QuiltLady – Page 2 – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

BLUE CARROT BUNDT CAKE ~ BLOG 365.317

I decided to combine two of my favorite flavors into a single cake and was NOT disappointed!!!! I think you’ll enjoy it also. It has a uniquely yummy pop of flavor.

BLUE CARROT BUNDT CAKE ~ 12 servings

1 lemon, zested & juiced
1 orange, zested and juiced
1/2 cup FINELY grated carrot (1 medium carrot)
3 LARGE eggs
16 ounces sour cream
1 yellow cake mix
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 pint blueberries

Heat oven to 350°.
Lightly spray bundt pan with Baker’s Joy. Set aside.
Whisk together the eggs, sour cream, orange and lemon zest until smooth.
Fold in most of the grated carrots, reserving a few for garnish.
Mix in cake mix, beating until smooth.
Fold in most of the blueberries, reserving a few for garnish.
Pour into prepared pan and tamp on counter to even out.
Bake 35-45 minutes until set and toothpick comes out clean.
Loosen sides and invert onto serving plate.
Brush warm cake with reserved juices.
Cool completely.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with a cream cheese glaze.
Garnish with some FINELY grated carrot and a couple blueberries for a stunning and colorful presentation.

NOTE: If using frozen blueberries, toss the thawed berries in some flour before folding them into the batter.

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE
2 ounces softened cream cheese
1⁄2 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons WHOLE milk
2 -3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1⁄2 teaspoon QUALITY vanilla

With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and milk together.
Gradually add the powdered sugar.
Beat in vanilla last.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY ~ BLOG 365.316

BLOODY MARY PICKLES ~ BLOG 365.315

I found this recipe on FaceBook. Now I am allergic to mustard so I avoid pickles completely because of the pickling brine, but hubby LOVES pickles, mustard and Bloody Marys so this was right up his alley. So, I bought the pickles, the bloody Mary mix and special spice, the rest is history!

BLOODY MARY PICKLES
1 jar dill pickle slices
Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix
DAN’Os OUTLAW Cajun Bloody Mary seasoning

Pour out about half of the pickle juice.
Pour in enough Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix to replace pickle juice.
Add 2 tablespoons of seasoning.
Replace lid and shake to mix.
Allow to sit 24 hours before eating.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 45 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.314

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Last week was a whirlwind of activity as we spent Wednesday in the pouring rain doing out of town shopping at the Chef’s Store for the Eagle’s upcoming Friendsgiving event next week, as well as taking the time to do TinselTown for me. There’s a home improvement store that turns their garden area into a bright and light filled Christmas area every year that I look forward to seeking out new treasures for our tree and decorating. As we begin week 45 of 2025, it only seems like the perfect time to remind everyone that there are only 45 days until Christmas 🙂

We also found a new place for lunch, Forresters Bar & Grill. They had the most amazing open face sandwiches (hubby had the turkey and I had the roast beef). I can’t remember the last time I even saw hot open face sandwiches on a menu!

We needed new lights for the tree this year (we threw out the old last year and bought some new at Lowes on Tuesday. Wednesday night we started putting up the tree only to realize we hadn’t bought enough of the glitter sparkle lights at Lowes on Tuesday to do the whole tree. I tried to buy more at Lowes on Thursday when I went to town to do the rest of the Eagle’s regular shopping only to be told they weren’t ordering any more this season. What the heck? It’s only early November and they’re out for the WHOLE season? I found that theme carried into the grocery shopping also. So many stores are stocking less and less inventory forcing you to buy a different brand or style or be forced to order on line. The rest of the lights should be here this afternoon.

Friday I baked a sheet cake for the first Friday birthday celebration at the Eagles. My friend usually does it, but she was away at a conference this weekend. I gave Glenda, the woman cooking the dinner the choice of flavor since her birthday falls in November and she couldn’t decide between chocolate and carrot cake so I combined them 🙂 and I have to say the flavor combo turned out awesome! I made extra for my neighbor to try and a cake for the new neighbors as a welcome to the neighborhood.

Saturday was a more leisurely spent day, but I did make lists for hosting Christmas and the things I need to make the Neighbor holiday plates. If shopping is this bad in early November I don’t want any surprises close to Christmas. I also got a little decorating done though the living room is a mess waiting on the rest of the lights to arrive.

Sunday we met some friends for an early brunch before football. How can you say no to breakfast burritos and Mimosas? After all brunch without mimosas is just a sad late breakfast! 🙂 I really enjoyed the GIANTS and BEARS game with the snow and cold.

And now here we are back to Monday and I have a meeting tonight so need to pull together my notes and get the minutes typed.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

FORTUNATELY, we’re not getting the bitter cold that the Midwest is, but it’s definitely winter here already. It’s been windy, wet and the bone chilling kind of wet and cold. I did buy some new pretty feminine colored (pinks and purples) turtlenecks and flannels this year so I won’t look like a lumberjack reject (reds and greens) all winter long! 🙂 Temps will be in the low 50’s during the day low 40’s at night with dense morning fog and clouds. The rain will be beginning again towards the end of the week.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, WHAT’S ON MY MIND, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV

TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING I need to change the bedding and a couple loads of laundry today.
TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I only have a couple errands this week, a hair cut and a pedicure. I’m decided on taking the nutcracker class on Wednesday evening. I really wanted to do the MAGI one, but it’s too close to my mom’s knee replacement and I don’t want to leave her alone for that long. My friend who teaches the class said she’d see about scheduling the MAGI again in December.
PROJECTS & TRAVELS Nothing much right now though we are hoping to get away to the coast in December or January for a few days. We actually like being at the coast when it’s cold and windy. We started planning it yesterday while we were having brunch with friends and getting their suggestions for places they’ve been.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are planned up to Thanksgiving and I’m planning to do soups, chilis and stews with crusty breads and rolls in December ~ just still working on flavor profiles.
DVR/TV It has been hit or miss on staying on top of shows, but I am up to date with the holiday baking shows.
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY Looking out on chilly, foggy winter mornings while holding my warm coffee while remembering my own rule that I won’t go anywhere until it’s 40°, the aroma of an all day soup or stew, the matching aroma of a crusty bread…

READING TIME

I’ve been trying to finish A FLICKER IN THE DARK by Stacy Willingham and probably will finish it tonight so I can then finish THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostick before I start a new one. I hate when I have multiple books going.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

	11/10 MONDAY	11/11 TUESDAY	11/12 WEDNESDAY	11/13 THURSDAY	11/14 FRIDAY	11/15 SATURDAY	11/16 SUNDAY
DINNER	CORN / YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	LEMON HERB ROAST CHICKEN	CORN / YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	CHICKEN ala KING	CORN / YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	CLARICE’S FAVORITE PORK CHOPS & BAKED BEANS	APPLE BBQ CHICKEN SALAD
DESSERT

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I’m so happy to see water in the “little” pond again and I know this guy is too. I think he spent ALL day there as you can see from the morning overcast picture and the afternoon sunny picture a few hours later. LOL It’s probably two different birds, but a girl can dream…

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

BLOODY MARY PICKLES
BLUE CARROT BUNDT CAKE

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

SILENT SUNDAY ~ BLOG 365.313

SATURDAY COFFEE ~ BLOG 365.312

TGIF ~ BLOG 365.311

FRENCH COUNTRY SOUP ~ BLOG 365.310

Don’t forget the crusty bread to go with this comforting fall favorite soup that’s perfect for any cool evening.

FRENCH COUNTRY SOUP

8 ounces Great Northern or Cannellini beans
6 cups water
4 cups homemade chicken broth
1 pound stew meat
2 medium carrots, rustically sliced (1 inch pieces)
2 stalks celery, rustically cut (1 inch pieces)
1 large onion, halved and sliced
1 cup dry white wine
5-6 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
1 teaspoon ground bay leaves
1-2 teaspoons crushed rosemary
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

Rinse and drain beans.
Combine beans and water in large dutch oven. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, cover and let stand 1 hour.
Drain beans and rinse.
Heat oil or butter in skillet over medium-high heat.
Sear beef pieces quickly.
Combine beans, browned beef, broth, wine, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, bay leaves, rosemary, salt and pepper in 5-6 quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW 8-10 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours.
Discard bay leaves and serve with crusty bread – we like a good beer bread.

NOTE: you can substitute 2 cans of rinsed Cannellini or Great Northern beans during the last half hour instead of the dried beans. If you choose this option cut the cooking time in half.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY ~ BLOG 365.309

OLIVE GARDEN COPY CAT CHICKEN ALFREDO Ala SLOW COOKER ~ BLOG 365.308

Super easy, but extra flavorful copy cat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo.

OLIVE GARDEN COPY CAT CHICKEN ALFREDO Ala SLOW COOKER adapted from The Magical Slow Cooker
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
16 ounce bottle Olive Garden Italian dressing
1/4 cup FRESH grated parmesan cheese
FRESH ground black pepper, to taste
8 ounces cream cheese, cubed and at room temperature
16 ounces penne pasta, prepared per package directions just as slow cooking time is done
8 ounces Le Seur peas, drained
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Add the chicken breasts to the slow cooker in a single layer. Pour over the Italian dressing over the chicken.
Sprinkle over the parmesan cheese and pepper. Place the cream cheese cubes on top. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours.
Gently and slightly shred the chicken into the dressing and cheese sauce.
Fold in peas and cook 5 more minutes.
Drain pasta well and fold into chicken mixture.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Serve and enjoy!

NOTE: Olive garden dressing is high in sodium and can be a bit salty. If you prefer, choose a lower sodium dressing.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 44 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.307

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Good morning friends. Did you remember to reset your clocks? I’m already hating the early darkness making the evenings seem sooooo very long.

It was a fairly busy weekend here beginning with Halloween on Friday night. We had about 100 kids (or 2 Costco bags worth of candy) come through our neighborhood. There are a lot of really rural communities around us and they bring their kids to our neighborhood to Trick-Or-Treat because we are literally the first organized neighborhood as you head into town. The welcome sign to our town is literally posted at the bottom of our back hill on the highway 🙂

With Halloween over and us not doing Thanksgiving here at our house, I’m moving right along into enjoying the Christmas holidays. Everything is happening so fast this year! So, I’m starting earlier again as you can see by my new header and background. My front door table is all that’s decorated for Thanksgiving – everything else is moving straight into Christmas. Hubby and I started getting Christmas decorations out of storage yesterday. We’re using the artificial tree this year and it is up and acclimating to the house. Hubby spent some time last night leafing out the branches. We’ll start decorating it tomorrow or Wednesday.