Friday, October 15, 2010

In My Kitchen {Pumpkin Scones (JUST like St*arbucks!)}


My friend Catie has a FABULOUS scone recipe, but when it came to making these I just didn't know how to incorporate in the pumpkin...so I found a recipe on line, and tweaked it a little...and the result is AMAZING!!
So...here you go!!


Mix together dry ingredients, cut in butter (I used my food processor) set aside
Whisk pumpkin, egg and half and half, then fold into dry ingredients.
Turn onto a lightly floured board...seperate dough in half.  With each half shape into a circular mound :) and cut into 4 pie like pieces (this recipe made 8 scones)
Bake at 425 for 14 -16 min

Cool, and then make a glaze of 1c powdered sugar and 2 T milk (half and half)

These are not dry, very cake like....really delicious!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

My name is Dawn, and I am addicted to PUMPKIN!


Once the kids go back to school, it really feels like fall kicks in for me...
and nothing says "FALL" like PUMPKIN!

I have shared my love of Pumpkin Spice Lattes HERE..which I now make on my own..thank you very much!

I just made the MOST delish Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting...recipe HERE

I eat Pumpkin Oatmeal...a recipe I found in Clean Eating Magazine, DELICIOUS!

I have made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies,

 and this week I have made (TWICE)
 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

(how cute are these cupcake papers by Wilton?  I found them at Walmart:) 


So...what about you, do you love pumpkin too??

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Ciao Bella Italia!


I have been blessed with two trips to my beloved Italy~
Both trips were at almost the exact time of year...the end of October.  So every year at this time...my heart aches for this beautiful place...the history, the people, the food!

Our first trip was in 2002, and we toured the Tuscan Countryside, wine tasted, had cooking lessons, olive picked, went to many wonderful cities and stayed in countryside  Villas...a dream come true trip.


My second trip was in 2005 with my sweet Mom.
I encouraged my Italian Mom to go see this beautiful country.  She had never left the U.S. before, so this was a very exciting trip for her.

We decided to stay in Roma (Rome) for the whote 8 days and make a day trip by train to Florence, one of my most favorite cities~



The Coloseum, the Vatican, the Parthenon, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish steps...
be still my heart♥





Oh David...how I love thee!

Oh my sweet Italia...we will see each other again one day~
♥Ti amo Italia♥

Monday, October 4, 2010

A Harvest Birthday Dinner Tablescape~


This last Sunday I hosted a Birthday dinner for my Mom and Stepdad~

The tablescape is my take on the PB table I posted about in my previous post
As much as I love all the white...my home is more about color...I am inspired by the colors in "tuscan style" decorating, and at this time of year it is abundant!


I know, I know, my Boys let me know, I forgot an "E" in celEbrate! :)



I just had to share my roasted chickens. 
 Anne mentioned in a recent post about the simplicity and comfort of a Sunday Roast...and shared this 
recipe from House Beautiful...so I thought I would give it a try.

As I was flipping through my House Beautiful magazine I also found this recipe
(image House Beatutiful)

...so I made those too...these were sooo delicious...a MUST try!!  
...and I also saw this recipe

(image House Beautiful)

...so I made those too!
Delicious...I made wild rice and bread to accompany it all!

A perfect Havest Birthday Dinner!!