Let's make art! Gourd Art!!

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A few weeks ago I took a class to make "Gourd Art". Oh... was it fun! I wanted to share my experience with you. Jane Bogg's taught the class, "About her" is below. She is fun and wants to help you become a "Gourd Artist" outside of class. She is excited and interested in you really learning the art, which make for a wonderful experience for her students. She also sell her art from her studio, contact information is below.

Nibble, nibble Jalapeno crackers!

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Gearing up for Thanksgiving!  

As November kicks into high gear, it's time to start thinking about Thanksgiving.  From now until turkey day we will be offering some dishes for you serve up for your Thanksgiving feast. These dishes are guaranteed to create the most tasty Thanksgiving yet. In addition I will be giving you a unusual craft, that you could make before Christmas!! Sweet One has her hands full this week with a full interior color change on the walls of her and TT's new home and the addition of an in home gym!! I can't wait to see it!! Her house is swarming with workers and she can't get near her kitchen!! She promised to be back next week with a yummy dessert for Thanksgiving!

Count Down six blogs to Thanksgiving!!

SIX: Start with Nibblies!

  

Peter Peter Pumpkin eater! Ravioli to die for!!

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 With all of the pumpkin dessert recipes that have been televised and blogged about, I thought it was about time I feature a recipe that uses this incredible squash in a savory application. This ravioli has been  a favorite of mine - warm with the scent of toasted pecans, the mingling flavors of rosemary and sage; the perfect balance of flavors, all complimenting one another, in harmony. Sweet and savory hand-in-hand. I look forward to Fall every year when, it feels so good to make this delicious dish.

Miss Muffet sat on her Tuffet!

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These two adorable cousins are our Grandchildren! Emma who is almost 6 months in this picture and Julia who turned 1, sitting on her tuffet!!

A tuffet, pouffe or hassock is a piece of furniture used as a footstool or low seat. It is distinguished from a stool by being completely covered in cloth so that no legs are visible. It is essentially a large hard cushion that may have an internal wooden frame to give it more rigidity. Wooden feet may be added to the base to give it stability, at which point it becomes a stool or a footstool. If the piece is larger, with storage space inside it, then it is generally known as an ottoman.

A couple of years ago I took a "Tuffet" class with my friend Fawn, from Myra at Northwest Quiltworks in Bellevue,Wa. We had so much fun and started making  the cutest little footstools/child's tuffet. I thought, what a perfect gift for a child! They just love to sit and have their Mom, Dad, Grandpa or Grandma read them a story. Story time was big in my children's lives, they still remember that special time. And now, I am making these tuffet's for my Grandchildren, on their first Birthday, so that they can have their own special seat for story time. Wee Bear buys three story books to complete our traditional 1st Birthday gift to our grandchildren. To date of January 2017 I have made 10 tuffets for my grandchildren and a few others as gifts. I have one more to make the end of 2017, for grand child number 11.

Pumpkin Bread

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I recently bought a new fall inspired loaf pan at Williams Sonoma and decided to bake a pumpkin bread using it. It came out beautifully and the bread stayed moist for an entire week. Great with coffee in the morning! I was a little skeptical that the batter would stick in the grooves of the pattern, but a good spray of non-stick cooking spray turned the bread out perfectly. Next time I think I would give the finished bread a dusting of powdered sugar -I think that would look pretty over the pumpkin design.

Fall Mushroom Risotto!

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  Truffled Mushroom Risotto in a Roasted Acorn Squash

                                   adapted from Karin Calloway

The first time I tried truffle was via "truffle oil". It is a beautiful oil that tastes great on popcorn, potato chips and french fries. But, it just won't do for everything. Truffle tapenade is made by blitzing a small amount of truffles into a mushroom paste and let me tell you that this is warm, and earthy in the most amazing of ways. It still makes your head feel a little funny and your nose start proposing marriage! The paste is available at specialty gourmet shops.

Mushrooms are a great substitute for meat because of their earthy flavor and meaty texture. And if you serve a good mushroom risotto, even the most ardent carnivore won’t miss the meat.

Pork Tenderloin with Port, mushroom sauce!

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This is yummy and easy, and also makes a pretty presentation. Before I share the recipe, I need to tell you, I love pork tenderloin.  But, in my experience, it usually needs seasoning, marinade, a glaze or a sauce. The flavor of pork tenderloin itself is rather neutral, so it is a nice palate for lots of adornments.  

This fabulous and impressive sauce is deep in the  flavor of Port. Wine reduction sauces are divine, however, most wine reduction sauces take patience and a little more time. I’ve tried to make this sauce as simple and as flavorful as a typical reduction sauce, but in less time. The outcome is a savory......but with a hint of sweet, flavors of shallot and intense port wine. Please let me know what you think.  I love to hear from my fellow foodies and comments are always welcome!  I’ll also be posting a few side dishes that will compliment this recipe beautifully!  Keep an eye out for those recipes in the next few days.