Perfect Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
2 large eggs
1 can (15 oz) Pure Pumpkin
1 can (12 fl oz) Evaporated Milk
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
Whipped cream (optional)


Directions:
Mix pumpkin, sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice in large bowl. Beat eggs and add to bowl. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour mixture into pie shell. Add pie crust shields.

Bake in preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350°F and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Top with whipped cream before serving.

October in Photos

This month was a busy one, for sure. With a craft festival, a private home party and a monthly Connecticut Bead Society meeting, I was constantly on the go. I wouldn't have it any other way either :)

For the second year now, I participated in the Saybrook Country Barn's Craft of Main St show. It is always a good time, even if I'm huddled up under a blanket because it's so cold!

Here is a (bad) shot from a private home party I had this month. I had so much fun hanging out with all these talented, lovely ladies!

Kabela Designs came to the Connecticut Bead Society meeting with a challenge for all of us. We were all given the same bead kit and 30 minutes to make a design. Then we laid them all out to see. It's amazing how different each person's piece of jewelry was even though we had the same materials to work with!

These are a few of Kabela's pieces that I purchased. The middle set of links has Swarovski crystals and I've already made a pair of earrings using the keys!

Even with all this work to do, I still took some time out to go apple picking!

Photos of recent jewelry work are to come soon. Hurricane Sandy had us all in a hold for the last few days, but the power is back on and we're all safe!

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Apple Soup

One of my favorite things about the Fall season is the abundance of pumpkins! They are so bright and happy, not to mention delicious! And one of my favorite dishes for this time of year has to be this tasty Pumpkin Apple soup.

Ingredients:
2 – 15 oz cans pumpkin puree
6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
2/3 cups applesauce
2 granny smith, or other tart apples, diced
1 small onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon sage
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup cream
Salt
Olive oil
Almonds, sliced

Directions:
Preheat large soup pot. Drizzle with olive oil. Add diced onion, apples and a little kosher salt. Saute until onions are translucent. Add chicken or vegetable stock, apple sauce, and spices. Bring to a boil and cook until apples are very tender.

Add pumpkin and brown sugar and cook for 10 – 15 minutes over medium heat. Use a submersible blender to blend soup until it is smooth. You can also use your blender to blend the soup in batches. Add cream to soup and heat through, but do not boil. Add more cream or water if desired to thin out more. Remove from heat and serve. Garnish with sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried apple slices or hazelnuts. Enjoy!

An Autumn Snow

 

Autumn Snow

 I can't believe it's snowing before Halloween. The beautifully colored leaves are still visible, but soon will be all white... and cold! Yuck!  My studio is the smallest of the rooms in our apartment, but that means that it is also the warmest, so I escaped the chill and spent my Saturday afternoon working on some new jewelry.
I have been using a lot of reds, greens and browns because of fall, but I decided to put those away today and let the snow influence my work :)

 Swarovski crystal, Moonstone, Labradorite and Sterling silver

 Pink pearls, Lapis, Rhyodacite, and Sterling Silver

Close up of Rhyodacite pendant

In the evening, Hubby and I ignored that crazy white stuff outside and had some traditional Fall fun: Pumpkin carving! We toasted up the seeds for a tasty treat and then caught up on our DVRed shows.

I {heart} pumpkins

 

 

Today was a beautiful October day, so Hubby and I went to pick out our pumpkins. We went to a place called Cows and Cones. It's a farm with an ice cream shop, animals for the kids to see, and a cute farm stand where they sell their goods. We got a big pumpkin for carving and some small pumpkins and gourds for the house.

I have another show next weekend, so my nose is to the grind still. Here are a few pieces I have made recently:

Vintage Key, Teal blue gemstone beads and crystal glass

Sterling silver chain earrings with Swarovski crystals and glass beads

Smokey quartz pendant