Hello November

 

 

 

A nice cup of hot chocolate on Saturday afternoon, started my favorite month of the year in the perfect way. November came in with brisk winds and the signs that autumn, while still here, is bringing us towards that first snowfall. November is a busy month, as holiday preparations begin. I always host Thanksgiving at my home and I have always thought it the perfect holiday. Family and good food, without the added burden of presents to buy. I look forward to my daughters being home for a long weekend and spending some quality time with them.

November brings cozy fires, soft blankets and nights turning on the lights earlier and earlier to chase away the darkness. Daylight savings time seems to slow the evenings down and bring a quieter pace to most nights. Cozy dinners are planned and candles are part of the ritual. The days will be busy with all the projects still needing to be done before the holidays, but as darkness falls earlier and earlier, my pace changes too.

November is somewhat of the calm before the storm of the Christmas holidays. I don't rush through these days and really don't think too much about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I will still enjoy my autumn decor and do what I can to keep the ever earlier Christmas decorating in the background. I will celebrate November, because December will come soon enough.

Happy Monday!

 

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Getting Ready for Halloween Night

 

 

 

We are getting ready for the trick or treaters here. The orange lights are strung around a tree next to my front porch and a spooky witch hangs, waiting to scare those brave enough to be out in the dark. The past two days have been spent making pile after pile of leaves for the initial clean up, but there are many more bags to fill before fall ends. Trees are wonderful to have around until they overwhelm our yard, every fall. My husband does a little, I do a little and our teenage yard boy does a little and slowly, but surely they get picked up. My puppy was not thrilled with this photo op, but such is the life of a dog with a blogger in the family :-)

 

 

I did a trial run last night of the Halloween cocktail I will be sipping while handing out candy to the trick or treaters and it is a good one. This year I will be enjoying a Caramel Apple Martini, perfect for any fall occasion that calls for a festive cocktail. The caramel vodka is really good and I will be looking for more drink recipes that use it.

To make this yummy martini, simply add 2 ounces of caramel vodka, 2 ounces of apple cider and 1 ounce of Buttershot liqueur to a martini shaker, filled with ice. Shake well and pour into a martini glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar. To get the cinnamon sugar to stick to the glass, rub a little apple cider around the rim. Enjoy!

Have a wonderful Halloween weekend!

 

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Sugar Free Banana Bread Coffee Cake

 

 

What to do with the two old, tired bananas sitting in my fruit bowl? It is impossible for me to just throw them out, when I know they can make some delicious muffins of bread. But, I was in the mood for something a little different. The perfect solution was found in this Banana Bread Coffee Cake and I even made it sugar free.

What makes a slice of coffee cake different than a slice of banana bread? This coffee cake is more dense than banana bread, but still very moist. Also, it has the most delicious streusel topping; that classic mix of brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and melted butter. It elevates the taste and is very complimentary to the banana flavor.

The next time you reach for over ripe bananas to make your favorite muffin or bread recipe, give this yummy coffee cake recipe a try. I will be having some this morning with my coffee and savoring every bite :-)

Happy Thursday!

 

Sugar Free Banana Bread Coffee Cake

For the cake batter:

1/2 cup Truvia for baking

4 T butter, melted

2 overripe bananas, mashed

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

For the streusel topping:

1/2 cup Splenda brown sugar

2 T flour

2 tsp cinnamon

2 T melted butter

Spray a 10" pie plate with cooking spray. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a small mixing bowl. In a separate large bowl, mix together Truvia, 4 T melted butter, and egg. Add milk and mashed bananas, mixing well. Stir in dry ingredients until just combined.

Prepare streusel by mixing together, brown sugar, cinnamon, flour and melted butter in a small bowl. Pour cake batter in prepared pie plate, then top with streusel. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick comes out clean, when tested. Cut in wedges to serve. Enjoy!

{Linking with these friends}

Stonegable

Rattlebridge Farm

Mostly Homeade Mom

Between Naps on the Porch

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Sunny Simple Life

 

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