the entire afternoon at Debby's office discovering all the wonderful things her new embroidery machine can do. The above picture is an amazing contraption that produces incredible results!

The next photo is her little "cheat sheet" to remind her of the things not to do. I quickly understood why this is essential. Some items have to be inserted upside down and others right side up. And then you decide if the monogram needs to be upside down or right side up. The operator really has to focus or an expensive mistake could easily be made. Luckily, none were made yesterday and that's especially good since it was all my stuff! But that's why Debby invited me over...to practice. She issued a disclaimer right off the bat, "If I screw this up, I'm not replacing it!" I totally understood it was complimentary monogramming at my own risk!


We started with a set of six Pottery Barn napkins that was a birthday gift from Brian and Myriam. (I didn't tell her that part...didn't want to make her nervous!) I thought numbers would be fun on those as these are my favorite napkins that I use alot. Her first reaction was, "I've never done numbers...I don't know about that!" By the time she'd done all six, she was a pro. They are more trouble than a monogram, though, because you have to set up each one individually, and with a letter you use the same set-up and just insert the next napkin and embroidery the same letter. But, I couldn't be more pleased with my new numbered napkins.

And then we got really adventuresome and monogrammed a small handbag I've had for quite sometime. It was pretty cute to begin with, but adorable now!


The black napkins with the stripe are now casual and cute. I can use these indoors and out. There were ten of those and took quite awhile to finish.


But the biggest thrill of the day was a set of eight pale green napkins with a channel stitch that I've always liked. But with a silver Christmas tree embroidered on them, I adore them. I don't care much for the standard Christmas napkins because the colors are never right for me, so I've never bought any. These now fill the bill. My color with my choice of silver tree...wonderful! The only drawback to these is the time it takes for each one. It's quite an intricate design and takes about 20 minutes each. But Christmas is still far away, right?


Isn't this wonderful? Now I'm really looking forward to Christmas!


Thanks, Debby! It was an incredibly fun day and you've made my table look terrific. I appreciate all the time you took on my projects. You are such a wonderful and generous friend and I wish you much success and much profit with this new "sidekick" of yours!

Napkins, Napkins, Napkins

I spent the last few days washing, starching, and ironing every napkin I own. My friend and fellow blogger, Debby over at Debby's Gracious Home offered to "practice" monogramming on her new monogram machine anything I needed monogrammed. Well, she's offered the wrong girl. I could keep her busy til the end of time because I love anything monogrammed.

When I pulled out my napkin basket, I found a mess. After I use cloth napkins, I wash, fold, and put them away in my linen closet. So when it's time to set the table for company coming, I usually pull out my basket, decide I don't want to go to the trouble or I don't have enough time to iron, and decide paper will do nicely. Therefore, I don't use the napkins I love.

When I surveyed the contents of my napkin basket, I found napkins on the bottom I forgot I had...and some I'd never used. So I pulled them all out, washed them in separate loads, and got them cleaned and organized. I'm so proud. This is my collection. This is the way they look now without any embroidery on them.

I have indoor napkins and outdoor napkins that are just itching to be "embellished"! I now have to decide if I want an initial or some little symbol stitched on them. Some of my favorite napkins are the large white ones with a knife and fork embroidered on them. They came from Wisteria's Outlet store in Dallas. My friend Cathie found them while shopping one day and called to say I needed eight of them and I thought I did, too. I adore them because I love anything silverware related. So I'll be headed over to Debby's one day this week to make this collection even more wonderful.

Look for a post about the results real soon!

Here's a quick and easy way to create a showstopper dessert. Bake a chocolate cake--and I'm including my favorite recipe from Debby over at Debby's Gracious Home plus instructions for a fabulous ganache to glaze.

The first thing you do is visit your local grocery store and buy some white roses. Cut the stems very short and insert into a tiny bottle or juice glass. I wrapped it with parchment and secured with a rubber band. (This part will be hidden.)


Pour the glaze over the cake. It's going to drip down onto the platter. Don't worry about that...all the more chocolate that's "finger-lickin' good"!


Then place the roses--or flowers of your choice--into the center of the cake.


Then sit back and soak up the "oohs and aahs"!

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 package any variety chocolate cake mix
1 package chocolate flavored instant pudding (4 ounces)
1-1/2 cup minature semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water

Beat all ingredients except the chocolate chips until well mixed. Then stir in the chips. Spoon into a prepared bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pan. Glaze with ganache or dust with powdered sugar.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

This easy glaze only requires two ingredients: heavy cream and chocolate chips.
Bring your cream to a boil and remove from the heat. Pour over a bowl of chocolate chips. Let rest for a few minutes and then whisk until smooth. You can add vanilla or any flavoring you like, but mix the cream and chocolate first, then add whatever you'd like to experiment with. Just be careful and add it in tiny increments.

Enjoy!

Summertime and The Living is Easy...

Okay, if you've been looking for posts, you haven't found any. I've been busy doing everything but that. It's hot in South Texas and oh so dry. So I've taken every excuse I could find to leave town and pursue fun elsewhere.

We did take a few trips to the beach while my friend Cathie was here for Memorial Day, and while my cousin Sandy was here for 4th of July. Both were fun visits with late night talks and lots of catching up.


During the last week of July, we took a roadtrip to Breckenridge, Colorado to cool off. Highs of 80 and lows of mid-40s. My kinda place to be in July! We rode a train to the top of Pike's Peak, shopped, ate, giggled, and shopped and ate some more. We took my son and daughter-in-law, which is always fun.


A really fun thing that came up unexpectedly was a mini-reunion of my classmates from high school. We've reconnected via Facebook and someone suggested meeting for lunch in historic Waxahachie, which is just down the highway from my hometown Lancaster. I got an email telling me about it and saying they wished I could join them, but with 375 miles between us, they understood. Haha...they don't know me very well. I booked a room at the Hampton Inn and made plans to be there. I just hate missing out on a good time!

It was so much fun...just the girls. Most of us hadn't seen each other but for brief periods at reunions since we graduated 43 years ago...but the funny thing is, we were able to pick up right where we left off. There were fourteen of us. We had a great group in high school. We were good friends, some of us since the first grade. It was WONDERFUL seeing everybody and being together. We'll do it again, soon. Yea Facebook!

I'll try to get back in the groove soon and post more frequently. Just don't try to hold me to it!