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Saturday, September 24, 2011

You're My Favorite Cookie and Sweet Saturday!

Happy Saturday, my sweet friends! I hope your weekend is off to a wonderful start. :o)

After a far more willy nilly week than anticipated, I have a couple of treats to share with you today. :o) First up is a card that combines two of my favorite aspects of the season: Autumn colors and baking.

"You're My Favorite Cookie"

Isn't she sweet? This is one of my very favorite stamps (Elisabeth Bell~ Willow with Cookies). I was thrilled (and nervous) to color her. This card was designed with a child, best friend, or sweetheart in mind... the one who is your favorite cookie, ice cream flavor, chocolate, etc. Such a high compliment, really. ;)

You just can't bake in the fall without fuzzy slippers, so I cut up a pom pom and adhered fuzzies to her slippers with Glossy Accents. I coated her bow, belt, and the hearts on her pants with Diamond Stickles to give her an autumn sparkle. I lined up the sentiment circle to match the design of the paper so there's no break in the lovely textured quilt pattern and secured it with a heart button and bow. :o) The upper part of the frame is decorated with branches and a sparkly pinecone. I embossed the leaves and interior of the frame for more texture... and like how the dots somewhat resemble chocolate chips. The frame cut-outs remind me of chocolate fragments, too.. but that could just be my chocoholic mind. ;) I hope this sweet little card makes you smile. :o)

Challenges entered:
 * A Gem of a Challenge~ Sketch (my first challenge of this nature, which was quite hard for me)
 * Cooking With Cricut~ Autumn colors
 * My Craft Spot~ Fall Leaves

Dessert makes me smile... and thankfully it's time for another Sweet Saturday! It would have been appropriate to bake a batch of the best chocolate chip cookies in the world as part of this gift, but I couldn't wait any longer to try a new autumny recipe. A seasonal delight with a dose of chocolate: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake!

I turned this amazing bread recipe into a bundt cake yesterday because I just love the simple beauty of bundts. I was a bit skeptical of chocolate chips with pumpkin, but it is delicious! My loved ones enjoyed it immensely. The cake is super moist, with a taste of autumn in every bite. The pumpkin and spices meld together beautiful, while the dollops of melted chocolate provide another fun level of flavor. This is fabulous on its own, but I can never resist a light topping of some kind on my bundts, so I dusted it with confectioners' sugar. (It makes a great breakfast treat, too. I'm just saying.)

The recipe as written makes three loaves of bread, so if you go that route be prepared to freeze a loaf... or better yet, share with your friends and family. Whether in cake or bread form, make it soon and enjoy one of autumn's delights. :o) Thank you for visiting me today, my friends. You make me happy. :o)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
Yield: One bundt cake (or three loaves of bread: simply divide batter between three 9x5 loaf pans)

Ingredients:
3½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1½ teaspoons salt
3 cups granulated sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1 cup canola oil
⅔ cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350ยบ F. Generously spray a bundt pan with Pam with Flour, being careful to get all nooks and crannies.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, canola oil, water, vanilla, and eggs. Mix until smooth. Slowly blend in the flour mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.

Bake for 60 minutes or until browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely. Lightly dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Source: Two Peas and Their Pod
***

Key Recipe Components (for card):
 * Cricut cartridge: Create a Critter, Elegant Edges, Storybook
 * Cuttlebug embossing folders: Swiss Dots, Victoria
 * Stamp: Elisabeth Bell~ Willow with Cookies
 * Copics: E000, E00, R20 (skin); E25, E31, E50 (hair, pants, cookies); YR 01, YR12, YR18 (shirt); Y13, Y19, YR31 (apron); YG11, YG13 (plate)
 * Sentiment: Computer generated
 * Paper: Core'dinations, Creative Imaginations, DCWV, SEI
 * Self-adhesive Ribbon: K & Company
 * Button: My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie
 * Twine: Sew Easy (limeade)
 * Miscellaneous: rhinestones, Stickles

Photobucket

19 comments:

  1. *Sniff...sniff...sniff*

    Hmm...now where could that heavenly aroma be coming from?

    *walks around house in search of gorgeous scent* Nope not coming from my place.

    *walks outside to see if that is the source* Nope. Not there either.

    *skips into my Sunshine's blog* AH HA!!! I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    *faints*

    SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! It's Happy Sweet Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *hugs my sis with giant super sized chocolate chip and pumpkiny squishers*

    Sunshine, I could seriously write you a novel message here about how much I am in love with your two most flawless creations. But since everyone else would never forgive me for taking up so much space, I will be a good little beaver and control myself. TEE HEE!

    Sis, do you know how stunning your card is? It is a feast for the eyes...and most importantly for the soul. I simply can't peel my eyes from it. It is that gorgeous. The subtle details in this one Sunshine are outrageously perfect. There is just something about how you arranged the ideal placement of everything on this one that just draws you right into it. It is like a perfect symmetry. The way the leaves dance across the scene...the seamless way the two backgrounds come to meet...the stunning boarders (*hugglers the chocolate chippies*)...the tiny sparkling accents...everything complements each other SO gorgeously, Sunshine. It is like every single piece was destined to go together. It takes an extra special heart to be able to construct a masterpiece such as this. And honestly sis, Willow is just incredible. Your colouring technique is surreal...look at how beautifully she pops out in the center...you highlighted her so amazingly. I just get goosebumps with this card. My eyes are in heaven. *dreamy sighhhhhhh*

    Uh oh. This post is getting novelish already! Am I in trouble sis? *hides behind your bundt* TEE HEE! And speaking of bundtness, OMJ!!! Are you kidding me?!?! I want that NOW!!! And I'm not talking a slice or two, I'm talking the whole thing! *tackle devours it with a steaming Pumpkin Spice Latte to match* Lol. It should be on the cover of a magazine Sunshine. It is that irresistable!

    *jumbo pumpkin sized squishies from your proudest ever sis (aka queen of novel comments)* God bless you Sunshine for dusting all of our Saturdays with your sweetest sugary love!!!

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  2. Hi Karen, so guess what we have in common? Dessert makes me smile too :) This recipe looks fantastic! Ok and that card... oh my word is it ever so beautiful! Your coloring is stunning! Have a WONDERFUL weekend!
    Shelly
    http://mypaperlove.blogspot.com/

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  3. oooo I love this card, Sweets! I'm so excited to see your new stamp all colored in; now I love it even more (duh). I'm in awe of how three dimensional she looks. Her shirt is popping off the page, and I'm mad about her sparkly bow and fuzzy-wuzzy slippers. You always go above and beyond the typical stamping and coloring - further proof that you are so amazing and talented. Whoever is graced with this card is one lucky duck. <3

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  4. Wow your cake looks amazing and what a great cake it is! l'm going to make time and make this for our halloween and l'm sure its going to be a winner your card is fabulous too:) Sandra H

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  5. Hiya Karen,

    Fab card - I love the autumny feel to the card with all the leaves especially with it being your first sketch challenge.

    Thanks for joining in the gem of a challenge!!!

    Paula GDT. x

    http://paulaholifieldcrafts.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. *tip toes back in and sneaks another cookie off of Willow's little plate and a second helping of your bundt cause I can't resist*

    TEE HEE!

    *hides cause I think I'm in BIG trouble* SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

    *forever super squishies* :)

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  7. Adorable card! I love her fuzzy slippers and the cute heart button! Your coloring with the Copics looks amazing! Such a sweet sentiment too! :)

    Karen
    craftedwithlovebykaren.blogspot.com

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  8. Sweet card and sentiment !! Thanks for playing along with us this week at My Craft Spot !
    Joy

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  9. what an awesome card.. and the cake looks so yummy

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  10. What a fabulous card! I love the little maple leaves you've added around the image. What a lovely touch!
    And thank you SO much for your recipe! I've never had pumpkin bread and it's been mentioned on so many posts lately. I'm happy to have a recipe that's recommended as I was just going to do a Google search and hope for the best!
    Thanks so much for playing along at My Craft Spot!
    Kate
    Small Bits of Paper

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  11. Oh Karen this is such a gorgeous card.Love that Willow bakes in her furry slippers!Beautiful colouring.
    Jayne x

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  12. Beautiful card! your coloring is perfect:) love the furry slippers too. The bundt cake looks really good!! Hugs, Pam

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  13. Hi Karen,Your card is ADORABLE!AMAZING job with the coloring and BEAUTIFUL details,and that cake looks really good!:)

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  14. Well you done it again. This card is gorgeous, sweet, and loving all wrapped in one. I always get this feeling when I look at your cards that I just want to pull the little images off the cards and put them on my desk. I know I am nut!! They are just so sweet. You managed to add so much dimension to her shirt..colored perfectly. And the fuzzy slippers..a hit! I won't even go there with the recipe. Lord only knows how much weight I may put one with all of them. Oh well. Hugs Karen and thanks for making me smile.

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  15. FUZZY SLIPPERS! I am so glad I am not the only person in the world with big fuzzy slippers (even if the other is a cartoon!). Mine are pink and I love them. ;)

    I adore this card, my friend. One glance and I was completely in love with this little sweetheart and her tray of yummy cookies. You did such a fantastic job on the colouring. I love how the sweet little girl and the autumn leaves just POP off the page. As always, you have created something really special here. :)

    As for your recipe, I will confess that I have already copied it and purchased all the necessary ingredients. AND I added an extra work-out into my week so I can eat an extra slice (or two) when it's ready. See? You inspire me in the craft room AND in the kitchen. :)

    Big hugs, Nita

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  16. Yummy! The card and the cake are both delicious feasts for the eyes, Karen! Love the use of navy blue on your card as well as all of the special details. Thanks for linking up at Cooking With Cricut this week!

    ~ Jen, CWC Design Team
    www.gator-4-life.blogspot.com

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  17. Beautiful card,lovely colours and the image is fabulous.... The cake looks scrummy too....thanks for sharing with us at A Gem of a Challenge,hope to see you next time...
    Mandy x

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  18. Soooooooooooo pretty Ms. Karen! I love your Copic coloring, it is amazing my friend! She is so sweet with her cookies! I love how you split the papers diagonally and added the border punch and leaves. Excellent job my sweet friend! And that cake looks scrumptous, yummmmmmmmm!!!!!

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  19. This sweet card definitely makes me smile!! I love the little girl and her fuzzy slippers are so adorable!! You colored her PERFECTLY, Karen! What a gorgeous, gorgeous card! And oh my gosh, pumpkin and choc chips??!! Two of my favs - this recipe just shot to the top of my "to bake" list!!

    Big sparkly hugs, Lisa
    http://indymermaid.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving some love! Have a beautifully blessed day. :o)

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