Fanciful Twist Halloween Blog Party... {A poem from my Edgar}

A Dream within a Dream

Edgar Allen Poe

 

 

 

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;

 



Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

 

 I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-

 

 

 

 

How few yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep;

 

 



 

O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?   

 

Happy Hauntings Dear Friends!

I would like to send a Miss V from Fanciful Twist a big witchy hug and thanks for letting me join in all the fun magical frolic! And all you gouls and goblins take a stop over there and take a peek at all the other spooky happenings going on!

But before you go leave a comment below with your name and email to enter to win my Mystery Poe giveaway!
Winner will be announced Sunday!
 

Your such a TART...

   It feels so good to get back into my kitchen again, even though it doesn't really feel like MINE just yet, its still pretty wonderful.
  All my baking bits and baubles are put in their proper place, easily reached and out in view... unlike my old tiny cottage kitchen where everything had to be stored in plastic bins, and labeled. Where finding the perfect #12 tip, or my favorite brownie pan was a chore within its self. 
  

I find myself baking everyday here.

 

 

   I don't know if its the new giant kitchen, the amazing autumn weather, the view if the mountains covered in trees the color of your most perfect dreams, the lullaby of the train, or my magical Narnia pantry with its 150 year old butcher block... but I have found my mojo again and it feels great! {the only problem is my grocery bill has quadrupled due to the nonstop cooking Ive been doing... but we all have to sacrifice somewhere don't we!}


I thought with all the new yummies going on, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't share them with you!
  
   So here you go! I would love to hear every ones thoughts on this amazing tart... Its such an old, classic flavor to me. I love it! And the pecans make it a perfect Thanksgiving Dessert.

Now, I got this original recipe from the always amazing Sweetapolita. I ended up baking mine a bit too long, {my new oven and I have not become soul mates yet} so its not as gooey as hers, as well as in tart form, with a little added spice... {she used a 9x13 pan FYI} but it was still yumtastic  ;)

Crust Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup unsalted butter

Filling Ingredients:

6 tbsp melted unsalted butter

6 eggs, lightly beaten

3 cups packed brown sugar

6 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

pinch salt

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

* 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 

 

 Prep:

Preheat oven to 350F

Spray and line your tart pan with parchment paper... {my pan is non stick so I skipped this part}  Make sure there is an overhang of paper to allow for removing from pan after baked.

Crust:

 ♥In medium bowl, combine flour and granulated sugar, cutting in butter with pastry blender {or your handy dandy potato masher} until crumbly. Press into pan and bake for 15 minutes (or until very light golden brown on edges).

Filling:

 ♥In bowl, mix melted butter and eggs, blending in brown sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla, *pie spice, and salt. Stir in pecans and pour over crust. *I also toasted my pecans in a skillet a bit first.

 ♥Bake for 20-25 minutes until top springs back when lightly touched.

 *It should not feel firm–it’s really important that you don’t overbake, or they won’t be “ooey gooey!” {this is where my tart took a wrong turn, because I cooked it a bit longer than she suggests, it was gooey... just a bit less ooey.}

 ♥Let cool on rack, then cover and refrigerate until very firm {at least an hour}.

♥Enjoy!

 

I was thinking this would be really good with apples as well, we have them pouring out of our ears right now! Gotta luv Vermont apples!!

 

Let me know what you think!

 

 

Be Good to each other!



Dear Sweet Baby Jesus...the tale of cookbook lust

I have fallen in love. 

Have you seen THIS??!!
Does it make your heart beat fast and your head a little spinnie? Because that's what this does to me.

I want to take this book behind the middle school and get it pregnant.

 Maybe its the cookie sandwich and milk on the cover, or perhaps the striped paper straw, {I'm always a sucker for those!} or possibly its simply the fact that its Thomas Keller.

Thomas. Effing. Keller.

 No matter what it is; this book makes my tummy hungry, my eyes full, and my brain explode with happiness.
 
   I have been considering for awhile now adding a book review the blog. I have so many books & cookbooks its simply silly. {I sware. 45% of my moving van, nothing but books!} And I would love to start sharing a few of them with you! And it seemed as though the universe was screaming do it NOW!

  I have to be honest however, this particular book I found today while exploring a quaint little indie bookstore in Woodstock. {more about that love later... } I'm pretty sure I had heard The Chef gushing over it at some point, and wanting to get his hands on it... but with the move and settling in, Bouchon Bakery was far from my mind. {gasp!}
 
 The release date for Bouchon Bakery is Oct 23rd,  ask me how lucky do I feel to have found it 3 days early as well as signed?? Oh, I didn't mentioned it was signed? yeah. eat your hearts out.

Inside its delicious pages lie the secrets to the perfect way to stretch and fold your dough, and the 4 different versions of brioche. This alone might change your life, maybe.

From macaroons, to croissants, and even chocolate chip cookies... I see many hours of blissful whisking and kneading in my future.

{photo credits from Eater}

 

Be good to each other, and bake fantastic things, or dream of baking fantastic things...

 

 



Its going to be a a Fanciful, Magical, Spookical time... will you join me?

I'm really excited.

I am always really excited this time of year.
This leaf changing, sweater wearing, pumpkin picking, Halloweening time of year!

This year I'm extra excited however, because I can join in all the fun Miss Vanessa is planning over at A Fanciful Twist! {last year I had a few technical issues and had to miss the tricks and treats!}

I'm busting at the seams with spells and treats to share!

I hope you join me! And all my bewitching friends in blogland as we celebrate the most magical time of the year!!