WELCOME to CAROLINA PANACHE! I believe our homes should be a haven, a place of beauty and peace that reflect who we are and what's important to us. I'm on a journey to add personality and panache to every corner of my house. For me, good design evolves, grows and changes with the needs of one's lifestyle. I want my home to be creative, to be stylish, to be entertaining, to be real. I hope you will join me on my journey. It's always more fun to travel together.
This blog is all about bringing style and elegance to the home. The art of dressing your home goes beyond hanging a few items on the wall and arranging furniture. Much like a fabulous set of earrings or a new stylish handbag may take your little black dress from fine to fabulous, home accesories and key furnishings can take your rooms from ho-hum to singing the Halleluiah Chorus! Join with me as we discover new ways to add panache to every room of the house.

Welcome to the Cook's Corner!
It's been a while since I've shared some of my family's favorite recipes with you so today I will give you two of our best fall treats! The photo of the ingredients above is for "Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies". Years ago when Mr. Panache and I first were married, his wonderful Mother shared this recipe with me. I had eaten pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin soup but NEVER pumpkin cookies!
Ingredients:
3 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
~~~~~
5 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
2 Teaspoons Nutmeg
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
~~~~~
1 Large Can Pumpkin Filling (unseasoned)
1 Package Chocolate Chips - 12 oz.
1 Cup Walnuts, chopped
Here is my Pumpkin Cookie Jar. It's the perfect place to store the MANY cookies this recipe makes. Last year I displayed my cookie jar in the center of my kitchen table. To embellish the jar I used a few fall floral picks to form a wreath around the base.
Directions:
Combine sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla using electric mixer or hand beater.
Sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon together.
Add pumpkin and dry ingredients alternately to the liquid mixture, mixing well with a spoon. Then add chocolate chips and nuts. Mix well.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 350* for 10 minutes.
Makes about 6 dozen
(That's enough to share with neighbors and friends! Or you could just eat them all yourself but don't get mad at me if you can't fit into your favorite jeans afterwards! ;-)
Here's a great tip from Grannie Annie (my Mother-in-law):
Use an extra small ice cream scoop to drop the cookie batter on the baking sheet. It makes the job a lot easier and you have uniformity in size.
After you make your Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies, pack up a little hamper with some sandwiches, cookies and a thermos full of pipin' hot cider or coffee and take a stroll down this tree-lined lane with your favorite guy. In my case - 3 favorite guys!

Fall is a wonderful time for hosting a harvest-time get together or football party. We are always looking for quick and yummy receipes that we can fix in a hurry! Below is a new recipe that I found on bhg.com
Blue Cheese Ricotta Dip
Ingredients:
1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
8 ounces blue cheese, such as Gorgonzola or Maytag, crumbled (2 cups)
2 tablespoons apple cider or milk
Freshly ground black pepper
Snipped fresh chives or your favorite herb
Green and/or red apple slices
Breadsticks or crackers
Directions:
1. Allow ricotta and blue cheese to stand at room temperature for 1 hour. In a medium bowl stir together the cheeses, mashing with a fork until well combined.
2. Stir in the apple cider. Add pepper to taste. Spoon into a serving bowl. Sprinkle with chives. Serve with apple slices, breadsticks or crackers. Makes 8 servings.
This dip would also make a great spread for a fresh, grilled burger on game day!
Nothing causes me to catch my breath more than the beauty of God's creation. I have always been in love with the colors of Autumn. This is a picture from Maine. One thing I would love to do is take a road trip through New England during the fall stopping at little Bed & Breakfasts along the way. Maybe Mr. Panache will read this and take a hint!

I also promised to share another of my family's favorite cookie treats -
Outlandish Oatmeal Supremes
Ingredients:
1 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Cups Flour, plain
2 Eggs
3/4 Cup Coconut
3 Cups Quick-cooking Oats
~~~~~
5 Tablespoons flour, plain
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Vegetable Shortening (Like Crisco)
1 Cup Granulated Sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
~~~~~
To make the Oatmeal Supremes:
Mix the first eight (8) ingredients. Drop by teaspoon on non-stick cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven at 350* for 8 minutes.
Baking Tip:
Use parchment paper to line you cookie sheet. It makes for better browing and easy cleanup. Again, try substituting a small ice cream scoop for a teaspoon when dropping the cookie dough onto the sheet.
~~~~~
To make the Cookie Creme:
Cook flour and milk to a thick paste.
Chill mixture in refrigerator.
Mix shortening, sugar, salt in a bowl with electric mixer.
Add mixture to paste one tablespoon at a time.
Mix until smooth.
Place a teaspoon of filling on the bottom of one Oatnmeal Supreme Cookie, top with a second cookie to make a cookie sandwich. Makes 20 servings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you will enjoy these family favorite treats. This weekend I will be putting the finishing touches on my outdoor decor and giving the house a good cleaning. I am going to a Christmas Craft Fair with my friend early Saturday morning. I hope to get some great pictures I can share with all of you next week. Until then,
Live Life Beautifully!
~Alisa













8 comments:

Nancy said...

Yummy! I am going to make them and take to work to share with all my co-workers! Thanks! Nancy

Blondie's Journal said...

Hi!!

I'd like to try these recipes. I am always looking for fruit dips and what a wonderful way to share apples without the baking. The cookies with pumpkin will be a wonderful treat throughout the holidays if they are frozen...

Thanks so much!!

xoxo
Jane

ChaChaneen said...

Thank you, thank you for sharing your recipes. Yummy! I haven't ever heard of a cooked type filling so that has me intrigued. Hmmmm

Elaine said...

I am definitely making those chocolate chip pumpkin cookies tonight! Do you know if they freeze well?

A Hint of Home said...

These look so delicious and I'm sure they taste it, as well. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Your Fall decorations all look so pretty.

prashant said...

I am always looking for fruit dips and what a wonderful way to share apples without the baking. The cookies with pumpkin will be a wonderful treat throughout the holidays if they are frozen...
Work From Home

Sharon said...

I love anything with pumpkin. Going to try this recipe, but will substitute raisins for the choc chips! Thanks.

網頁設計 said...

hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin