Dessert in Bed! (Pumpkin Roll)

I'm tired!

So are most of my friends, both online & in real life.
I think the fact that darkness is setting in
earlier each evening has a great deal to do with it.

SAD, seasonal affective disorder, is a real
issue for those of us living in the northern hemisphere.
The added stress of the upcoming holidays
certainly can contribute to the overwhelming urge
to just pull the covers over your head & sleep.

Instead, I EAT!

I crave sweets and comfort foods.
I fixed this little bed tray with some pumpkin roll
and French (of course!) vanilla ice cream to
go along with a nice hot cup of tea.

The roses are called "Donna" and
I just ♥ their beautiful peach color.

Not much fragrance to them, unfortunately and
I wasn't able to sweet talk my florist into any
discounts, like Bill at Affordable Accoutrements
manages to do each week.
Must be his smile!

Aren't they gorgeous?
I placed them in a Lenox vase and I
was amazed to see how well it matched this little candle cover, below.

I've owned both items for years but never noticed the
similarity until I put them side by side like this today.
The embossed look of the flowers on the creamy porcelain is almost identical.

I used a quilted Laura Ashley scalloped edge placemat, (Kohls) on the tray
along with my Longaberger tea basket, made right here in Ohio.
(a gift from my daughter)


The little single-person teapot was also a gift from
my sweet neighbor, Cheryl, in FL.
I thought it echoed the colors of the placemat well and
I love the little flowers all over it and that twisted rope effect border.

I said a little prayer for Cheryl's family while I washed this teapot
as her young DIL (mother of two toddlers) is battling cancer.
If you're so inclined, would you send up a little
*knee-mail* for them, too?

You lift off the teapot to reveal
the teacup below. The repeated floral image
in the bottom of the cup is a sweet surprise.
It looks like a dogwood flower to me.

Doesn't this pumpkin roll just make you drool?

Can you see the specks of real vanilla beans in the ice cream?

Soft cool cream cheese filling topped with
hot caramel sauce!

What's not to like?

Watch for it.....Here it comes!

Oh Yea, Baby....bring it on!

Give it to me....ALL of it!

Only food gets me this excited these days!

A word of caution....don't use a good lead crystal
container to heat your caramel sauce in the microwave.
Years ago,I cracked my Mom's vintage
cream pitcher heating maple syrup.
I cried.

Use a glass measuring cup, like Pyrex and then
transfer it to a pretty container for the table.

Here's one more look at those pretty roses.

Deep breath....

There now, don't you feel better? I sure do!

Back to cooking & cleaning & shopping & decorating

for the upcoming holiday season.

Pumpkin roll

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup pumpkin (I use Libby's, canned...NOT the pumpkin PIE mix)
  
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling:

• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
  
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In large bowl, combine eggs and sugar with an electric mixer.

Add pumpkin and lemon juice, mixing until blended.

In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, spices and salt.

Add to egg mixture, mixing well. Spread batter into greased

and waxed-paper lined 10-by-15-inch jelly-roll pan.

Bake at 350 ° for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool for 15 minutes.

Place cake on clean tea towel sprinkled liberally with powdered sugar.

Cool 10 minutes longer.

From the short, 10- inch side, roll cake up in towel. Set aside.

While cake is cooling in towel, prepare filling.

Beat together cream cheese and butter.

Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla and blend until smooth.

Unroll cake. Spread filling over cake.

Roll up cake & wrap in plastic.

Chill at least 1 hour....longer is better!

Be sure to refrigerate any leftovers due to the cream cheese filling.

I am participating in


Be sure to visit Susan at her beautiful blog
Between Naps on the Porch


I'm also linking to Michael's


at
Designs by Gollum

where you will find lots of yummy recipes
that will make you drool even more.

Thanks for stopping by!