Fall Recipes

I love fall. It's my favorite season. A chill in the air just gives me so much energy - and kicks my nesting instinct into high gear! What better time for baking?

These two recipes are from a coworker - they are incredibly delicious and easy. Fill your home with the aroma of Fall.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup sugar1 cup can pumpkin

½ cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 beaten egg (or 2 if you want cake-like cookies)

2 cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup milk chocolate chips (semi-sweet not as good w/ pumpkin)

Optional:

½ cup raisins

½ cup walnuts

Combine sugar, pumpkin, butter, vanilla, and egg. Set aside. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and combine well. Stir in optional ingredients as desired.
Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375.

Old-Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened

1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin

1 large egg1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Glaze (recipe follows)
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Grease baking sheets.
COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.
BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.

GLAZE:
COMBINE 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.
Cooks Note: For a variation add 1/2 cup chocolate chips or nuts to the recipe.
Estimated Times: Preparation - 10 minutes; Cooking - 18 minutes; Cooling Time - 2 minutes cooling.
Yields 36 cookies.
© 2009 and ®/™ Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland, used with permission.
Submitted by: LIBBY'S® Pumpkin

Paper and Pearls Picks: Skin Care and Cosmetics

I often feel very overwhelmed by skin care. There are so many lotions, cleansers, and creams out there. What do we really need??

I was recently at the dermatologist, so I asked him what he suggested for the ideal skin care. His answer surprised me: all he recommends is a good cleanser and a good lotion with SPF. What about eye cream? He smiled and said that doesn’t really make a difference. This is America and companies are always creating products that you “need.” He said to use a good cleaner, lotion, and be sure to use SPF every day. He says the brand Cetaphil really is the best – it’s a very simple formula and quite gentle. I couldn’t believe it! I’d been wandering Whole Foods looking at eye creams ($25-40!) and wondering if it’s worth it. Cetaphil is reasonably priced and widely available - you can get your whole skin care regimen for about the cost of a schmancy eye cream. Thanks, Doc! I started using the cleanser already, and it makes my skin so soft.

Here is what my dermatologist recommends:
Cetaphil cleanser
Cetaphil daily face SPF lotion
Cetaphil body lotion

(Bonus tip: If you order these on drugstore.com, you can get free shipping with an order of $25 or more. Very convenient and easy and one less errand to run! You can order a lot of beauty products and natural household items as well. I’m really enjoying Mrs. Meyer’s all-purpose cleaner as I explore natural cleaning products – it makes my house smell incredible (geraniums!)! )

I also asked about cosmetics. He said that the mineral brands do tend to be better for skin. I am a rather low-maintenance chic, and I like my Bare Minerals. It gives better coverage than other mineral brands. Get the starter kit for your skin tone and you're well on your way. I am ready to go in about 5 minutes each morning! I’ve been trying samples from Everyday Minerals lately – and really enjoying that brand as well. (Do try their samples – all you pay for is shipping!)

Simple is best. Straight from the doctor’s experience, no less!

First Feature on Craft Gawker!

I recently learned about Craft Gawker on some Etsy forums... So I gave it a whirl!!

My mini camellia journal is featured today! Check it out!

Where in the World Is... Paper and Pearls?

Where has Paper and Pearls gone to lately?

Well – for the last months we’ve been traveling (San Deigo) and moving… We are slowly emerging from the piles of boxes and enjoying our new historic home very much. I will be sharing some great decorating discoveries and photos soon. Do keep posted from some great ideas and new inventory in my shop. Better uncover all my supplies, eh?

In the meantime, let me share one of my favorite inspirational interior design books. I used to work at a high-end furniture showroom, and the style was very English. I loved it. Cheryl MacLachlan’s book “Bringing it Home: England” is a great resource I discovered during my time there. Doesn’t this product description just make you want to rush out and get the book?

“Cheryl examines England's comfortable interiors--the overstuffed sofas and chairs, rich, dark woods, classic patterns, and vibrant colors. She takes us on a room-by-room tour of the quintessential English home, providing insider tips, easy how-to's, and decorating hints, along with more than 250 gorgeous, full-color photographs. We get a close look at the furniture, fabrics, and decorative touches that make English style so appealing. We examine the English penchant for striking graphics, their celebration of flora and fauna, and their irrepressible knack for the eccentric touch. We are given a brief overview of the history of English style and explore various aspects of daily life in England, from entertaining to housekeeping, including, of course, the national pastime--taking tea. Cheryl MacLachlan also takes us for a stroll outdoors to study the key components of the lush English garden. The author closes her tour with an entertaining and enlightening discussion on the language differences between British English and American English. Bringing It Home--England explores the beauty and appeal of this fascinating country, revealing its many timeless charms. Learn what makes English life so welcoming--and then bring its best qualities back to your own home!”

For all you Anglophiles out there… this is a must-have for your coffee table or book shelf.

I love the classic English pattern Blue Willow. We've started collecting that in our new antique china cabinet. That's just one example of how we are incorporating the English style to our new old house. I'll post pics of our new house soon...

Much more to come...