Fall Sale In The Shop, Scrapbooking Inspiration and Freebies

Welcome to The Cherry On Top.

I'm getting ready to go to Germany for a few weeks.  I sure could use a change of scenery and less time in the kitchen.  All of that laundry and sensible eating is getting to me.  Hehehe...I'm trying to get so much stuff together before leaving.  You know how that is...packing for yourself, the family, getting the house ready, the pets, pet sitters...Sometimes ya have to ask yourself if it's worth it?  Of course, it is.

I've got some new themed templates in the shop this week.  Although Halloween isn't really all that popular in Belgium or Germany, it's slowly making its way.  I just decorated my huge picture window for it.  My darn camera is broken so no pics for now.

Those new templates are also included in the sale.  I think I got all 10 fall themed products on sale.  If I missed something, let me know.

Here's what they look like.  I have another Halloween set in the shop if you need more.

Here's what I did with them.

Scrapped myself with JoCee's new kit, Trick or Treat.  You can grab that at GingerScraps.  Aren't the colors just divine?  Do I make a good witch or what? Don't answer that!  Hehehe...

I actually left the cauldron in two pieces so you can customize it. See how mine came out when I used a puffy bevel style from Made By Keuntje.  I also used her new collection, The Boo Crew for this page.  What a darling name.  She's so great at coming up with unique goodies for her kits.  I don't have too many photos for Halloween, but that's no big deal.  I can use the photo spots to show off papers and or journal cards.

Here's more with Dana's puffy styles, my template and her Boo Crew collection.  I pulled out most matching colors for this one.

This is Jo's Trick or Treat kit, again.  It's so bright and playful.  I just love it.  I went with a glowing effect on my pumpkin.  That's my window from a few years ago.  I did use some of these pieces again.  Mostly bones and skeletons and spiders this time.  Of course candles.  I love candles.

Now on to the Team's pages...

Flergs

Just So Scrappy

Graphia Bella

Glamour style from Flergs.

Jo's kit, again...

Digital Scrapbook Ingredients

The Kit Cart

More from Made By Keuntje and The Boo Crew

Also from Made By Keuntje, Witches Brew

More Boo Crew

Here are some pages I made with other templates from the sale.  This page uses ThankFall and goodies from Aimee Harrison Designs.

KitCart Designs

More from Aimee Harrison Designs

See!  You don't even have to scrap fall stuff!

Also Aimee Harrison Designs

 LouCee Creations

This kit was free in our group for DSD.  If you missed it, it is now available in the shop at 50% off.

This is my page using it and the Pumpkin Spice templates.  All 50% off!

 This template will be retired soon.  Get it while you can and while it's 50% off.

Jarmila did a new page with our Hallo-What template.  

Have you been following along with our monthly freebies from the group?  If so, you have ALL of this stuff by now.  Well, not all.  We've got two months to go and now you have a sneak peek.  If you missed out on it, you're not too late.  You can still go to the group and grab most of these goodies.  There were a few pieces for participation gifts that are no longer available.

Next week, we'll have our last installation for our One Word Wonders series.  Shoo wee...That means this free sample will be in your in box next week.  If you are not signed up for our weekly newsletter, sign up so you don't miss the last freebie.  It's the best way to keep up to date with all of our goings on.

Thanks so much for stopping by The Cherry.  Make sure you head back this way next week.  I've got a big announcement you won't want to miss and more scrap-a-lisciousness!  Check out our side bar for our social hot spots.

Happy scrapping!

Top 5 Desserts for Thanksgiving

Welcome to a special, foodie edition of The Cherry On Top.

Tomorrow is the big day.  Perhaps, you've got everything all ready planned and purchased.  If you don't you may want to check out our top 5 desserts that our readers love to see on the table. If we missed your favourite dessert, put it in the comments.

Pumpkin pie is my all time favourite and apparently, the fans think so as well.  I never use the canned stuff.  Pumpkins are fairly priced and they go a long way.  I get a huge one from my Father-In-Law every year.  I cut it up, freeze a couple of large and small bags for future soup, pie, bread and mashed with potato recipes and if I still have too much left over, I share it with neighbours.

If you are following this recipe or another similar to it, that asks for canned pumpkin, just use fresh.  All you have to do is cook it four a couple of minutes and grab your potato masher or a fork and mush it up.

Pecan pie was a clear second place favourite.  I grew up in the south and have a lot of souther fans who have to have their pecan pie on the Thanksgiving table.  I can't get pecans here, in Belgium so we won't be seeing this on our table.

Apple pie has so many different recipes.  My mother always makes her secret recipe which I obviously, can't share with you, but this one is a basic that's very easy to make.  Seriously, it's as easy as gathering your ingredients, chopping or slicing your apples, mixing all the ingredients together and putting in your pie crusted pan.  That's it!

The fresh pie crust version is by far the healthiest, but pie crust is a bit time consuming and not easy to get just right.  Do what fits best to your diet and time needs.

We had to include a kid favourite because a lot of kids out there are wanting something extra special and ambrosia salad certainly is that.  Serve it long before bed!  Hehehehe...

I just had to put in something I found recently and thought it was uniquely quirky and more than likely going to be a huge hit.  Check out this dessert recipe with maple syrup and...BACON!  Mmmm...

We've got a lot of free printables to help with your table setting.  We've also got recipes galore from last year's special Thanksgiving edition and our Pinterest boards are totally hopping with more ideas than you can shake a drum stick at.

All of our images are linked up to the recipes and the blog entries where you can find them.

Print out this free place mat or use our free template and make your own custom design!

Have a super happy, delicious and fun Thanksgiving!  

Top 5 Thanksgiving Sides

Welcome to a foodie edition of The Cherry On Top.

We asked around to friends, family and fans what their favourite sides and desserts were to see on the Thanksgiving table and now we're sharing healthy(ish), easy and quick versions of all of them.

Let's dig in to those lists so that you know what should be on the table.  We'll focus on the sides today and do the desserts later this week.

The resounding, most popular, by far side, was sweet potatoes.  They are preferred in many different ways and we'll share a few of them.

Check out this one!  The image is linked up to the full recipe.  So many fans like their sweet potatoes even sweeter, by adding marshmallows.  This recipe even has a pecan streusel.  This might be a new favourite for you, if you like it extra sweet.

If you haven't got your slow cooker already set up with something else than you could just chuck them in there, but it does take a really long time.  I just wash cut and steam, then put them in a serving dish with a generous pad of butter.

Mashed potatoes were an easy second and definitely a favorite of ours, too.  Consider adding some sour cream instead of milk for some added richness. This image is linked up to a very basic recipe.

If you want to try out something different this year, then why not give this recipe a try. It sounds fabulous.  It's a loaded mashed potato casserole.

Coming in third place is stuffing, but it definitely gets tricky.  There are so many ways to make this family favourite.  As a child, I did not like my mother's stuffing, but these days I make a very similar rendition to it.  You can find this very traditional, basic recipe in last year's Thanksgiving Special, right here.

I love BuzzFeed and this image is linked up to 25 stuffing recipes.  Some classically basic and some totally different.  It's definitely worth a look. I'd like try a few, myself.

It might be a no brainer, but number four is gravy.  Once again, there are many different ways to make gravy.  Your basic liquid should come from your meat and or your vegetables and potatoes if you are making those as well.  I use a mix of all of those.  The next main thing you need for gravy is a thickener.  In Europe, they don't do gravy.  They do saus which is basically the same, just a bit thinner.  You can use flour, corn starch or potato starch to thicken your gravy.  I've weened off of the flour and now use potato starch.  You need a fraction of it and it keeps your gravy tasting more like the meat and veg rather than the thickener.

Try out this basic recipe from Serious Eats.

Click here if you'd like to see a video.

The way I make gravy is a lot different than recipes I've seen and it's the way mom makes it.  Kind of. I might call it lazy mama's gravy.  Hehehe...There is no rue.

Reserve potato, meat juice and or vegetable water to equal at least a cup, depending on how much you need.  (If you forget, no worries.  Just get water from the tap.) This amount is good for four.  Don't fret if you don't have good stock from your meat.  I don't always have it.  If you do have stock from your turkey, make sure it is isn't too greasy.  You may have to skim off the fat.  (You'll see a visible layer or fat bubbles.) When I don't have enough meat stock for the gravy, I add half of a cube of bullion.  Either beef, chicken or vegetable depending on your main course.  I warm my pan or pot, add the liquids and when it starts bubbling, I add the bullion, stir and add pepper and any other herbs that go with the meal.  (Italian seasonings are often a safe bet.)  Then, in a separate lidded container, mix 1 teaspoon of potato starch with 2 teaspoons of COLD water and shake until combined.  (You can use corn starch or flour, but it will give your gravy a floury taste, too.)  Pour this in your gravy stirring slowly all the while.  If it isn't getting thick enough, make another small mix and slowly add the mix whilst stirring.  Wait before you pour it all in to see if the mix is thickening. It shouldn't take but a few seconds.  Keep tasting until it's to your liking.

Should I not be surprised that vegetables were the least mentioned side?  Green beans and broccoli were the only mentions.  Although corn is definitely a classic and really easy as well.  We'll link you up with this green bean casserole from Girl On A Mission.

Here are some fun printables from A-Manda Creation to distribute left overs or keep your own food organised in the refrigerator.

Bringing a little something extra to a family or friendly dinner?  Consider these fun, festive additions to your favourite bottle of wine or bubbly.

Last Year's Thanksgiving feature was quite a doozy with many more recipes, tips and other related stuff.  Check it out here.  Our Thanksgiving/Fall Pinterest board is full of ideas of all sorts.

Here are a couple of our freebies from last year. Napkin and utensil holders that ar ready in mere minutes and place cards.

And here is our current free printable. There is also a free template so you can designs your very own placemat.

That's a wrap.  We're coming back with the desserts, more games and activities for the big day.  

We'll see ya then!