Thrifty Quick Fix

I am feeling really blessed this holiday season. I know that it has only just begun but I am feeling like I hit the jackpot when it comes to all the family, friends and things I am thankful for. I could go on and on about how grateful I am for my life (because I really really am) but lets get to the dirty details of this post....  I am thankful for Target. They have some of the greatest stuff ever.... The other day when I was mindlessly wandering the isles (one of my favorite pastimes) I came across these two napkins for 3.99.

 

Yes, I know the whole deer head thing is overdone but I liked them and had good intentions for them for the Thanksgiving feast I was throwing. I would use them to cover two chairs I purchased at a garage sale this past summer for five bucks a pop. So I traced over all the gold with my favorite black Sharpie. Then I took the nasty old seat cushions off the chairs which had apparently been recovered several times before. I stripped off the old layers of fabric because for all I knew a cat had peed on them or something.

Then I took my staple gun and covered the foam with an old, clean, white tea towel I had in my kitchen drawer.

Next I took my colored on napkins and I stapled them over the dish towel and placed the seats back in the old chairs.

This was the perfect quick fix for I what I needed. I hosted thanksgiving and needed more chairs. However, I didn't want my guests subjected to the gross old fabric and I wanted chairs that matched my decor. I need to sand and paint the chairs down to a color I like but that is for another day.

Also, whenever I get tired of these covers I can just buy some new fabric or possibly cheap dinner napkins from Target.

Total side note.... One of my dearest friends (whom shall remain anonymous) told me that her husband thought they looked like snails coming up to attack you in the.... you know whats. Now that's all I can think of.

PS.... Happy holidays from my family to yours and yes I had to share this next picture to brag about my bad ass bird.... I got lucky... It was awesome...

 

 

Pumpkin Fever

This year I went overboard with the pumpkins. Not only did we go to the pumpkin patch with Lucy, I also collected a bunch of pumpkins from a patch locally that gave them away for free. What to do with all the pumpkins....?

 

I decided I wanted to use my pumpkins to make puree. I love pumpkin flavored everything and wanted to preserve the flavor for as long as I could. I figured pureeing a pumpkin couldn't be any harder than a squash. To my surprise I was right.

 

The pumpkins from the local patch were small but yielded a lot. To start I washed them then broke off their stems.

Then I cut them in half and took out all the seeds.

On a greased or foil lined cooking tray I placed the pumpkins flesh side down.

Next I baked them at 375' until they started to juice and turn slightly brown.

Once the pumpkins cooled I peeled the skin off and placed the flesh into my handy food processor.

I hit the puree button for about thirty seconds until a nice smooth non clumpy texture formed.

I put some in a jar to use for dinner that night and the rest in a plastic bag to be frozen for the future. I was super pleased. Nothing beats fresh pumpkin especially in a pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin thief...

 

Look at how pretty it looks...

For those of you interested I also made this pumpkin pasta and these scones with my puree. They were both huge hits and definitely repeat offenders.

 

From Bake Your Day .... However I added sausage and garnished with bacon. AMAZING

 

 

Pumpkin scones from

Inspired Taste..... Very pleased.