Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin and chocolate together? You bet! 

This is one of those Fall recipes that fills the kitchen with a warm and spicy aroma. I've been making these since I found the recipe on a grocery store flyer as a newlywed - many years ago :) The original recipe didn't have the chocolate chips but I really like the combination.

These bar cookies are super easy to make with basic ingredients that you probably have in the pantry with the addition of one can of pumpkin puree. 

Basically everything gets dumped into a mixer. Blend thoroughly,

 then fold in chocolate chips. The batter is very moist,

 like a cake batter.

 Spread in a large 18 x 13 baking sheet with sides. 

This size is called a half sheet .

 Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

 Let cool completely and cut into bars. Yield 36.

 They are moist and rich, sweet and spicy.

 They also look pretty dusted with powdered sugar.

These are a big hit at holiday get togethers.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

1 16 oz can pumpkin

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup cooking oil

1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Combine eggs, pumpkin, sugar and oil in mixer.  Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Beat well. Fold in chocolate chips. Spread in a lightly greased 18 x 13 baking sheet with a rim. Bake a t 350° for 25-30 minutes. Cool and cut into bars. Yield 3 dozen.

I like to join these parties

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ California Coastal Home

Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Share Your Style @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Simply Sweet Home

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the porch

Time for the Turkeys

I find it very easy to transition from my Halloween tablescape to a Thanksgiving table. I only have a few 

jack-o-lanterns and one witch that I swap out for my pilgrims and turkeys.

Last year I hosted Thanksgiving dinner and my brother offered to bring his "turkey plates" because I didn't have any. So not to be outdone in the plate department, this year I've been on the hunt for turkey plates at my favorite thrift stores and I was rewarded with a full set of 8 salad plates and 2 dinner plates for only a few dollars a piece.

 These are made by Johnson Brothers of England. The pattern is His Majesty. Even though I'll be using white plates at most of the settings I love the way the browns layer with the white.

 I found this darling pumpkin table runner last summer at the Goodwill and layered it on top of a wider linen runner with vintage English cabbage roses.

Instead of a cornucopia I've filled an old tool box with pumpkins and herbs.

 I also found this large turkey platter a couple of years ago at the Goodwill. It is also made by Johnson Brothers, pattern Wild Turkeys.

 My turkeys come in all sizes and differing materials.

Many of them are votive holders.

 I made turkey place cards several years ago and reuse them. You can download them from Martha Stewart's website.

To me Thanksgiving is a season of

 love, sharing and gratitude.

Oh, and pie.

I'll be joining

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ California Coastal Home

Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Share Your Style @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Vintage Charm@Charm Bracelet Diva

Fun Money Mom@Share the Wealth

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Simply Sweet Home

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the porch

Santons or "Little Saints"

I've never really been much into dolls, but these figurines are a bit different. These are French santons made in Provence. Santon means “Little Saint”. These charming clay figurines date to the 1700’s in France. During the French Revolution citizens were denied the freedom to worship as they pleased. Especially during the Christmas season nativity displays were forbidden. So the locals started making small figures representing everyday life such as farmers, weavers, bakers and fishermen. Each figure carries an item to represent their profession. These characters were placed in shop windows and homes but on Christmas Eve the Christ Child would be placed among them and the simple peasants stood in for the Magi bearing their humble gifts for the baby. Santons are still made in Provence today and are valued by collectors.

Santons are lovingly made by artisans who sign their work usually by a stamp in the clay.

The attention to detail is amazing.

I love seeing the simple peasants gathered around the Holy Family.

source

So if you see a little French peasant doll, remember the story of the Little Saints who  have come to worship the Christ Child.

I like to party here

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ California Coastal Home

Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Share Your Style @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Vintage Charm @Adirondack Girl at Heart

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Simply Sweet Home

Share the Wealth Sunday @Fun Money Mom

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the porch

Danish Sterling Tray

Five years ago I posted about my love of silver trays which you can read about HERE.  I use them for home decor on my walls, in tabletop vignettes or holding toiletries in the bathroom as well as serving elegant desserts.

I've been an antiques dealer for about 15 years and vintage silver trays are always a popular item in my shop. But as I mentioned in my old post these are silver plate trays, not sterling, which is very pricey! (And hard to come by).

As a dealer, I frequently get asked what my best "find" has been. Well, here it is - a sterling silver tray from Denmark that I found at an estate sale! A friend invited me to the sale knowing there would be some silver items that I might be interested in. I bought several silver trays, bowls and other serving pieces that were all quite tarnished and in need of a good cleaning. I was charged $1 a piece.

  I was drawn to this tray in particular as it has the stylings of a Georg Jensen piece. Georg Jensen was a very well known Danish silversmith and jewelry maker.

Here's the tray I found, and 

here is the Georg Jensen. Very similar!

  It wasn't until I got home and cleaned this piece up that I saw the marking on the bottom, "sterling". Wow, what a find! And I only paid $1.00!

I think this is one reason why so many of us love collecting - it's the thrill of the hunt and never knowing what treasure might be found today! 

Happy hunting!

I like to join

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ California Coastal Home

Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Share Your Style @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Vintage Charm@Charm Bracelet Diva

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Simply Sweet Home

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the porch