Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins - Oh Yeah!

photo courtesy of Cookie Madness

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins.

This is starting to turn into a food blog, unintentionally. But with autumn's arrival, it's hard not to post some inspiring and delicious recipes featuring pumpkin. Now, I'm not a big fan of pumpkin pie, but pumpkin bread, muffins, etc....I could eat for days.

I stumbled upon this recipe from Anna on Cookie Madness and I had to post in here. These look delectable and will most likely be my Gettysburg Trip take-along basket. Let me know if you make em and how they turn out!

Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

Filling:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Muffins:

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 ¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon each nutmeg, allspice
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin (not pie filling)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray top of a muffin tin with cooking spray and line the 12 cups with liners.

Prepare filling. Beat together cream cheese and sugar, then stir in egg and vanilla. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, thoroughly stir together flour, both sugars, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and spices.

In another mixing bowl, blend oil, egg, pumpkin and vanilla. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and stir until combined.

Fill muffin cups about 1/3 of the way full with pumpkin mixture. Spoon cream cheese mixture over pumpkin, dividing evenly between all 12 cups. Spoon a drop of pumpkin batter on top of cream cheese. Pumpkin batter will be thick and will not cover entire top, so the appearance will be similar to a bulls eye.

Bake for 23-25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

MOVIE MONDAY - an Italian movie I love

Staying with the Italian Heritage theme for this Columbus Day Monday, I chose a movie that was a long-time favorite with me: Cinema Paradiso.

Set in a charming little Italian village after World War 2, you become engaged with the story from the beginning thanks to the cutest little boy performance. The subtext is hardly noticeable as you get into the delightful story of Toto who has a fascination with movies and the cinema from an early age. He befriends the town's movie projectionist and his desire to make and watch movies is realized.

Trust me, this romantic, comedic and bittersweet film is a must have in any film-lover's library!

For more info, check out here.

Happy Columbus Day! Italian Beef Bracciole in Sauce w/pasta!

My Italian roots bring me back to Grandmom making Italian Beef Bracciole for my Grandpop in a big pot of pasta sauce (gravy) to be served on the side with macaroni.

Sooo easy is Beef Bracciole that I thought I would share the quick version of this recipe. Mangia Mangia!

Ingredients
Bracciole (or flank steak)
Fresh Parsley
Grated Parmesan Cheese (or you can get fancy and use Mozzarella, Fontina, etc.)
Bread Crumbs
Salt * Pepper
Olive Oil
Fresh Garlic Clove

Prepare the Bracciole (steak) by tenderizing it (pounding the heck out of it with a meat tenderizer hammer/ gadget) You will have a cutlet like piece of meat.

Drizzle some olive oil onto the steak piece rub fresh/raw garlic over it to flavor
Now add your breadcrumbs and cheese, fresh parsley, salt and pepper.
Carefully roll the bracciole and tie it with string or secure it with toothpicks

In saucepan, heat your olive oil and brown your meat on all sides (careful not to get it too dark).
Once browned, you can add fresh tomatoes or add the bracciole itself to the pot of sauce.

Let it slow cook for about 45 minutes (this is an excellent crockpot dish too!)
Serve with pasta and voila! Yum!

Caio, Bellas!

Tag, You're it!

My good blog buddy, fioretta, has tagged me for a fun facts about yourself session. If you get a second, check out her creative blog - she's so talented. For those of you who want to set this up on your own blogs, be my guest..it's a great way of getting to know your fellow bloggers!

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First and foremost - the rules:
Link to your tagger and list the rules
List 5 random facts about yourself
Tag 5 people
If you're tagged, play along and pass it on!

Here are the interesting or non-interesting tidbits about moi:

1. I have endometriosis and also another form of pelvic bleeding that can cause some major discomfort during the month. Motrin, I love you. Also, heating pads and pillows under feet and lots of rest have become a norm in my life. But I am grateful my mom went through it so she can understand what it's like.

2. My sisters are 9 and 10 years older than me and are like little "mom's"...always checkin in with me and making sure I'm ok. They were my bridesmaids in my wedding. It's nice to live within 8 miles of them too.

3. I make it a habit to say "prayers for strangers" everyday. Selfishly, it helps take away the guilt I sometimes have at seeing a homeless person or a kid with a disability but I sure do hope that God hears my prayers and blesses them with peace during their day.

4. I refuse to buy something because of it's designer or label. I understand it's great quality but I'm far too practical to invest my hard-earned money in a Coach label or Dooney & Burke bag. I can appreciate the style on those that do wear it however.

5. I love to experiment with natural beauty secrets like honey, oatmeal, egg whites, etc. A lot of the vitamins and nutrients that our body/hair/skin needs comes directly from the source so I research the homeopathic and natural way to beauty.

Ok, time to tag:

Sirkfeb1
Jewels2730
Finesse
The Hyper Homemaker
Life with B&A

HOW TO - Generate your own Blog Banner

DIY this week will feature a way to make your own blog banner from Big Huge Labs. You can generate your own using their tool. I made the one above in like 3 minutes. Have Fun making some personalized ones yourself!

Thanks for stopping bye!
xoxox

MOVIE MONDAY - mirroring the 1930's....

The current economy is making me think that our lives somehow are starting to mirror that of 1930's and THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

Our grandparents and great-grandparents would consider it a true act of luxury and a treat to go to the movie or cinema (back then a quarter or cheaper for a matinee) and watch a flick for a few hours. This provided a much needed temporary escape route from the toil and drudgery of harsh economic times.

Since I love old movies, it's not hard to pick one from my memory that perhaps provided such a diversion from the mundane economic downfall of the 1930's.

This week, I am focusing on FOOTLIGHT PARADE...a classic gem full of spectacular choreography from the great Busby Berkeley, kitschy dance numbers with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler and Hollywood legend, James Cagney (a dancer before a stereotyped film mobster).

Watch for great catchy musical numbers like Honeymoon Hotel and Shangai Lil. Rest assured, it's not all song and dance...it's fun acting at a time when Hollywood was only starting to gleam the definition of "craft".

So much fun to see the fashions of the day and the mannerisms too!

I love this movie. It's cornier than an Iowa field. It's fluff. It's like eating ice cream after a spicy meal...soothing and fun. Absolutely adorable with a capital "A".

If you don't mind stepping back in time (seems like the stock market doesn't seem to mind slipping back to 1929 thank you very much) and imagining what our grandparents must have felt like to feel entertained and invigorated if only for a few hours, then you will cherish this little gem.

Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping bye!

FREE VINTAGE EPHEMERA images

I love looking at old photo albums at flea markets and thrift stores. I'm talking ones that date back a lifetime or two.

There is just something about the way the light goes through the old camera lense which really captures the imagination of the subject. Like a quick step back through time.

To use these images in a creative way, is also a passion of mine. I love making collages, art, stationery and just about anything else whimsical from these old photos, etc.

I guess you can say I have a wooly for vintage ephemera!

Here are some excellent links to free images that you can use for your vintage passions as well!


http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/vintageresources.html

http://www.stampington.com/html/postscript_05132008_download.html

https://www.dollsandlace.com/clip.htm

http://flickr.com/photos/14589752@N00/268861417/

Mark and I spent the day yesterday at a local farm with our friends' and their kids. We were the only ones without children but we were kids at heart...we went on a hayride, picked local apples, and ate some homemade delicious APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS.

Oh. My. Gawd. Were those ever good! They were freshly made, still hot, crispy on the outside, soft and lush on the inside sprinkled with just the right amount of cinnamon sugar.

We wound up buying more to appease our sweet tooth.

After googling, I found a recipe and am anxious to try them. For now, I will use my freshly picked apples for homemade Apple Crisp.

Here's the recipe for the doughnuts, if you try em, let me know how you like em (and invite us over!)

Apple Cider Doughnuts

1 cup Apple cider
1 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Solid vegetable shortening
2 large Eggs
1/2 cup Buttermilk
3 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
2 tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp.Baking soda
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
Vegetable oil or shortening -for frying

1 cup cinnamon-sugar mixed

Boil apple cider in small saucepan until it is reduced to 1/4 cup, 8 to 10 minutes; cool. Beat sugar with shortening until smooth. Add eggs and mix well, then add buttermilk and reduced cider. Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in another bowl. Add to liquid ingredients; mix just enough to combine. Transfer dough to lightly floured board and pat to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with 2 1/2- to 3-inch doughnut cutter; reserve doughnut holes and reroll and cut scraps. Add enough oil or shortening to fill a deep pan 3 inches; heat to 375'F. Fry several doughnuts at a time, turning once or twice, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove to paper towels with slotted spoon. While still warm, shake a few at a time in a paper bag containing cinnamon sugar. Cool on a rack.

Thanks for stopping bye! Mmmm Dougnuts...

Halloween COSTUME(s) for SALE

Oh yes, I used to frequently get into the spirit of Halloween (especially at work and happy hour).

I won 2 dress up contests consecutively ... but alas, the stuff no longer fits neither me nor my closet and so it must go.

Here I am selling this dramatic Colonial/RenFaire Costume. It has thick brocade-like fabric, detailed with lace and cording and ribbon. I bought it off of a fashion student on ebay and only wore it once for a few hours. She designed it and sewed it so I know it's good quality and not some "Made in China" number.

I paid $75 which I think is a bargain compared to the flimsy stuff you see at Halloween Adventure. I'm asking $50 or Best Offer to make room in my closet.

It fits beautifully for a S/M figure. Bust is up to 36, Waist is up to 27 and the Hips are free. I love the weight of it and the ease of zipper in the back. Can be worn on or off shoulder with shawl for dramatic effect.

Color is burgundy/cranberry.

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The second costume was a vintage find off of ebay as well. This is an old square dance dress from the 50's. I think I paid about $35 for it a few years ago. I wore a cheap crinoline under it and white socks and maryjane shoes.

It's Kelly Green with little cute polka dots

I was trying to be Riverdance....Me. An Italian chick dressing up as an Irish Step Dancer.

I guess they were desperate that year because I won (and got a few phone numbers of eligible guys at the club).



It was quite entertaining to watch. Anyway, other ideas would be a square dancer (an original idea, eh?), a beer maiden, Swiss Miss or just save it for St. Patrick's Day.

I'm asking $20 or Best Offer. It's a size S. Bust up to 34, Waist up to 26.
Fits about a size 5/6 or 7/8

It twirls out really nice when you spin

I'll post more costumes in this post as I dig out more in my cramped closet!
Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo

OCTOBER GREETINGS

The month of October has arrived and it stirs up memories of my youth again...as does everything these days.

Crunching leaf piles with my summer worn sneakers, smelling mom's homemade pumpkin bread, and watching the teachers put up halloween decorations during recess. May you have an old-fashioned Autumn and enjoy all of October's oddities and fun!

Enjoy some of these cute vintage clipart images for your craft projects!



xoxo