knitting season has begun

so i know there are many avid knitters all year long...not me. i am a seasonal one. its not until fall before i start thinking about the projects i want to try for the winter season. i am currently working on fingerless mitts. many pairs and many colors are being made in a frenzy for an upcoming craft bazaar.
i'm contemplating opening an etsy shop if i don't sell them all at the bazaar. this is new for me. another small step into self-employed territory. its exciting to have more time and energy for crafting. i am still learning to balance my free time with chores, a little me time and projects. its something to be mindful of. time can just run away from you  if your are not protective of it. i don't mean that in a selfish way. i am just beginning to see that i really need to prioritize, in order to work on the dreams that are near and dear to me.
i hope this season finds you well. bundle up friends. its the season of warm knits, rosy cheeks and frosty breath.

pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting + halloween costumes

 pumpkin cupcakes! best recipe i've tried so far. it can be found here. you should make these!

maple cream cheese frosting. whats not to love. thanks honey & jam  for the idea.

Frosting

Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

ragady folk we were this year for our friends costume party.

autumn oats

i've been eating a lot of oatmeal lately. i prefer hot cereal over cold any day.

so i've been playing around with different combinations of oatmeal and the fixings... here is my favorite for this autumn season.

1/4 c. oatmeal

1/2 macintosh apple cut into small chunks

1/4 t. pumpkin pie spice

cook accordingly. i just add water and pop it in the microwave. i know many prefer to make theirs on the stove.

after its heated add:

2 T. pumpkin butter

handful of chopped walnuts

sprinkle of brown sugar

splash of  milk

enjoy!

a cake

this cake was for a boy in love with "ncis". i heard he enjoyed it very much.

have a lovely day. i plan to re cooperate from my weekend.

sweet potato biscuits

today was a make day. the kind of day i have now and again, where i just go crazy in the kitchen. cakes, cupcakes , biscuits, turkey chili. the cakes will have to wait for another day. i'm still working on those. sweet potato biscuits. yummy. my first time making them. here's the recipe if you'd like to give it ago. i would add more sweet potato next time. they were delicious, however with our turkey chili.

in addition to making i did some fall sprucing around here. i am really starting to feel at home here. mostly due to the fact i have more time to spend here now that i quit my bakery job. did i mention that. silly me forgetting details of my life.

yes i quit. i quit for many reasons, but the big one is now i will have time for side baking projects, cakes, and treats. Snacky French isn't just a blog to me. right now its my creative outlet. it will one day be my cafe/ bakery. i am taking a lot of small steps in that direction lately. progress that makes me smile a whole lot more these days.

sunday picnic

yesterday was gorgeous. we thought it proper picnic weather. so we packed up and moved out quickly to catch some of the warmth of the day.

 we found this on the bridge. j + k. put there like it was for us to see. oh the little things. how they delight.

fall love

these are a few of my favorite things...
what delights you about this season we are in?

squash soup.

the cold, rainy weather of late has been tempting me to make soups and stews again. here is a quick and easy soup for fall.

curried coconut squash soup

1 butternut squash
1/2 onion
1 can coconut milk
2-3 c. vegetable stock
2 sweet potatoes
1 carrot
1 T. curry
1 t. ginger

prepare squash first. bake @ 350 for 45min. - 1 hr.
boil water. add chopped sweet potato, onion and carrot. boil until soft.
in a food processor, blend peeled squash, dump in a big bowl. blend sweet potato, carrot and onion. if too thick in processor, add some vegetable broth. mix sweet potato puree with squash. add coconut milk, ginger, curry and remainder of vegetable stock. depending on thickness add more or less stock. heat up on the stove. enjoy.


*thanks noel, for a great recipe i still love to make.

back when and coming soon...

i was taking a look through my photos from autumns past and came across this picture. it was taken two years ago. we had went for an evening walk. stopped there in the picture ,because we found these gigantic leaves and couldn't resist snapping a picture. now come to realize not only is that two steps next to where we live now, but the leaf came from one of our trees. ironic maybe. it makes me so happy to have a home so close to a spot where we have enjoyed coming for years.

speaking of our home. we have painted! there is still some trim work to do, but these are the colors. a little more muted than the lemon yellow that use to be there. we are far from done the kitchen renovations but progress is being made every week.

making deodorant

deodorant...i know its not typically one of those things you would want to try and make. i am not a fan of regular deodorant. i have only found one kind that i have ever liked... its discontinued. poof, vanished one day off the shelves. so i have been looking for something that doesn't smell too much, doesn't have aluminum in it, and actually keeps me from stinking to the high heavens. so i happened upon this blog passionate homemaking and this recipe for deodorant. its gotten rave reviews so i thought i'd give it a go. i have been using it for a couple of weeks now and i think i've found the deodorant that works for me! the only downside is applying with your fingers. a small price to pay for something that truly works for me!