Category Archives: Fall

Halloween Cookies

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Yesterday felt like cookie decorating weather. I don’t know if it was the cooler temperatures or the dreary grey skies that made me want to stay indoors but I went with it. I called up a couple gals and invited them over for an afternoon of girl talk and some festive fall fun. I found a great cookie recipe from Pioneer Woman. I made the sugar cookie dough before the girls came over because I read that it needed to be refrigerated for at least an hour. Once we started trying to roll out the cookie dough we realized that this sugar cookie dough was not the best for cookie cutters so… We improvised and chose to just frost and decorate the tops of the cookies. Allison suggested this sugar cookie dough when using cookie cutters. I think I will use it next time and keep Pioneer Woman’s recipe for basic sugar cookies.

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Alli (our sugar cookie making pro)getting the cookies on the parchment before baking them.

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Table ready for decorating! I bought store bought frosting (chocolate, vanilla, and vanilla frosting tinted orange) and a bunch of sprinkles.

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Leo enjoyed watching us decorate cookies.

How are you enjoying fall?

🎃Erica👻

Made it through Atlanta Airport

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It’s Sunday afternoon at 1:30 and I’m hanging out at my gate to board my flight back to Minneapolis. The Atlanta Airport has not always been my friend but i accepted the fact before going to security that it was not going to be easy peezy lemon squeezy (that’s what the kids say at school) I was x-rayed and I did not enjoy standing in the tight space with my hands over my head. ( the last time i put my hands up was at wedding when doing SHOUT, honestly i’m not a dancer)

I’m sure all of you are doing much more exciting things today. Marcy was so nice to drive me to Birmingham and back to Atlanta to the airport. We were both saying in the car today that our Thanksgiving break went by way to quick. We drove home last Saturday and I can’t believe I am sitting in the airport already again going back to Minneapolis. Thanksgiving with the fam was so much fun this year and I know I say this every year (but, it’s really true) my mom and dad topped last year. All desserts homemade and recycled bags for party favors (way to go going green Mom!)… I mean I gotta give at least 5 gold stars.

Enjoy the photos and just curious is anyone excited for CYBER MONDAY? It sounds like they are projecting it to be a bigger success than BLACK FRIDAY. I have promised Justin that I will not be buying anything but if I was I would snap up a long black cardigan from jcrew and a couple other tops I saw in the store and maybe some flats but ya know that’s just staples to add to the wardrobe!

How are you spending your Sunday?

Thankful for…

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Alabama Crimson chargers with striped plates. My mom goes all out when entertaining!

Thanksgiving may have been yesterday but we don't repeat meals. You have to have Fried Chicken, biscuits, broccoli slaw, corn casserole and red hot spiced apples when you watch a game.

It’s 6:15 on Friday and the Alabama/ Auburn game is over and unfortunately I will not be driving to the fan store to pick up my Iron Bowl shirt this year. Alabama lost by 1 point which is too bad. But I wanted to inspire all of my readers and encourage you all to look back at this past year and reflect on what you are thankful for. I don’t usually do it in a list but I’m going to try something new.


1. my family- The “fam” as I like to call them are always in reach by phone  and email. Some of them I might even call closet blog readers because they don’t comment but I have learned that they are some of my avid readers. (Shout out to y’all… lots of love) Some crazy stuff has happened this year but my mom is determined to tell anyone that 2011 is going to be a great year.

I found this on my moms dresser. (not sure what year it was but know its Halloween)

 

2. my friends (in Minneapolis/ outside of ) Some of you I  affectionately  call my family  because you have been there for me this year for some great/ not so great times. I love that I can persuade you to lie on the couch with me and watch some tv or encourage you to be a baking buddy   for a new recipe that I must try.Thanks to my out of town buddies for realizing that I am terrible at calling people back and sending me emails and gchats.

3. Leo- now I know you are all laughing but Leo  ( my cocker spaniel) is not only quite entertaining but a great pup and I had to include him in the list. He keeps us entertained all year long.

4. Justin (my husband)- He always says yes to any crazy thought I may have. He will run out to the grocery in terrible weather when I forget an ingredient for a recipe and he will happily take Leo out when tons of snow is falling down. He makes great pancakes and kugel and will happily wash dishes without being asked.

5. Tom Tom- (my gps) Pretty funny I know but I could not have navigated as well as I did (haha… I’m still learning my way around) without you. You have been there for me in snow, harsh winds, multiple times I have gotten lost, and for various lengthy excursions) Thank you for being a small, palm sized electronic that I literally would be lost without.

Dad, Mom, me, and Justin (not pictures are my brother, Josh and the pups Sassy and Selly)

 

What are you thankful for?

What makes your life easier?

Roll Tide Roll

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Thanksgiving is over and most people are winding down and either shopping the Black Friday sales or going to a movie.. If you live in Alabama though you are gearing up for the Iron Bowl today at 1:30. Children born in Alabama know who they will cheer for right away. I am sure my mom can find our red and white pom poms. I am an Alabama fan. My mom went to the University of Alabama and so did my Aunt Bobbye and my Uncle Michael. Last year after the game we drove to the Alabama fan store and bought Iron Bowl shirts. I can’t decide if I want to wear the shirt I bought last year or an old favorite. I thought I’d share my excitement with you through pictures.

Gobble Till You Wobble

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Thanksgiving table 2010 sans being set with plates.

Selly and Sassy eagerly await to see if they can get a piece of turkey.

My mom is showing everyone/ cousin Craig what a Reynolds Turkey Bag looks like.

Party Favor for Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving! I actually got to sleep in a bit this year (8 A.M.) Justin, Josh (my baby brother) and  I have been running around the house helping my parents with the last minute details for Thanksgiving. Our Thanksgiving is set up more like a lunch but I prefer to call it a high class 3 course meal. We start at 1:00 with appetizers (barbecue salami, hearts of palm spread, feta spread, hummus, and party mix). Then the family (28 members attending this year) move on to a 2:00 lunch (Dad’s turkey, Fried Turkey, mac and cheese, spinach and artichoke casserole,corn casserole,Aunt Bobbye’s delish and far from nutrish sweet potatoes, Dad’s FAMOUS dressing, and I am sure I am forgetting some that my mom will let you all know about when she comments later.  I know my northern buddies call it “stuffin” but down south we call it “dressin” and to  be exact my dad’s it’s made with homemade cornbread, veggies, and chicken and it is by far a favorite thing at the Seligman’s Thanksgiving every year. At 3:30 seeing as how we are all not stuffed enough from a spread of appetizers and a well laid out meal we then move on to desserts. Now I’m not talking about your simple store bought pumpkin pie/ pecan pie/ apple pie… nope we are doing it the Caren way which means homemade everything and by far not super ordinary. (Tiramisu, Chocolate Bread Pudding, Andes Cookies, and White Chocolate Peanut Butter bites…just to name a few… I have started counting but have gotten interrupted a couple times to help out in the kitchen and have alas given up)

The meal starts this year with 28 people at 1:00 but come 3:30 we usually add on at least 20 more people. Now after we have our dessert comes a favorite time called comfy clothes clean up. (this is the closes to exercising that we get on Thanksgiving) We don’t break a sweat but we put the house back in order and try to work up an appetite for Turkey Sandwich time at 7:00 (yes, you read this right… we pull out the turkey again and have turkey sandwiches on Edgar’s Challah ( a favorite Birmingham  place of Justin’s)  and it is a delish experience all over again and maybe just maybe we eat some dessert and some chips too) What can I say it’s tradition and who  can argue with that?

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving my lovely readers?

Do you do anything out of the ordinary?


Headed to Bama

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I made it to Birmingham. It was an early morning. Justin and I got up at 4:30. I’m not sure who was more ready to crawl back in bed Leo or me. I got to Birmingham at like 1:00 and headed to straight to Chickfila with my parents. I have only been here 9 hours but I have already had two meals, been to best buy, grocery store, mountain brook village, and I saw Mom Mom tonight. ( pretty productive right?)

What fun things have you done this weekend?

Erica’s Favorite Things

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I have just finished watching Oprah’s Favorite Things! Now I am not one to complain on the blog but I must complain for like one second… all of Oprah’s stuff is way too expensive… I mean honestly the cashmere sweater is adorable but I don’t have $500 to drop on a sweater. So I have decided to give you a list of my favorite things that I can’t live without that you might just want to snap up!

What are your favorite things?

What did you think of Oprah’s Favorite Things this year?  

1. Lucy Pants- I love my Lucy Pants…. I wear them at least three days a week. I can dress them up/ dress them down and they wash well and they pack great. I have 3 pairs in my suitcase right now and they will not be wrinkled when I pull them out. I also love they come in short which is great for my height! ( sign up and get great coupons from them) http://www.lucy.com/lucy%20Everyday%20Pant/214411,default,pd.html?cgid=Bottoms_Pants%20in%20Lengths&dwvar_214411_color=BLACK

2.  Gap Supersoft Long-sleeved T- Love these! You can find me in one of these with a scarf and a pair of jeans on quite often. They are so comfortable and come in great colors. I found them on sale a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=17083&vid=1&pid=772101

3. EBATES- Kat introduced me to this a couple of months ago and I love it. Go to this website whenever you are planning on shopping online and they will give you money back. They do not ask you for any account numbers or anything and yes it works I got a check from them a couple of weeks ago. (it’s not a scam)  

http://www.ebates.com/

4. Penzeys Spices- I love buying spices from them. My new kick is the Penzeys Cinnamon. The spices come in different sizes and in glass jars. http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html

5. Cake Pops-  This cookbook rocks! I got it at Barnes and Noble. I have now made Cake Pops twice and can’t wait to make more.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Cake-Pops/Bakerella/e/9780811876377/?itm=1&USRI=cake+pops

Cheers for Cheerio Bars… boo for snow

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Woke up this morning and thought my plans for the day will be changing.

Welcome winter wonderland (a bit of sarcasm)… I’ll admit I am not one that embraces this whole snow thing. It’s my second winter in Minneapolis and today (Saturday) is the first snow. I’ll admit that  I can drive in snow and go about a daily routine but I’m from Alabama and a part of me morphs back to when growing up if we saw snow it meant no driving and no leaving the house…. this is not the case in Minneapolis. I do have things I need to do today but will they get done… that is a good question because I have no motivation to leave this little cocoon I have built for myself (i.e. flannel pajamas, warm fleece blanket, and a full dvr of shows to keep me entertained)

But on another note… I did not have to teach yesterday so I decided to whip up a batch of Cheerio Bars for Justin and go visit him at work. These bars are so easy to make and all the ingredients you can keep in your pantry for last minute entertaining.

1 12oz package chocolate chips

1 12oz package butterscotch chips

1 c. peanut butter

1 package mini marshmallows

3 cups Cheerios

Melt  chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in microwave. Stir in peanut butter.  In another bowl stir together the cheerios and marshmallows. Then pour the chocolate mixture into the bowl of cheerios and marshmallows and mix until combined.  Press into a 9×13 pan. Chill for at least an hour and then cut into squares.

Justin took a picture for me but they look more delish in person.

Green with Envy!

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Your friends will be green with envy when they see that you made  this cake or at least I think mine were last night. I made a Pistachio Cake that my mom makes for Thanksgiving every year. It turned out pretty good but  I am my toughest critic and I still think it was not as delish as the one my mom makes. Enjoy the pictures and  make this because you will luv it!

Ingredients

1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
4 Eggs
2/3 cup oil
8 oz. sour cream
1 pkg. instant pistachio pudding
½ can Hershey Syrup (yes this is correct… they sell hershey syrup in a can… I found it by the ice cream toppings)
½ bag mini chips (or a little less)
Chopped pecans
Green food coloring ( a lot/ I can’t tell you how many squirts I did but I think I should have done more because mine turned kind of a lime color) 
 
Directions and make sure to do this in order
Beat Eggs
Add Cake Mix
Oil
Sour cream
Blend all together
 

Can of Hershey Syrup

 

 
Add Chocolate Syrup to 1/3 of the batter
Add pudding and green food coloring to the other 2/3
 
Then Spray bundt pan (really good)
Sprinkle some chocolate chips and pecans in  bottom of bundt pan
Alternate chocolate batter, green batter,  then sprinkle pecans and chocolate chips, and then again chocolate batter, green batter, then sprinkle pecans and chocolate chips. You
will end with pecans  and chocolate chips.  
Preheat oven to 325 degrees and bake for 45 minutes to an hour.

 

Next time I make this I will add more food coloring.

 

Mom Mom knows best

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From the left (My Favorite Aunt Martha, Mom Mom, my mom, me, and Aunt Ree

Sorry for being m.i.a but I promised no useless blogging. Today I whipped up a batch of symphony brownies for book club. Afterwards it was time to cut them which I hate doing because for some reason my cutting skills  usually look similar to some of my first graders. But I remembered a helpful tid bit I got from my grandmother ( or shall I say Mom Mom… Because that’s what I call her, I’ll tell ya that story lata). When you cut brownies use a plastic knife. I pulled out one I has saved from take out that I didn’t use and tada… Perfectly cut brownies! Enjoy the picture… I will post the recipe for the brownies lata