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  • Monthly Archives: September 2019

    • Succulent and Pumpkin Arrangements

      Posted at 6:19 am by turnipcreations, on September 10, 2019

      What goes better than Pumpkins and Succulents? Really! Do you even have to think about it? I’m not sure anything screams Fall more than these gorgeous <and super simple> Pumpkin and Succulent planters.

      Well, since we grow both Succulents and Pumpkins, they really are the perfect combination this time of year and they are so easy to make with just a few simple craft items. So perfect for Thanksgiving centerpieces, hostess gifts, wedding favors or just to sit around the house and enjoy yourself.

      There are a lot of tutorials out there on how to creases these pretty planters and lots of different ideas on whether or not to plant the succulent in moss on top of the whole pumpkin or to plant inside the pumpkin in soil. For these, I prefer to not cut into the pumpkin at all and rather “plant” the Succulents in the moss that is layered on top of the pumpkin.

      <Scroll to the bottom for a quick instruction guide>

      They will last for up to 2-3 months and when the pumpkin has no more life in it, you simply remove the moss topper, succulents and all and plant in a planter or flower pot, using a good rich succulent soil. The roots will already be established in the moss and will continue to grow into the new soil and look amazing- I love that!

      You can use any size or variety of pumpkins. I really prefer the mini pumpkins, even the micro pumpkins, but the large & colorful ornamental pumpkins make stunning arrangements. Just experiment and have fun.

      The supply list is pretty simple…pumpkins, succulents, moss, spray adhesive, hot glue gun and glue sticks. That is all you need to create the perfect Fall centerpiece.

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      So let’s talk supply details. The spray adhesive will be for attaching the moss, in layers, to the top of the pumpkin. Any spray adhesive will work. You could also just use hot glue to adhere the moss; however, I like using a spray adhesive because it is more forgiving and easier on your fingers (and how many times have you been burned by the hot glue?!)

      Now the moss— Sphagnum moss is a natural product, is long lasting and has excellent water holding capabilities. This is what I recommend using, especially if you plan to transplant your succulents later. However, I have seen other types of moss used.

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      Pumpkins come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. I get more bang for my buck when using the mini pumpkins because it doesn’t take as many succulents to make it look full. And I think the small succulent filled pumpkins look great adorning a desktop, kitchen counter, or side table. But, if you were using the arrangement for a large table or focal centerpiece, I would use a bigger variety pumpkin. If using a larger pumpkin you want to look for an ornamental pumpkin with a flat or inverted top.

      And lastly, you need succulents. I use cuttings, with 1/4″ stem, first letting them air dry for a few days which allows them to form a callus end. If you cut and plant in the same day, the moisture from the plant stem could cause rot.


      You can also purchase small succulent plants to use, which is especially helpful for your large center pieces. Be sure to take away and shake off all the dirt before placing in the moss.

      So let’s get to the crafting. Spray the adhesive to the top of the pumpkin and place a layer of moss. Press down and hold to ensure it has adhered. Continue to spray adhesive and place more moss until it is built up 1/4″-1/2″ thick. I like to have a little moss trailing down the sides as well but you may want it neat and symmetrical. Just layer it to suit your taste.

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      I like to get an idea of how I want the plants arranged before I begin gluing them in place.  Start with your larger and taller plants in the center and work your way to the outside. Then go back enough and add smaller filler plants to make a full arrangement. Also use draping succulent to line the outside edge. I like to use all green or neutral succulent for a natural arrangement but the bright and vibrant colored succulent look great too. Maybe even use a monochromatic look with a large orange pumpkin and orange succulent or a green pumpkin with green succulent. There is really no wrong way to arrange them as long as you like it!

      Once you figure out a plan for the arrangement, use the end of a pencil or something similar to poke a hole in the moss then dab a little hot glue onto the end of the succulent and poke into the hole you made in the moss. Press down a little and hold until the glue sets. The hot glue will not damage the stem and the succulent will continue to grow and take root in the moss.

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      Continue to glue a variety of succulent in the moss and fill in blank areas with smaller succulent. Make it as full as you want. I like to stick to just a few succulent if I am using a micro pumpkin and 10-12 cutting for a mini pumpkin, depending on the size of your succulent cuttings.


      After a day or two, give the moss a good spritz with a spray bottle and then continue to lightly spritz it using a spray bottle every week to week and a half and it should last a few months.

      Print

      Succulent Pumpkin Arrangement

      A beautiful way to celebrate the Fall Season by combining pumpkins and succulent.
      Prep Time10 mins
      Active Time30 mins

      Equipment

      • Hot Glue Gun

      Materials

      • Hot Glue Sticks
      • Spray Adhesive
      • Sphagnum Moss
      • Variety of Succulent Cuttings or Plants leave stem 1/4" long
      • Ornamental or Mini Pumpkins

      Instructions

      • Spray top of pumpkin with adhesive and layer the moss on top. Continue to spray and layer until moss is 1/4"-1/2" thick.
      • Poke a hole into the moss where you want the plant to be placed.
      • Dab hot glue all around the stem of your succulent and place in the hole in the moss and hold down until glue hardens.
      • Continue gluing succulents in the moss until the arrangement is full.
      • After a day or two, give the plants and moss a good spritz with a water bottle and continue to water every week to week and a half.

      Notes

      If using succulent cuttings, cut stems back to 1/4" and allow to air dry for a few days before planting. 
      If using full plants, remove all the dirt before planting. 
      Use large or tall succulents in the middle and work outward adding plants. Use smaller plants or trailing succulent to fill in between large plants and on the edges. 
      Posted in Craft, Garden | 0 Comments | Tagged centerpiece, fall craft, fall decorations, pumpkin, pumpkin succulent, Succulent, succulents
    • Cinnamon Spice Snickerdoodle Apple Pie Bites

      Posted at 3:49 am by turnipcreations, on September 7, 2019

      The temperature dipped down to a cool 92 degrees for one day last week, which can only mean one thing – Fall in Texas is right around the corner! Even though it climbed back to 100 degree days soon after, I felt the first hint that my FAV season of the year would be here soon.

      September has rolled around and it makes me crave all things Fall! And these Snickerdoodle Apple Pie Bites, with a punch of spicy clove, are all things fall, rolled into a perfect bite size portion.

      The best part is how super simple they are to make and whip up in just a matter of minutes. Perfect for last minute guests or just when you are craving a taste of Fall.

      Canned Apples and Snickerdoodle Cookie mix makes this recipe super simple and easy; but, the added addition of clove, nutmeg and cinnamon gives it a warm homemade taste.

      The best part about this recipe, besides the AH-mazing flavor, is that you get to use the mini-muffin pan! I love anything & everything in a mini version & that’s what makes this sweet treat all the better.

      Mix the Snickerdoodle Cookie mix according to package direction. Using a small ice cream scoop, dip out 1″ balls of dough and roll in the cinnamon mixture, that came with the cookie dough mix. I highly recommend a small ice cream scoop…it is invaluable in the kitchen. But, you can just drop the dough by the tablespoon and roll in the cinnamon/sugar.


      Poop each dough balls individually into the muffin pan and bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown .

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      When done take out of the oven and quickly press the back of a tablespoon size measuring spoon into the dough, to form the indention for the cup.

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      Let cool in pan 3-5 minutes then carefully pop out and sit aside to cool completely.

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      Now for the yummy filling– Apple Pie in a Can! I like to mix in some added flavor using cinnamon, nutmeg and ground clove to give it a powerful punch of all the yummy flavors of the Fall Season. Now, I know canned apple pie filling is already flavored, and of course can be used as is straight from the can and will be delicious. If you do not like the added punch of spice flavor, just omit the added cinnamon, clove and nutmeg or season to taste.

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      Of course you could also cook down fresh apples to form the filling or even use peaches instead of apples. The spices will really stand out on their own regardless of the fruit you use.

      Pour the canned apples into a bowl, add a touch of cinnamon, a sprinkle of nutmeg and smidge of ground clove and give the apples a good chop. You want to chop and turn the bowl, then stir with a spoon and repeat until the apples are diced small.

      Once mixed, use the small ice cream scoop to fill the Snickerdoodle cups with the apple mixture and serve (or save them all for yourself!)

      Perfect as is or even better drizzled with caramel or served with ice cream! I love serving these mini treats even as an appetizer and they are perfect to take for a pot luck or to the office to share with co-workers.

       

      Cinnamon Spice Snickerdoodle Apple Pie Bites

      These Cinnamon Spice Snickerdoole Apple Pie Bites combine all my favorite flavors of Fall into a bite sized treat!
      Print Recipe Pin Recipe
      Prep Time 15 mins
      Cook Time 10 mins
      Servings 30 bites

      Ingredients
        

      • 1 package Betty Crocker Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix (1 cookie mix + cinnamon sugar mix that comes with cookie pouch)
      • 1 tbs water
      • 1 egg
      • 1/2 c butter, melted
      • 1 can apple pie filling
      • 1/8 tsp ground clove
      • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
      • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

      Instructions
       

      • Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a mini muffin pan with cookie pray, thoroughly.
      • Mix cookie mix, according to directions. If using the Betty Crocker mix, stir together egg, butter, water and cookie mix until dough forms.
      • Pour the cinnamon sugar mixture from the cookie mix into a plate or flat bottom bowl.
      • Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon, scoop the dough into balls and roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture and then place into the mini muffin pan.
      • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Immediately after removing pan from oven, use the back of a tablespoon measuring spoon to press down and make an indention in the top of each cookie.
      • Let cookie cups cool in pan for 3-5 minutes and then gently pop out each cookie using a knife or edge of a spoon and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
      • Pour the contents of the apple pie filling into a bowl. Add the ground clove, ground nutmeg and ground cinnamon. Using a knife, chop up the apples then stir the mixture to combine the spices.
      • Using the small ice cream scoop or tablespoon, place a little apple mixture into each cookie cup. If desired, you can sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture or serve with ice cream or a drizzle of caramel.
      Posted in Cook | 0 Comments | Tagged apple pie, baking, fall baking, snickerdoodle
    • Mini Pumpkin Pickin’ Time – Oh My!

      Posted at 9:22 am by turnipcreations, on September 2, 2019

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      3,120 Mini Pumpkins! That’s right…two rows of seed produced over three-thousand mini pumpkins. I has no idea that we would end up with this many of the small pumpkins, when we started harvesting them this weekend. This is our first large scale pumpkin harvest, so I had no idea what to expect. I was hoping for several hundred, so needless to say, I am blown away by the fact that we have several thousand. Of course, we have grown ornamental pumpkins, including the mini varieties for several years, just on a much smaller scale. Shane wasn’t surprised in the least that when you plant 10 acres of land in pumpkin seed, you are going to end up with quite a few, you know since he grew up on a farm raising produce — however, this small town girl was still a little shocked at the actual numbers!

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      And here they are! Fresh picked and cleaned in the field. Hand-picked and hand counted, one by one. Shane and his dad started early in the morning, cutting each pumpkin from the vine, with me Once cut, they would pile the mini delights in between the rows as they made their way down through all the vines.

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      Field

      After all of the pumpkins were cut, the Pippa Hill Farms work crew ( which consisted of Shane’s sister and brother in law and our two nieces, who apparently chose the wrong weekend to come for a visit) got to work picking up each pumpkin, washing it in the field and loaded them into tubs and afterwards, laying them out in between hay to dry out in trailers.


      Now, comes the fun part for me. Sorting through all the varieties. I could spend hours, just looking and sorting through all the pumpkins. Each one is so unique! Some of my FAVS are the pure white mini boos, the dark green that are almost black, the yellow and white stripes and the orange with just a splash of green. Like a mini work of art.

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      Now, what to do with all these mini pumpkins…of course after I decorate the entire house for fall using several hundred of them! We are selling them at our local Farmer’s Market in downtown Waco, Texas as well as other area stops and in our Etsy Shop. I can’t wait to also share with everyone some fun ideas and recipes on how to use these guys.

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      Posted in Garden | 0 Comments
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      Starting seeds for transplants indoors does not have to be fancy- these trays of tomatoes, waiting germination, are sitting on the floor of Shane’s office!
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