DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH MOCHA BUTTERCREAM...A MOST REQUESTED HOLIDAY CAKE

Remembering November

If November had flavors, it would be clove and pumpkin...with generous dollops of sweet whipped cream.... If November had a feel, it would be a crisp air that would make you turn your collar up and pull your coat close up around you.. Come Thanksgiving, most of the leaves had fallen from the trees, leaving only twiggy branches to endure the winters cold.. There is no doubt about it..

the holidays are special and therefore the food you serve, should be the best of the best... This semi-homemade cake will become a family favorite.....it's excellent!

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix 1 cup whole milk 1 stick melted butter 4 eggs 1 t.vanilla 1 t. Espresso powder Blend all ingredients with hand mixer Divide batter between two 8 inch cake pans Bake at 350 degrees for 28 minutes.

MOCHA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

2 cups butter, room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
1 T. espresso powder
1 T. cocoa powder
1 T. vanilla
3 T. heavy cream
1/2 t. salt

This cake is moist, has a lovely soft texture and a rich
chocolate flavor!
I am all in favor of using a box cake mix these days,
rather than rather than a recipe calling for 12 or more
ingredients. The cost of groceries these days
is rather expensive, so this is a true cost saver!

THANKSGIVING 2025...ROUND ONE

GOOD MORNING KINDRED SPIRITS....
another lovely Thanksgiving was enjoyed by the family....
the weather was perfect...sweater weather, blankets
to keep us cozy warm as we sat sipping wine around the firepit.....
turkey breasts on the smoker and one being fried....
All the food was so delicious...
We are thankful for it all and grateful for this beautiful day..... 

The grandchildren had other family to enjoy lunch with,
so they arrived in shifts for our gathering in the evening....

We had a total of twelve this year, which required two tables....
candlelight made it a bit romantic....

On Wednesday, we treated ourselves to brunch at Tupelo Honey with

our Atlanta family.....best cheese grits and mimosa.....

I failed to snap photos of the appetizer table which was delish....

But I did manage a photo of the gingerbread muffins.....

It's tradition to watch The Cowboys 

play on Thanksgiving Day......
and then we give thanks....

These are the days of being joyful.....for health and our family....

I so hope your gathering was special and happy spending the day

with those you love.....and now it's on to Christmas...

THANKSGIVING TABLE FINISHING TOUCHES

 

Chris Madden was a home designer who was known for
making one's home into a relaxing haven away from
the stress life can sometimes bring.
She designed the Chris Madden Collection
for JC Penney in the early 1990's and I
collected her line of kitchen serving pieces.
Chris passed away in 2022 and I am so thankful
to own pieces of her beautifully crafted designs.

I can vividly recall the day I purchased these adorable and beautiful
tea light holders.
The mall was not far from the office where I worked
and we would often go to lunch and then shop a bit on our
lunch hour....I have used them often times
durig the past 30 years at Thanksgiving.

So, I decided it was time to add them to the table this year
for a lovely touch of autumn whimsy.....

With my fall purchased from Hester and Cook,
I went back and added the paper accents on top of the linens...

Every year, the tablescape is different and I love
seeing a design come together organically...

Candles and tealights add such warmth and cozy ambiance.....

I selected my beautiful, years old autumn pheasant
as the centerpiece...

I added a touch of velvet animal print for a bit

of sophistication

A little lighted pumpkin

And, Mother's beautiful cut glass butter dish....

Sometimes, it feels good to be a maximalist.....
Oh, the anticipation of THANKSGIVING DAY....
it's all so wonderful....

Wishing you all the loveliest Thanksgiving Day

THANKSGIVING PREPARATIONS...SETTING THE TABLE

 "I have come to regard November
 as the older, harder man's October.

 I appreciate the early darkness and cooler temperatures.
 It puts my mind in a different place than October.
It is a month for a quieter, slightly more subdued celebration
 of summer's demise as winter tightens its grip."
 ~ Henry Rollins




There was nothing quite like it...
the feeling of an autumn day, the sunset across the lake,
the sounds of the country and steaks on the grill...
a cocktail hour with family and the happiness
from the wedding lingered....in my heart for all times....

Thanksgiving means so much....a time to reflect on the past

and all of the beautiful dinners we have enjoyed with family....
remembering all the long late afternoon walks we took
with Mother and Daddy, late afternoon coffee in the living room...
the hustle and bustle of dinner preparations
while football played on television and the sounds
of the children playing outdoors....

Thanksgiving day is magical...and becomes a special tradition
of GATHERING...

My grandchildren have always loved the tradition of pouring
a cup of Spiced Tea when they arrive...
I love that....

The Divine Miss M makes a most delicious pumpkin pie...
there will be apple pie for the boys....

We are traditionalist...it's what they request each and every year....

THANKSGIVING WEEK OF 2024

All hearts go home for the holidays..
I know mine certainly do....
Thanksgiving preparation would begin
early at home....
In October the days would begin to darken early
and the night temperatures started to turn cold....
Mother always made her spiced tea and
we would celebrate HALLOWEEN with
Trick or Treating in the neighborhood,
then the yearly event of watching
The Wizard of Oz....
we would dress up and attend
Green Oaks holiday open house
and Mother would order her Christmas
decoration for the large brass tray,
and our front door as well as the dining room centerpiece.



Then the table would be set with
fine china, crystal and silver.....
The big yellow bowl would be placed
on the kitchen counter which held
the bread for the dressing..
the bread sliced would dry and harden
which made the best dressing in the entire universe...
So...we honor those traditions and host
the family for these special and magical holidays..
it's all so very festive and grand.....

 

The children like traditions.....
and so it is written.....

The fall has seemed like a very short season this year..
today was one of those glorious, perfect November days
so we took a stroll through one of the green spaces
close to our home...

We stopped to see if we could spy a turtle in the creek....

The shopping has been completed,
the menu is set..the silver is polished
and the table has been created for Thanksgiving...
what a beautiful time of year to gather with family..
the anticipation of the holidays is such a gift
and there is much to be thankful for....
wishing each of you a very blessed and
HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Early morning in November

FAMILY HEIRLOOMS ARE PERFECT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

 

Good Morning Kindred Spirits...
the holidays are here....Thanksgiving is now upon us
followed by the Merry Christmas season....
Today's post is all about incorporating certain
family heirlooms into your holiday table....
The old days were the best days..
growing up, my sister and I would travel by train
from Mississippi to Ohio with my Grandmother Grace...
we stayed  with her many summers, as well as
special Christmas holidays as both my grandparents
lived in neighboring Ohio towns....
those times were magical as a child....

Their house is still standing today which is amazing,
as it was built in the very early 1900's....
Grandmother always had a fresh fruit basket on her buffet
during Christmas...I so adored her.....
I was fortunate enough to inherit beautiful vintage items
from both grandparents and always try to display
some of these on special times of the year....

I decided to pull out a few vintage sugar, creamers,

as well as these beautiful Depression Glass salt and pepper shakers

and incorporate them onto the Thanksgiving table...

This little creamer belonged to Grandmother Grace

As did this sweet little sugar and creamer

I have three of these beautiful cut glass tumblers
which were from Grandmother Estelle....

As was this beautiful domed butter dish....

I hope this inspired you to look though your cupboards

and enjoy seeing and using a few of your family heirlooms...

Wishing you a beautiful week ahead...

BUSY HOLIDAY PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY

 

My goodness gracious, y'all...does it seem like the month
is just flying by?
Autumn has seemed to be a short season this year for some reason....
perhaps because our big event was the wedding...

Work schedules for a few children will dictate our holiday celebrations
this year, so we will actually be having two Thanksgivings and
Christmas gatherings....we can easily make it all work...

I can always count on our HEB to have beautiful paper products
for the holidays. and these will be used on the appetizer table
in the kitchen....

Thanksgiving is a few weeks away and I wanted to
set the formal dining room for our Thanksgiving..
I began by selecting Grandmother Grace's lace tablecloth...

Each year, the tablescape looks different and I love

how this year's turned out....

We eat dinner around 5 thirty or 6 o'clock,

so candlelight always creates a warm, cozy atmosphere...

not to mention a touch of elegance....

I must remember to purchase new silver polish to
polish the sterling silver....

My grandchildren always look forward to the hot spiced tea and punch station....
warm hands and tummies throughout the day....

I am making my fall spiced tea this year....

the recipe that used tea, lemonade and Tang.....

laced with cinnamon and Allspice...

Amazon has delivered my Christmas orders

so I plan on wrapping gifts over the next few weeks....

This sweet guy will be hanging on the tree beginning in December

Now, I must narrow down the Christmas Eve menu...

You know, the holidays come around once a year..
put in the effort to make it a lovely memory for those you love...
it truly is the most wonderful time of the year....

;Lucille...you saucy little minx...