Make Ahead Pumpkin Pie

I had to travel for ThanksGiving and I was in charge of bringing the pies.  I prefer pumpkin pie made from scratch.  I decided that it would be easier to bake the pies after I had arrived so that nobody would smash them on the way.  We have had that happen before.  

These are the freezer bags of pumpkin, spices and sugar.  I just wrote on the bags what I should add when I was ready to bake them.  One package is saved for Christmas.  Each bag makes 2 pies.  I used the Better Homes and Gardens recipe for pumpkin pie.

This is one of the pumpkins left over from Halloween.  Pumpkin is a winter squash and so it will keep quite well if kept cool.  Generally on a counter or shelf in your storage room should do.  Since I planned on cooking it right away I left it on the counter in my kitchen.  I baked it in halves because the whole thing would not fit in my oven.

Cook your pumpkin until it is soft.  Then you scoop out the flesh with a spoon and drop it into a blender.  Pumpkin is stringy almost like a spaghetti squash so you need to puree the flesh.

This is what the pumpkin looks like after it is pureed.  

I just measured out what I needed for my pies and froze it in freezer bags.  The puree keeps well in the fridge for a week or you can freeze it for later.  My pumpkin will make all sorts of stuff like pancakes, muffins, Pumpkin Ginger Bread (the recipe on Allrecipes is great), and more pie.

This method worked out well.  We enjoyed the pie and will enjoy the rest of the pumpkin in other recipes.

Holliday Runners

Here are some great ideas for you to make for gifts this year to give at Christmas.  These are not too complicated and I am sure you all could just whip them up.

These ornaments are simple.  I think they were done with fusible appliqué and so were the joy ones.  

This crocheted doily looks more complicated because I am not a crocheter.  It is cute though.

I think these represent wreaths.  

I can't remember who taught these but I am sure you could ask around and someone will know.  They are fun ideas and you could change these up for any Holliday.  You could put thanks for Thanksgiving, Love for Valentines, even Boo for Halloween.

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  Thanks for reading my blog.  I love the creative crafting community.

hollida

Guild Gift Ideas

Claudia brought some fun gift ideas to share with us.  This first one was made from a 2 liter bottle.  It was cut, heated and folded into this shape.  It is a darling  box.  I think it has cute paper covering it.  It  was modge podged but I am not sure.

This is the box unfolded.

This is a pin cushion that looks like a cute bag.

This opens up to ziplock bags to hold your portable projects.

Here are a couple of  cute pincushion.

And last of all is a little zipper bag.  If you need this pattern talk to Claudia.

Holliday Ornaments

Kay was showing us some fun ideas for Christmas ornaments.  This first one is a pine cone from fabric squares and pins.  There is no sewing for this project, just pins and fabric and a styrofoam egg shape.  Make sure you talk to Kay if you need any of these patterns.

The pears are cute.  My favorite is the wool ones but all of them are cute.  You could even do apples to hang on your tree.

Now I didn't go to this class but it looks like this is made out of left over batting.  I know we all have plenty of that.

Kay bought this sock but I do love it.  I have seen little ones made from cut off glove fingers with greenery coming out the tops.  They are so cute.

I admire all of those that can make things like this bell.  I have yet to learn how to follow a pattern to crochet.

I love these pears.  They would be cute pin cushions too.

The  bird and the pear below even show their seams and look good.  Thanks Kay for all the cute ideas.

Holliday Treat Ideas

At our last guild meeting we had different stations to learn new Holliday ideas.  Sandy Johnson was our Holliday treat instructor.  She has such cute ideas.  I do have to say all of her chocolates are fabulous.  I thought these little cherry chocolate mice were adorable.  They are made with a cherry chocolate, a kiss, some almond slivers and white chocolate.

I love rice crispy squares.  These are rice crispy squares all dolled up.  They have  red and green chocolate on them and a stick.

I could have eaten these all night.  they were like turtles but I was teaching a different class so I don't know how to make them.  These were my favorite to eat.

Finally the melted snow men.  These had the white chocolate with pretzels (arms), a candy corn (nose), half a peanut butter cup (the hat), and m&m's (buttons).  Each piece was broken so that each person has all of the parts.  They were so cute.

Stars

These stars remind me of Edyta Sitar's quilts from Laundry Basket Quilts.  She does wonderful quilts.    Kay is the quilt artist here tough.  These star quilts are made from patterns that were in magazines.  These are beautiful.  

Even the quilting on these are stunning.  

They call this the Lone Star or Texas Star.  These are inspirational.  I love them.

These two Halloween quilts were display quilts.  I don't know who brought them.

These last photos are the finishing blocks to the block of the month.  I hope all of those working on these are enjoying the blocks.

Block of The Month and Show and Tell

Our pieced blocks that the guild has been making as a block of the month is at its conclusion.  Rhea has brought the finished quilt top to show what the end product should look like.  It really is beautiful.

If you haven't gotten the final instructions please contact Rhea.

Tanya has been really busy.  She finished the round robin.  It is darling.

She also made this Halloween quilt with all the embroidery.  Wow.  

This one is also Tanya's.  She is ready for the Hollidays.  Her quilts are so fun. 

Angeli won some fabric triangles from the Quilt Walk and made this quilt.  She is very creative.

This is Mary's.  Oh my stars, there are a lot of stars.  I love it.

This is a pattern we learned in a previous guild meeting.  She was using her scraps.  It really turned out well.