Hi, I'm Stormi and I'm addicted to pumpkins. Okay, glad to have that out of the way from the get go. I'm aware that we're only one week in to September, but I'd like to think that we are currently experiencing "full blown Fall." The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful... Okay, maybe it's not frightful, but it IS crisp & cool, which is frightful when you've been experiencing scorching 3-digit Texas heat all summer. We're only two days after Labor Day, and I've done two important things in these days.
1. Sorted through the WHITES in my closet.
Let me start by saying that this rule is ultimately outdated. Anyone who still believes that you can't touch an ounce of white after Labor day, is NOT fashionable. There are now some exceptions to this rule. Do: Pops of White (White in Moderation) Dont: White Sandals, White Espadrilles, White Dresses, White Head-to-Toe, Gaudy White Jewelry.
Here's a good example of saying YES to Winter White this season:
Here's a perfect example of what NOT to do this season..PUH-LEEZ.
I almost passed out when I saw this. Please no.
2. My second important goal after Labor day was getting some "fall-ish" indoor home decor out... Just a start ;)
Back to my pumpkin obsession... Starbucks is NOT helping it by coming out with this bad boy...
I'm. In. Pure. BLISS. Dying. This is the greatest Fall concoction since...pumpkins. Everyone should go get one. RIGHT NOW.
Now for CASH NEWS. I'd like to start by asking everyone to PLEASE keep him in your prayers. August was a tough month for Cash :/ At the beginning of August, his right eye was bothering him so I took him to the doctor. His diagnosis was a bite that had become infected. 3 doctors and 3 antibiotics later, it is STILL not healed. I'm now scheduling an appointment for a Pediatric Opthomologist at Texas Children's Hospital. He is not in pain, but his eye is VERY light sensitive, so he hasn't been able to go outside and enjoy this fabulous weather. Please pray for my baby :( Hopefully we can get this knocked out quickly! In the meantime, he made my heart melt the other day, as I watched him do this:
Cash Man the Color Matching Machine!!! It's amazing how much they learn. It's only ONE MONTH until his SECOND BIRTHDAY (tear) I feel like he was JUST born, and it has already been two whole years. Yikes. Dear God, if you read this blog, please slow time down just a tad. Amen.
Now...back to Fall. (I'm not obsessed I promise) Here's a couple of movies that I'm dying to come on television, like now. I would gladly skip any Kardashians, Real Housewives of Anywhere or any form of Bachelor/Bachelorette/Pad for THE FOLLOWING:
I'm sorry if I'm depressing any of you fellow Fall-lovers...I just can't wait! In the meantime, while these shows are busy NOT coming on television anytime soon, EVERYBODY needs to go check out the new show on Food Network called "Hungry Girl." I've posted about some of her books/recipes on the blog before, and now she has her OWN SHOW! It's fabulous & everything looks delicious, just as I imagined. Lisa & I (HungryGirl) are kind of best friends in my head. I believe her show comes on Sunday (I've only watched all of the episodes OnDemand) so EVERYBODY tune in!!!
Let's face it: Homegirl just ain't bloggin like she used to. No time, no energy...So here's for a long overdue HOT MESS OF THE WEEK!
...and the winner is...
WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT....
ABBY LEE MILLERRRRRRR!
If any of you have watched the new hit tv show "Dance Moms", you'll understand exactly why she sweeped this title. I firmly believe that she is the sole reason why the term "Hot Mess" was invented. For one, she's WHOPPING. Her body is shaped like an oversized Kirby from Kirby's Avalanche... If you don't remember this character, here's an example:
Don't let the friendly face fool you, because although she LOOKS like Kirby, her mouth is like a raging hyenna. She is the owner of a dance studio where she spends 99% of her time screaming furiously at her students and degrading them. As an instructor myself, I find it utterly insulting & I can't believe she is capable of running such a large business, successfully. Check out DANCE MOMS on Lifetime (Wednesday Nights) to see exactly what I'm talking about. INSANE!
Ladies & Gentleman, I have a new found love. My Crock Pot. I've owned a Crock Pot for as long as I can remember, but now that I'm a working stay at home mama (HA!) it's come in handy even more. There is nothing easier than throwing it all in frozen, and letting it simmer all day in that magic concoction called a Crock Pot. If you need something quick & easy, this is THE EASIEST recipe that is equally as yummy. It's to die, I promise!
CROCKPOT ITALIAN CHICKEN
NEED:
4 chicken breasts
1 packet dry Zesty Italian dressing
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1-2 cans cream of chicken soup (depending how cream cheesy you want it)
STEPS:
1. Place the chicken in a crockpot and sprinkle Italian dressing over it.
2. Combine cream cheese and cream of chicken soup in a small pot over low heat and pour over chicken.
3. Cook on low for at least 4 hours. You can leave it in there all day.
If you feel the sauce is too thick you can thin it to your preferred consistency with a little milk. Serve over pasta or rice. (I did pasta!)
The other day I was watching "Down Home With the Neely's" and my girlfriend Gina (she doesn't know this yet, but she'll be wearing the second half of a B.F.F charm bracelet very soon) was making homemade cinnamon rolls. I couldn't help but stare at the screen in awe. Me & Gina (in my mind) have that type of friendship where we can tell each other everything, even if it'll hurt our feelings at first...and I couldn't help but want to scream at her, "WHY ARE YOU MAKING HOMEMADE CINNAMON ROLLS?!?! THEY'RE JUST AS GOOD STRAIGHT STORE BOUGHT FROM PILLSBURY!" Well, Gina has proved me wrong. I do NOT advise you to make the plain ol' basic cinnamon rolls from scratch each morning, but after a bit of searching, I think I found a fall recipe that is totally worth the effort. Yes, pumpkin again. PUMPKIN CINNAMON ROLLS WITH CARAMEL ICING! If that pumpkin only knew how much I've been obsessing over him lately... Anyway, I plan to try these out tomorrow morning. After scanning through the ingredients, they just seem too good to be true! I'd recommend eating this on your front porch in the morning, since this lovely, incoming autumn breeze would make a perfect backdrop!
PUMPKIN CINNAMON ROLLS WITH CARAMEL ICING
NEED:
1/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 (1/4 ounce) package dry yeast
2 cups bread flour (you can use regular all purpose flour but bread flour makes them lighter)
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter
CARAMEL FROSTING NEED:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 dash salt
3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
STEPS:
1. In small saucepan, heat milk and 2 tablespoons butter just until warm and butter is almost melted, stirring constantly. In large mixer bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Add milk mixture and beat with electric mixer until well mixed. Beat in egg and yeast.
2. Add half of the flour to pumpkin mixture. Beat mixture on low speed 5 minutes, scraping sides of bowl frequently. Add remaining flour and mix thoroughly (dough will be very soft). Turn into lightly greased bowl, then grease surface of dough lightly.
3. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down. Spray a surface with cooking spray or turn onto floured surface. Knead a few turns to form a smooth dough, sprinkling with enough additional flour to make dough easy enough to handle. Roll dough into 12x10 inch rectangle.
4. In small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Brush surface of dough with melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar mixture. Beginning with long side of dough, roll up jellyroll style. Pinch seam to seal. With sharp knife, cut roll into 12 1- inch slices. Place rolls, cut side up, in greased 11X17 inch square baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, 30 to 45 minutes.
5. Bake rolls at 350 degrees about 15-20 minutes or until golden. Remove from pan to waxed paper-lined wire rack. Cool 10 to 15 minutes. Drizzle with Caramel frosting. Makes 12 rolls.
FROSTING STEPS:
In small saucepan, heat butter until melted. Stir in brown sugar and milk.
Stir in brown sugar and milk. Cook over medium low heat 1 minute.
Transfer to small mixer bowl and cool mixture. Stir in vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and confectioners' sugar. Beat with electric mixer until well blended.
If necessary, add more confectioners' sugar for desired consistency.
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