Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Let the Carving Begin!
We only recently went to the pumpkin patch to get our pumpkins. We just hadn't had the time to get over there. It's a good thing....instead of walking out of there spending $60 on pumpkins I spent $26. Buy one, get one free. Can't beat that. Now I just need to go back and get a few more sugar pie pumpkins for baking the goods. Mmmm, mmmm, mmm.
Today Jeff made it home early specifically for pumpkin carving. The boys were ecstatic! They could hardly contain their excitement. He barely got into the house when the kids were firing questions at him about carving......"Hey dad, when are we going to carve our pumpkins?" "Dad, are you ready to carve yet?" They had to give him a few minutes so he could come in and prepare for the Great Carving of Pumpkins.
Gutting pumpkins is messy work. Trevor has convinced dad to do it.
Pumpkin carving is serious business. Luke is giving me the "Go Away" look.
Wyatt cutting the top off.
Julia helping Wyatt make a face on the pumpkin. The boys love the faces she draws on the pumpkins. In fact all I am good for is helping cut (when needed) and gutting......oh and being the photographer.
Ella contemplating the guts in her pumpkin.
Trevor has conned Jeff into doing ALL the work. I find this comical since he is the one who has been dying to do the carving. (I think he just likes the finished product all lit up.)
Adam concentrating. Serious business.
Wyatt getting into the face of the matter.
The finished product. They did a great job. We lit them up last night and they are very cool!
Today Jeff made it home early specifically for pumpkin carving. The boys were ecstatic! They could hardly contain their excitement. He barely got into the house when the kids were firing questions at him about carving......"Hey dad, when are we going to carve our pumpkins?" "Dad, are you ready to carve yet?" They had to give him a few minutes so he could come in and prepare for the Great Carving of Pumpkins.
Gutting pumpkins is messy work. Trevor has convinced dad to do it.
Pumpkin carving is serious business. Luke is giving me the "Go Away" look.
Wyatt cutting the top off.
Julia helping Wyatt make a face on the pumpkin. The boys love the faces she draws on the pumpkins. In fact all I am good for is helping cut (when needed) and gutting......oh and being the photographer.
Ella contemplating the guts in her pumpkin.
Trevor has conned Jeff into doing ALL the work. I find this comical since he is the one who has been dying to do the carving. (I think he just likes the finished product all lit up.)
Adam concentrating. Serious business.
Wyatt getting into the face of the matter.
The finished product. They did a great job. We lit them up last night and they are very cool!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies and a Review
With my last recipe of Pumpkin Cupcakes I was met with the good fortune of being contacted by Kestrel Growth Brands, Inc. They wanted to know if I was interested in doing a review of Singing Dog Vanilla or Red Ape Cinnamon. I, of course, said I would try either one. They sent me both. When they came in the mail I knew immediately which recipe I would use for their products......Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. It's Fall and the season of the great pumpkin and these cookies are good (if I do say so myself)!
The ingredients.
Ready to bake. I have to tell you that I LOVE the smell of baked goods as the aroma fills the house, but the Red Ape Cinnamon really stood out and it smelled good. And the vanilla? Just as good. I took a whiff of both before I added them to the batter and let me tell you, they smell heavenly!
The finished product!
The Recipe:
1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 c. white sugar
1 c. light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. Singing Dog Vanilla
1 c. canned pumpkin puree
3 c. all purpose flour (I use 1 c. whole wheat flour)
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. Red Ape Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 c. milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
Non stick cooking spray or parchment paper
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.
Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture inot the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets asnd bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.
The ingredients.
Ready to bake. I have to tell you that I LOVE the smell of baked goods as the aroma fills the house, but the Red Ape Cinnamon really stood out and it smelled good. And the vanilla? Just as good. I took a whiff of both before I added them to the batter and let me tell you, they smell heavenly!
The finished product!
The Recipe:
1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 c. white sugar
1 c. light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. Singing Dog Vanilla
1 c. canned pumpkin puree
3 c. all purpose flour (I use 1 c. whole wheat flour)
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. Red Ape Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 c. milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
Non stick cooking spray or parchment paper
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.
Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture inot the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets asnd bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.
Monday, October 5, 2009
I Rock!
Can you see me? Hard, I know, it's a small picture. Yep that's me running the Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon. It took me 2:35:20, but I did it. I ran the entire time! Crazy! The last mile was tough, however it was horrible for a woman 3 years my junior....she died and I saw the paramedics doing chest compressions on her. An accomplishment followed by something very sad.Here's something even crazier, I am doing another one in 2 weeks. I need to make sure my pigs and soles of my feet are well rested, they are rebelling on me today. I will certainly let you know how it goes with that on. The exciting thing? I get a nice Tiffany's necklace handed to my by the city's finest in tuxedos. Talk about eye candy. Wish me luck, I will need it!
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