Hope Everyone Had A Wonderful Thanksgiving.....

And are also getting lots of terrific shopping deals! I didn't brave the crowds this year. Hope to catch some good sales nearer Christmas.

This is my Thanksgiving placesetting. There was only my DH and myself and I invited a friend that had lost her husband last year. We had a nice day. I used the Pinzon chargers...I just love those...and the Gibson dishes from Big Lots. The maple leaf dishes were from Walmart last year. The pumpkin soup bowls were a gift from a friend in Rochester N.Y. I baked a ten pound turkey with all the trimmings, and today made some turkey stew with the rest of the meat. Nothing like a plain old turkey sandwich though....with lots of mayo and dried cranberries! :)

Apple Pie A La Mode

From this........ to this!

I have been really craving for apple pie the past few days and have to admit that it has been a while since I have made one. I bought a pie a few weeks ago but they can't compare to homemade! This bag of apples is from Dowagiac, Michigan...I have no idea where it is....but they made a good pie! And yes, it looks like a "bad apple" in the bag but they were all good ones, it must have been water on the bag or maybe a shadow? We have two apple trees in our yard but the apples are not quite ready yet.

I used my maple leaf dishes that I bought at Walmart last year (and just about forgot I had them!) thinking they would go well with the 'fall' setting. I also have the same ones in green. I'll have to use them with my white dishes soon!

Pie Anyone?..................

Who says brownie mix......

has to turn into brownies?? Use it to whip up this Mocha Fudge Cake...quick as a wink!

Tear open a box of double-fudge brownie mix and jazz it up with eggs and pecans. Pop it in the oven - then we're on to the frosting! Just throw some instant coffee granules into a bowl of whipping cream, turn on your mixer and presto! Now doesn't that take the cake? Mocha Fudge Cake

1 (22 oz.) pkg. double fudge brownie mix

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup chopped pecan

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 tbs. instant coffee granules

1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar

Garnish- chocolate shavings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 2 eight inch cake pans with cooking spray and line with wax paper.

Combine first four ingredients, stir in pecans. Spread in pans. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes and invert.

Combine whipping cream and coffee granules, beat at medium speed until foamy- gradually add powdered sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream between layers and top and sides of cake. Cover and chill 2 hours.

Garnish with chocolate shavings

A Great Bargain!

I bought these Gibson dishes recently at Big Lots. They are very popular out here in the blogging world! I had seen them on several blogs in their tablescapes and decided I had to have them too! I used them in the post below and decided to show the whole set. My local Big Lots had them for $35 and when they marked them at $20...I snapped them up!

I like these bowls and especially like the small one as it is nice for small amounts of ice cream, puddings, or sauces.

This is a nice size large bowl....

And a nice large platter...

I wasn't aware that the napkin rings and salt and pepper came with the set so was pleasantly surprised to find them. I had been looking for white napkin rings in stores....and here they were!

This is a service for 6, which is nice... plus all the accessories, for $20...What a deal! I love them!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, THESE HOT DAYS!!

It's too hot to do much cooking so tonight we had Pasta Primavera and blueberry muffins...

with some fresh squeezed lemonade....

and dessert was Raspberry Sherbet

Chocolate Strawberry Torte

The strawberries are still plentiful in our area and still quite tasty! I made this torte today, but really think it would be as good without the crust and just put in pretty glass bowls or parfait glasses. The recipe called for a round springform pan, but I used a heart shaped one.

Chocolate Strawberry Torte

1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons butter (no substitutions), divided

2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs (about 26 sqs.)

1/4 cup sugar

12 ozs. frozen whipped topping, thawed

8 oz. sour cream

1 pkg. (4 serving size) instant chocolate pudding mix

1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced

1 square (1 oz.) semisweet chocolate

Melt 1/2 cup butter. In a bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar. Press onto the bottom and 1-1/2 inches up the sides of a greased 9-inch springform pan; refrigerate.

In a mixing bowl, beat the whipped topping, sour cream and pudding mix until blended. Spread half over the crust. Arrange strawberries over the top. Spread with remaining filling. In a microwave, melt chocolate and remaining butter; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature. Drizzle over filling. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Time to Celebrate the 4th. of July! Let The Fireworks Begin!

I had to laugh at myself with the title.......no, "I" won't be in charge of the fireworks! See post below ! :)



Hope we have nice weather for all of the festivities. We will be going to our local boat harbor Saturday night to watch the fireworks; they always have very pretty ones.



This bike is in front of our local florist. They always have it decorated so nice for the different seasons.