Cinnamon Swirl Cake

I love how we stop to ponder all the blessings in life time to time and recognize what or who we are thankful for....especially at Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for my daughter's 3rd grade teacher and what better way to say thanks than with CAKE!

To be more exact---Cinnamon Swirl Cake with Apples and Almonds.

   I collect cake pans from Williams-Sonoma. They are my grown-up toys. Truthfully, I am obsessed with novelty and classic cake pans and love how easy it is to make just about any cake look fancy shmancy just by using any pretty shaped cake pan. Plus, with the right type of pan, you can just decorate with berries, nuts, fruits, etc. and skip frosting all together. I love frosting---okay, I think frosting is one of the best things known to the human race ever and I will lick a spoon of frosting in less than a second---sorta like those sci-fy movie scenes when a swarm of locusts attack a corn field and devour the whole field in one minute. That is how it is with me and frosting. HOWEVER, big HOWEVER, I do not always like frosting a cake. Plus, I think that when certain shaped cakes are left unfrosted and decorated instead with fruits, glazes or a once over with powdered sugar, they can look rather sophisticated and worthy of being the centerfold or front cover of Gourmet magazine .

Now back to the feelings of Thanksgiving, I feel truly blessed that my daughter has such a fantastic teacher. My daughter and I decided to make her a cake for her to enjoy over the Thanksgiving holiday. I wanted to make a cake that looked sorta Autumn-ish and had typical Fall flavors to it like Apples and Cinnamon. I am very pleased with how it turned out.

Here is what I did....

Follow the directions on the back of a Betty Crocker Decadent Supreme Cinnamon Swirl cake mix . Spray cake pan generously with non-stick baker's spray. Pour in the batter and bake according to package directions. When done, remove and let cool.

While cake is in oven, core and slice 3 gala apples. Keep skin on. It isn't necessary to skin the apples. Gala apples, in my opinion, have a thin skin which becomes really tender when boiled. Plus, I think the skin makes the apples look more farmish, rustic, homemade.

Place slices in a medium pot and fill with water about halfway to the top of apples. Also add some dashes of cinnamon and sugar and 2 tablespoons of butter. Boil the apples over low heat. Stir gently and avoid making the apples mushy. Allow water to reduce itself slowly. Once apples are tender, remove from heat and set aside.

Once cake is cool, place apples decoratively on cake and use sliced almonds and powdered sugar as a finishing touch!!! Easy Peezy Lemon Squeezy!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.



Paper Flowers

Who remembers making paper flowers as a kid and spritzing them with your mom's favorite perfume? On many occasions, I would make paper flowers as a kid in my room and present it to my mom or a teacher as if it was an award winning rose. I used Brawny paper towels at the time. haha. These flowers also make me think of a theme park that once existed in Houston, Texas called Astroworld. There was a kiosk booth which sold these large colorful paper flowers. I use to have one balanced on the top drape in the window of my bedroom.

*Here is a fun quick

easy peezy lemon squeezy

way to make Paper Flowers*

First: Stock up on some party napkins in your colors of choice. I chose Fall colors in shades of burgundy, orange, yellow, and brown. Party supply stores are the best place to find a variety of colors at a low price.

Second: Open one napkin flat on a surface

Third: Choose one or two more colored napkins. Open and layer on top of first napkin. In the photo I off centered the layers to illustrate directions. However, make sure each napkin is even with the one underneath when doing this.

Fourth: Fold the napkins into an accordion/fan style fold

Fifth: Use a sturdy cord to tie the fan in center. I used Bowdabra Bow Wire from Bowdabra .

Sixth: Using scissors, cut a "V" shape or inverted "V" shape at the end of each fan. Use either "V" shape to create a variety in petal styles.

Seventh: Separate each napkin layer on both ends to create the flower.

And then Tada!!!!! There you have it---Paper Flower Palooza

I used these and filled a basket next to my fireplace for Fall and I also used one to decorate the top of a Get Well Package for my daughter's teacher. I think the paper flower possibilities are endless. I plan on making some Poinsettia-style paper flowers in December in reds, whites and pinks! Some will decorate my house and others will be perfect for adding on top of Christmas presents!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Bike Ride

My daughter on that last bike ride of the summer just before the start of Autumn. It was one of those late afternoons where we could smell and see the season changing and summer trying to hang on for one last final big Hoorah. To think that I took this photo just a few weeks ago and now here I am thinking about what size Thanksgiving turkey I should buy this year and putting together my Christmas card list. If only everyday could be like the lazy days of summer through the days of my daughter's childhood.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.



Pretty November Things

Pretty November things I spotted at the grocery store

 which make me smile.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

16

16 Autumn-ish Things That Make Me Smile

1. Pumpkin Patches

2. Pumpkin Spice Soy Lattes

3. Scarecrows

4. Hay for Sale

5. Buying a new sweater..or two

6. Wearing a favorite old sweater

7. Candles in Autumn scents like Apple Cinnamon and Pumpkin Pie

8. Turning off the air conditioner and opening the doors

9. Shopping for Halloween costumes

10. Stepping on crunchy crispy fallen leaves on purpose.

11. Stews

12. Acorns and the busy squirrels collecting them

13. Spotting the first flock of geese in the sky flying South.

14. Lighting the fireplace

15. An excuse to act like the Addams Family

16. My Dad's Birthday

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.



Pumpkin Walnut Cupcakes

I made a batch of perfectly pumpkiny autumn-inspired cupcakes today---Pumpkin Walnut Cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting topped with a fondant circle and finished with orange sprinkles. My daughter has been asking me a gazzilion times in the last few days to make these and I have also been wanting to try out my new Halloween Cupcake Stencils fromWilliams-Sonoma . So here is what I think...The cupcakes were howlerificly yummo. But, the stencils were a small disappointment. I think they might work better on a chocolate cupcake with powdered sugar instead of sprinkles. The cupcake was delicious and the cream cheese frosting went perfectly with the pumpkin walnut cupcake.

***Here is the recipe***

In a large mixing bowl

4 eggs beaten

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 cups canned pumpkin

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup milk

1/2 chopped walnuts

Mix everything in bowl, pour into cupcake molds, bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting. Makes 24 cupcakes. Enjoy!

NOTE-I used a store bought cream cheese frosting and I also used a ready-made fondant by Wilton. I rolled out the fondant and used a small drinking glass to cut out the round shapes.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

"Tie Dye" Autumn Apples

Don't you just love how the leaves change into the prettiest shades of Autumn sunsets this time of year? It's as if God is dipping all the trees into a bucket of Tie Dye colors and leaving them to dry in the cool Autumn breeze. I'd like to think he is using the same color palette for the leaves that He uses for the sunsets. So with that said, here is a fun little idea I want to share with you---"Tie Dye" Autumn Apples! My daughter went to a kid's cooking camp this summer and learned how to make a little treat called "Tie Dye Apples". I figured it would also be a fun Autumn snack for her and I to make in the kitchen where she gets to have fun "painting" Autumn colors onto apple slices. It is Easy Peezy Lemon Squeezy.

You need sliced apples, 4 boxes of  Jello in different flavors(we think Jello mixes in shades of red, purple, orange, and blue work best), a small spatula, 4 small bowls or ramekins.

Separate Jello mixes into separate bowls. 1 bowl for each color.

Use a small spatula dipped into various Jello powders

 to "paint" the apple slices.

My daughter chose to arrange the apple slices into a flower

with a grape in the center.

I think this is a simple and creative way to have a little Autumn fun in the kitchen with your child. Enjoy!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

The Monster Mash

 I have only one song playing on my Virtual Victrola this October evening--- The Monster Mash . The french doors are open to the backyard where the sounds of night crickets and toads serenade me as I drink my San Sebastian Vintner's Red Wine and sort through Halloween boxes filled with decorations. A refreshing autumn night breeze gently creeps in and snoops around my house scaring all the dust bunnies from their hidey holes. My husband is grilling a lemon and garlic(to keep away the vampires, of course) pork loin while sipping on a Shiner Oktoberfest beer. My daughter is sitting outside near the fire from the chiminaya and practicing her times tables. I hope you are enjoying the start of October as much as we are. Let's do the Mash! The Monster Mash! This is my song for you.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Northern Sky on my Virtual Victrola

Source

Okay, dusting off a record and placing the needle down on my Virtual Victrola and this is what's playing, Northern Sky by Nick Drake. It's one of my all time favorite songs and I am dedicating it to you, of course! This is one of those songs I can listen to over and over and over. It is sooo soothing and perfect on a day like this when it has done nothing but rain all day. Oh, would you like a glass of wine? Northern Sky is also a perfect song for unwinding before bedtime; a melancholy lullaby.  I also think it is very cool that it's played for one of the last scenes of one of my all time favorite movies, Serendipity ,starring John Cusack . The storm that passed through put this song into my mind. Plus, just knowing that Autumn is tip-toeing it's way South from the North makes me wanna play Nick Drake's Northern Sky on my Virtual Victrola and celebrate the change of seasons. Enjoy this song from me to you.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.



Still Life Art-Pumpkin Style

Southern Living

While my cat snoozes away on a pile of laundry, I have been browsing through some of my favorite mags and their websites on this rainy early autumn afterrnoon and thought I'd share this lovely pumpkin yard display with you. I found the idea at SouthernLiving.com I am starting to prefer the elegant look of  fog gray and sand white colored pumpkins. Well, I love the traditional orange ones too. But, something about these just seem so east coast-ish in my opinion. They remind me of the colors of the atlantic beach on a winter morning. Happy Autumn.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

It's Okay To Be Square...Or Even Rectangular

Better Homes and Gardens

It's okay to be a bit square...or even rectangular for that matter. While looking for some Autumn how-to decor ideas, I came across this Rectangular Wreath on the Better Homes and Gardens website. Isn't it pretty and a nice change from the typical round door wreath? I am gonna have to make one for myself. Happy Autumn.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Happy Autumn

Happy Autumn!!! Okay, so what if here on the northeast coast of Florida, we are in that seasonal limbo where it feels a little like Summer and a little like Autumn in the course of one day. In my mind, it is Autumn and before I know it, the cool weather will be here. Yes, I know I have admitted that I am a Summer Girl at heart. But, even this Summer Girl can appreciate a change now and then. While driving home after picking up my daughter from school, she reminded me that today is the first day of Autumn. Don't you just love how kids can halt us in the mix of a busy day and remind us of a little detail that might have gone overlooked like TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.