Yummy Recipe

{ P e c a n P u m p k i n D e s s e r t }
This dessert is my favorite. My mother-in-law makes it every fall and I do love it... so much so that last year when she was living in another state I got desperate and had to make it myself. I am pretty sure I ate the entire thing. :) It really is amazing. I just made it for dinner guests this past weekend and it was a hit (as I knew it would be.)

Try it and let me know how yours turns out!

{recipe & photo courtesy of allrecipes.com}

Ingredients

• 2 (15 ounce) cans solid pack pumpkin
• 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
• FROSTING:
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. Line a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan with waxed paper and coat the paper with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, milk and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with dry cake mix and drizzle with butter. Sprinkle with pecans.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Invert onto a large serving platter; carefully remove waxed paper.
4. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Frost dessert. Store in the refrigerator.

{ More Fall Decorating }

I did a little of my own fall decorating this weekend. I tend to lean toward the simple decorations, that means the table and the front door. I don't like clutter of any kind and sometimes I think holiday decorations can become just that, clutter. haha. I like clean, simple, pretty... that can easily be used year after year. (Really, I wish I had gone over to my friend Johanna's house and photographed her fall decorations because they are perfect. But I didn't... so you will just have to be happy with mine.)

So, I knew I wanted a colorful, fall arrangement on the table and I knew that it had to be cheap (i.e. pretty much free). So, I took a little trip to JoAnn Fabrics and picked up a couple of different fall colored flowers and stems (and used my 40% off coupon). I played with it until I decided that I liked it. I added two green candles on either side and there you go. It communicates fall without being tacky or cluttery and works well with the rest of our home decor.

. . .

I also tried my hand at the wire pumpkins.
I think they are adorable. I did a big one and a baby one.
This little set-up hangs out on our bar between the kitchen and living room
(including the most amazing candle - three scented layers: pumpkin spice, apple vanilla, & cinnamon walnut).

I love baby pumpkins.