PUMPKIN MUFFINS! BEST EVER!!

What's your idea of a perfect Fall meal?

Beef stew with dumplings?

A big pot of vegetable soup simmering away on a rainy day?

It all sounds so good doesn't it?

Well, for me, there is no better season, then to put

your best of the best recipes on your dinner table

and it's my pleasure to feature some of our family favorites

for your "must-make list!"

We are going to begin the season,

with our FAVORITE PUMPKIN MUFFINS!

Your home is going to smell amazing.....

the aroma of pumpkin, cinnamon, spice and vanilla

will fill your kitchen with the most divine scent!

I love the idea of baking a special treat for

the little ones for after school....

ESTELLE’S FAVORITE PUMPKIN MUFFINS

1 3/4 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 eggs

1 15 ounce can pure pumpkin puree

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and place 12 paper liners into each well of a muffin pan.

Measure the flour, sugars, baking soda, salt and spices in a medium bowl and whisk together. Set aside.

In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin puree, vegetable oil and vanilla extract.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together. Do not over mix, just stir until everything is incorporated into the batter.

Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups. Fill each cup to nearly full.

Bake your muffins for 25 minutes. These are marvelous served a bit warm!

A kiss of fall flavor makes these muffins
fit for a grand finale to a seasonal meal!

GAME DAY...NOW SERVING "THE SWAG"...AKA....HOT PIMENTO CHEESE DIP

We started the weekend with Friday Night Lights

to watch Grandson Noah play football.....

There is nothing better than high school football on Friday nights

here in the great state of Texas!

He was able to celebrate a birthday with a good friend

by attending the TEXAS A&M football game down in College Station!

Whoop!!!

Speaking of birthdays.....

our youngest celebrated with friends down in Austin!!!

Sunday morning, the darling was golfing

and I prepared a little football tailgate party

for him and our middle son.....

just da'boys and me...

cheering our Cowboys on to a win over Washington!!!

Now...for this fabulous southern hot dip
featured in one of my Atlanta cookbooks!!!
Divine......

THE SWAG...aka.....HOT PIMENTO CHEESE DIP

1 (8 ounce) cream cheese

1/4 (4 ounce jar) red pepper jelly

8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese

1 egg

1 clove garlic, minced

1 (4 ounce) jar pimentos, drained

Combine all ingredients. Pour into a greased baking dish.
Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Serve with crackers.

A FALL COFFEE TRAY FROM AN OLD PICTURE FRAME...A CREATIVE DIY

I had gathered some household items to donate to Goodwill
and had everything all neatly boxed and ready to deliver...
which we procrastinated about for a few weeks....
I kept looking at two old framed pictures I had to donate
and decided...I really loved the picture frames!
Maybe I could think of a way to repurpose them!!
They were from Kirkland's and were hung in our laundry
room in the Maine house...the sun had faded the mats.

Viola!

An idea came to mind to transform them into a little coffee tray

for the fall season using my pretty new scrapbook papers!

It's rather fun to see how you can design your look......

Well...I loved the result.

It's pretty, whimsical and just is a happy little serving tray!

Wouldn't you love using this in your kitchen at your coffee or tea station?

I think I want to make a second one.....

I still want to use these gorgeous fall papers...hmmmmm

Project completed!

A FABULOUS BANANA BREAD

I know....you are thinking....there are hundreds of recipes

for Banana Bread....some of my favorites are featured right here on Estelle's!

But it's fun to try new versions as you just might come across 

a certain recipe you fall in love with!

This one proved to be a real winner....

the darling ate two slices when arriving home from work..

and the aroma....it was heavenly....a touch of cinnamon was my special addition!

I wanted to share this recipe as I know you will love it...

makes a great gift for those you love and want to take a special treat to..

a neighbor, family members, coworkers....or a potluck gathering!

I added pecans but you could easily add walnuts!

FABULOUS BANANA BREAD

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1.2 t. cinnamon

2 large eggs

1/4 cup buttermilk

3 ripe bananas

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 t. vanilla

Cream softened butter with sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Add vanilla.

Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl, then blend in with

butter mixture. Once blended, add the buttermilk.

Blend in mashed bananas and pecans.

Pout into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 1 hour.

Allow to cool before slicing.

A FALL WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER

Hey Y'all!

Happy Sunday!!!

We have been busy with sports events, grilling out

and adding a few new fall decor pieces to our home!

Hope you enjoy a little homemade movie

to share an easy Sunday afternoon!

NEW IN OUR HARVEST HOME

Hello Loves....how is the decorating going?

I always love finding new little treasures to add to

our seasonal decor and believe it or not,

the grocery store will always have new goodies

that prove irresistible!

Last weekend, I came across this beautiful pillar candle.

this lovely wooden candlestick and this adorable little

feathered owl!

I love, the shades of ocean teal in these candles......

And...yes, I indulged my passion for

collecting tea towels...love these!

This Mary Lake Thompson, flour sack towel

is the cutest thing I have seen in a long time.....

I received a gift card from Kirkland's for my birthday and

purchased two new fall pillows......

the HOME pillow is a soft gray velvet...love it!

And this adorable pumpkin trio was the perfect

addition for our Windsor chair.....

have y'all been adding new fall elements to your home too?

FALL APPLE WREATH

I am in love with this wreath!

There is something very satisfying about creating and designing

an art project and then being pleased with the outcome.

I am sure those of you with artistic talents, like our friend

Linda, knows exactly what I mean!

I wanted a large wreath and this measures 24 inches in width

and 30 inches in height.

It has been a while since I created a holiday wreath

and had no idea of what design I wanted....so, you just

begin playing with the look and see what develops....

The funky bow has a french country look nestled into

natural fall elements.

I used all sorts of fruits, berries, and foliage

to give this an organic appearance.

I wanted the wreath to look full and festive

so that every place you looked, you would notice

various fall elements....grab your glue gun and continue to layer.....

Most of these items were from years past and

had been used as vase fillers....

Have you ever been apple picking in the fall?

We experienced this for the first time while living in Maine

and it was one of the best times we shared with our family...

those memories were the theme of this wreath!

I decided to order a standing wreath hanger so this can be 

displayed on a table, fireplace hearth or in the foyer.

Here is a closer look at the various fruits and foliage.

So that's the completed look...I love it

and think it will be a pleasure to enjoy throughout fall

and think of our great apple picking experiences we enjoyed in Maine!

Who's ready for fall?