Early Work Mercantile Update Tonight

I have two offering this month for Early Work Mercantile Group. 

Esther...a pumpkin angel.  And a happy field mouse with a great find!

More pictures and info will be available at midnight tonight.

Please stop by and take a peak at all the talented artist on EWM.

Night night :)

Roasted Chicken and Butternut Soup & Giveaway Winner

My family loved it.  So much so that we had NO leftovers.  Love at first bite...slurp.

This was adapted from a recipe I found in Everyday Food magazine.  A perfect fall recipe especially for busy weekends.  You all know I'm all about easy dinners!  This one fits the bill and uses little ingredients. I served it with a nice crusty bread.

Here's the recipe...

Roasted Chicken and Butternut Soup
Ingredients:
4 - 5 Chicken Thighs, bone-in skin-on
1 Medium Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded and diced medium
1 Small Yellow Onion, diced medium
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Coarse Salt
Pepper
4 Cups Chicken Broth
1/4 tsp Ground Cumin
1/4 tsp Ground Coriander
1/4 tsp Ground Red Pepper (optional)
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

Preheat oven 425 degrees.  In a rimmed baking sheet, toss together the chicken thighs, butternut squash, onion with 2 -3 Tbsp Olive Oil.  Season with salt and pepper.  Arrange in single layer and roast until squash and chicken are cooked through, about 30 - 40 minutes.

Transfer chicken to a plate and let cool.  Transfer squash and onions to a medium pot and add chicken broth and spices.  Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.  With a fork or the back of a wooden spoon, mash most of the vegetables until soup is thick and chunky.  Discard skin from chicken; cut meat into small pieces and add to soup.  Add the bones back to soup and simmer for 30 minutes and then remove them.  I think this give it a little extra homemade taste.  Stir in lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.


AND now the winner of the autumn giveaway is....

CONNIE from Log Cabin Primitives!!

Congratulations!  Thank you to all who entered and left such kind comments.  I feel like we are kindred spirits here sharing our friendship, lives and projects.  This blog brings me such joy and happiness.

See you all on Friday with a few more inspirations for fall....unless I think of something else to write about before then :)


Hugs ~ Jenn

Happy Autumn Giveaway

I'm having such a delicious day.  The cooler weather came, I've got on flannels and I'm making a roasted chicken and squash soup...more on that on Wednesday if we like it :). 

Since my post on Friday I found that I'm NOT the only one that hasn't decorated yet. In celebration of that I'm having a giveaway to inspire anyone who needs a little inspiration.  It's just a "little" giveaway since I didn't really plan this.  Included is a jack-o-lantern that I stitched up this morning and a special edition of Country Home featuring homes decorated for Fall.

All you need to do is be a follower of my blog and leave a comment.  Contest starts now and ends Tuesday at midnight. I'll announce the winner Wednesday! 

See the signature??  I was excited when I found this at Lowe's....my sister-in-law Anne's design!

Fall Decorating ~ I need inspiration today!

Am I the only one who hasn't started decorating for fall yet?  Everyone seems to be done already!

I bought a few pumpkins yesterday and I've had some mums planted but darn it it's so hot here...it may hit 90 degrees today and that's just weird.

I'm forcing myself to get things out today, hoping once I start I'll be in the mood.  Cooler weather is coming tomorrow (it better!)

HAPPY AUTUMN EVERYONE!

Photos: top and bottom,Country Living Magazine; center, Martha Stewart Living

Turtles....a secret recipe

Not these turtles.

Definitely not these turtles!

A few weeks ago I was in my favorite fabric shop in Berlin, Ohio, the Country Craft Cupboard.  As I'm getting all my pretty pieces of homespun and calico's cut I noticed a lovely dessert beside the cutting table.  Everything I crave was sitting right there....chocolate, caramel, nuts.  After asking around I found the kind lady who made it and begged for her recipe.  She gave it to me freely plus a nice big sample to taste!  What more could you ask for....fabric and sweets!!

I called it a secret because they are so simple to make.  Don't want to get the word out that I didn't slave over something this tasty to eat!   xo Jenn

Turtle Dessert

Turtles
1-12oz. pkg. Nilla wafers
1 stick butter melted
1- 12oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 c. chopped pecans
1-12oz. jar caramel topping ~ microwave 15 seconds

Place vanilla wafers in a ziploc bag; crush with rolling pin to fine crumbs. Stir together vanilla wafer crumbs and butter; press into bottom of a greased or sprayed 19 x 9 in. baking dish.

Sprinkle with morsels and pecans. Drizzle with caramel topping.

Bake at 350 for 12 - 15 min. Cool in pan on a wire rack. chill for 30 minutes. Cut in squares and serve.

New on Primitive Gatherings

I'm getting ready for a Fall Festival this Saturday. I'll be back on track next week.  Email me if your in the Western Pennsylvania area and would like to come.  We've got lots of early antiques, primitives and beeswax goodes.  Also rug hooking demonstrations.

Below are new items on the Primitive Gatherings this month.  Visit the Primitive Gatherings Group for more info.  Hugs! Jenn

A New Doll "Maggie"

Jack and Kitty

Delight of Delights ~ Baked Spaghetti and Mozzarella!

Last night while we were eating dinner I realized tomorrow is What's Cookin' Wednesday, boy do the weeks fly by.  I had everyone stop eating so that I could take a quick picture. 

This recipe comes from Martha Stewart Everyday Food.  It was everything we want in a recipe....home cooked, easy and fast, and tasted delightful.  Remember I was working on that website update and I still had time to cook dinner!  That doesn't usually happen.  So here it is.  Hope you enjoy!!

This is what it looked like in her magazine.  She didn't have the set designer I did!

Baked Spaghetti and Mozzarella

coarse salt
2 cans (28 oz) whole peeled tomatoes (I used Dei Fratelli's)
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
3/4 pound spaghetti
2 cups packed basil leaves ~ torn
3/4 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (2 1/2 cups)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Set a large pot of salted water to boil.  In a food processor, pulse tomatoes until coarsely chopped.  In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high.  Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add tomatoes and bring to a boil.  (I add a little coarse salt also)  Cook at a rapid simmer until sauce thickens, about 12 minutes.  Meanwhile, cook pasta 5 minutes (it will still be crunchy).  Drain pasta and return to pot.  Add tomato sauce, basil, and half the mozzarella and toss to combine.  Transfer mixture to a 3-quart baking dish and top with remaining cheese.  Bake until cheese is golden and edges are bubbling ,about 25 minutes.

Website Now Updated

Please stop by and take a peek.  And FYI ~ I'm having email issues again and can't send out more than 100 email per hour so most of my mailing list is not receiving their email.  I have a ticket in with my new host and hopefully this will be resolved soon.  Just wanted to keep you all informed.  Thanks and have a great evening ~  Jenn :)

New Things Coming....

Just in case you didn't know I'll be updating my website tonight.  Here's a sneak peek....

I'm trying to have it ready for 6:00 p.m. eastern time but since I have a new web host it may be a little later....I'm still learning.

I will be sending out an email as soon as it's updated.  If you'd like to be notified please send me your email address to jenn@rabbithillprimitives.com and I'll be sure to put you on the list.

Gotta get back to work now.  Have a great day!!