Home and Family Ezine

How to Make a Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Roll Recipe

You can double the recipe and freeze a loaf for later when you need something absolutely delicious to serve up. It takes a little work if you’re not used to handling your cakes, but once you’ve figured out the little tricks and how to mend your mistakes (if you make them) you’ll become an expert.

You will need to preheat your oven to 375 degrees and get your pan ready. Using a 15 x 10 inch pan spray it with cooking spray, lightly flour this as well.

Making the Pumpkin Roll:

3/4 c. flour
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. allspice
1/4 t. salt
3 large eggs
1 c. sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
2/3 c. pumpkin puree

Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

Beat your eggs and sugar together on high until fluffy (about 5 minutes). You will know when it is enough; the mixture is thick and forms a ribbon pattern off your beaters when turned off and lifted slowly out of the bowl. Next, beat in the vanilla extract and pumpkin. Slowly add in sifted flour mixture you set aside earlier. Gently mix thoroughly. Pour batter into pan, evenly spreading the batter.

Bake for 13 – 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don’t overcook. You want the cake to “spring back” when lightly touched with your finger.

While pumpkin is baking, take a piece of wax paper and lay it on a flat work area. Sprinkle this with powdered sugar and finely chopped walnuts.

Immediately, after cake is done, turn this carefully onto the dish towel that you have prepared. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar and roll up the pumpkin roll, with the towel. You want to do this while the cake is hot. Set aside and wait to cool.

Making the Filling:

8 oz. Softened cream cheese
2 T. softened butter
1 c. powdered sugar
1/2 t. vanilla

Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add sugar and beat until smooth. Once the pumpkin roll has cooled, you can carefully unroll it. If you have breakage, you can use your filling to fix the cracks. You will have fewer cracks if you roll the cake immediately out of the oven and wait until it is totally cool before filling. Now spread your filling over the roll. Keep in mind that you may have some squeeze out so you will probably want to put less filling on the outside 1/2 inch of your roll. Once filled, re-roll your pumpkin roll. Lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar. Wrap in foil and freeze. When ready to serve, slice thin and enjoy.

How to Stretch Your Salary

Make Your Salary Stretch Further

Living on a budget is not always an easy thing to do, especially when expenses will arise when you least expect them. But, even though it may not seem possible there are many ways to make your salary stretch further. Avoiding needless spending, comparison shopping and utilizing budget billing are a few ways to achieve this.

1. Avoid any needless spending. How many times have you gone to the store to pick up one or two items and left with a cart full? Sometimes it is easy to get drawn into sales that you did not know about and spend more than you wanted to. Most of the items are not necessary or needed at the moment. Continue reading →

17 Fun Christmas Decorating Ideas to Add Sparkle to Your Home

‘Tis the season to decorate your home in all the splendor of Christmas. I personally love decorating for the holidays… pulling out all of those bins of forgotten decorations… discovering new items I purchased throughout the year… and falling into deep nostalgia. Decorating for Christmas is almost as fun as the actual day of Christmas. It truly is a special time of the year and making your home special will bring warmth to your family and friend’s hearts… and create wonderful memories.

I love decorating for Christmas so much, it looks like Christmas blew up in my house… but in a good way!

So… I’ve listed 17 ideas for decorating home your home for the holidays. I hope that you find at least one new idea for you… and maybe a few will inspire you with a whole list of original ideas!

1. Brighten your Christmas tree

It’s easy to string lights on your Christmas tree… but take tree lights very seriously at my house. My husband wraps each individual branch and twig with lights. Yes, it’s a bit tedious… but the result is breathtaking. Hey, you’re going to be looking at that tree all month… take the extra time and really make your tree glow… literally.

2. Decorate your stair rail

This is a given, but it amazes me how few actually do it. Whenever you see beautifully decorated homes in magazines you see this grand staircase wrapped in garland and lights. It’s stunning. And you can have the same exact effect in your home. It’s easy! Wrap your banisters with garland. You can go cheap and use the standard green garland in a box… or you can go all out and get some more realistic garland. Whatever your budget can handle… do what’s best for you. Now, wrap the garland in white lights. It doesn’t matter what kind of garland you use… because once those lights are on… wow! But don’t stop there! Tie a pretty Christmas ribbon bow at the bottom and top of the hand rails. And if you have enough ribbon, wind the ribbon loosely around the rail. Don’t wrap the ribbon exactly like you wrapped the garland… offset it a bit. Now, you’re really decorating!

And if you’re inspired… grab some shiny Christmas ball ornaments and hang those on your garland all the way up the stairs. I bet you didn’t know your house could look so luxurious!

3. Add Christmas bows

I add bows made of all kinds of Christmas ribbon all over my house. On the stair rail, on my wreaths… on the ends of my draped garland. On door knobs. I attach them to my outdoor house lights. I add a big swag Christmas bow just below my angel on my Christmas tree. And for my second tree (yes, my second tree) I have a big 2-ribbon tree topper bow.

4. Hang wreaths in windows

It’s common to hang wreaths on your front door. But I love hanging wreaths on my windows. I’m not talking about just on the outside of your house. I also mean on the inside. I don’t hang wreaths in all my windows… my I select a room that needs a little extra Christmas spirit and hang one in each window. I also hang a wreath above the fire place. And another on my book shelves. And guess what… I add bows to all of them.

5. Greet visitors with some fun

All the formal decorating stuff is nice… but don’t forget to add some personality and fun to your rooms. Especially in your foyer. Find something that makes you smile and put it where people will see it as soon as they come into your house. I found this Christmas center piece that is made of holly leaves, berries and 3 stacked ginger men. It is adorable! It makes me smile and I put it on a table in my foyer. Now, I enjoy it when I come home… and others can enjoy it when the visit. It’s silly and I love it!

6. Create memories with small decorations

Growing up, I always remembered my Mother’s little Christmas knick-knacks. Like snow globes and funny little snow men. I really didn’t follow in tradition when I first had kids. But my Mother gifted me little silly items every year. And as the years have gone on, my children ask about some of these items when we decorate the house. I have a little igloo with snowmen that has a little light that acts like a fire. My daughter remembered this from last year and was so excited when she saw it out. It’s the little things… literally… that can be the most special.

7. Decorate your fireplace mantel

My fireplace mantel varies from year to year. I’ve draped garland and lights and hung stockings. I’ve displayed a variety of different sized candles dressed in pine cones and garland. I’ve displayed framed photos of the family. Whatever you decide… just have fun with it. Experiment. Try varying heights of a few different items. Try simple… try cluttered. Find your style.

8. Add garland

Like wreaths, add garland everywhere! I wrap garland on the banisters… I frame the door ways. I drape garland with fruit over my French doors. I lay garland along the top back of my couches. I even wrap my columns in garland.

10. Add a little character to your front yard

I used to do the “nice” decorating in my front yard. White lights on the shrubs. Garland and white lights around my door. And it IS nice. But now, I try to add a little fun. Not too much… I still don’t want my yard looking like I’m having a yard sale! This year I lined my front walk in light up candy canes. So cute! I still have my white lights on everything else… but its the candy canes that make me smile. And my kids love them!

11. Place wrapped gifts

Wrap boxes in shiny paper… tie a ribbon on them… and place them around your house. What fun! I place wrapped gift boxes on my book shelves, a few in a blank corner… some under the tree… anywhere that you need to add a little Christmas cheer. What an easy way to decorate!

12. Candles

Ah, the soft flicker of candle light can really add to the mood of a cozy home. I love the look of candles in windows. Obviously, don’t use real candles for this. I also like to light a few candles around my home. The smell of cinnamon and holly is delicious.

13. Fill glass vases with cranberries and sparkle

Pull out those glass vases that just sit in your cupboard. Fill them with fake cranberries, clear glass stones, salt, pine cones, and/or Christmas balls. Layer and be creative. And then leave these filled vases out. This a professional decorator trick. It’s quick and it looks amazing!

14. Bowl of ornaments

Take a large bowl and fill it with some of your extra christmas balls. Or, collect some unique ones that you personally love… and place those in your bowl. Place this bowl in the center of your coffee table or dining table.

15. Photos of Christmas memories

Pull out some of those precious memories of Christmases past and put them in some decorative frames. Shiny silver frames… red painted frames. Whatever you like. And place these around your house. You’ll find that you’ll start remembering stories and sharing these moments with your friends and family.

16. Christmas hand towels and bathroom mats

Don’t forget the bathrooms! Add a cute hand towel and a Christmasy floor mat. I have a chimney tissue box that I place on the back of the hall bathroom toilet. Just add a little somethin’.

17. Set your dining table

You may not be expecting dinner guests, but it’s always nice to have a decorated and set table. Pull out your favorite holiday dishes. I have these fun white dishes that have reindeer, Christmas trees and Santa painted on them. I love them! Dress up your table with colorful place mats…. place random Christmas balls over the table… place a dramatic center piece… and light some votive candles.

As I write this article, I can already think of a few more Christmas decorating ideas. But I have to end this list at some point. Decorating your home for the holidays can create a lot of wonderful memories that you’ll relive each year you pull out those bins. So, get to it! And happy holidays!

Oh… and don’t forget to hang jingle bells on the doors… and mistletoe above the doorways… ok, ok, I’ll stop!

Easy Crockpot Recipe

Easy Crock Pot Roast

3 to 4 pound beef pot roast
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 packet dry onion soup mix
1 cup beef broth

Place pot roast in crock pot and top with mushrooms. In a small bowl, mix soup mix and
beef broth, then pour into crockpot. Cover and cook 10-12 hours on low or 5-6 hours on
high.

How to Make Meat Loaf for Freezer Cooking

Meat Loaf (Freezer Cooking) Recipe

2 eggs
1 C milk
1/2 C white bread crumbs, soft
3 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 lb ground chuck
Aluminum foil

Beat eggs and milk together in a large mixing bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, salt and pepper and blend together well. Sprinkle in the salt and pepper. Place the ground chuck in with the milk mixture and mix well.
Use your hands to mix making sure all the ingredients are combined. Place a piece of aluminum foil in a 9X9 inch pan. Be sure the aluminum foil comes about 6 inches over the edges of the pan. Form meat mixture into the pan. Pull the aluminum foil over the top and seal well. Remove from pan and freeze for up to 2 months.
To heat preheat oven to 350 degrees Spray a 9X9 inch baking pan slightly with a non stick cooking spray.
Unwrap the meatloaf and place in the pan. Bake 1 hour 30 minutes or until set.