"Autumn Warmth in our Kitchen"

Hello sweet friends!

       Come into our kitchen, now decorated for Fall, specially cause I embellished my hand carved, wooden dough bowl I love and found for $8 some four years ago and it's quite big too.

I will keep it for the season in the kitchen and will use the fresh produce there and will just store some back in it for easy access.
 
I use lots of fresh veggies for cooking. Right now there's two ceramic pumpkins in it as well.

I love my kitchen, it's such a warm place and I thank God for it and feel very blessed. It's also very organized as I like it to be and I love to cook, mostly just for the two of us and sometimes when mother comes. Of course, I enjoy getting busy here for dinner parties as well. 
 
I think the kitchen is where most families spend their days, that's why it is rightfully called the 'Heart of the Home.'

The green and white dishes were made back at our former 'Ceramica Monte Turi' factory.
Isn't the butter dish with the chicken so cute? My Mother's Day gift green china by the window, with the tea set and teacups for tea in the afternoon.

As I said at the beginning of this post that I am keeping the fresh produce in the dough bowl for cooking daily and will replace them here again for easy access.
The weather here helps them keep well out of the fridge, as it's very crisp and fresh... same goes for the fruit.

I love the view out this window when I wash; specially the beautiful river you can see down there.
Soon it'll start raining so the grass will get greener as well as the woods.

I kept this wooden farm table for our breakfast nook in this kitchen; all the way from our previous farm house.

The flowers in the window sill pots are still blooming. Weather here is nice like a warm crisp Fall, but Winter, as you know it in the USA never comes, lol..

Thank you so much for your sweet and kind comments, you always make my day!

Thanking the lovely hostesses for having me at their great parties.

LOVE,
FABBY

I will party here,

Cooking and Crafting with J & J      http://julieslifestyle.blogspot.com
Celebrate it Sunday     http://celebrateanddecorate.com
Make it Pretty Monday     www.thededicatedhouse.com
Amaze Me Monday     www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com
Inspire Me Tuesday     http://astrollthrulife.net
Tuesdays with a Twist     http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com
Fabulous Fall Link Party     http://myjourneyback-
yourjourneyback.blogspot.com

Brag About it Linky Party     www.vmg206.com
Tastytuesdays     www.anyonita-nibbles.co.uk
You're Gonna Love it     www.kathewithane.com
Wow us Wednesday     www.savvysouthernstyle.com
Creative Mondays Blog Hop     www.clairejustineoxox.com
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME     http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com
The SCOOP     www.worthingcourtblog.com
Mix it up Monday     www.flourmewithlove.com
Tea Cup Tuesday Pink Oct.     http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea     http://blog.bernideens.com
Tuesday Cuppa Tea     www.antiquesandteacups.info
Tea Cup Tuesday     www.marthasfavorites.com
A Return to Loveliness     www.adelightsomelife.com
Wake up Wednesday     www.godsgrowinggarde.com
Home and Garden Thursday     www.adelightsomelife.com
Vintage Inspiration Party     http://knickoftime.net
Share Your Style     www.thevintagenestblog.com
Tablescape Thursday     http://betweennapsontheporch.net
Cup of Morning Joe    http://thecottagemarket.com

Friday Features Linky Party     http://ohmyheartsygirl.com
PINK Saturday     http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com
Simple Saturday Blog Hop     www.sunnysimplelife.com
SATURDAY SHOW OFF     http://malevikrsentradgard.blogspot.com
Sundays Down Under Link Party     www.natashainoz.com
Bouquet of Talent     www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com

















         

   

FABBY: Harvest Stew Soup for Cold Weather

Hello sweet friends!

I had pinned this great "Harvest Stew with Smoked Sausage Soup"... perfect for the soup season and I've been wanting to make it for lunch and I finally did today.
So here are some pics and the soup came out yummy. My hubby loved it and he is very particular with food; lets just say he's got a very 'fine palate,' lol..

Here I'm sharing a very easy "Pineapple pie" for dessert too. Recipe in the bottom if you wish. I bet you will make this all the time, it's fabulous!

At the end of the pics I copied the soup recipe for you, except I added pumpkin cubes too.

I will be making it again for my mom next week, now that we've tried it.




The soup I just made for lunch today is 'Harvest Stew with Smoked Sausage,' I copied from my Pinterest Recipe board.
 
Look at the end of this post for the recipe.

Look how great it looks and tastes too!

I used my everyday china which comes in four different colors, here I used the two in orange.
It's a mix and match in orange as here, blue, yellow and green.

We had it with a delicious Apple cider.

The centerpiece is arranged with white gourds and pinecones on a beautiful fruit bowl Mr. Living gifted me for a birthday many years ago.

 It's German-Waterford cut crystal; I do remember it was expensive; so I just shot up and let him get it for me, lol..

"Quick and Easy Pineapple Pie"

1 can of crushed pineapple
1/2 of Duncan Hynes yellow cake mix
1/3 cup of cold butter

Instructions:

Pour the can of pineapple with the liquid in a blender and blend for a 'second,' just to crush the pineapple squares and pour it on a glass pie plate. Take out half of the Duncan Hynes cake mix and evenly spread on top of the pineapple and finally put pieces of the cold butter all over the top.
Bake at 350F. for 40 minutes, or until it's golden brown on top.
Serve cold with ice-cream, if you wish.
 
Very easy peasy, you'll always want to make it!
 

"Harvest Stew with Smoked Sausage Soup"
 

Ingredients:

• Canola or olive oil
• 1 (12 ounce) package of beef smoked sausage, sliced into circles
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ paprika
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Pinch salt
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• 2 medium-large carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 medium-large parsnips, peeled and diced (I used pumpkin instead, as we don't like parsnips)
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 6 baby yellow potatoes, cubed (skin on)
• ½ pound (8 ounces) diced butternut squash
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup chopped kale
• 1 tablepsoons chopped parsley

Preparation:

-Place a large soup pot over medium-high heat, and drizzle in about 2 tablespoons of oil; one hot, add in the sliced sausage in a single layer, and allow it caramelize and brown on that first side (a few minutes), then stir and allow it to further caramelize for about another 2 minutes.
-Add in the onion, and stir to combine; saute together with sausage for about 3-4 minutes, until lightly golden; add in the Italian seasoning, paprika, black pepper, and pinch of salt, plus the garlic, and stir to combine.
-Next, add in the carrots, parsnips, celery, potatoes, and butternut squash, and stir to combine with the sausage and onion mixture; next, add in the chicken stock, and bring to the boil.
-Reduce the heat to medium-low, and allow the stew to simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes (it can bubble, but don’t have it simmering too, too vigorously).
-Turn off the heat, and check to see if any additional salt/pepper is needed; add in the kale and the chopped parsley, and stir to combine, allowing the kale to wilt into the soup for a few minutes before serving; serve with good quality bread.



Thank you so much for your sweet and kind comments, you always make my day!

Thanking the lovely hostesses for having me at their great parties.

                                                      LOVE,
                                                      FABBY

I will party here:

Make it Pretty Monday     www.thededicatedhouse.com
Inspire Me Tuesday     www.astrollthrulife.net
Tuesdays with a Twist     http://back2basicshealth.blogspot.com
Fabulous Fall Linky Party    http://myjouneyback-yourjourneyback.blogspot.com
Brag About it Linky Party     www.vmg206.com
Tastytuesdays 106     www.anyonita-nibbles.co.uk
You're Gonna Love it     www.kathewithane.com
The SCOOP     http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
Wow us Wednesday     www.savvysouthernstyle.com
Wake up Wednesday party     www.godsgrowinggarden.com

Vintage Inspiration Party     http://knickoftime.net
Share Your Style     http://northernnesting.blogspot.com
The (Not just) Homemaking Party     www.hopeineveryseason.com
Home and Garden Thursday     www.adelightsomelife.com
It's a Party     http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com
Share Your Cup Thursday     http://jannolson.blogspot.com
Wildly Original     http://igottacreate.blogspot.com
Grace at Home     www.impartinggrace.com
Foodie Friday and Everything else     http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com
PINK Saturday     http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Weekend Link up     www.bigfamilyfrugal.com
Bouquet of Talent Party     www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com
Sunday Down Under Party     www.natashainoz.com























                                                          

FABBY: September Rosary Tea

Hello sweet friends!

Well, here is another Rosary prayer, the one for the end of September!
 
It looks like this month just started, but no, it's ending quite rapidly and soon we'll be celebrating, hubby and I, the birth of our new granddaughter in Miami, Florida and Thanksgiving, of course; in no time at all now... we will be having to decorate for the Christmas holiday too...yay!

I also baked a "Harvest Pumpkin Chocolate Cake" to celebrate Autumn and the table décor.
The recipe is at the end of this post if you wish. It's full, no calorie saver this one, lol!  It's incredibly delicious, that is why I always make it come Autumn, right in my Fall Nordic Ware bundt pan.

I will pray for all of you my dear friends.

I created this tea setting by first using my dear Mil's vintage silk brocade Italian tablecloth, as main element because of the rich Fall hues it has;....a sort of camel background and silk embroidery in greens, golds, blues, browns, etc.

The teacups and cake plates are from my reticulated complete set of 12 dinner place settings, specially cause it's of a soft and warm ivory color.
The white other dishes didn't blend well with this cloth, as they are too white. 

Look how pretty the silk embroidery is. Perfect for Fall!

"Pumpkin Chocolate-Harvest Cake" with 'Dulce de Leche' I drizzled over the top, so it will look more attractive and delish.

The cake plate is mercury glass from several years ago. There's also a smaller one that came together.

The centerpiece is done with small fresh pumpkins and gourds in an ivory bowl I often use for salads. I borrowed the two owl votives from the buffet. 

Mr. Living just added a touch of décor by introducing the cute owl votive inside the cake cavity, lol..

The cake recipe is at the end of this post.

I also wanted to share my daughter Alexandra's tables cape for a dinner party she had Saturday night in Miami, Florida.

This apartment belongs to her in-laws, that's why she is giving birth in Miami, but the real reason is because she is 'American' as I am.... as they reside in Madrid-Spain.

I love that big bronze pumpkin she bought for the occasion, that opens and she also added small two real pumpkins too.
The chargers and bread plates she bought, along with the name plates.

She had shrimp cocktail as an entrée and cheesecake for dessert.

Thank you so much for your sweet and kind visits, you always make my day!

Thanking the lovely hostesses for having me at their great parties.

LOVE,
FABBY



Pumpkin Chocolate Harvest Cake

2/3 cups softened butter or shortening
2 cups sugar
1 egg
2 egg whites
2 1/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1  1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1  15 oz can solid pack pumpkin
1/2 cups water
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 tablespoon water

Heat oven to 350 F  or 175 C   Grease and flour pan, set aside.  In large bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy.  Add egg and egg whites, mix until well blended.  Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin and 1/2 cup water.  Mix on low speed until blended, scraping bowl often.  Increase speed to medium and beat 2 minutes.  Remove 3/4 cup of batter and put in a small bowl. 
Spoon remaining batter into prepared pan.  To reserve batter add cocoa and 1 tablespoon water; stir to combine.  Place spoonfuls of chocolate batter on top of batter in pan.  Using a knife, swirl chocolate batter into pumpkin batter to marble.  Bake 40-47 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes in pan, remove from pan and cool completely.   (as a note here, I drizzled some 'Dulce de Leche' over the top of the cake to give it a bit of a shine and add a flavor we love with pumpkin.)

 

 

I will be joining:

Make it Pretty Monday     www.thededicatedmonday.com
Amaze Me Monday     www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com
Inspire Me Tuesday     www.astrollthrulife.net
Autumn's First Tea Time     http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com
Tuesday Cuppa Tea     www.antiquesandteacups.info
Friends Sharing Tea     http://blog.bernideens.com
Tea Cup Tuesday     www.marthasfavorites.com
A Return to Loveliness     www.adelightsomelife.com
Fabulous Fall Party     http://myjourneyback-thejourneyback.blogspot.com
Mix it up Monday     www.flourmewithlove.com

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME     http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com
The SCOOP     http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
You're Gonna Love it     www.kathewithane.com
Create Link Inspire Party     http://nap-timecreations.com
Turn it up Tuesday     www.godsgrowinggarden.com
Tuesdays with a Twist     www.godsgrowinggarden.com
Tasty Tuesdays     www.anyonita-nibbles.co.uk
Brag About it Link Party    www.vmg206.com
Create Link and Inspire Party     http://nap-timecreations.com
Wake up Wednesday     http://sewcraftyangel.blogspot.com

The Wednesday Blog Hop     www.clairejustineoxox.com
Vintage Inspiration Party     www.organizedclutter.net
Wow Us Wednesday     www.savvysouthernstyle.net
Share Your Style Link Party     www.21rosemarylane.com
Share Your Cup Thursday     http://jannolson.blogspot.com
Home and Garden Thursday     www.adelightsomelife.com
It's a Party     http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com
Tablescape Thursday     http://betweennapsontheporch.net
Wildly Original Link Party     http://igottacreate.blogspot.com
The Weekend Blog Hop     www.clairejustineoxox.com

Simple and Sweet Fridays     http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com
PINK Saturday     http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com
Friday Frenzy     www.mostlyfoodandcrafts.com
October Chain Linky CLIMB     http://sewcraftyangel.blogspot.com
Simple Saturday Blog Hop     www.sunnysimplelife.com
Celebrate it Sunday     http://celebrateanddecorate.com






























 

Fall Mantel and Living Room

Hello sweet friends!

I dedicated this day to decorate the living room's coffee table for Fall and the mantel, which will stay like this until we go to Miami for the birth of our granddaughter, 'Maxima Leonor,' from our dearest daughter Alexandra.

I also decorated the fireplace mantel, which will also stay like this for the Fall season; except for the coffee table in the family room where I placed a little setting for mother, hubby and me for tomorrow Wednesday.

 I have mentioned many times that mother comes to spend every Wednesday with us. Therefore, here we will have a very yummy and very 'low-cal banana cake' I made for our afternoon tea time.
The recipe is at the end of this post too.

Ok, here it is. The last place I will share next week will be the 'Fall kitchen.'

                                             HAPPY AUTUMN 2015

Fall in the fireplace mantel 2015

In each end I placed my big cloches. This one has gold gourds I sprayed painted last year...and vintage books from my Mil.

This tea setting looks kind of familiar but hey, this is where we land in the afternoon for tea time and I know mother will want to watch 'Pope Francis in the USA,' as the TV is directly in front of the yellow couch.

I also baked a 'very low calorie' banana cake for tea time.

Recipe is at the end of this post. Trust me, it's great if you watch your weight.

Dutch Delft hand painted blue and white flower vases with gold gourds, and cloche with white pumpkins, I painted after they dry up.
 
I also spray painted the gold ones last year.

Cloche with gold gourds and vintage books.

Vintage cook books from my Mil.

This beautiful oil painting was done by hubby's famous Ecuadorian artist, named Luis Crespo O.
I liked the Fall look to it with the basket and yellow calla-lilies, so I borrowed it from another wall...lol

"Banana Cake, 8 week Friendly"

The recipe is at the end of this post, if you wish.
 
Is very 'low in calories,' with no-fat at all and no sugar, instead honey is used, plus apple sauce. It's delish and moist too. We love it!

The china I'm using for tea time afternoon is the classic Onion pattern and 'Hutschenreuther' pieces.
The teapot is 'Bareuther Indischblau, Bavaria I bought separately, as the set is complete for eight place settings, but didn't have a teapot and was on sale because it had broken in the store. 

The fruit basket in the middle contains fresh little pumpkins and gourds.

I save the ones that dry up from the year before and spray paint them in white or gold...so far.

Faux silk flowers for a change. I mostly love fresh flowers.

My new find is this inexpensive metal, pierced tray that looks vintage, so I styled it for Fall right in the living room's coffee table.

All the dark bronze pieces are antique French.

Mercury glass pumpkin, little silver pumpkin, Bohemian candle holder and vintage Meissen porcelain bowl.

The coffee table is marble Travertino.

I wish you all a very blessed and happy Fall season.

Thanks for your sweet and kind comments, you always make my day!

Thanking the lovelie hostesses for having me at their great parties.

LOVE,
FABBY

Banana Cake, 8 Week Friendly
(Low-calorie)

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar free apple sauce  (I buy baby food, apple compote)
3/4 cup honey
2 eggs, beaten
3 mashed overripe bananas
1/2 cup crushed walnuts  (optional, but I always add some)

Directions:
1- Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9x5 loaf pan.

2- In a large bowl combine, flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl mix apple sauce and honey. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended.
Stir banana mixture with flour mixture; stir just to moisten.
Add crushed walnuts if you wish. (optional)

3- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes. Mine was ready in 55 min.; until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Let cake cool 10 minutes and transfer unto a wire rack.

I will be joining:

Tea Time and transferware     http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com
A Return to Loveliness     www.adelightsomelife.com
Bernideen's Tea Time     http://blog.bernideens.com
Tea Cup Tuesday     www.marthasfavorites.com
Make it Pretty Monday     www.thededicatedhouse.com
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME     httP://mariaselenasdecor.blogspot.com
Tuesdays with a Twist     www.godsgrowinggarden.com
Inspire Me Tuesday     www.astrollthrulife.net
The Wednesday Blog Hop     www.clairejustine.oxox.com
Wake up Wednesday     http://sewcraftyangel.blogspot.com

Vintage Inspiration Party     www.organizedclutter.net
Wordless Wednesday     http://ohmyheartsygirl.com
   Wow Us Wednesday     www.savvysouthernstyle.net
It's a Party      http://acreaticeprincess.blogspot.com
Home and Garden Thursday     www.adelightsomelife.com
Share Your Cup Thursday     http://jannolson.blogspot.com
Share Your Style     www.uptownacorn.com
www.posedperfection.com
Simple and Sweet Fridays     http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com
Home Sweet  Home     http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com

Saturday Show Off      http://malevikrosentradgard.blogspot.com
Friday Frenzy     www.mostlyfoodandcrafts.com
Saturday Sparks Link Party     http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com
Bouquet of Talent Party Time    www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com
Anything BLUE Friday     www.thededicatedhouse.com
BLUE Monday     http://smilingsally.blogspot.com
Metamorphosis Monday     http://astrollthrulife.net
Sundays Down Under     www.natashainoz.com
Autumns First Tea Time     http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com
Home and Garden Thursday     www.adelightsomelife.com
Tuesday Cuppa Tea     www.antiquesandteacups.info