Off to the Market...

We're off to Market Days next weekend (Dec. 4th-Dec. 5th)! Here's a sneak peek at some of the goodies that Fabrics and Fonts will be offering at the market. Some little elves have been working hard on canvas wraps, Appliqued t-shirts, pillow case dresses, burp cloths, wreaths, cupcake wrappers, gift tags, aprons, and cupcake toppers to last you all year.

Can't make it to the market? Place a custom order in time for the holidays! karen.shiver@yahoo.com

Pumpkin Pie...CRUNCH!

Before I begin, I must make a confession. I hate pumpkin pie. It's not the flavor that I find uninspiring. It's the soggy, slimy texture that keeps me away from the traditional turkey day dessert.

Fellow pumpkin pie haters beware....A new and improved version is here!

Get ready for some pumpkin pie perfection!

Gather these ingredients and get to work.

'Pour', lonely pumpkin pie...

This buttery, pecan crunchy layer of goodness can't be 'topped'!

Random Tip:

Create a (random) recipe card holder using a small pumpkin and a paper clip. Unfold the paper clip at the first bend and place the sharp end in the pumpkin. Place the recipe on the other end of the paper clip.

Confess your love for this Pumpkin Pie Crunch by serving it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice and a small stick of cinnamon!

Not your average Green Bean Casserole

If you are in the mood to add some flavor and flair to your Thanksgiving side dishes this year, then you should definitely add this recipe to your Menu!

Let's just keep it simple by saying that this green bean casserole, which actually has corn in it too, is a big upgrade from your average one made with the standard ingredients. Not that there is anything wrong with the cream of mushroom/fried french onion topping version. In fact, I think that recipe was the very first casserole I ever made. Am I really getting gushy over green bean casserole?!

The first time I had this, it was made by a friend, Rosalyn. It didn't take long before I had my hands on the recipe and began making it part of a tradition at our family functions and celebrations. I hope you feel inspired to make it part of your Holiday Happenings too!

Mix one can of green beans and one can of corn.

In a bowl, combine the following ingredients:
one can of cream of celery soup*one onion, diced* 3/4 cup of sour cream* one cup of shredded cheddar cheese*salt and pepper to taste

Spread this mixture over the beans and corn.

For the topping, sprinkle two cups of crushed butter flavored crackers over the casserole and top with sliced almonds and melted butter.

Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes, until the top is golden.

My (random) Cranberry Craze!

My cranium is filled with cranberries these days. I've been on cranberry inspiration overload. Most of my random cranberry inspirations were a 'sweet' success, but one of them left me feeling down right 'bitter'!

Today, I am sharing five festive cranberry theme recipes and crafts. I hope you find one that you can use to help celebrate the holiday season ahead!

Let the cranberry craze begin!

Simmer away your stress and fill your home with the savory scent of Cranberry Craze Stove-Top Potpourri.

In a small sauce pan, add one sliced orange, a handful of cranberries, two cinnamon sticks, one bay leaf, and a sprinkle of ground cloves. Cover with water and...

Replenish with water as needed.

Have it feelin' like fall at your house in no time with this Cranberry Craze potpourri!

A simple salad is the second phase of this cranberry craze.

Start with a spring mix and add dried cranberries, goat cheese, and toasted almonds (sliced).

The night we made this salad my husband and I had a dressing dilemma. I solved the problem with his and hers homemade dressing.

Both dressings started off with the same base:
Equal parts (1/4 cup) of red wine vinegar and sunflower seed oil and salt and pepper

I'm sure our preference for dressing ingredients says something deep about our personalities. By the looks of it, I'm tangy and spicy and he's sweet and sappy....

hers: add one tablespoon of Dijon mustard his: add one tablespoon of honey

Maybe we'll combine them both to avoid the next dressing dilemma!

Cranberry Craze number three goes way back with me! I've been making these ever since the better baker in me started to emerge from the deep, dark pits of the burnt brownie pans. It's a simple, comforting treat that carefully portrays the taste and texture of all things fall. I have a tradition of making these and sending them home with our Thanksgiving guests for breakfast the next day.

Boxed Cranberry Orange muffin mix helps make these muffins so easy. Just replace the water it calls for with one cup of orange juice and add one cup of (fresh, frozen, or dried) cranberries. Save the canned berries the box comes with for another use. Mix together.

Fill lined muffin cups 1/3 full. Mix together half a bar of softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup of sugar. Add one tablespoon of cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining muffin batter and sprinkle the tops with sugar. Bake according to package directions.

Random Kitchen Tool Tips:
Use an ice cream scoop for the batter and a plastic bag with a snipped corner to drop the cream cheese mixture.

Serve these warm or heat in the microwave for ten seconds before enjoying. Put a few aside...

I have a cocktail to pour with Cranberry Craze number four!

Mix the following ingredients:

two cups of white wine, one cup of cranberry-apple juice, one cup of sparkling water

Garnish with apple slices and sugar coated frozen cranberries in place of ice cubes.

If you plan on making the fifth and final bitter sweet inspiration of the cranberry craze, I would double this recipe. You're gonna need all of the help you can get!
It all started one Sunday night a few weeks back. Me, my papers to grade, and Martha's Thanksgiving TV special. In between checking for sentences that start with capital letters and contain finger spaces, I caught a glimpse of these cranberry topiary trees. My mind was set. I was making my second round of food inspired topiaries, this time leaving me with much more of a bitter taste for topiaries!

Here is a look at the items you will need. The amount of cranberries shown here doesn't even begin to put a dent in the actual amount I used to make the trees. And the toothpicks. I bought one box (you break them in half to get 500). I ran out. That's when this 'berry' determined, ticked off topiary maker called for back up. Wooden bamboo skewers for grilling, broken into pieces.

Although this worked as a last resort, I wouldn't recommend it. Sore fingers and several microscopic splinters later and I'm wishin' Martha was here with tweezers!

Poke half of a toothpick through a cranberry, then stick it into the foam, coned shaped trees that have been sprayed (wine or maroon) with spray paint. Do small patches at a time, turning as you go as opposed to working with straight lines. Take another sip of that Cranberry-Apple Spritzer. You're going to be here for a while!

Now you have a craze of cranberry inspirations to try...

And now it's time to go clean up from this chaotic cranberry mess!

It's 'chili' out there!

Nothing is more inspiring than the chili evenings that accompany fall. Celebrating the season with a hot bowl of chili from the crock pot, complete with mini corn muffins is sure to warm you up!

Along with cooler weather comes crock pot cookin'. During the week, I prep all ingredients needed for the meal, the night before. I also gather the remaining ingredients and necessary kitchen tools and cookware to make the meal preparation go as fast as possible in the morning when its time to assemble. As if the morning rush to get out the door and off to work (on time) isn't stressful enough, the last thing I need is dinner to slow me down!

I don't really have a 'go to' recipe for chili. This is a Vegetarian Black Bean Slow Cooker Chili and you can find the recipe here. I'm still waiting to find the one chili recipe that 'stirs' up enough inspiration to last a life time!

Whip up these cheesy corn bread mini muffins in a 'jiffy'. And they are a little spicy, just in case you need a little more warming up!

1. Prepare a package of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix according to the package directions, using 1/2 a cup of milk (instead of what it calls for) and one egg.

2. Add two handfuls of frozen corn

3. Add two handfuls of diced pepper jack cheese (use whatever cheese you please)

4. Add one handful of sliced green onions

Stir to mix. Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray and fill half way with corn muffin batter. Bake according to the package directions.

It's 'chili' out there. At least it was when I made this!!

You'll give 'a hoot' about these tees!

'Fall' in love with these adorable shirts! For an up close look at these tees, I rounded up my little turkey to try them on for you. It's not easy getting this turkey 'dressed' these days!

Order your design (turkey, tree, owl, custom order) on a shirt or a onesie for $15.00.

karen.shiver@yahoo.com

Contact Karen of Fabrics and Fonts if you give a hoot!

Halloween Hangover Randomness...

I am suffering from a severe Halloween hangover. I don't know whether to blame it on too much witche's brew or too many Reeces Peanut Butter Cups. Whatever the reason, I am glad it won't be back to haunt me for another 365 days! Here are a few random Halloween inspirations to tide you over until I pop the top on another bottle of witche's brew next year!

Mummy Dogs complete with a coffin!

Don't get caught in this spooky spider web dip!

Creepy Cupcakes!

Edible cat litter cake. (I use to like Tootsie Rolls.) Here kitty, kitty.....

I hope this Halloween hangover ends soon, 'cause I have lots to be thankful for!