Best Pecan Pie Recipe - If You Hate Pecan Pie!

The Pecan-Pie-Haters Pecan Pie!

Okay. So I love pecans, but I really *hate* Pecan Pie! All that goopey stuff in the bottom (gag)... you KNOW what it looks like! Ugh, so nasty!

So this Chocolate Pecan Pie is my favorite! I had forgotten about it for a few years - I'm not sure why. Regardless, I remembered the recipe last month and made it on Thanksgiving and again now for Christmas.

Luv, love, LURVE it!!!

Now, not only is it super yummy, but, it is SOOOO easy!

(Is anyone starting to notice a theme on my blog? Hint: I am lazy!)

First, as always, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. So I start with a pre-made pie crust (again, lazy!). In a bowl beat 3 eggs. Then stir in 1 cup of light corn syrup, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Finally, add a mounding full 1 cup of pecans and a package of milk chocolate chips. Pour the whole thing into the pie crust (duh!) and bake for 45 minutes.

So quick! So easy! YUM! Enjoy!

And of course I have to add a photo of my pooch.

Here he is on the wicker sofa in my kitchen where he watches me when I am cooking!

My Winter Table Centerpiece

Holiday Centerpiece

I love the simplicity of this centerpiece! I found that old, red carpenters box at a antique shop. My biggest find were those old finials and pieces of wood in there though! I was SO excited when I spotted those oddball chunks of wood on a table! And when the gal told me they were only 10 dollars I got even MORE excited! She asked me what I was going to use them for and I just said "I don't know!" but just loved them! When I got home I knew I wanted to use the toolbox on my dining rom table. I added some old frosted faux evergreen pieces that I had - don't you love it when you save something that you don't use and then you find a place for it!? The wood pieces have some green paint on them so I figured they would be perfect in there - voila! I threw those pinecones in as well and I just love the look!

 I added a few well-loved gold ball ornaments I had for a dash of sparkle when it got closer to the holidays. They mixed in perfectly because the gold is starting to flake off of them adding to that vintage feel! Perfect!

 Here is our sweet rescue dog, Black. Look at those soulful eyes!

Do you love his Christmas collar?! =o)

Easiest Holiday banner ever!

So, this was just a super easy project I did after visiting a local plant nursery. They were selling a similar one there for $29. I have been picking up some old books at barn sales and antique shops. I just tore a few pages out and printed the letters on. Then I placed all the pages in a stack and hole punched them at the top so they would be even. The last step was to thread some twine through the top. I mean seriously folks, it does NOT get any easier than that! Try printing the letters in red or green, using ribbon - whatever floats your boat! I had a old copy of "A Christmas Carol" I was going to use but my son has stolen it and decided he needed to read it - since it is Christmas time!

Here is a second banner I did with the letters red. I like the look of the bottoms cut as well! (I promise I will work on my picture taking as time goes along!)

Okay. I'm going to try this!

So here I go. My first blog post. I am going to take a crack at this. All my lovely GFs seem to think I have some sort of amazing decorating abilities - whether it be my house or myself! I am really just a collaboration of inspiration and stolen ideas! LOL! NO deep secrets or talent here! So I will share my ideas and projects on this blog (do you like the name?) and hopefully one or two people will find it interesting enough to read or follow me. Now. I am not going to lie. I have a tendancy to get bored or distracted. So this blog could have a very short life span. We shall see! Other than that, welcome. And I hope I can amuse or enlighten you... or something!