Writings On The Wall

This time of year makes me want to cook and create in the kitchen.  It also helps that the kitchen is done and I'm anxious to give it a work out!

Friday night I decided to make a batch of cinnamon rolls for the weekend.  This is so easy and super yummy!  It only takes a few ingredients. 

Dissolve two packages of yeast in 2 1/2 cups of luke warm water.  Add a box of yellow cake mix and stir in 4 1/2 cups of flour.
I made up my dough the night before and put in the fridge.  If making the same day, let rise before making rolls.


Here's the fun part, cover work area with flour and roll out the dough.  We just installed new granite counter tops, so I just let it roll on the granite and it made the job so easy!!  I made sure I had everything cleaned up before the husband got out of bed!

Cover dough with butter, I use soft spread and use the back of a spoon to cover the dough, makes it clean and easy.

I did half chocolate and half regular just to test!

Let the rolling begin, carefully roll the length and keep even and tight as you go.

There are plenty of ways to cut the cinnamon rolls. This is a fun way to get the kids involved and no sharp knifes are needed.  All it takes is a piece of dental floss or thin string.
Slide the thread under the dough, about an inch in, cross the thread and pull tight.  Cuts perfectly!

Place in a greased pan, let dough rise and bake at 350 degrees until golden!

So I am not as good as Pioneer Woman.  I don't make my own icing, I just buy already made cream cheese icing!  Made for several great snacks this weekend!  It all depends how thick you cut them, but I made just over 2 dozen.  We ate a pan, the neighbors got a pan and I froze a pan to bake later!

You can also experiement with different cake mixes.  I have also used butter pecan, I want to see what a chocolate cake mix would do!

Enjoy!

I love this time of year and and Halloween is one of my favorite times.  I love to get out decorations for Halloween and Christmas, it's like a treasure hunt, you forget what you had from the year before!

Thanks to Cris at Goodeness Gracious, I have been reintroduced to Gooseberry Patch.  They asked fans to post their favorite decor or recipes so I wanted to share some of my favorites.

This is my newest purchase, and had I had time would have been an idea I would have recreated!  It is so simple, torn strips of orange fabric, sew on triangles of black burlap and stencil on your letters.  You can spell out anything you would like.  It looks prim and the perfect item for this opening!  I'll create my own for Christmas.

The lanterns and crows are actually full time decor, just added the pumpkins.  I like to burn candles, but feel so much better about it if they are contained.  This is a good idea if you have pets or kids!

I love to carve pumpkins, but decided a couple of year ago to invest in one that stays the way it looked at the begining of the season to the end of the season!  Looks great with a candle in the evening.


Jack on a raven is one of my favorite pieces, by artist Dan DiPaolo.  The base reads "Jack gave a grin as he flew out of sight, on the wings of a raven on Halloween night."


Jack with a corn stalk is another piece from Dan DiPaolo.  I also like the kitty dressed as a chocolate kiss.


"Trixie" is the green witch, yet another Dan PiPaolo piece.  She and the light up Halloween sign came from TJ Maxx, you never know what you will find, as their slogan goes, never the same store twice!


Our pergola project continues, but I had to add some fall outside.  These tin pumpkins were a great addition to the shelf and really went nicely with the new shutters.

So take some time in the coming weeks and enjoy the bounty that fall has to offer!