Decorating – Melina's Hangout

Happy Pumpkin Month

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup applesauce
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease three 7 1/2 x 3 1/2-inch loaf pans. I got 5 mini loaves and 6 muffins out of this recipe.
In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, soda, salt, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir well. Add applesauce, eggs, pumpkin, and water. Mix batter until well combined. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake until tester inserted in the center of each loaf comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes.

To go along with your Pumpkin Bread you HAVE to make this Whipped Pumpkin Butter.

Super easy and will also go great on your morning toast, waffles, sweet potatoes, your finger! Hope you enjoy.

WHIPPED PUMPKIN BUTTER

INGREDIENTS

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon clove
salt to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Whip butter with an electric mixer on high for at least 5 minutes (or until light and fluffy) with a whisk attachment.
Add in the remaining ingredients.
Whip again to combine.

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Holidays, Party Ideas, Recipe

Payday Caramel Corn

October 26, 2015 Melina's Hangout

This is my Halloween Treat for all my little pretties

I think everyone loves Caramel Corn and then add peanuts,candy corn and white chocolate, EXPLOSION of sugar awesomeness! Super easy,yummy and this corn screams Halloween.They say if you eat a peanut and a candy corn together it tastes like a Payday Bar. Brilliant I say! This is gonna be good.

I bought one of those HUGE bags of popcorn from Costco ( enough for 2 batches, followed these easy instructions and done.

I got these cute little containers at the dollar store

Wrapped up cute they will make great little gifts. Who doesn’t love to get homemade goodies wrapped up with love? Happy Halloween!

Payday Caramel Corn

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 bags of popped corn (remove seeds), about 5qt popped ( I used prepopped corn from Costco the Naked kind)
16oz pkg vanilla bark
21oz bag candy corn
1 1/4 cup salted, roasted peanuts
Instructions

Pop popcorn according to package. Place popped corn into a large mixing bowl (make sure to not add any seeds). Set aside.
In small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Pour over popped corn. Mix well.
Divide caramel corn mixture evenly into two foil lined broiler pans (or large disposable lasagna pans would work too) Bake in a 250 degree oven for one hour. Stir every 15 minutes, and rotate in oven.
After one hour, remove from oven and pour into a large mixing bowl. Melt vanilla bark according to package directions and pour over caramel corn. Add in peanuts and candy corn. Pour onto parchment paper (I lay a big strip down on my counter top) and allow to set, about 30 minutes). Once chocolate is set, fill two large gallon sized ziploc bags and seal.

This is where I discovered this great recipe. Thanks for sharing:

http://www.shugarysweets.com/2012/09/payday-caramel-corn#M8YyWu8ZDV8D4dCv.99

Crafting-DIY, Holidays, Inspiring

Wine Cork Pumpkins

October 6, 2015October 6, 2015 Melina's Hangout

How cute are these little pumpkins? It’s pumpkin everything month and this is a cute and super easy craft you can whip up in no time. I made 3 at one time,cause while you got it all out and you get started it goes fast.Follow these easy directions:

Materials:
– 25 recycled wine corks
– Orange acrylic paint
– Paint brush
– Hot glue gun
– Craft knife
– Silk leaves & dried moss
– Scissors
– Sisal twine

Instructions:
1. Paint both ends of all but one cork. Allow to dry.

2. Arrange the corks in rows (4 on the bottom, then 5, then 6, then 5 and 4 on the top row) and hot glue them together. Tip: Try to match up the corks so they’re the same length in each row.

3. Cut leafs or any dried greenery you choosing to use and hot glue onto top of pumpkin

4. Take the one remaining cork and cut off part of it with the craft knife. Hot glue it on top as the stem.5. Tie a short length of sisal twine around the stem to resemble the vine.

Tip: Not all corks are created equal. Watch for ones that are shorter and use that one for the stem.

This will make a cute little gift for your BFF,the Hostess at the next party your invited to or wrap it up with some Pumpkin Cookies and some Pumpkin Spice Latte Syrup for a awesome “just because” gift. FYI- I believe in the Great Pumpkin!

Holidays, Recipe

Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Cookies

September 27, 2015September 30, 2015 Melina's Hangout

It’s Pumpkin everything time of the year. Made a batch of these little beauties this morning. Froze half of them because they will last for over two month’s in the freezer and we can enjoy them all month long. Hope you enjoy them as much as hubby did . I’m thinking about slapping a scoop of cinnamon ice cream between two of those cookies.Another day, another post. LOL Ingredients:

♥ 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

♥ 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

♥ 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

♥ 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

♥ 1/2 teaspoon salt

♥ 1 cup softened butter

♥ 1 cup white sugar

♥ 1 cup brown sugar

♥ 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

♥ 2 eggs

♥ 1 cup canned pumpkin

♥ 1 bag milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or your silicone mats, set aside. In a medium bowl combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour mixture and the chocolate.
Drop dough in 2-tablespoon mounds 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool on cookie sheets for 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before storing.

TO STORE:

Layer cookies between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

In Case It Matters:

Nutrition Facts (Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Cookies)
Per serving: 111 kcal cal., 5 g fat (3 g sat. fat, 0 g polyunsaturated fat, 1 g monounsatured fat), 15 mg chol., 85 mg sodium, 15 g carb., 1 g fiber, 10 g sugar, 1 g pro. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Decorating, Holidays

Halloween-Fall Decor 2015

September 24, 2015September 29, 2015 Melina's Hangout

Its it’s time ladies and gentlemen. Do you know where your decorations are? I believe you should share the things you love and I LOVE Halloween and Fall decor.

Hope this inspires you to get those Totes out and let the spirit of Halloween and Fall fill your home.

Holidays, Recipe

DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte

September 23, 2015September 29, 2015 Melina's Hangout

It’s that time of year. You see it everywhere already “PSL” Pumpkin Spice Latte. Starbucks brought it out even earlier this year due to its popularity. I love it and have bought me a few. There is a video going around thou that shows how many chemicals and crap that they really put in it.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/3762855144001/whats-really-in-starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte/?#sp=show-clips

So I’m all into making my own.

♥ It’s cheaper

♥ You know what ingredients are going in it

♥ You can make it for gifts 🙂

I will give you the recipe for the Pumpkin Spice Syrup then the recipe for the Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Spice Syrup Ingredients:

♦ 1 cup water

♦ 2/3 cup brown sugar (you can use white sugar, honey,maple syrup)

♦ 1/3 cup pumpkin puree (canned pie mix)

♦ 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

♦ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: Whisk together water, brown sugar, pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice together in a small saucepan over medium high hear. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in vanilla extract, and remove from heat. Use immediately, or cool and refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week.

Now you have your syrup, onto your Latte

Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients:

♦ 1 shot (1.5 oz or 3 tablespoons) espresso or strongly-brewed coffee

♦ 1 shot (1.5 oz or 3 tablespoons) pumpkin spice syrup

♦ 6 oz( 3/4 cup) steamed milk,any kind

♦ optional toppings: whipped cream, caramel sauce,ground cinnamon,nutmeg

Directions: Add all ingredients together in a mug and stir to combine. Top with optional toppings if desired.

I have already had my first one for the year

Brown sugar is the choice of sweetener because it tastes most like the traditional coffee shop version. Experiment with other kinds if you prefer.
What a great hostess gift this will make for your PSL lover. Enjoy!
This recipe was adapted from gimmesomeoven.

Decorating

Dining in Wonderland

July 27, 2015 Melina's Hangout

Hubby and I and the dog took the drive to Tucson this weekend. It’s about a 5 hour drive. Went to see Daughter Sarah Jean and her husband Ben and their son Gage. We ventured out to pick up Grandson Gage so he could come visit the Ol Grandparents and see their newly purchased first home.

It is a beautiful home that they love and have been making it their own with new paint and their personal belongings.

I feel sort of bad because I didn’t take any pictures of their great desert landscaping or the side yard with a wonderful pool for Gage to have teenager pool parties in. The record room where we rocked out to Vintage albums, or the awesome game room where you jam on the guitars or try your thumbs out on the newest video games. Oh no I skipped all that goodness and headed for my favorite room which was the dining room decorated in the ” Alice in Wonderland theme” Sarah decorated it on her own and it was truly delightful and a great conversation piece as we dined on breakfast that Ben prepared for us. Here are the few pictures that I did get.

It was a great weekend and always wonderful to see your children happy and doing well. Here’s to the “Adventure in Alice’s room”.

Love Love Love

Decorating, Girly Stuff

Gorgeous and her new collar

April 28, 2015April 29, 2015 Melina's Hangout

Meet our rescue dog Gorgeous

We got her last December and she moved right into our home and hearts. She is a terrier mix and loves every human being and critter on this planet.

With such a great name she deserved a collar to match. I purchased this collar at Walmart for around $5.00, dug through my craft closet of a jar I have of misc. flowers, mostly from Hobby Lobby and some that I made from an old sheet,anyway they are all fabric so can be gently washed.

I hot glued them to the collar and sprayed with Scotch Guard brand spray to protect them a little longer from dirt. She barked and pawed at me while I made it because she was so excited.

Miss Gorgeous knows now how even more Gorgeous she is,if I could have only captured the moment on Kodak when I put the collar on her and told her how pretty she was 😊

Crafting-DIY, Decorating

Hearts Galore its Valentine Decor

February 5, 2015September 29, 2015 Melina's Hangout

My valentine decor is up. Was going to leave my house quiet for a little while longer but couldn’t stand it . If you look under my “Free Printables” page, there are a couple blogs with free Valentine printables that are really cute. Enjoy and inspire!