cottagenecessitiesblog

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Celebrating 70

Dear Friend, Today I woke up and realized that I’ve been on this planet for 70 years. Today is my birthday…. My friend sent me a text asking how I would spend my day. There’s a slight drizzle today and the sky is overcast, so I would rather stay inside. The fire has been started in the fireplace, blinds opened, cats fed, and coffee made. I only have lactose-free milk in the fridge since my…

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Garden Therapy

The energy of the garden no matter how big or how small is not to be denied one of the best therapies to lift one out of a depressed or low state of being. I had some words with a family member yesterday that left me in a funk. In fact, my mood was so low, that I called out sick from work and spent a good part of the day sleeping. If depression is suppressed anger, then that is exactly what I was…

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Granny Gift Guide and bathroom re-do suggestions

Granny Gift Guide and bathroom re-do suggestions

In this guide I will show you what I think is a granny must have.

Being a granny myself – Oh I can’t believe I just said that _ but it’s true _ and there are some things that even “the granny who has everything and tells you she doesn’t need anything just might find some of the following suggestions useful. This post contains links to products that if clicked on I may receive a referral fee with…

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Chocolate Silk Salted Caramel Pie

I recently took on a challenge over at Nellie Bellie’s Kitchen on Facebook.  For four weeks we made different pie categories.  Here is one of my recipes that I created for the Holidays.  I hope you try it as it was pretty easy.  I have since found some easier ways to make the caramel, as mine took three hours of constant stirring and adding milk to get it to the light caramel color that you see in the picture.

Rich, Decadent, Full of Flavor, Delightful!  That is how I would describe this Designer Pie…..

  Even though this looks like a Million Dollar Pie….

You might be interested that I even purchased some of the ingredients at the 99cent store.

Perhaps you have a Dollar store in your neighborhood.  I think it’s only California that has the 99 cent stores, which were the original idea, created by a liquor store owner in Hawthorn, California, who noticed that whenever he priced items at 99 cents, they would sell faster.

Here are some of the ingredients that I got there.

The Graham cracker crusts were really fresh, and I was surprised how good they tasted.

Cool Whip, Baker’s chocolate bars, milk chocolate bar, whipped cream, sugar, cornstarch

    Chocolate Silk Salted Caramel Pie~ recipe

Recipe Type: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Cottage Necessities Lorna Erickson

Prep time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hour

Serves: 2 pies

Rich, Decadent, Delightful, and bursting with flavor, this Designer Pie will WOW your friends and family and keep them coming back for more. Not only that, it features superfood ie dark chocolate and pink sea salt

Ingredients

Premade Graham cracker crust

2 cans sweetened condensed milk ( for the caramel)

1 c sugar

1/4 c cornstarch

1 can evaporated milk

1 can coconut cream

1/2 bag dark chocolate chips or ( 6 unsweetened Baker’s Square chocolate )

2 fresh eggs separated

1 tsp instant coffee

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 T real butter

1 solid chocolate bar ( for chocolate curls)

1 c caramels ( optional)

1 tub Cool Whip

1 Can of whipped cream aerosol can for topping

Instructions

Prepare your caramel – sweetened condensed milk in a double broiler until thick and caramel color, adding milk as it continues to cook. you can also add a couple of regular caramel candies to melt in the mixture. Another method would be to put the condensed milk in a glass container and put it in the microwave on 1 minute intervals until it reaches the desired consistency. It should be thin enough to pour on strings.

Pie Filling – In a double boiler, whisk sugar and cornstarch together on medium heat.

Slowly add 2 1/2 cups of room temperature coconut cream and evaporated milk ( combined)

( you can substitute regular milk here is preferred)

Add the chocolate pieces to mixture

Beat two egg yolks, adding a little of the hot mixture to them before adding to the pot of hot liquid. This will prevent your eggs from cooking. Save the egg whites for another project.

When your pudding mixture achieves “trace” ( see photo) you can then add the coffee, vanilla, and butter.

Layer it on – Pour chocolate pudding mixture into prepared Graham cracker crust , layering with Caramel then Cool Whip that has been warmed to spreadable consistency.

Finish with a layer of cool whip, then flute the top with the can of aerosol whipped cream, drizzle more caramel on top, layer with chocolate curls, and sprinkle some pink sea salt on top.

3.5.3251

Don’t forget the Sea Salt!

I hope you try this recipe.  It will delight your friends and family.  Let me know if you tried it.  Picture 5 shows what “trace” should look like.  Trace literally means that you can trace your name with the mixture.

Chocolate Silk Salted Caramel Pie~ recipe ~ Homespun Holidays Chocolate Silk Salted Caramel Pie I recently took on a challenge over at Nellie Bellie's Kitchen on Facebook. 

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Homespun Holidays ~ Setting the Dinner Table

Homespun Holidays ~ Setting the Dinner Table

   Simple and unsophisticated, plain, basic, unpolished, unrefined, rustic, folksy, made at home.                                                                   Homespun ~ Setting the Dinner Table ~Dear Cottage Mavens, It’s been a while since I’ve posted on my blog.  But I’ve been working on things behind the scenes for you – when today I was attempting to post, as the flowers were wilting…

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Double Chocolate Superfood Brownies

Double Chocolate Superfood Brownies

Double Chocolate Superfood Brownies

OMG!  I cannot begin to tell you how decadent these brownies are!  You are just going to have to try them out for yourself.

Who knew that you could have something so delicious that was loaded with Superfoods and healthy as all get out?

If you’re thinking about Back to School snacks, I am sure your children will love these.  All of the ingredients are made from…

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Life Lessons ~ part one

Life Lessons ~ part one

Life Lesson One ~ Connecting to your Higher Self

As children we start out exploring our world through our senses;  Taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing, feeling.

Then, as the baby grows, it learns to express it’s feelings through the emotions.

As the child matures, it learns to exert a certain amount of control over the emotions through use of the intellect and reasoning.

Many adults stay at this…

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English Cottage ~ 12 ways to get the look

English Cottage ~ 12 ways to get the look

I have to admit, whenever I watch a movie the big appeal for me is how they decorate the interiors.

The set decorators do a lot of research to get the authentic look, which makes the viewers experience even more enjoyable.

Not everyone is a décor magnet like me when they watch a movie.

I’ve been known to blurt out some detail in the movie set room, drawing attention to the lamp, sofa, etc. …

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10 Steps to Create a Peaceful Home

10 Steps to Create a Peaceful Home

There are many reasons why your home may not feel as peaceful as you would like it to.  Let’s see if we can dispel some of the obstacles that stand in your way when it comes to having the peaceful home that you have been dreaming about.

More families are living in combined households nowadays creating crowded quarters, chaos and dissention.

Kids are doubling up in their rooms, friends and family…

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Furniture Flippin Friday

Decoupaged nightstand This little gem was in pretty bad shape when I found her She was in dire need of some TLC.

Her biscuits were broken, veneers were lifting and varnish was disintegrating.  But I saw her potential beneath all of the surface disarray. Dovetail Drawer Joints Dove tail joints in her drawers. Solid mahogany with Victorian details. She was beaten down by years of wear but still…

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How to Increase the Vibe Quotient in the Room

How to Increase the Vibe Quotient in the Room

Pick a Room.  Any room in your house will do.

Now stand at the threshold and consider and feel the vibes.

Vibes???? you might ask.  Vibes, short for vibrations, since everything is made up of energy, are your first impression of the room when your energy field (aura) meets the energy field in the room.

Think back to a time when you were uplifted by the vibes in a room.

It could be a friend’s…

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Comfort Food and what it means to you and your family( recipe included)

Comfort Food and what it means to you and your family( recipe included)

What is it about Comfort Food that makes us feel loved, nurtured and cared for?  Does it remind us of home?  Of weekends spent with Grandma?  Rainy days? or just something that makes us feel better after a bad breakup, or some other emotional upset? Do you have a favorite Comfort Food that you like to have at special times?

I found a few interesting definitions of comfort food that will help us…

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The Magic of Home

The Magic of Home

Over the years, I’ve become the Queen of decorating on a shoe string.

Raising a family and getting a good education was always my priority.  But right up there with it having a comfortable, efficient, and beautiful home was a must.

When you’re on a tight budget, as I was a lot of your spare time is spent at home, watching movies, gardening, entertaining friends potluck style, and just hanging out.

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The Magical Path ~ The Law of Least Resistance

The Magical Path ~ The Law of Least Resistance

Before you can understand the Law of Least Resistance you will need to consider for a moment that the Law of Attraction is working for you every moment of every day.

Every thought you think, every word you speak, every action you take is creating your future in every single moment, every day.

All of that is energy flowing all around you guiding each step, bringing everything that you are asking…

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House Poor - purchasing new furniture for a new home. ( free Printable)

House Poor – purchasing new furniture for a new home. ( free Printable)

Finding a house in a desirable area for raising a family or just feeling safe is becoming more and more challenging as the price of purchasing a home can leave you without enough money to purchase a reasonable amount of furniture, making you “House Poor”.

Living in an empty house does not a happy family make, as living in that house is the main requirement.  A well appointed room that addresses…

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Starting Over ~ for the Empty Nester

Starting Over ~ for the Empty Nester

Changing roles ~ Being willing to step into a new role~

William Shakespeare is famous for saying ” All the world’s a stage, and all the people merely players.  They have their exits and their entrances”.

I’m sure each one of you reading this has worn many roles in your life, each one bringing out different aspects of yourself, some highlighting your strong suits, and others bringing you face to…

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Sweet and Savory Summer Slaw

Sweet and Savory Summer Slaw

During the Dog Days of Summer ( between July 3 – August 11), the hottest most uncomfortable days of Summer,  it’s usually typical to want to eat a lighter fare choosing fruits and vegetables, cool drinks,and lean meats.

Not only is it “bikini weather” and most people want to look good in their summer shorts and sleeveless tops, but many are more active spending more time outdoors, and in the…