Monday, November 14, 2011

Bread Pudding Recipe......Yum!!!

It's fall and time for some comfort food and of course apples! Here is a way to have both. Add a bit of coarse sea salt to the caramel sauce and have a swanky, upscale dessert being served in high end bakeries and restaurants. Enjoy!



Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

9 cup stale bread cubes (about 12 slices)
1/2 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups milk
4 medium apples
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Caramel Sauce:
1 cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut bread into small pieces and place in bowl. Add raisins. Pour milk over bread and raisins. Peel, core, and slice apples. Cut apples in quarters and place over bread mixture.

In bowl combine sugar, eggs and melted butter; whisk until smooth. Pour egg mixture over apples and stir to combine. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes.

Sauce: Combine water and cornstarch in microwave-safe dish, stirring until blended. Add sugar and cinnamon and whisk until dissolved. Microwave on HIGH for 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened. Check and stir halfway through cooking time. Remove; add butter and vanilla extract. Stir until butter is melted. Serve sauce over bread pudding.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Follow the signs!






Here is recycling /re purposing at its best. I found this old wood in a pile in the back. They were the perfect size to make painted signs. I sanded them lightly, painted and distressed them. I thought long and hard on how to put the wording on. I finally used my sister's Cricut and made word stencils. I copied the stencil with a pencil and then hand painted them in. Then the fun began...the distressing! I sanded, crackled, hammered, scratched, stamped, until I had the worn chipped look I love. I used a walnut stain to further deepen the patina and sealed with a polyacrylic. I am very pleased with how they came out. I gave a couple as gifts and have a few more pieces of wood to work on when the inspiration strikes me. These were a lot of fun to do and urge anyone who wants a vintage looking sign like the ones you see in catalogs and in stores, for a lot less money.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Fall Vignettes....Better late then never.



Here are a couple of my Halloween/Fall vignettes. Included in one of the pictures is my DIY Mercury Glass lamp I made from a Goodwill find. Find the link to making your own faux mercury glass here.
http://www.kelleymaria.com/2011/04/diy-mercury-glass.html

Lots of DIY projects in the works. I am finally motivated to make my house a home that shows off what I love and that makes me happy. I will share as I finish them in future posts. Happy Fall!