Fall and Halloween Decorations

I went to my pantry this afternoon to prepare these wonderful Pumpkin Bars. A recipe that came form a message board friend several years ago and it has become a family favorite. Unfortunately, my stash of Pumpkin was gone so I am off tomorrow to the grocery to stock up on canned Pumpkin. I decided to share the recipe anyway (this is a very addictie recipe) and also share some of my Fall and Halloween decorations. You can see other participants of Foodie Friday hosted by Designs by Gollum by clicking here.


Pumpkin Bars

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter (2 sticks), room temp.
2 cups canned pumpkin (one 15-oz. can)
4 eggs, room temp.
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. each cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, ground cloves
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 15 X 10 1/2 X 1 pan. Sift flour, baking soda, spices, and salt together; set aside. Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add pumpkin and eggs; beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Spread mixture into pan. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until cake springs back when touched or toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely and frost.

Icing:
3 oz. cream cheese, room temp.
1 stick butter, room temp.
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. orange zest (optional)
2 cups powdered sugar

Beat together until smooth.


A few weeks ago I shared some of my Fall and Halloween decorations around my home. It was in a mosaic and I have since taken some more photos of my Fall and Halloween decorations that I would like to share. I don't do a lot of Halloween decorations but a few special pieces.



The kitchen always gets a little Fall decor especially since it is central to my home and I have quite a few ceramic pumpkins that I have collected over the years. This particular Pumpkin Cookie Jar has some Ginger Cookies in it. A receipt that I tried for the first time and one that was shared by a dear friend.



In the vase next to it is a bouquet of Mexican Sage which only blooms in our area in the Fall. There are some plants that only bloom in the Fall in N FL and this is one I dearly love with it's beautiful spikey purple blooms. In Fall arrangements it gives a striking hit of color with other typical yellow and orange flowers.



My backdoor entrance always has to have a seasonal decoration. After all, "back door guests are best." This one happens to be a reproduction of an old piece and is made of paper mache'. For Halloween night I will move this piece to my front entrance because it will house my trick o'treat candy for all the goblins and gouls who visit my house.



This is a very special piece to me. The first time I saw it was in one of Charles Faudree books and he showed the antique piece that he owns. It is a Black Forest carved vase but this one happens to be a reproduction of that piece. Charles Faudree is an internationlly known interior decorator from Tulsa, OK and decorates in the French Country style and I am a huge fan of his. I have all his books and constantly pour over them. It is sitting on an Antique Oak sideboard and the lamp is made by Waterford.



I only use it in the Fall and Winter but I think it makes quite a statement with my silk flowers in it.



This witch was a gift from a very talented and dear friend. She watches my every move while I am in the kitchen since she sits on top of some cabinets at the end of my kitchen. Everything on her was handmade even the hair which is made of heavy gauge wire. Whenever I bring her out I always think of my sweet friend who spent so much time making this for me. There is another one of my vast collection of pumpkins.



Our bar also gets a little Halloween decoration. This pair of lamps are also made by Waterford.



This is another one of my reproductions of an old piece made of paper mache'. I think it adds a little bit of whimsy.



Another of my pumpkin collection sitting atop an antique English Pub Table.



Even my kitchen cooktop gets a little Fall decor.





My front entrance has to have some seasonal decor as well. The entry light is an old gas piece that was made electric.



On the left is another of my reproduction paper mache' pieces and on the right my Fall clear glass pumpkins.




I hope you have enjoyed seeing my Fall and Halloween decorations as much as I have enjoyed sharing them.