Oh What A Boo-Ti-Ful Day

                   Happy Halloweenie


I make THE  BEST pumpkin bread, if I do say so myself...
I use the recipe from McCAll's Cookbook, given to me by my mother for my wedding shower- the book is falling apart- which makes me love it even more..

The trick is to add 1 1/2 times the amount of pumpkin that the recipe calls for.


It's so easy. Even Betty Boop and Bruno think so...

Trick or treat!

Finger Lickin' Pumpkin Bread

1Lb Pumpkin puree( I use 1 1/2 times that much)
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour(sifted)
1 tbls. Pumkin Pie Spice
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 sticks salted butter-softened

Preheat the oven to 325

In mixer, blend butter till creamy. Add sugar till well blended, then eggs- one at a time, then pumpkin. When all smooth a bootiful, add the dry ingredients.
Bale for approx 1 hour- but check it might take a little more time.
It will make 2 loaf pans worth.

Sunday Afternoon At The Movies

As you know, The Trouble With Angels is one of my favorite movies. I found a SPOOKY version..
So bad, so funny.
Enjoy!

O Sole' Mia

I just made the best pizza of my entire life...

Im not a big pizza maker, but I have made homemade pizzas on occasion. And I grew up on Grandma M's authentic Tuscan pizza.

THIS topped them all.

Well, maybe not Grandm M's ..
I felt like I  was in Italy.
 Bellissimo.

What kind was it  do you say?

Clam Pizza.


I know.
My hubby was not too thrilled when I told him yesterday that tonight's menu was Clam Pizza.
He is very thrilled now- and that is saying much- if you know my hubby.


Here's the recipe I used from the Food Network.

I fudged a bit with the instructions. I  do have a pizza stone so what I did was heat up the stone at 500 degrees till I was ready to cook.But I don't have a pizza peel- no sweat.. I  carefully took the stone out of the oven and gingerly spread olive oil on it with Reynold's Wrap. I then sprinkled it with corm meal.

I did get store made pizza dough-in the fridge section.And I used shredded mozzarella.
 Make Sure you put down the corn meal- it really makes a difference.

 I also used fresh minced clams(not canned) from the Best Seafood Store in Westchester County, New York- Mt. Kisco Seafood. I added some fresh proscuitto on my own.The recipe calls for fresh arugula and lemons which really made it over the top, as well as a sprinkling of red pepper flakes. 

This pizza- I cannot stop talking about it. It was PERFECT.. And I do not do perfect often..

"I'm justa..."

…walking my dog.."
It's the opening line of one of my favorite, cheerful, adorable songs in recent memory- The Dog Song, by the enviously talented Nellie McKay.


Oh Happy Day..

Nellie’s  new album, is all Doris all Day.. Normal As Blueberry Pie, A tribute to Doris Day, comes out on Tuesday. I first noticed Nellie when I saw Three Penny Opera at Studio 54. The best part of the musical was  Nellie. I went home thinking of her quirky voice and charisma.

 A special sneak peek of the album, courtesy of N.P.R. is HERE


Don’t know about you, but on Tues the  multi -talented Nellie McKay's (pronounced  McEye)   album Normal As Blueberry Pie will be on my iPod... how bout you?

Nie...

As you know, I have been following the blogger Stephanie Nielson, http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/ since last year  when I heard of the horrific plane crash that she and her Mr. Nielson were in.


We have all prayed for her recovery.




Well, tomorrow she is going to be on Oprah...

Be sure to watch!

She is truly an inspiration.