Time To Un-Wine-d.....

Just a quick blog for all of you -- tasty treats!

Easy Apple Crisp

Ingredients



Quaker Oats Maple and Brown Sugar instant oatmeal (1 serving/packet)


2 apples chopped (I love Honeycrisp!)


3 TBSP of butter cut into small chunks.



Instructions

Chop apples into small chunks.


Place in 8x8 baking dish.


Top with oatmeal.


Drop chunks of butter evenly over top of apples.


Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.





I also purchased a new wine today called "Hallowine" from Door Peninsula Winery.  It is an apple wine (white wine) spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg!  Serve it warm during the chilly fall weather!  

Hallowine

 

Muffin Top Monday

OK Muffin Tops, (and we know who we are), let's not wait until the first of the new year to proclaim "weight loss" as one of our New Year's resolutions!  I have only recently begun the Weight Watchers program (although I did do it last year and lost 25 pounds) -- OK, so I'm re-starting the program to lose some more weight!  This time around I am going to the weekly meetings.  I believe this way I might work a little harder at it, because I have to weigh in every week.  Since I started back on the program couple of weeks ago, I have lost 4.1 pounds!    I encourage anyone to take a look at the WW program -- it really is one of only a FEW that make any real sense.  I know that many of you HATE the idea of counting points, but try it for a week.  You will be surprised at how much you over-eat.  I never realized that I ate enough for two people!  I will admit, it did take about a month for my stomach to shrink so that I wasn't hungry in between meals.  Once that happened, I ate smaller meals (felt better afterwards), watched what I ate between meals, and lost weight! 

I'm not a spokesperson  for WW, I just want to share my experience with you, and if it encourages you to get healthy too -- then that makes me happy! 

So come take a look at the Weight Watchers web site, read through the success stories and the tasty recipes -- get healthy with me!

Weight Watchers

Fantabulous Friday!

Hello Everyone!

After taking a refreshing week off, I'm back to the old grindstone!  I'm really looking forward to the cooler weather.  This past weekend was HOT!  They showed video of people out sunbathing on the news....in October?!?  And along with the cooler weather comes thoughts of delicious comfort foods and goodies -- Enjoy! 

This recipe looks tasty!  Any recipe with pumpkin in it catches my eye -- and to put it in a cookie is even better!  It's from the Neely's on The Food Network.

Whoopie Pumpkin Pies

If  you like cute and whimsy little items -- visit Bubbletime's shop on Etsy!  Add this cute stuffed candy corn to your Halloween collection, or look around for some funny little bugs, mice or birds!  



Cuddly Candy Corn




















And to top off the evening or a great holiday dinner, try adding some MULLED WINE to the menu!  Here is a recipe from Sandra Lee on The Food Network.  I will be trying this recipe for sure!  For a red wine, I think I will use Rosemounts Shiraz -- try it....you'll like it! 

Rosemount Shiraz

Freakin' Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!  And for those of you who live in a world where Friday does not actually mean 'FRIDAY' -- Whaaaaasssssuuuuup?!? 

It's been a few months since I started blogging, and I have  re-evaluated what it is that I want to share in my blogs.  I'm thinking Mondays will be titled 'Muffin Top Monday' as I have recently started back on Weight Watchers, and would love to share my journey, and tasty recipes with you.  Don't worry, I'm not going to going to post great recipes with tofu and millet -- that's not good eats!  And please feel free to share some of your favorite recipes with me -- I would love to post them to share with everyone!  Wednesday is going to be titled 'Wine and Nosh Wednesday'.  Hmmmmm....I seem to have a recurring theme of 'food' in my blogs......  Friday is just a free-for-all!  And sprinkled somewhere in between will be the same stuff I like to share -- arts, crafts, FOOD, jewelry, activities, FOOD.....  Hey, food brings people together, and can be the heart of a gathering among family and friends!

So without further ado....

 
A friend of mine recently shared this recipe on Facebook (thanks MaryBeth!).  These little marshmallow ghosts look fun and tasty!    This one must be the ghost of Elvis -- he's got the 'coif' thing going on.  Uh-Huh!





Marshmallow Ghosties



























Prep: 35 min

Start to Finish: 35 min


...Ingredients

22 chocolate wafer cookies

1 envelope (2-3/4 tsp) unflavored gelatin

1 cup granulated sugar

Brown mini candy-coated chocolate pieces

1-1/2 cups fine-crystal sugar


Directions

1. Line cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet with sides; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/3 cup cold water to soften.


2. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, dissolve granulated sugar in 1/4 cup water, stirring. Remove spoon, brush inside edges of pan with water to remove sugar crystals and boil until the temperature reaches the soft-ball stage (238 degrees F) on a candy thermometer. Add mixture to gelatin and, using an electric mixer, whisk on medium speed for 3 min. Increase speed to high and whisk until soft peaks form, 8 min.


3. Transfer marshmallow to a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch-diameter plain tip, or coupler, and immediately pipe pointed mounds onto cookies (pipe just 5 ghosts at a time so marshmallow doesn't set before you decorate). Working quickly, add candy eyes and coat generously with crystal sugar. Allow ghosts to set about 1 hr before serving; store in a covered container for up to 2 days. Makes 22 cookies.


Nutrition Facts

Calories120, Total Fat (g)1, Sodium (mg)39, Carbohydrate (g)28, Total Sugar (g)25, Protein (g)1, Iron (DV%)1, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Captain's Blog: Stardate one-zero-zero-six-twenty-ten.

I can picture it now....sitting on the deck of a large spaceship, staring out at the billions of stars, drinking my coffee, and eating junior mints.  Aaaaahhhh.......  All while kicking alien butt!  In your face Captain Kirk!


Yes, so....not only do I love Autumn, but I am a Sci-Fi junkie too.


With that said, I wanted to share a couple of Etsy's Geekery items! 

Star Trek Sterling Silver Pendant

A sterling silver Star Trek pendant by Starbright Silver Jewellry.  I really like this pendant -- it's geeky but sophisticated!  















My husband and I are also fans of  Stargate.  This piece from Takit, is simple and pretty, and it's a subtle statement of your favorite show. 

Stargate Pendant Necklace

Here are a couple of beautiful jewelry pieces chosen from the 'non-geekery' items at Etsy!

This necklace is beautiful, delicate and reminiscent of Autumn!  Loop In Loop Jewelry offers this necklace made with fine silver, amber chips, citrine chips, and freshwater pearls.  What a wonderful display! 



Golden Falling Leaves



















One Loom Studio makes gorgeous jewelry from silver art clay!  I really love the natural feel of her shop.  Stop in and take a look at the other nature inspired jewelry available!

Mint Leaf and Sapphire Necklace

If You Blog It, They Will Come.....

Things have been real slow lately around Etsy, and not just for my shop!  Ok, so maybe my stuff just stinks?  It's like sitting in your shop, and constantly walking outside to make sure the sign says "OPEN".  Can everyone get to and find my shop?  Is PayPal working properly......?  If you are selling your crafts online, and are having the same problem, I KNOW you feel my pain!  I would just like to continue creating more jewelry, but unfortunately things must come to a standstill until sales start coming in -- or I become famous -- or we win the lottery!  :)  Anyhoo, Until that happens, I will just keep swimming..... (Sing it Dory!)



Here are a few shops to take a peek at!  This first item is from Bloom and Barnacle's shop.  A cute ghostie figurine created with sculpey clay.  They have many other festive Halloween items listed in their shop -- so hurry on in, before it's too late!



Tall Ghost With Boo Garland







 

 

  

 

The Venerable Bead offers this fun copper enamel skull pendant!  These cute pendants are cut from a copper sheet and then enameled in different colors.  Check out their shop's other beautiful treasures! 

 

Skull Pendant Necklace
 





And some great smelly stuff! Green Briar offers this soy candle collection in 3 delicious scents!  Make your house smell like a home with Pumpkin pie, Caramel Apple, and Apple Harvest!

 



Three Fall 22 Ounce Wood Wick Soy Candles







Aaaaahhhhhh....October!

Cool breezes, colorful trees and....  box elder bugs -- BLEAH!  It's difficult to go outside and enjoy the lovely weather with icky bugs flying in your hair.  All is well though!  Just bought our daughter a cute little witch costume for Halloween!  I will have to hold off on buying the candy -- we have already gone through 3 bags of candy, and it's not even close to halloween!

Here are a few Etsy shop mentions for the day.  Some beautiful items to decorate your home, and some to make you smile!

This little guy is whimsy and cute.  His little beady eyes say, "Take me home!"  Visit bdb world's shop to see other polymer clay cuties, cards, watercolors, and jewelry.

Hermit Crab

I adore these wool pear ornaments from lil fish studio's!  And they are from my favorite town, Brainerd, Minnesota -- where I grew up!  These would be just lovely on a your Christmas tree, or just for year-round decor.

Pistachio Green Wool Pear Ornament

I think that stoneware pottery is wonderful, and I love fall leaves.  I found this beautiful piece from Botanic2Ceramic while perusing the Etsy stores, and had to mention it in my blog!  A rustic looking, unique design with branch-like edges, and a maple leaf motif.



Autumn Woodland Maple Leaf Platter Tray