ciao October!

We're well into my favorite month October now, and I wanted to share some of my favorite things about this time of year like festive porches, pretty tables and delicious comfort food... 

Bourbon Pumpkin Shake

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 cup milk, a frozen banana,

1 Tsp. vanilla,

2 Tsp. maple syrup)
1.5 shots Amaretto
1.5 shots Bakers Bourbon
1 cup ice
fresh rosemary to garnish

Put everything in a blender, give it a whirl.

Add a sprig of rosemary to garnish.

Recipe by Mighty Girl.

Table by Tamera Beardsley

PUMPKIN PIE POP TARTS 

1/2 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
flour, for rolling out the dough
1 package pre-made pie crust

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat mat.

2. In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, sugar and spice.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pie dough to 1/4-inch. Use a pumpkin cookie cutter to cut out about 20 pumpkin shapes. Use a paring knife to cut-out pumpkin faces (or pumpkin wrinkles) in half of the pumpkin shapes.

4. Place one pumpkin (without any cut-outs) on your floured surface and place a heaping teaspoon of filling in the center. Use a spoon to spread the filling almost to the edges. Lightly dip your finger into water and rub the edge of the pumpkin dough shape with the water. Top with a cut-out pumpkin and lightly press the edges together to seal. Repeat with the remaining shapes and filling.

5. Place the tarts on your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Set the tarts aside to cool.

Recipe by Recipe Girl

Use sugar pumpkins as bowls

for your favorite pumpkin or squash soup!

 

Funny faces that make you smile.

ciao! fabiana

photo credits:

Pinterest

Jenny Steffins

Mighty Girl

Sand and Sisal

Recipe Girl

Half Baked Harvest

Family Circle

Flicker

12 drinks of Christmas

1. MOJITO

1.5 oz silver rum 

1.5 oz. simple syrup

add crushed mint, limes, 5 oz. seltzer water and crushed ice.

2. CANDY BRANDY

Pour 2 oz. of premium brandy into a warmed snifter.

Add a dash of simple syrup 

and an orange rind spiked with cloves.

3. HOT TODDY

1.5 oz. premium whiskey

5 oz. hot tea

Add 1.2 tsp of honey 

and cinnamon stick.

Garnish with lemon.

4. MELON BALL

1/5 oz. of watermelon cordial

Top with brandy-soaked cherry.

5. MARGARITA

1.5 oz. premium tequila

2 oz. lime juice

1 oz. lemon juice

1/2 oz. simple syrup

crushed ice

strain into a glass with a salted rim.

6. BEE KEEPER

1.5 oz. premium citron vodka

1.2 oz. honey liqueur

Add cubed ice and top with 

premium ginger beer;

garnish with a rosemary sprig 

and lemon wedge

7. ALE

Try "Blue Moon" with a slice of orange

8.  CHAMPAGNE COOLER

3 oz. champagne

1 oz. raspberry liqueur

Garnish with an orange peel.

9. CHRISTMAS COSMO

1.5 oz. premium vodka

3 oz. cranberry juice

1 dash of simple syrup

1 dash of orange juice

crushed ice

Strain into a cold glass and

garnish with lemon peel and cranberry.

10. MINT KISS

1/2 oz. of creme de cacao

Top with 1/2 oz. creme de menthe  and 

serve in a glass with watermelon sugar.

11. WHITE SANGRIA

4 oz. cold white wine

Add sliced pear, apple, and grapes.

Serve in a chilled glass.

12. PEPPERMINT COLADA

1.5 oz. premium white rum

3 oz. coconut milk

1 oz. pineapple juice

Pour over cubed ice and

garnish with mint and candy cane.

ciao! fabiana

source: Crate & Barrel

christmas table inspo

Well, HELLO Monday! 

I don't know how the weekend ended so quickly but now

the countdown begins….

Three more weeks to get everything done for 

CHRISTMAS...

so today I took a few minutes and started

playing around with a few tablescape ideas.

Red is always so festive,

so I’m mixing and matching, trying to get

just the right look

that makes me smile.

J

Velvet ribbon and baker's twine are on hand to add color!

Candy canes are such an easy accent for a place setting.

I always love using a fragrant sprig of rosemary too.

This vintage Santa look is a favorite.

Copper and white is quite an elegant mix.

And you know,

 peonies are hitting the flower shops right now,

and they always add a festive and sentimental flair

to a table, especially when paired with vintage china and 

brass candlesticks.

The macrame table runner adds so much 

texture to this look.

I always love to have these cute little guys on standby

for hot cocoa or peppermint coffee!

Just add marshmallows and a candy cane and we’re all set!  

And, just curious,

which table setting would you vote for?

ciao! fabiana