Happy Halloween

We have been having such a problem with fruit flies a work lately, I just knew I could get away with wearing this to work:

Happy Halloween!  I just love the dressing up part of Halloween~!  I like the creativeness of making your own costumes (like the creativeness of making your own Christmas). 
I looked back at some of my scans and here are some of our families past costumes:

1987

1996

1997

1984

2004

Enjoy this day of creativity by dressing up.

Dancing away this weekend

PUMPKIN PA_LOOZA *Friday*

I hate to say it, but I am a little bit sick of pumpkin baked goodies!!  I''m ready for some maple goodness, or caramel yummies... or ... could it be... CHOCOLATE!
oh yeah and Mr. Produce has asked if we can PLEASE have some Food Fun Fridays with 'dinner' type meals 'cuz he is tired of throw together dinners.. he wants a REAL MEAL.

This week I am featuring recipes I've made out of pumpkin. It certainly is that time of year!! (and apparently its spelled with a Z)   I like to say that I love the look of pumpkins around the house, but not necessarily the taste of ONLY pumpkin... which is why I've been on the hunt for THE best recipes that use pumpkin!! Not anything like pumpkin pie (that is WAY too much pumpkin for me!) I will explain the recipes and AFTER the recipe I will comment on them:

Pumpkin Dump Cake



Ingredients
• 1 15 oz can Pumpkin Puree
• 1 10 oz can Evaporated Milk
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter melted
• 1 cup coarsely crushed graham crackers or pecans
• 1/2 cup toffee bits (optional)


Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Spray a 9×13 baking pan lightly with cooking/baking spray
3. In a large bowl combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to combine.
4. Pour into your prepared pan.
5. Sprinkle your entire box of cake mix on top, followed by your nuts or graham crackers and toffee chips.
6. Pour your melted butter evenly on top.
7. Bake for 45-50 minutes until center is set and edges are lightly browned.

I made this for the church dinner and the little squares I cut were yummy.  Although, I wouldn't put the whole box of cake mix ontop, maybe only half.  so much of it was still powder even when all cooked.  And maybe cook it a little bit longer too.   THE TOFFEE BITS TOTALLY MADE IT THE YUMMIEST EVER.
I found this herehttp://cookiesandcups.com/pumpkin-dump-cake/print/

PUMPKIN PA-LOOZA *THURSDAY*

This week I am featuring recipes I've made out of pumpkin. It certainly is that time of year!! (and apparently its spelled with a Z)
I'd like to say that I love the look of pumpkins around the house, but not necessarily the taste of ONLY pumpkin... which is why I've been on the hunt for THE best recipes that use pumpkin!! Not anything like pumpkin pie (that is WAY too much pumpkin for me!) I will explain the recipes and AFTER the recipe I will comment on them:

Pumpkin Pie Fruit Dip
1 15oz can of pumpkin puree
1 8oz brick of cream cheese
1 - 2 C powdered sugar
1 TBL pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp cinnamon
Mix all the above ingredients together in a large bowl.  If you have a mixer, use it so you can get all the lumps out, you want it nice and smooth. 
You can serve it with apple slices, and vanilla wafers, or graham crackers like I did ... really ANYTHING you would want to dip into pumpkin pie! 

This tasted just like pumpkin pie. have I mentioned that I hate pumpkin pie? well they loved it at work.. see:

I have seen other recipes that use cool whip.

PUMPKIN-PALOOZA *WEDNESDAY*

This week I am featuring recipes I've made out of pumpkin. It certainly is that time of year!! (and apparently its spelled with a Z).
I'd like to say that I love the look of pumpkins around the house, but not necessarily the taste of ONLY pumpkin... which is why I've been on the hunt for THE best recipes that use pumpkin!! Not anything like pumpkin pie (that is WAY too much pumpkin for me!) I will explain the recipes and AFTER the recipe I will comment on them:

Crockpot Turkey-White Bean-Pumpkin Stew

2lb lean ground turkey
1/2 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp chili powder
2 bay leaves
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
2 (15 oz) cans of white northern or navy beans, rinsed and drained
15 oz can pumpkin puree
4.5oz canned chopped green chilies
2C chicken broth
sour cream, cheese, chopped cilantro and chives for topping (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

HEAT a large heavy saute pan over high heat and lightly spray with oil. 
ADD meat and cook, breaking it up.
PUT in crock pot.
PUT oil in the saute pan, then onions, garlic and saute' about 3-4 minutes. 
ADD cumin and saute another minute.
ADD to crockpot. 
IN crockpot ADD beans, pumpkin puree, green chilies, broth, chili powder, oregano and bay leaves. 
COVER and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
REMOVE bay leaves and adjust seasoning to taste before serving.

This was sooo sooo good.  Not soup at all but a rich hearty tasty stew. 
The key is seasoning it to your taste.  It was great!

found recipe here: www.skinnytaste.com

PUMPKIN PA-LOOZA *Tuesday*

This week I am featuring recipes I've made out of pumpkin. It certainly is that time of year!! (and apparently its spelled with a Z)
I'd like to say that I love the look of pumpkins around the house, but not necessarily the taste of ONLY pumpkin... which is why I've been on the hunt for THE best recipes that use pumpkin!! Not anything like pumpkin pie (that is WAY too much pumpkin for me!) I will explain the recipes and AFTER the recipe I will comment on them:

easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy
 
 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 box of Yellow Cake Mix
1 Can Pumpkin Puree
1 tsp pumpkin Pie Spice (optional)
1 1/2 C milk chocolate chips (optional)
Beat pumpkin , cake mix and spice in a mixer on medium/low speed until well combined.  The batter will be thick and smooth.  Add the chocolate chips and fold just until incorporated.  Fill greased muffin pans or cupcake liners cups 2/3 of the way with batter
The oven should be preheated to  350degrees.  Bake 20-25 minutes. 
You could add a little dusting of powdered sugar or glaze or frosting.

I wanted to use up the extra frosting from the pumpkin cheesecake cups so I made this recipe.. IT IS SO EASY and was yummmmmy. 
I only used 3/4C of chocolate chips.-perfect-
It was wonderful, just a nice subtle taste of pumpkin in a very moist muffin!

PUMPKIN PA-LOOZA *Monday*

This week I am featuring recipes I've made out of pumpkin.  It certainly is that time of year!!
I'd like to say that I love the look of pumpkins around the house, but not necessarily the taste of ONLY pumpkin... which is why I've been on the hunt for THE best recipes that use pumpkin!! Not anything like pumpkin pie (that is WAY too much pumpkin for me!)  I will explain the recipes and AFTER the recipe I will comment on them:

Cheesecake Carmel Pumpkin Cups
(easier than it looks)
2C flour
1tsp Baking powder
1/2tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
1/2C butter
1/2C brown sugar
1 egg
1C canned pumpkin
1C chocolate chips
Combine all ingredients saving the chocolate chips for last.
Important:  *use mini muffin tins*
drop ½ TBL into greased mini muffin tins, then press the end of a thick spoon or scoop to make a 'bowl'.
If you have to use a cookie sheet: drop ½ TBL onto greased cookie sheet and press the back of a tablespoon into the tops of the cookies to create a shallow ‘bowl’.
Bake 350° for 9 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool

Cheesecake Buttercream Middle
8oz. regular cream cheese
1/4C butter, softened
1 tsp lemon juice
1 TBL sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
4C confectioners sugar (more or less for desired consistency. 
(best made in a mixer) Whisk together the cream cheese and butter. Alternately add 1C of the confectioner’s sugar with 1 wet ingredient until all ingredients have been added. Whisking in between additions.
Pipe cheesecake buttercream into cookie cups. Drizzle with caramel and sprinkle with pecans. 

NOTES:
1.  I will use LESS chocolate chips next time.  It dominated the flavor.
2.  It only made about 18 little mini 'cups'.
3.  After putting a 1/2 TBL in the muffin tin, I used the end of an ice cream scoop to make these look like 'cups'.
4.  The Buttercream 'middle' made WAY too much frosting, hence the need for tomorrows recipe.  (The people at my work have had a great time eating all my offerings!)
5.  I took this recipe to the church dinner.  It looked VERY impressive!  too bad there were only 16.  With the caramel drizzle and pecans, it is actually a pretty expensive recipe too!.


found the picture and recipe here: http://www.somethingswanky.com/2011/09/cheesecake-caramel-pumpkin-cups.html

today.. it's going to be different

THE wedding OF the YEAR

Well I can't believe that it has been 6 weeks since Kieri & Russell's wedding.  We got the CD with all the pics on them and it has taken me days to go through them, and really I just want a couple of hours to pour over them.  I picked out a few to show my bloggy friends some of the fun shots from the wedding.  *enjoy*

 

 All the cute girls!!

 The next couple are really funny!! pinterest worthy!

 

and here's the whole family, except for Carson who was sick (poor little thing.. and he looked so good in his tux too!)

   dancing the night away (even though my feet were killin me)

Wednesday Wisdom

The richest man, whatever his lot, is he who is content with what he has got.

--Dutch Proverb

fail, EPIC fail

I have made a couple of recipes using pumpkin in the last couple of weeks so the 'bright' idea was born that i would make all my blogs next week a pumpkin-palosa.

Last night I wanted to use up some cream-cheese frosting left over from one of the recipes... so I had found this pretty easy pumpkin cookie recipe (without raisins 'cuz Mr. Produce does NOT like raisins).

It called for shortening.....
now I had bought shortening last year to make some gingerbread house walls.. so I figured that I could just use that.
THERE's my first problem... shortening in cookies.. THAT is just wrong, and not too healthy!
My second problem, I really..really..REALLY hate to admit this ... but the shortening didn't smell too good.  But you know it's shortening, right? it lasts forever right? they tell you that you should have that in your food storage, right?

wrong.  wrong.  wrong.

well I went ahead and made the cookies.

(that's not really heat.. it is a rancid smell)

The cookies smelled bad too.
Mr. Produce and I tried them (and actually smothered in frosting they weren't half bad,well actually they were HALF bad).  
This morning, I don't feel so good. 
I really hope I don't have to call in sick to work
oh, and that shortening can that I threw away, um....
the bottom of the can said: sell by 08-2008. 
gulp, guess I didn't buy it last year.
I may have to postpone pumpkin-pa-losa till next year because I feel like hurling up pumpkinpalosas today.

hey just keeping it real folks.

Fall Centerpieces

This weekend was EXTREMELY busy!!
It started out with decorating for a church dinner. 
I had made the wreath for my door
(I wrote about it here) 
I had a left over items so I put 6 centerpieces together:

 And the acorns I wrote about on the Food Fun Friday, I put them in a little bowl and let everyone enjoy a little goodie as they enjoyed everyone's company.

I am ready for a break, a nice couple of days of catching up, organizing, pinning, crafting... but no... it is now Monday again and all those fishing enthusiasts await!

the power of positive thinking

Food Fun Friday- Acorns

This week has been ultra busy... and the fun is just beginning.  Tonight is a church woman's dinner (Relief Society) and I'm making the table decorations and desert. This is part of the decorations:
Acorns:

Using kisses, mini vanilla wafers and butterscotch chocolate chips (and chocolate chips as the glue)

I did try using peanut butter as the 'glue'(as seen below) but I think the melted chocolate chips really hold better.  (put the chocolate chips in a sandwich bag and melt the chips in the microwave, cut a little hole in the end and squeeze the 'glue' out)

cute little acorns

Wednesday Wisdom- Age

really??  I mean really has this worked for anyone else?

and yes I have been having an 'age' issue this week.

Cancer Sucks.

So yesterday I was questioning my emotions... and my good friend Momza set me straight:
"can't wait to get a discount for just being alive."
wow, THAT slapped me back to reality.

A few years ago the giant department store Macy's ran an ad campaign that featured the latest and greatest (read expensive) fashions.  The lead copy was:

What Matters Most. 

wait, what matters most?.. and they think it is expensive clothes and watches and jewelry?

A subject that is hard to discuss.
In 1997, my sister found out she had breast cancer.  She had three little kids.  It was a pretty grueling year for her, mastectomy, chemo and radiation. 
In 1998, exactly one year later, I was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer.  Three months later my sister's cancer had metastasised to her brain, lungs etc.  She died later that year at the age of 34.  

October is Breast Cancer awareness month.  I don't think that anyone can NOT be aware of breast cancer.  I believe it has touched so many people that most everyone has known someone that has been afflicted with this disease.
I only hope that each of us can support any family and/or friend that has to race to survive the beast. 

and I hope that no matter what...
really folks, NO MATTER WHAT, we all remember

What Matters Most



...and Momza, I am happy to get a discount for being alive!

My conundrum

co·nun·drum/kəˈnəndrəm/  Noun:
A confusing and difficult problem or question.

I don’t know what to make of this.. it goes against my grain... both ways…

I ran into Ross on my lunch hour. I bought my SIL a birthday gift and as I was checking out was told I got a 10% discount?

Hmmmmm? Somethings fishy here-
"Why 10% "  I asked, .. well Tuesday age 55 and older get a 10% discount.


- - - - -

my love for a bargain/discount knows no bounds.... or does it?  I do not like to think I look as old as I actually am,
so for the clerk to just automatically BELIEVE I am 55 (hey, just barley by two weeks) I am devastated.

But I love a discount.

My inner thrifty soul vs vain-ness is all dis-combobulated.  
I couldn't even think about finding a picture to go with this post. 
-shudder-

To day I will:

Food Fun Friday- Roasted Broccoli

WOW... let me just say

WOW

Now I like broccoli, I don't like it really mussy, but I like it...
BUT
   *NOW*      

I WILL NEVER EAT IT STEAMED AGAIN.

this is taken from the Barefoot Contessa

and you WILL fall in love with Broccoli

oven 425degrees
4-5pounds broccoli (I just used two heads for us)
cut into florets -  DRY THEM (the secret)
toss with olive oil (5TBS)
salt(1/2tsp) and pepper(1/2tsp)
add 4 garlic cloves- chopped
roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until 'crisp-tender and the tips of the florets are browned.

When it is done.  Take it out of the oven and
HERE'S WHERE IT GETS REALLY GOOD
zest a lemon over the broccoli,just squeeze the lemon juice over the broccoli
add 1.5 TBS more olive oil, 1/3 C of freshly grated Parmesan cheese..
and 3TBS toasted pine nuts (are you kidding me, do you KNOW how much pine nuts cost???)obviously I didn't use this!
trust me, I am so taken with this recipe that I will never eat steamed broccoli again!

It's looking like Halloween already

I love Halloween,
no so much the 'begging for candy'
but the dressing up.
and since it's not exactly October 31st... I found some fun 'dress-up' things to make.

We have a couple of 'new' little girls in our family.. I'm not too sure of their sizes but I made them some fun shirts.

 Spiders seem to be a theme here!

maybe I should make ME one!!!
nope they creep me out!

Wednesday Wisdom

"Life is not a contest

but a journey in which

we help one another

to a better place."

Halloween Banner

This weekend, I jumped on the Banner Train... and made 4 of them!!!  (and not even one for myself)

 So fun, so creative... SO EASY

cut triangles out of 'holiday' paper (cardstock or regular).  I even tried adding a 2inch topper to one of the sets.  Just for more pattern and color longer banner. 

here's the easy part... use cupcake liners for the circles.  You can even use two or three of them.  You can use regular size cupcake wrappers or the little candy ones.

below, I made smaller triangles out of cardstock and just used the smaller candy liners.. and added punched black cardstock ruffle and  a letter.

I punched two holes in each triangle, ran ribbon through the holes and then tied some misc. ribbons between each banner.

I'll bet you wish you were one of my girls!!