The Pink Veranda

I love making desserts and this is one of my favorite fall treats for my family.  The base is a dough that tastes a little like shortbread but it is softer and less dense. Then there is a layer of velvety caramel that is topped with more of the yummy dough.  What makes this bar so darn good is the addition of fleur de sel.  I use fleur de sel because I feel it goes well with caramel, but any other type of coarse salt will do. What you taste when you bite into each bar is the sweet and salty flavor of the caramel and salt combination.  So good, a little unexpected and you will find after the first bite that it's so hard to eat just one! Here's the recipe, enjoy! Salted Caramel Bars Ingredients 2 cups butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 1½ cups powdered sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 4 cups flour 1 -14 oz bag caramels, unwrapped ⅓ cup whipping cream ½ teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons fleur de sel salt or other coarse sea salt Instructions ...

I need to make wine glass tags for a fall theme party where there will be lots of people and lots of wine glasses. My criteria for the tags are: they can't be too big, too expensive or too much in the way when you are trying to drink your wine.  I found a cute idea for the tags that fill all of my criteria. The leaf design is perfect. Small enough so it is not annoying when you are holding the glass, but not too small so there is enough space to write out a friend's name, and it fits the fall theme.  You only need four items to make the tags:   1. Leaf Paper Punch 2. Paper 3. Hole Punch 4. Charm Rings So simple! Leaf Punch The leaf punch that I bought is actually a grape leaf (fitting for a wine glass). I chose this type of leaf because it is wider compared to other paper punch leaf designs.  There's enough room to punch a hole on the side of the leaf and still room left to write a name. If you are interested I found the leaf...

Fall baked goods are always tempting, so when I came across this recipe, I couldn't resist. Pumpkin AND apples- you don't get more autumn than that. I'll be eating them with a little bit of maple butter spread on top. Pumpkin Apple Cream Cheese Muffins Ingredients Cream Cheese Filling 8 oz package of cream cheese (at room temperature) 1/2 cup confectioners sugar 1 egg white 1/2 tsp vanilla Muffins 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking soda 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup white granulated sugar 1 egg 1/2 cup milk 15 oz can pumpkin puree 3 apples, peeled, sliced and diced Directions Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a muffin pan with parchment paper squares or cupcake liners. Peel and dice the 3 apples.  Place diced apples into a bowl and set aside while you prepare the cream cheese filling. Using an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese, 1/2...