Homemade Pumpkin Bars

It seems that every place I look, I see pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting! SO you know what I have to do...post my own pumpkin bars using fresh pumpkin! If you haven't baked your pumpkins yet from your own pumpkin puree, follow the instructions here Simply How to Freeze Pumpkin. I baked another pie pumpkin yesterday so rather than freezing it, I made pumpkin bars. I used my old recipe that I've had for years but used fresh pumpkin. You may use canned pumpkin if you prefer.
Ingredients:
1 c canola oil
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
4 eggs
1 1/3 cups fresh pumpkin (or a 15 oz can)
Mix above ingredients together.
2 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 T pumpkin pie spice or 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
Add dry ingredients and mix well.
Pour into a parchment paper lined 11x15 baking sheet with sides. Bake at 340F for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on a cooling rack.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 stick butter, softened
1-2 T heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
3-4 cups powdered sugar (depends on consistency you like your frosting)
Mix frosting and spread on cooled pumpkin bars. I cut mine into 36 bars. If you want to save some for later, these bars freeze well. Autumn pumpkin treats are yummy-licious!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Repainting Accessories

                                     

I don't know about you, but in the Midwest it has been chilly and rainy lately which always puts me in some kind of "gotta get ready for winter so I need get organized and start a project...or something to that effect!"  I have been trying to get rid of things and repurpose or recycle others. The other day I was cleaning out yet another closet and found a rooster candle stick that my mom had given me a few years ago, I liked it but recently updated my kitchen so it no longer went with my decor. So like everything else I suddenly get inspired, this is why there aren't many "before" pictures...I don't know exactly what happens to me but suddenly I'm in the middle of a project.  I went for my antique white paint and painted over the rooster candle stick, then sanded it down to make it look distressed.  Without spending anything at all I have a "new" old accessory that now goes with my decor.  Look around, if you love it but it doesn't go with what you have, it's amazing what a coat of paint can do!

~Simply Angie

How to Freeze Carrots or Other Veggies

I thought my garden was officially done for the summer but last week I realized that I had not picked my carrots yet! I froze most of them so I could have sweet, delicious garden carrots this winter.

Freezing Carrots:

• Wash your carrots.
• Cut them in pieces, I sliced mine so I can use them for soups.
• Start a pan of boiling water, slice the carrots and boil them (blanche) them for 3 minutes.
• Drain the hot water.
• Pour the carrots into a bowl with ice cubes and cold water for 3 minutes.
• I measured mine 1 cup per bag and used my handy dandy ziploc vacuum gadget.
• Place them in the freezer until you're ready to use them for soup, casseroles, carrot cake, steam them or use them in your favorite carrot dish!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Homemade Memo Board

I decided with the kids back in school and activities going on that I needed some type of memo board to keep track of daily things to do, grocery lists, school reminders etc. I have a fabric memo board and a calendar but this is handy when I just need to write a quick note or need to start a grocery list. I used a picture frame I hadn't been using(probably because it's very plain and boring), which is fine for my memo board, but for a cute snapshot of my kids or family..not so much! Then cut poster board to fit. You could also use some fun scrapbook paper. I bought some liquid chalk pens on Amazon-this was my splurge, I can use them to leave funny notes on mirrors label my chalkboard jars in my kitchen. They are fun to write with and wipe off easily. This is a simple and inexpensive project that can be easily changed with the seasons or holidays.


~Simply Angie