Weekend Round-up

 

Is it really Friday already?! This week flew for me - my in-laws were visiting, my son's football team played (and won) their championship game, and I've been restoring my computer ever so slowly back to its previous state. But it's the end of the week and all I want to do this weekend is make stuff! I can't wait.

Hopefully I'll have some new things to share with you next week. But in the meantime, here's a little round-up of my wanderings over the last week.

 

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These beautiful red Bartlett pears sat on my counter all week. I keep planning to eat them, but I've been enjoying the color instead. This weekend, they may finally make their way into a pear salad.

I've started testing recipes for holiday gifts and I made my second batch of caramels this week (the first batch tasted great, but there must have been a typo in the recipe because my cooking temp was way too high and I ended up with a hard brick of candy that had to be tossed). But I found this recipe and it's a keeper!  There are a lot of notes on technique and cooking temperatures, which I found very helpful. There are also some seasonal variations included, such as gingerbread flavored caramels.

I received a pre-lit tree this week from Tree Classics.  I never thought I'd say this about any artificial tree, but I love it! I'll post about it more later, but if you've decided to go the artificial route, this is the week to do it. Tree Classics is having a huge sale through November 18, with up to 50% off and free shipping.  I have the 7 1/2 foot Kennedy Fir with 600 clear lights. It's slim, incredibly realistic, and proportioned for showing off ornaments.  I'm a convert! 

Do you have two decorating personalities?  I certainly do, especially at Christmas time. My computer woes haven't kept me from being a pinning fiend this week. You can see lots of holiday ideas at my two Pinterest boards, Winter Holiday and Colorful Christmas.

But before I get too far ahead of myself, I love these wishbones from Lucky Break. Perfect for the Thanksgiving table (or anytime you want to indulge in wish making). 

I'm sort of the unofficial birthday baker for our friends and I've nailed down most of their favorites. But I've always been a bit thrown when someone requests German Chocolate cupcakes and they want them to taste like the original cake. The Kraft kitchen finally has a recipe on their site and it's really easy and tastes just like the cake (minus the several layers).  I used 1 batch of Coconut Pecan filling for 24 cupcakes which I found to be just the right amount. They were perfect - I'll be making these over and over again. (The only note: All of my cupcakes were baked between 18-23 minutes, so start checking earlier than the recipe calls for.)

Have a wonderful weekend!  

 

Comments

[Suzonne]

...and you, Shalagh, sort of blow ME away with your support and kind words. Thank you - always. xx

[Shalagh Hogan]

Ah Suzonne,
Your computer first then my blog site. No updates on the 13th for future reference. Better now. In-laws are apparently a good thing. Kid's football victory's great. He's like 9? Cooking and baking are a holiday hooray for you. First tree link broken but second one, yeah that's a stupid good price. Faux Tree is good as long as the lights work. You sorta blow me away lady.
Love,
Shalagh