How To Be Darling!

Welcome to my very first blog post! I've always had a desire to start one so here we go! You will find inspiration on cooking, fashion, music, and travel! To be Darling, is to be multi-faceted, confident, and not afraid to be who you are! I hope all of you will enjoy my daily posts of #howtobedarling! 

I'm a small town girl who dreamed of big things when she was little. When I wasn't trying on dresses, I was in the kitchen baking with my mom and grandma. A lot has changed since those early days – I've been making a career in music in Nashville and played with some amazing people and been to amazing places. I guess the only thing that hasn't changed has been, well, the dresses and the baking! I hope you enjoy the things that make me excited and try out some of the recipes I'll be sharing. Feel free to share what you find Darling too, I'm always on the lookout! :)

Since it's the most beautiful #fall day, let's talk about pumpkin! There's a serious obsession when October rolls around.  Girls, you know who you are! Constantly making pumpkin anything and getting PSL from Starbucks! It's life changing. This one is for you.  This recipe is one of my favorites of grandma.   It reminds me of being home with family and the beautiful memories shared in the kitchen.  For those of you who don't consider yourselves cooks, this recipe is very easy and will leave you speechless! Not to mention the kitchen will smell divine.  Why not head to the grocery store, grab some supplies, and whip these up! You can throw yourself a little party while you do it!  Here's the recipe for Grammy's Pumpkin Bars! 

     cooking spray

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon, for dusting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a large jelly roll pan with cooking spray.
2. Beat eggs in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer until foamy; add white sugar, vegetable oil, and pumpkin. Beat on medium speed until incorporated, 2 minutes.
3. Mix flour, baking powder, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Beat flour mixture into egg mixture on low speed until just combined, 1 minute. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool completely.
5. Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together in a bowl with an electric hand mixer until creamy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Spread frosting evenly over cooled pumpkin cake; sprinkle with cinnamon.
6. Voila! Now take an #Instagram photo! Post for all your friends to see!

#pumpkin #love