Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Lots of Sugar, a Little Glitter, and Jane Eyre...

How is everyone tonight? My day got a lot busier than I had planned, and I didn't get some of my projects done...they'll have to wait until tomorrow!

I do have a birthday card, however, for my Mom--Grandma--this one's for the girls to give her. So, Mom, if you're peeking, I'm sorry! A pretty, old-fashioned looking card made very simple by Crafty Secrets' wonderful new "Birds & Blossoms" Creative Scraps. I really love these--so many beautiful images! Just take a look at these:


Aren't they beautiful?!

Here's my card:


Now on to the Halloween goodies! My sister sent me this recipe a few weeks ago, and I've really been looking forward to making it for my family--easy, colorful & fun! My youngest daughter, Annie, has invited some friends over on Friday night to have a sleepover, eat lots of junk food & watch Halloween movies, so this is part of the junk!

What do you think? It tastes like a big cookies & cream candybar with lots of other goodies thrown in! YUM! I'm trying not to eat this, but it's REALLY hard!


A nice close-up shot so you can see the oreo chunks, candy corn, pretzels and Halloween sprinkles....not to mention that fabulously creamy white chocolate.....................!

Here's the recipe:

HALLOWEEN BARK

14 whole Oreos, broken up

1 1/2 cup small pretzel sticks, broken

1 lb. white chocolate

1 cup candy corn

Halloween colored sprinkles

Cover a large cookie sheet with wax paper. Spread broken cookies, pretzels and about 3/4 of the candy corn on the wax paper.

Place white chocolate in microwave-safe bowl and heat for 1 1/2 minutes--stir. Heat for 30 seconds more. Stir until all melted and smooth.

Drizzle melted chocolate over the cookie mix, spreading with a spatula if needed to coat evenly. Sprinkle remaining candy corn and colored sprinkles on top while the chocolate is still melty.

Place tray in refrigerator until firm. Remove and break into small pieces. Try not to eat it all in 5 minutes.....! The kids will love this!

Ready for another fabulous treat? This one comes courtesy of the wonderful Gooseberry Patch ladies, from their "Flavors of Fall" cookbook--one of my favorites! (Remember the Double Chocolate Brownies from last month?!)


I did everything according to the recipe except I added a bag of white chocolate chips...I'm always doing something naughty like that. Just can't seem to help myself!


PUMPKIN SPICE SUGAR COOKIES

2- 3/4 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup butter, softened

1- 1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

Combine flour and baking soda; set aside. In another bowl, blend butter and powdered sugar together; add pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and egg. Mix in flour mixture; blend well. Cover dough; refrigerate for 2 hours. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface; cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees on ungreased baking sheets until golden, about 8 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen.

(The added white chocolate chips are delicious in here...also, I don't seem to have the patience to wait for two hours for the dough to chill, or to cut them out with cookie cutters, so they went immediately onto the cookie sheets in ball form. And they needed to bake for 10 minutes. Fat, luscious, moist, and fabulous!)

After they cooled, I decided I needed to add a few more calories, so I made up some Pumpkin Spice Frosting, of course! I never measure this kind of thing, so I just melted about 3 Tbsp. butter, added a bit of vanilla, sprinkled in some Pumpkin Pie Spice, and probably about 3 cups total powdered sugar. Add milk till you get your desired consistency. You can always add more powdered sugar, too!


See all that pumpkin spicey goodness?!

Now that you're all hungry, I'm going to run away and finish watching one of my very favorite movies--the newest Mobil Masterpiece Theatre version of "Jane Eyre"--it's just dreamy! I love the actors, the scenery....just everything! Have you seen this one?



All I can say, is WOW! If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and just order it! If we lived closer, I'd let you borrow mine--I'm always loaning out my favorites! Or, I have my friends come over and watch them with me--even better!

Well, until tomorrow. Jane, Mr. Rochester & I have to get reacquainted.....!

16 comments:

  1. Hi Julie...another wonderful card that I am sure Grama will love! I am dying to try these cookies...mmmm

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  2. Julie, another beautiful card. Your creativity is amazing to me! Oh, and those Halloween goodies! Makes me wish that I could get candy corn over here! I loved that film of Jane Eyre. We had it on the BBC over here. Recently they did Wuthering Heights and it was fabulous! I just love period drama's!

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  3. you are really making me want to go power shop at Crafty Secrets, you enabler! that grandma card is wonderful - the glitter, the velvet, the button - love it! The treats look great, too. I haven't seen Jane Eyre, I'll have to put it on my list. I'm still trying to get time to watch Slumdog Millionaire in its entirety.

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  4. Lovely card for your mum, Julie! Your trims are always scrumptious, and those recipes - yikes! I have to avoid sugar, but I can almost taste how good these are just looking at your fabulous pics!

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  5. Card looks great Julie and those cookies look scrumptious!

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  6. What a GREAT post! That Halloween bark must not only be the sweetest treat on earth, but the tastiest...I love candy corn!

    Julie...when you get a sec, please email me at julieranae@hotmail.com .... Thanks!

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  7. Beautiful card Julie and those treats look absolutely delicious!
    Anne x

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  8. OMG! That candy corn bark look TOO GOOD for words! Beautiful card for your mom! Enjoy Jane and Mr R. - I'm a Darcy fan myself. ;)

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  9. Our little cooking blog could have really been a hit you goofus! Love you way tooooooo much! Ok, I guess it could never be too much.

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  10. Hi Julia

    I always look forward to my visits here as there are always surprises in store. Today a great card - old fashioned can be good at time, super recipes again and one my my favourites movies as well - and this Mr Rochester is actually quite dashing is a very rugged way.

    B x

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  11. Your card is GORGEOUS! That pink velvety ribbon is such a nice accent. I like your vintagey style! All the treats look scrumptious! :) TFS

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  12. The birthday card for your mom is beautiful! I'm sure she'll love it.
    And your Halloween goodies look sinfully delicious. Now I just need a big glass of ice cold milk. LOL!

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  13. FANTASTIC! LOVE the card creation ... the YUMMIES look scrumptious and I just LOVE Jane Eyre ... that is right up my alley and I haven't seen this one yet! Too bad we are on different coast lines ... what an awesome day we could have together!! Thanks for sharing all this awesome "stuff" ... I'm never disappointed when I visit your blog!!

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  14. LOL that Halloween Bark fits my colour combo for the play date cafe challenge this week :) It did make me smile when I saw it!!!
    I just wanted to let you know that when you entered last week you linked your whole blog and not the play date entry, which meant you weren't eligible to be picked for a prize!!!!!
    And just to let you know, the BBC have just done a great adaptation of Emma by Jane Austen, 4 consecutive sunday nights...bliss! So watch out for that dvd too!!

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  15. I've always loved the story of Jane Eyre. This particular movie version was really enjoyable. Even though Toby Stephens wasn't as cruel in the role as some of the others who played Rochester, I loved how he played the part. And what is it about a man in a long coat...riding a horse??? Sigh....

    Hugs,
    Lori

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