The Dragon's Den

Updated daily with my 365 House project. Randomly interspered with crafty projects, baking, cats, and random bits and bytes of life.

Every Sunday, I join Cool Zebras and appreciate the joys in my life.

All content contained in this journal is copyrighted © unless otherwise noted.

Familiar Faces

Badges / Awards



I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.orgI Love Your Blog

Sparkly Things

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Day124/365 Blossoms

My daily contiribution to my year long "Around the House" photo project. 365 photos. Blogged here.

124/365 Blossoms


Last night, the hubby and I made another stop in at Hobby Lobby (quickly becoming our most favorite-ist store ever) to try and frame some artwork that we had picked out homes for. We came up emptyhanded on some things (who knew 8 X 8 frames were so hard to come by?) but walked out with this beauty for a steal--50% off! It was just the thing to finish up the art in the downstairs bath. Now we just need some coordinating hand towels, soap dispenser, and something to hide the completely non-matching kleenex box and we will be set! : ) It feels good to nearly have one room entirely decorated!

You can get a better look at the artwork here.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies


After having my eyes opened to the wonders of pumpkin in baked goods I began to pay attention to all the pumpkin recipes that fall was inspiring. Especially this one. I had made "Zebra brownies" before with brownie mix and cream cheese and this looked like a super charged version.

I doubled and modified the recipe slightly, so here is what I did:

Ingredients
Brownie Batter
1 1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 cup bread flour
1 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp cinnamon

Cheesecake Batter
12 oz cream cheese, softened
2 egg
2/3 cup sugar
4 tbsp flour
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp each ground ginger

Directions
PREHEAT oven to 350F. Grease a ~7.5" X ~11" baking pan.

BEAT together melted butter, sugar, and vanilla, then beat in eggs one at a time.

COMBINE dry ingredients and then gradually stir into butter mixture.

In separate bowl, BEAT together cheesecake batter ingredients.

SPREAD about 2/3 of chocolate batter into prepared pan, and spoon cheesecake batter over. Dollop remaining brownie batter over cheesecake batter. Swirl the batters together by running a butter knife back and forth through the pan.

Bake for 50 minutes, or until center is set. Cool completely, chill for 24 hours before cutting and serving. Keep refrigerated.

My Thoughts
1. For having doubled the recipe, my pan was too small. Not only did it barely fit all the batter, but the center was still way gooey, even after chilling. A 9 X 13 pan would have been much better.

2. I don't know if it's the dark chocolate cococa powder or what, but these brownies had the same ooey goeeyness that the Raspberry Chocolate Cake that I made had. Not bad, but not my thing.

3. Despite all that, these were a HUGE hit. Everybody that tried them loved them and people thought that they were very fancy. For some reason pumpkin + chocolate throws people for a loop, add the cheesecake and it's crowd pleaser for sure.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Day 123/365--Buried

My daily contiribution to my year long "Around the House" photo project. 365 photos. Blogged here.

123/365 Buried


Our backyard. Love the morning light. Love the two color trees. Love the rich look of the leaves on the ground. Do not love the hours and hours the hubby will spend raking them. (Yes, I am very spoiled, I know : ) But seriously? GORGEOUS!

Yes, this photo was taken from the upstairs window. And no, it wasn't supposed to be today's picture, but I loaned my camera to a coworker and left it at the office. Ooops.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Simply Joy Sunday

The things that made me happy this week. Check out Cool Zebras for other's joys.

1. Getting our Jellybeans prints framed, matted, and hung!

Us with Our Handiwork


2. Making plans for our housewarming party.

Invitations


3. Finding the perfect spot for our "love letters".

Love Up Close


4. A haircut! And an awesome self portrait.

Self Portrait on Green


5. Finding homes for the art we already own and love and getting it hung!

Downstairs Bath


6. The beauty of fall. And a husband who handles the leaf raking.

Raking


7. Quilting. : )

Wonky Block Progress

Day 123/365--Serendipity

My daily contiribution to my year long "Around the House" photo project. 365 photos. Blogged here.

123/365 Serendipity


Two years ago, I bought this painting from a local artist after seeing it at an Art Stroll and not being able to get it out of my mind. Today, during our mission to hang and sort and place art, I held it up to this wall, just to see how it would look. And it was perfect. The yellow/beige color of the road is practically the same hue as our walls. Destined to be together.