Trick or Treat Tablescape

Items for Tablescape:
Dessert Plates- Dollar General set of 6 $1.50 each
Green Depression Glasses- set of 4 $1.00 each
Ceramic Pumpkin- Yard Sale $1.00
Candles- Yard Sale $1.00
Mini Pumpkin Set- Free
Tablecloth- Big Lots $1.50
Table Runner- Cut from a potato sack

Submitted to:

Tablescape Thursday

October 26-November 1 Menu Plan

Monday:
Leftovers

Tuesday:
Leftovers

Wednesday:
Pot Roast w/ Potatoes & Carrots

Thursday:
Pork Chops with Cream of Mushroom, Buttered Noodles, and Green Beans

Friday:
Crockpot Lasagna


Saturday:
Maple Pork Loin Chops, All Day Macaroni & Cheese, and Broccoli


Sunday:
Country Breakfast


So, what's on your menu this week?
Visit I'm an Organizing Junkie to see more menu ideas.

Pork Chops with Cream of Mushroom

6-8 pork loin chops
2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
Lawry's Seasoned Salt
Lawry’s Seasoned Pepper
1/4 cup butter

In skillet with melted butter, liberally sprinkle both sides of pork chops with seasoned salt and seasoned pepper and brown.

Put into 9 X 13 inch glass casserole and spoon mushroom soup (do not dilute!) all over pork chops. Cover tightly with foil and put into pre-heated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.
Remove foil last few minutes.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Using Up Your Pumpkins

Pumpkin Puree

Making puree is easy and it freezes well. I have found that 2 medium size pumpkins supply us with enough pumpkin to last the year.

Here are the steps:

1. Cut the pumpkins into large chunks, depending on how big the pumpkin is.

2. Scrap out the seeds into a bowl.

3. Place cut pumpkin on a baking sheet and bake on 300 for an hour or so - until the pumpkin is fork tender.

4. After you have let the pumpkin cool. Spoon out the pumpkin insides from the skin and put into a large mixing bowl. Use a hand held mixer to puree the pumpkin, a couple of cups at a time.
5. Measure the puree into 2 cup portions into freezer bags.





Roasted Pumpkin Seeds













1 1/2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds
2 teaspoons butter, melted
1 salt to taste

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Toss seeds in a bowl with the melted butter and salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown; stir occasionally.




Planting Your Pumpkin










Find a nice spot in your garden to grow pumpkins and simple smash it up and spread it around in the desired area. Cover your smashed pumpkin with some shredded leaves or grass clippings. Next summer the seeds will start to grow and your will be own your way to some nice pumpkins by autumn.



Thanksgiving Centerpiece










Cut the top off your pumpkin, clean out all the seeds and gunk and then place a potted mums into the pumpkin.

Halloween Blog or Treat

I participated in the Halloween Blog or Treat Swap hosted by Shannon from The Mommy Files.

I really had fun pick out goodies to go to my swap recipient Marcy from Ables Antics . The baking/party supplies I sent were dark chocolate cake mix, white icing, cupcake liners & picks, wilton sprinkles, orange kool-aid, snack sacks, jack-a-lantern gift tags, paper decorations, pumpkin spice candle, homemade pumpkin butter, handmade recycled sweater pumpkin, and a handmade beribboned felt pumpkin collar. I hope you enjoy all the things I sent Marcy.

My swap sender, Tami from Heart and Rose www.heartandrose.blogspot.com sent me some really nice things. She sent me a homemade card, witches hat, ribbon pin, and a crafted wreath. The treats she sent are cereals from her husbands work, halloween rice krispies, a mix of Halloween candies. She also sent a small fabric pumpkin, and a book called The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. Thanks you, Tami!

Thank you goes to Shannon at The Mommy-Files for putting this all together for us.

Chicken Barley Soup

1/2 cup barley
1 stalk celery, sliced
1/2 carrot, diced
1/4 cup onion, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup chicken
1/4 tsp. parsley
salt and pepper

Rinse and cook barley in broth as instructed on package. Halfway through, add vegetables, chicken and seasonings. Makes 2 quarts.

Autumn Splendor Tablescape

From Goodwill I got the black tablecloth $2.99, candle $0.50, 4 burgundy placemats $1.00, and Sweet Mulberry Potpourri $0.50. The glass container that I have the potpourri in was a candle that was used up so I spooned all of the wax out of it and washed it in hot water. The pumpkin was made by one of my kids when they were younger at church so it was free. It is a roll of toilet paper wrapped in fabric with fake leaves and a stick. At the Clothes Closet I got the Snack Sets for free they were still in their original boxes and I got 3 boxes with 4 sets in each box. I also got 4 white with burgundy bordered placemats and a table runner there also so they were free too.

Menu:
Spooky Swirled Fudge Cake w/Dark Chocolate Fudge Icing and Halloween Sprinkles
Chocolate Turtle Chex Mix
Dark Chocolate Reese’s in Halloween bags
Cranberry Grape Juice

Submitted to:

Tablescape Thursday

Paperwhites

I planted 7 Paperwhites bulbs in pots to force for Thanksgiving. I also plan to give some as gifts to the directors of the play “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” my children are participating in and will perform in November. I bought the 7 bulbs in a package for $5.00 at Wal-mart and I collected the pots this summer at yard sales for $0.50 each. These pictures are after 9 days of growth.

This is what I learned about Paperwhites:

Paperwhites belong to a group of Daffodils that are not hardy for us, but are easily grown in a pot or vase indoors. Their large clusters of pure white flowers arch above graceful, blue-green foliage, and their perfume fills a room with fragrance. Ziva is a reliable strain that is imported from Israel. It produces clusters of pure white blooms with a strong, spicy fragrance on stems averaging 16-18 inches tall.

Paperwhites require no preparation and are absolutely foolproof. They will bloom about four to six weeks after planting, so plan accordingly if you want flowers for the holidays or other special occasions. The bulbs may be held for weeks in a warm, dark closet, which allows plenty of flexibility in orchestrating displays.

I also read these two articles:
Growing Paperwhites Indoors

How to Force Amaryllis and Narcissus

Submitted to:

Whatcha Working On Wednesday

Works-For-Me Wednesday

Frugal Friday

Tightwad Tuesday

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Its 69 degrees, and sunny.


One of my simple pleasures:
I finished reading Dear to Me the 3rd book of The Brides of Webster County Series by Wanda E. Brunstetter and also the 4th book in the series Allison's Journey. I am now reading the Sisters of Holmes County Series I have started the 1st book A Sister’s Secret.


On my bedside table:
The same as last week tissue, lotion, candle, lamp, a glass bowl that holds chapstick and hair ties. An Upcycled candy sprinkles contained that now contains chocolate and a fabric placemat.


On my TV:
Nothing


On the menu for tonight:
I have not been following my menu plan very well the last several weeks so I am going to do the same plan this week since I have not made most of the meals yet. If you would like to see what our menu this week is you can check out our menu plan.


On my To Do List:
My daily cleaning schedule such as laundry, dishes, and cleanings up the kitchen.

My focus room for this week will be the kitchen. I plan to clean and organize my kitchen along with the cabinets and get them ready for the holiday baking season and yummy meals for my family on cold days to come. I have been collecting bean, rice, pasta, and bread recipes lately to last us through the winter. I plan on organizing them this week and collecting more recipes that my family might like. I will also be gathering comfort food for sick days such as canned chicken noodle soup & saltine crackers.

I am still working on the bathroom that I planned to clean, reorganize, and restock supplies including medication for cold & flu season.


New Recipe I tried last week:
Minestrone Soup


In the craft basket:
I finished the projects for the “The Halloween Blog or Treat” and got my box of goods for my partner mailed out. I am now working on putting together my partner’s box for the “Noel: A Sister’s Shoebox Swap” .

I am still looking for project that I can use for a possible class I will be teaching for 10 weeks starting in March. The class will be for 12-13 year olds. It will be on token gift and letter of kindness or notes of appreciation.

I am going to use “The Children's Book of Virtues” as well.I am still working on the Mary Engelbreit embroidery project called “Sentiments in Suede” from her book “Wrap It Up Gifts to Make Wrap and Give”.


Looking forward to:
the holiday season


Homemaking Tip for this week:
Stock up on chicken noodle soup & saltine cracker for sick days.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):Essential Oils and Herb Recipes


Favorite photo from last week:
Autumn Tablescape


Lesson learned the past few days:
Thinking on it.


On my Prayer List:
My husband and children
My family
Our homeschool
Our homeschool groups activities & co-op


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart …saith the LORD” Jeremiah 29:13-14


To see other Happy Homemaker Posts please visit Diary of a SAHM.

Minestrone Soup

1 can kidney beans
1 can navy beans
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes, including liquid
1 can tomato soup
2 Tbsp chicken bouillon
1 Tbsp dried basil
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried granulated garlic
2 Tbsp dried onions
1-2 cups water
1/2 cup shell pasta

Dump all ingredients into a pan and cook until hot and noodles are cooked through.


Submitted to:

Ultimate Recipe Swap

Autumn Tablescape

Candy Corn & Peanut Mix
Popcorn
Snack Mix- Crispix, M& M’s, Peanuts, Raisins, Cracker Jack, and Pretzels

Submitted to:
Tablescape Thursday

Molasses Cookies

1 ½ C. Softened Butter

2 C. Sugar

2 Eggs

½ C. Molasses

4 C. Flour

4 t. Baking Soda

2 t. Ground Cinnamon

1 t. Ground Ginger

1 t. Ground Cloves

1 t. Salt

Additional Sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add molasses; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt; add to creamed mixture. Refrigerate overnight.

Shape into ½ in. balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 for 6 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

Fall & Thanksgiving Cards

I made Fall & Thanksgiving Cards for family & friends and then added scripture to the inside.


Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34

I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

Autumn Living Room Decorations