Decor Ideas for Fall

Ornamental grasses dress up a plain staircase for fall-the dried variety is available at crafts stores and fresh grasses can be purchased at some floral shops. Simply bundle bunches of the grasses together,secure with a rubber band and tie to every other baluster on your staircase with raffia.

Harvest Corn- Tie a grouping of Indian corn ears together and hang from a cabinet door. Display jars filled with dried corn and seeds behind glass front doors. Note-- I think this would be great on a front door also.

Homemade Shake and Bake Recipe

Sorry, I don't have a picture of this but I think we all know what Shake and Bake looks like. I use it alot for chicken and pork. It seems to make it more tender and tasty. Hope this helps you the next time you reach into your pantry and realize you are out of the store bought.

2 cups flour
2 cups ground crackers)unsalted, or use salted crackers and skip the salt below)
2 tbs salt
1 tbs sugar
1 tbs garlic powder
4 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp pepper

For chicken add
1 tbs sage
1 tbs thyme

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Brush meat lightly with vegetable oil before covering with Shake and Bake

Easy Thanksgiving Craft to Decorate your table

Pretty Pumpkin- turn a Thanksgiving dinner table into something special with these ideas that take only a few minutes to make.

Hot glue cloves, star anise, and leaves to a small pumpkin or gourd to make a fragrant place card.

Fill a white container with white and yellow mini pumpkins resting on a bed of colorful fall leaves. Top a pale green pumpkin with a bright gingham bow. Beneath the bow, crisscross thin ribbon in colorful rows down the pumpkin

Pumpkin Bird Feeder

For a seasonal supplement to your regular bird feeder, cut a 3-5 pound pumpkin in half;scoop pit, leaving a 1/2 inch thick wall. Cut a 1/2 inch deep groove in the rim for pumpkin seeds. For perches, poke holes and insert twigs. To hang, knot two lengths of twine together in center;tack knot to feeder bottom, Fill with birdseed

French Chicken Stew

This is a great fall and winter stew that will please your whole family.

You need

4 cups sliced mushrooms of choice
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium red potato, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup fresh green beans
1/2 cup pitted ripe olives, halved
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tbsp quick cooking tapioca
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning crushed
3/4 tsp dried thyme, crushed
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1 jar tomato pasta sauce or one jar of Alfredo pasta sauce
French bread optional

In a slow cooker combine mushrooms,undrained tomatoes,carrots,onion, potato,green beans,olives, broth,wine,tapioca,seasonings. Place chicken on top;sprinkle with seasoned salt. Cover and cook on how for 6-7 hours.

Stir in pasta sauce.

Buffalo Chicken and Potatoes

You need

1 1/4 lb boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch strips
1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce
6 cups frozen southern style hash brown potatoes
1 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 cup corn flakes crumbs
2 tablespoons butter melted
1/4 cup chopped green onions

How to

Heat oven to 350 Spray your baking dish

In bowl stir together chicken strips and wing sauce
In another bowl stir together potatoes, dressing, cheese and soup. Spoon into baking dish. Place chicken strips in single layer over potato mixture
In a bowl stir together crumbs and butter Sprinkle in baking dish
Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes;uncover 20- 25 minutes longer or until potatoes are tender and chicken is no longer pink
Sprinkle with green onions

2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving

We had a pumpkin carving dinner last night. Bill made a pot of chili and we carved pumpkins.

Here's William dressed up for the event.

Here they are hard at work making the perfect pumpkin. They look serious, don't they.

Here William is watching and making sure everyone does a good job.

William with Mom giving us his cute smile

Here are the masterpieces. Good job, guys. !!!

This one is Ben's.

This one is Grandpa's

This one is Jennifer's.

Good job to all. Hope you all have a spooky and Happy Halloween.