a simple early Fall table setting

 

We arrived home from our vacation a few short days ago.

I spent my first day home grocery shopping and unpacking several bags of luggage.

I was exhausted at the end of the day.

While shopping, I found this bouquet of Smoke Bush.

I fell in love with its deep, rich hues. Its leaves change colors in the afternoon and evening sunlight. 

Our sweet neighbor, who cared for my house plants while we were away, brought me these beautiful white pumpkins yesterday.

Although I haven't begun decorating for Fall yet, I know that they will find the perfect place to spend the season.

  

Now that we've settled after our long trip, I will begin decorating for the Fall season.

                I'm looking forward to sharing our home with you next week.

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home

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snickerdoodle pie

I love snickerdoodle cookies! 

They're a sugar cookie, of sorts . . . and known for their lightly crisp cinnamon and sugar shell. Yum! 

They are soft and moist . . . and CHEWY!! The perfect choice to pair with flavored hot drinks and bold ice creams! 

And so I give you . . . Snickerdoodle Pie! 

It's HEAVENLY about 10 minutes right out of the oven, as the melted brown sugar and cinnamon are bubbling and oozing out from under the cookie pie . . . like a melted toffee syrup. Dreamy!

After it cools, it takes on more of a snickerdoodle cookie texture . . . BUT with ALOT more cinnamon goodness. 

I like to serve it WARM with a generous scoop of pumpkin ice cream. 

And there you have it . . . Fall on a plate! 

Here's what you'll need . . . 

pie crust

for the Cookie Pie Base

2 tbsp. cinnamon sugar, divided

2 tbsp. melted butter

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. vanilla

for the Cinnamon Sugar Syrup

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 tbsp. water

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

2 tbsp. corn syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

Preparation pictorial . . . 

If using a store bought pie dough, be sure and read the directions regarding thawing time.



Form pie dough in a pie dish.

I love ruffles, so I chose to make a scalloped edge on the dough.

Brush melted butter over pie crust and sprinkle with 1 tbsp. of cinnamon sugar.

Beat together 1/4 cup butter, sugar, powdered sugar, baking powder, salt, cream of tartar, egg, milk, flour, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Spread evenly in the pie crust.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 1/4 c. butter, brown sugar, water, cinnamon, corn syrup, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Gently boil for 2 minutes. Carefully pour over batter in pie crust and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar.

Cover the edges with foil and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 15-20 minutes until just set in the middle.

**Slightly shake the pie dish. You want a firm jiggle, and then you know it's the perfect doneness.

       Slice and serve with pumpkin ice cream. Yum!  

Enjoy!

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home

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fall in Colorado

This Saturday, September 22nd, is the first day of Fall. 

It hasn't felt like Fall could even be approaching, given the recent temperatures in Southern California. When the daily temperatures are in the high 90s, it's hard to feel the spirit of Fall. 

I've even had a hard time imagining my front porch covered in pumpkins and twinkle lights, let alone Fall decor in my home. I'll be honest, it kinda bummed me out a little . . . BUT that's all changed in the last 24 hours!

How, you might ask? 

My little ones and I traveled with my husband to a charming town called Highlands Ranch, south of Denver, for a two week visit. We were pleasantly surprised when we walked out of the airport only to look at each other and comment on the chill in the air. It was a brisk 56 degrees.  To some, that might not seem cold ~ but to a Southern California girl ~ that's chilly.

While touring a few of the Main Streets in local towns . . . I saw mounds of Fall colored mums gathered around store fronts, buckets of pumpkins ~ orange and white ~ as well as gourds of all sizes and colors. Simply, beautiful.

It's hard not to smile when you see such beauty. 

Welcome Fall!

fall inspirations from up North

Happy, Happy Fall!

My family and I are vacationing in Colorado, and we're loving the cooler temperatures and rain.  It certainly feels like Fall here (big smile!).

I've taken so many Fall-inspired photos while on our trip, and was hoping to gather all of them to create a post dedicated to Fall, but we've been so busy having fun that I haven't had a chance.  

~ shopping in Littleton, Colorado ~

I've shared several of them on Instagram, and hope that you stop over to take a peek.

For now, I thought I would share a post that I wrote last year after returning home from a Fall trip to Central California with my mom and sister. 

I still enjoy looking at these photos, even a year later, and hope you do too!

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~

I returned from an annual 4-day trip that I take with my mom and sister every year. 

We travel a few short hours North to Los Olivos, Solvang, and San Luis Obispo to share one another's company, shop for hours on end, enjoy the changing season (COLD weather & gorgeous foliage!), and eat; and when I say eat, I mean we stop at lots of bakery shops and enjoy Danish delights . . . and a lot of them! Calorie-counting is out-the-door while we're away! 

Fall is in full bloom, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite Fall inspirations from up North . . . 

We have many traditions on our trip, and stopping by Avila Valley Farm is one of them . . .

~ So many pumpkins, and their varieties, in one place! ~

~ Look at the height of the trees towering over the pumpkin pile!~

~ Avila Valley Farm stand is bursting with Fall delights, fresh and jarred ~

~ They even sell home-baked desserts! ~

~ Buckets of Fall leaf bouquets FOR SALE ~

~ You can buy lunch here, as well. BBQ, of some sort ~

~ Scarecrows everywhere ~

We discovered a new farm along the way . . . Windmill Farms . . . We fell in
LOVE and plan to add it to our traditional stops next year. 

One of my favorite stops is J.Woest in Los Olivos!!

~ Pumpkins can brighten up any landscape ~

~ I love this planter arrangement! ~

~ I LOVE this wreath! ~

Our destination and home-base is always Solvang, California! 

~ Look at this beautiful tree! ~

We saw Fall foliage everywhere!

~ Picket Fences is my favorite shop in Solvang ~

~ a HARVEST window! ~

~ Mortensen's is my favorite Danish bakery in Solvang ~

~ 
~ I have a "sweet" tradition while visiting the area . . .

I enjoy a Napoleon Hat cookie at a table right next to their

front facing window . . . where I enjoy a quiet moment,

people-watch, and count my blessings ~

~ Napoleon Hat cookie ~

A delicious Danish cookie!

A staple cookie in Danish bakeries. 

Napoleon Hats are a butter cookie with a marzipan center (YUM!!!),

and then dipped in chocolate

We had another wonderful trip!

I hope you found Fall inspirations in my photos, 

as you decorate your home and garden for this bountiful season.

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home

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