Craftaholics Anonymous - Handmade gift exchange

I participated in the Craftaholics anonymous Handmade gift exchange in June and i had a blast so i decited to go for it again. I think the idea of receiving a great handmade gift when its not your birthday is just awesome ;)

This is what i made for my partner Aleesha, i really hope she likes them.


Wristlet ...

and matching tissue pouch.

Newborn owl hat for the the soon to be Mommy of a little Baby Boy!!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Pound Cake

So i haven't blogged in so long and i thought it was time to start again and what could be better to blog about than a yummy recipe. I recently bought another Betty Crocker baking book and the recipes in this one are just amazing. The first recipe that i tried was a Pumpkin Chocolate Pound Cake and i was a little skeptical with using pumpkin but i absolutely LOVE this Cake. It's such a great Fall and Thanksgiving Dessert. Well here we go.....

Ingredients: Cake
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 can (15oz) pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Heat oven to 350F. Grease 12- cup fluted tube cake pan (i used a 9" spring form instead ) with shortening, lightly flour. In medium bowl, mix flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside.
2. In large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition until blended. Add pumpkin and 2 teaspoons vanilla, beat on medium speed until blended. on low speed, beat in flour mixture alternately with 1/2 cup milk until smooth. stir in 1 cum chocolate chips. spoon batter into pan.
3. Bake 55-60 minutes (takes a little longer for the spring-form) or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. cool 10 minutes, remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. In medium bowl mix all Glaze ingredients until smooth and thick. Drizzle Glaze over cake and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.
4. Enjoy ......
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