pumpkin cream tarts with candied cranberries

last weekend we had our friend christmas get together

and I was bringing a couple of different food items and a dessert

I really had an urge to do something different

and I believe I found a wonderful, wonderful recipe

I was beyond excited to make tarts

out of all the desserts I've made over the years I had never tried tarts

and besides I wanted something other than a chocolate dessert:)

So during my late night internet search a couple of weeks ago

I found the winning recipe I wanted to try

pumpkin cream tarts with candied cranberries

courtesy of country living

I thought I'd share the recipe with you all because I loved them so much

making the tarts was definitely more fun for me

 I felt a little like I was "creating" more in the kitchen

rather than going through ..."my routine of baking"

I did take pictures as I knew I wanted to get back to blogging

plus I am such a visual person with recipes

I love to see pictures of what I'm making

and thought you may appreciate them as well

As a side note before I get started

most of my ingredients came from trader joe's

I know...

I go on and on about Trader Joe's

but I really believe that 1/2 the time the ingredients from there make all the difference

especially their ginger snaps

so throughout the recipe...I'll make note of which ingredients I think are best from there

step one

make the tart shells

one of my favorite parts about making the tarts are the beautiful tart tins

and how pretty they looked stacked together

I know...not part of my recipe {smile}

Preheat your over to 350

Combine the gingersnaps cookies crumbs {3 cups} with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, and 1 1/2 sticks of butter in a large bowl...yes that much butter:)

so the gingersnaps are literally the best from Trader Joe's...I purchased the ones in the circular clear container because there was more in the container than the ones in the bag

I love their cinnamon as well

and absolutely love, love, love trader joe's butter....I like how their sticks are quartered size or you can use their awesome irish butter...make sure it's unsalted butter:)

Cover the bottoms and sides of eight 3 1/2-inch tartlet pans with removable bottoms with the crumb mixture. Transfer the tartlet shells to a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

They will look this color

step two

Make the cranberry topping: Bring 2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Add the fresh cranberries {1 cup} and cook until they just begin to soften. Remove cranberries with a slotted spoon to a small bowl and set aside.

Reserve cranberry syrup for another use.

I did use cranberries from trader joe's as well

and I added just a bit of orange juice to them as I cooked them

I couldn't help myself that I filled almost two ball jars up with the cranberry syrup

the color looked amazingly beautiful

and the syrup will be perfect for the pancakes I will make Christmas morning
or even for ice cream

 

***also when I made this recipe I doubled the recipe in order to make around 16 tarts so that's why I had so much syrup***

 

step three

Make the filling:

Fill a large bowl with ice and water and set aside.

Place the milk {1/2 cup and yes I always stress organic...organic milk is a must in my opinion} in a small bowl, sprinkle the unflavored gelatin {1 teaspoon} over it, and set aside.

Combine the pumpkin purée {1 cup}, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons brandy, 1 1/3 Tablespoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, and 4 large egg yolks in large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture begins to bubble and a thermometer reads 140 degrees F.

***again trader joe's has the best pumpkin puree...and talking with the check out person she told me that their pumpkin is fabulous for dog's coats...

so I've been adding a little to my sweet cadence's dish at night too***

Stir in the milk mixture, cook for 1 more minute, transfer the mixture to a medium bowl, and place over the prepared ice bath.

Stir occasionally, until cool — about 10 minutes.

Okay since I doubled the recipe it was taking longer than 10 minutes for me...I set it in the ice bath for about a 1/2 hour and it still wasn't cool so I resorted to the freezer for about 15 minutes 

 I was in a time crunch because the tarts still had to set for 6+ hours when finished

I got a little ahead of myself and started filling the tarts with the pumpkin mix after it was cooled and it looked like this

BUT...the recipe wanted me to fold the whipped cream I made into the chilled pumpkin mixture and THEN fill the prepared shells

so I literally had to scoop this mix out of 20 shells back into a bowl

and then I followed the directions which it said:

Fold the whipped cream into the chilled pumpkin mixture, fill the prepared shells, and smooth the tops.

GOT IT NOW!!! {smile}

so to make the whip cream...you need 1 cup of heavy cream whipped to soft peaks

I love to use my mixer because I can turn the setting on high and let it go

just to let you know

I added about 1 to 2 teaspoons {I can't remember how much} of my vanilla bean paste that I get from william sonoma... I love vanilla bean paste of vanilla extract because it looks prettier with the little flakes of the vanilla bean ~ love, love

pretty pretty!!!

but you have to do it quick or people like my husband keep trying my whip cream

Chill for 6 hours+ or overnight.

Top each tartlet with a spoonful of the candied cranberries and serve cold.

I personally thought it was pretty to drizzle a little bit of the cranberry syrup I had in the ball jars on the tarts after topping them with the cranberries:)

the recipe says it yields 8 tarts...

but I found it was probably more like 10 tarts
as I got 20 tarts from doubling the recipe

I hope you all enjoy

I'm actually going to be making more this weekend

just one batch this time:)

since Madison and Hayley weren't able to try one

plus I wanted to make some for my parents too

Happy Baking and Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas!

xo



intangibles

I probably have lost most of you by now...

Last night I actually did a quick blog visit looking for something on my blog

I wanted to find

and then I also found a post that i did 2 years ago this month of a video

when my youngest was 1 1/2

and I cried

that age is so sweet and I just miss it

even though I love the ages both of my girls are at right now too

it was just a reminder of how time just flies by

often before you want it to

I really miss posting on my blog

yes, I've said this before

but I really realized it more than ever last night

I miss reading my friend's blogs

I miss the connections I made with all of you

I miss many of things

but I just had to take a break from writing

sharing

posting

I just needed to live life for my family

some things are hard to say...

this past year has been wonderful for so many of things

but it also has been an extremely difficult year for my family too

that's hard to say

not just my immediate family

but also in my extended family

 and if I would have written

it would have been painful for me

that's why I stepped away

and of course because lack of time as well

I've really been off the wall busy with my family, kiddos, my business, etc.

I just couldn't make my blog a priority

 I chose to focus on other things

and I am happy with that decision

I wanted to look at my life and still appreciate the wonderful blessings

that I have no matter what

because I have so many blessings

that I'm just so thankful for

anyway,

I want to get back on track with sharing...

so as most of you know

Christmas is in my top 3 holidays of the year

the giving and celebrating family/friends is my favorite part of the year

and it also means that I have guaranteed time that my hubby is in town too:)

we have already had some wonderful christmas celebrations

a couple of weekends ago with my in-laws

this past weekend was Christmas with our friends

and i made pumpkin candied cranberry tarts

yes, I made tarts for the very first time
I loved it!

and I'm still pretty darn excited about it
although, it took me forever

I may just be going through a tart phase now
they are just so cute and pretty

obviously, I'm sidetracked with my tarts now

which I do plan on sharing the recipe because I loved it

both of the celebrations were wonderful

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays

it has been that way since I was a child

my sister and I always, always loved it

Miracle on 34th Street

and we would watch it almost on a daily basis

{almost}

yes, I've talked about that movie a lot on this blog in the past

my sis and i would watch it so much when we were younger

that I think my parents had to buy us 2 vhs tapes:)

we would literally wear this movie out:)

yes, "I believe"

and that only makes sense if you have watched the movie

So...

as I was going through my blog last night
I was reminded of my favorite quote in my very favorite Christmas movie

Miracle on 34th Street

I thought I would share it once again

 I took some Christmas photos of the girls yesterday afternoon

it was a blast

we had lots of fun

smiles

silly faces

dance moves to celebrate at the end of our little session

we all celebrated
the girls were great

actually fabulous

and wonderful

{that's because they were bribed with freezy ice pops}

we don't know how to get through a photo session without bribing in our family

just so you know...I am not above bribing to get photos :)

i almost put this picture on my virtual christmas card just to be reminded of all the silly things the girls and I do together

hopefully you will love this quote as much as I do

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

"Someday you are going to find that your way of facing this realistic world just doesn't work, and when you do, don't overlook those lovely intangibles. You'll discover those are the only things that are worthwhile."

and I found that quote true so much of this past year
hold on to those intangibles

Thank you everyone for your patience

and thank you to my fabulous friends that over the past couple of months kept asking me when I was coming back with my blog

it was just nice to hear your sweet words to me

it didn't go unnoticed

Happy Holidays!!!

"Whatever is good,

whatever brings you joy...

May it be yours during

this magical season and the

throughout the coming year."



sweet serendipity

"i don't need to play the lottery"

 not at all

i'm in love with the new song by Lee DeWyze

*in love*

*love*

with it

I hope you'll listen to the song first and then maybe read on...

afterwards

just don't mind the radio introduction at the beginning of the song

remember listen first

{lol}

yes this picture is minus Daddy on Christmas Eve

we were in a rush searching for some little girl's black shoes for over an hour

that we never found

so we had limited picture time with the girls

most of our pictures are blurry of the girls

but still really cute

Madison did take this photo of Daddy, Hayley, and I

{minus Daddy and Hayley's head..lol}

anyway...

this song reminded me of something I hadn't showed you all yet

I don't know why

but just realized I hadn't told you a couple of days ago

this year

  I made a decision in October sometime

also known as my *rebel* decision this year

but

I'll get back to the *rebel* decision in a moment here

to be honest

this has been a difficult year for my family

and my extended family

many issues I don't talk about here

because I don't have to share it all
and some things are personal to others in my family

I know I've talked about really personal things before

but I just won't on a few things

even though this has been a tough year...it definitely wasn't our worst

and that's why we're coming out smiling in 2010

there is plenty to celebrate

plenty to smile about

and plenty, plenty to be happy and thankful about

 the things Bobby and I have been dealt this year

{no I'm not talking about his traveling...}

but things in our life...

and things in our extended family's life

have been quite difficult

however

we are still smiling and celebrating what we do have

 all I can think about ending this year with is

twirls

 leaps

snow angels

{if we still had snow}

and anything good that exclaims happiness

because there is soooo much in our life we should be smiling about

this song makes me just want to dance with my family

knowing that yes sometimes

we've just barely landed on our feet with things

but the point is

"we landed"

"whether it was by the nic of time

or the skin of our teeth"

{lyrics from Sweet Serendipity}

that's what I'm choosing to remember from this year

was all the good things

and the fact that I took a leap with my *rebel* decision

and finally chose to not care about others opinions

{not care in a good, healthy way}

and finally doing something that was *me*

at the end of it all...

I'm choosing to relish in

our family

the support we've had from our wonderful family

and our wonderful, wonderful friendships

this year we've had so many great times...I couldn't possibly count

that's what I love about a tough year

the "tough" things may have seemed difficult at the time

and they are and still are at times

I won't lie

but they are never the things I ever remember in the end

just the way it should be...

in my opinion

because we are doing just fine

and we do love what we've got

and that's all that matters

now for my *rebel* decision I made in October...

in all honesty

this was a decision a looooooooooong time coming

something I put off for about a year and a half

I have told Bobby I wanted to do this for a very long time

 here are two truths about it

it is *me*

and it was sooo much *fun*

I was with a couple of friends, and I mentioned my long-standing hesitation with doing this

I didn't know if I *should*

or if it would affect the business I am in just because with a personal business you do sometimes get judgments

I couldn't have had two better people to go right along with me

as they told me it didn't matter

just be me

and point two seconds later

all three of us were in the car and another girlfriend did it with me

by the way "*rebel* decision" was coined by another close friend of mine

and that makes me smile

my nose...

yes it is pierced

and you know what

I loooove it

it felt great doing it

there has not been one regret

Bobby, of course, loved it

and it makes me smile every time I see it

and I love it with my new hat that Santa brought

actually that's just an excuse to show you my hat

since I looooove my hat too

2010

even though you are an even numbered year

you all know I'm not a fan of even numbers by now, right?

it is a year to celebrate

a year ending in wide-armed twirls, smiles, a lot of fun, and a lot of love

xo

hoping you and your family had a very Merry Christmas...

and wishing you a very blessed New Year

thank you all for your sweet comments each and every year

they always make me smile

the reindeer are lining up...

tippity tap

tippity tap

tippity

tippity

tap

the presents are finally all wrapped

the baking is almost done

the errands are almost complete

coffee was poured early, early this morning to help me finish up a last few touches

yes...

we have waited until the last minute on many things

but sometimes thats the fun in it all
rushing to get it all complete in time

for His birth

Madison has been asking if it is Jesus' birthday yet

and that has put a smile on my face every day this week

we just have to get His purple cake made

as she insisted it had to be purple

and she told me that we can make purple by mixing red and blue

and my Dad...
known as Mr. Professor
to my mom and I

because he knows everything
didn't know something that simple

I guess he's minus one on the knows everything now
I'm still laughing about it

my mom tried to compliment me on that Madison knew that
since she said it so matter of factly...

and my mom said what a great job I do teaching them things

but shhh.....

she had to have learned that in school

and I betcha one of her wonderful teachers told her that

because I didn't

but I'll take the great mom compliment anyday of the week
{chuckle}

yes we do celebrate Santa
absolutely
Madison in the car yesterday asked me

"Do you believe?"
just like in the movie Miracle on 34th Street

I said
"heck yes I believe!!!!"

all while I was thinking
if I want my Clark W. Griwold style twinkle lights next year I better believe

truth is
I do believe even if there are no Clark W. Griswold twinkle lights next year
I believe regardless
*always*

we hope for warm hearts and smiles to spread across your family and your household today

and through the rest of the holiday season

Happy Holidays
Merry Christmas
Happy Hanukkah
{I'm getting this {Hanukkah} a little belated aren't I?...}

to all of you
our friends
and our family

xo

ps...we didn't do holiday cards this year
just didn't get to it at all
in case you are wondering
it's our first year we haven't done them

next year I should probably get a head start in October
just to make sure it happens

alright

this title has nothing to do with what is written below
maybe it does...

well, no
it
is
alright

everything is
alright...
and that feeeeeels nice
so yes, it may have everything to do with it

topic of today:

 reindeer

and real....live reindeer at that
{look at those feet}

I actually volunteered to be in the picture with the girls

and I never...ever
 volunteer to be in pictures...ever

it's not a great picture of all of us
but it's a picture:)

I may have been more excited to see the reindeer than the girls
that's probably silly

but whatever makes me smile, right?

this holiday season in our household there has been

smiles

giggles

hugs

and love

wishful thinking

dreaming

calm serenity
and a fullness I cannot explain

it's been simplicity

 days where I can look around and see many blessings

and

yes
we also have our holiday stories...

story one:
Hayley and the grinch

during our road trip over the weekend

 Hayley said she kicked the mean old witch
{which she meant grinch my sister-in-law figured out}

in her dream, she kicked him

she kicked the Grinch in the chin
she said

then she went about saying that God helped save her baby from the mean ole' Grinch

{her words...as a matter of fact}

at least she knows who can help her fight the big fights, right?

quite the dream she told us about as she woke up in the car headed to my in-laws
Bobby said...
well that explained the kick into my seat when she was sleeping then

then our family heard 20 minutes of the same story on every hour

she'd rotate who'd she told

seemingly I was in the room each time the story was told

so I heard it 4-6 times in 2 hours
no joke....

thanks Daddy for that one
while I play Miracle on 34th Street for them
he puts on the Grinch
{chuckle}

this season...

there has been lots of

curls

ribbons

bows

a few twinkle lights here and there

next year  I think we may plan ahead

as "we" forgot our reindeer broke last year along with many of our lights "not working"

actually I forgot
I'm not so sure Bobby forgot
maybe...just maybe Bobby didn't forget

and maybe...just maybe he didn't want to endure the cold to put them all up

but with Bobby home a day and a half most weekends

there isn't much time

we'd rather spend family time together then sending him outdoors in the freezing cold
{chuckle}

maybe...

oh, alright
this girl would have no problems having her husband freeze a little
so her twinkle lights could be put up

at least I'm honest

he does enjoy warm weather all week long while he is in Phoenix

yes that is a confession
{chuckle}

Since most of us have been enduring freezing harsh winters

every week he enjoys wonderful weather

I asked him if he'd refrain from any warm weather talk in this house

and he has...

 I did mention to him next year

that I would love to go all out on Christmas lights

Clark W. Griswold style

but not the plastic light-up figures

just the lights all over
the house

perhaps the roof

the porch

maybe even the yard if I'm lucky
I better get on Santa's nice list next year

if we do it...Bobby said you have to go big or go home doing it
we'll see if our lights are "working" next year
and if he goes "big"

but possibly some reindeer and angels

my favorite things

I think our neighbors will love us

don't you think?

we did say simple this year
but
I'm just being honest

the one thing I really miss this year is lots of outdoor twinkle lights

can you tell?

 since I have thoughts of going overboard next year

hopefully this week

we're about to indulge in

sprinkles

sugar

icing

and holiday treats

{probably a little too many holiday treats}

but it's on the agenda this week

to do our traditional Christmas baking

I just hope I have time to get to it
I never usually ever say...
"I hope I get time"

but this year
that phrase is true
just the way it is
I'm not going to stress about it if I don't get it all done

but we have one request from Miss Madison

to make Jesus a "royal purple birthday cake"
it has to be purple she said 

in celebration of what Christmas is all about

I'm not going to put on a fascade of all sugar plums and fairies this Christmas season

but it's been really different this year

 with Bobby gone right up to Christmas Eve pretty much

it just feels different
without him around more

but we are blessed and thankful beyond measure
and that's what I know

 I've been looking to all the goodness to keep me going
because there really is so much

 and the time all four of us do have together

because we are thankful for just having one another

celebrating it all with warm hearts and smiles

and yes...

this is my simple

easy

holiday and Christmas wrapping
everything but the paper I already had
so it was easy peasy
and fun to use up supplies that I already had

 the beautiful cursive writing is not mine
I wish it was
but
I regret to admit
I cannot write a bit of cursive
ask anyone who has seen my signature
and they'll confirm it
{smiles}



to make this...

I'll share with you a few things you may need...

first

{duh}

a gingerbread kit

 courtesy of Trader Joe's

really I should be a spokesperson in our area for them

*love* that store to pieces

just wish we had one a bit closer

I've tried to suggest they put one in our town or the next town over

 my family and extended family would keep them in business

not to mention several friends too

but it hasn't happened yet

I'll just continue to suggest

until they decide to thank me later
after they do decide to open a new location near me for my convenience
and it's really successful

but anyway

thank goodness I have a job where I get paid to be a spokesperson

no,...
this is absolutely *not* a shameless plug for what I do

I'm being serious

about that

it's really not a plug

because there is nothing like loving something you get paid for

that's seriously my job

and I love it

just being honest

with you all

it's one of those *honest* kind of days

you know

fyi if you'd like a gingerbread kit yourself

this one was purchased for $7.99 from Trader Joe's

I haven't found one that is cheaper or cuter yet to be honest
just my opinion

if you don't have a Trader Joe's...

Target has a couple for $9.99 as well

{just thought I would share that in case you are a price kind of person}

so secondly...

and this one is completely optional...

it would be optional to me

but I really didn't have a choice in the matter

but secondly

you need

 help that thinks they know everything about buildings

particularly metal pre-engineered buildings

who also can manage the project
or has management skills

oops...

I almost forgot we are doing a gingerbread house

not a "pre-engineered metal" gingerbread house

so those credentials/requirements
{I previsouly mentioned}

are highly optional

unless that person is cute

then just maybe they can get away with project managing

{ahem...the one above}

thirdly...

and what worked for us

is a wee little one who just likes to entertain everyone

or shake the candy packages...

 maybe to make music
or maybe just to do it for fun

no particular skills required

but someone who makes you smile and laugh
{a requirement of any kind of project}

that would be this one in our family

see...

she just wanted to shake the packages of sprinkles, gummies

and that little mark on her cute face
she flat-backed herself at my in-laws house over Thanksgiving
ran right into the corner of the cabinets
it really did kind of scare me
ugh...
but luckily the mark is looking so much better now

so would this be fourthly?...

I'm thinking...fourthly isn't a word

so let's go with

next...

you need an assistant to the project manager

who likes to study

every.single.detail

to make sure it looks exactly like the picture on the box

so the project manager

doesn't have a misstep

or

the project manager doesn't have to submit a *change order*

for the corrections that have to be made

{oh yes Mr. Project Manager I've heard you loud and clear with the lingo these last 6 years

surprised the heck out of you didn't I?}

oh, and...

I need to introduce you to the assistant project manager

that would be this one

the one on the right of course
you've already met the head PM

I thought the project managers could use a picture together

  lastly...

{I really wanted to say fifthly...}
as in the number 5 with a "ly" at the end

but I didn't...

just so you know...that does not say filthy above....it is 5thly...

if your mind wandered

that is not my fault...
I'm talking numbers here

you also

 need someone to document

{I guess}

why is that always me?

did I mention over thanksgiving weekend

in the car traveling

the project manager

"this guy"

had me typing his e-mails

as he dictated them to me

and of course I'm supposed to know how to spell obscure construction terms

*that was a fun drive*

kidding...

I only had to do one short e-mail since he was driving
and I joked with him about it
that my payment for my time should be in new fall boots

should have gotten it in writing
before I hit *send* on the e-mail

but anyway...someone to document

that would be me...

by the way

this was a super easy kit

all you had to do was mix the icing

and for that you only needed a little lemon juice and one egg white

I must mention one disclaimer

project managers often like to do trial runs of the pieces

in order to show the subordinate workers how it is really done

and exactly how the icing should go between the pieces so it sticks together

just a warning

no really...

we had a super fun hour or so starting a new tradition of putting together a gingerbread house

and we all worked together perfectly

within our own roles

{wink, wink}

well...me the documenter

got in trouble for taking too long to document

i.e.
taking a few pictures

and was warned that the icing was going to get too stiff to use as glue
for the *panels*

 and then the candies would not stick either

okay...

so I got three warnings

but it all worked out just fine

and if you have spare icing on hand

{doesn't have to be gingerbread icing btw}

for back-up that always helps

 we didn't use our back-up icing at all
{smile}

 our result was two very happy girls with a job well done
of decorating it all by themselves
and the box
{that's according to the assistant PM}

voila...

fyi...

I have a PM for hire
if you need one
 for your gingerbread house

I know just the person

you may be able to hire him by the 1/2 hour

as long as the terms are agreed upon

of course by the project manager, himself
and most importantly by his legal team,
moi

of course I would get it in writing for you
accepted forms of payment would be
new fall boots for the PM's documenter,
moi

{chuckle}