Well, I am a bit delayed with this blog post. I suppose I am trying to recover from the busy birthday weekend, & the bleary-eyed state I was in as a result, but also trying to get numerous photos edited & do some much needed housecleaning & reorganizing as well!
I enjoy seeing Keira at play, even though it usually means our home has been redecorated with scattered toys & books! She had taken these little guys out of her foam books & arranged them just so.
Daddy, trying to relax, eat some dinner, & enjoy some television, all while getting his hair done! Now that's talent! He's such a good sport!
Finally, we began to have some fall-like weather this week! {This only means it was below 90 in the day & 70 at night! haha!} Nevertheless, Keira enjoyed herself some hot cocoa & chocolate almond pocky! mmm!
I also took the opportunity to use up the last of the homemade pumpkin puree I had in the freezer since last fall & bake pumpkin muffins! They were sooo delish! Recipe follows.
Pumpkin Muffins
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, combine:
1 c each flour & pastry flour
{I don't keep pastry flour, so I just used 2 c all purpose}
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t ginger
1/4 t cloves
1/8 t nutmeg
{I'm usually a bit heavy handed with the spices. I can't help myself!}
Then in another bowl:
3/4 c dark brown sugar
3 T molasses
1/4 c oil
2 eggs
{I used regular brown sugar & increased molasses to 4 T, also only 1 egg as I had extra pumpkin to put in}
Combine, adding eggs one at a time. Then add:
1 c pumpkin puree {I used 1 & 1/3 c}
1 t vanilla
Now measure out:
3/4 c buttermilk
Now add the pumpkin mixture to the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Stir until just combined. Sprinkle with 1/4 c raw pumpkin seeds {optional} & bake 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing to cool completely. Viola! They were so yummy, they vanished pretty quickly! I love the spices & the flavor the molasses added to the pumpkin!
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Yes, my cleaning & reorganizing efforts have, thus far, just made the house look as if a tornado has torn through it! I can't even see the top of the kitchen table yet, but believe it or not, this picture shows progress! I am overwhelmed & a bit depressed, but determined to persevere until the kitchen table is cleared off & all the piles of books & papers around the house have a home of their very own, even if it's the trash can! The goal: to be able to eat meals & quilt at the table, & to see the top of my desk! Yes, they are lofty goals, to be sure, but IT WILL BE DONE! I say! {I am hoping it will at least be done before I end up curled up in a fetal position under a blanket in my bed!}
On Saturday, Joe & Chita came to take us to the park for Keira's birthday! She was so excited to spend time with them & Chewie, playing at the park! They also brought her a big birthday balloon & got us Mickey D's for lunch. It was certainly an afternoon in Keira heaven!
Dear Shiloh: I was really getting impatient for a post of what you are up to these days. I figured you were probably exhausted from going to the pumpkin patch etc. and it appears I was correct. If you didn't put up a post today, I would probably have bugged you. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing what Keira picked out to put interest in her day. I especially liked the ladybugs and the monkeys--reminds me of her Monkey backpack. Bob's skin color has always been amazing to me. He really gets dark in the summertime. My Kathy has that olive skin that really tans easily also. I can't believe he lets Keira do his hair. Has she ever tried to do your hair? That would really be a challenge.
Thanks for mentioning your re-organizing routine. My kitchen table is covered with mail, papers and meds. I need to get to it and you inspired me once again. I know how children's things can take over the house, so I encourage you to clear off the table and find room somewhere for Keira to do her art projects so you can have the table free for eating. Happy Day when you can get 2 bedrooms so ALL Keira things can have a place and you can shut the door...Hope this doesn't sound bossy. It is not meant to be.
What is Patty showing Keira?
Love Joy
No, Keira doesn't even try to do my hair, I won't let her, or her own for that matter. Ours is the type of hair that would just frizz out even if you mess with it just a little! So she knows she can only play with daddy's or Rapunzel's hair. {or her other dolls & ponies}. Yeah, I'm working on the house. The photo is actually not of the kitchen table, but of the coffee table we have on top of the other big table behind the sofa in the front room. Keira has her own little desk at the end, but right now it's buried too! Ugh! Yes, a 2 bedroom home would most definitely be a happy day! That didn't sound bossy at all, it's definitely on my wish list though! Chita is helping Keira with the little butterfly wings on the little princess wand they got for her. :-)
DeleteP.S. I forgot to mention how YUMMY your pumpkin muffins looked. I especially liked that you added you can use all purpose flour if you don't have any cake flour in your cupboard. And if you have only one egg instead of two you can substitute more pumpkin puree and extra molasses. Chris cooks by taste also, where as I strictly follow the recipe. Thank you for showing me that is not necessary.
ReplyDeleteThe hot chocolate and chocolate sticks rolled in Almonds looks so good also. I need this recipe also. Is this dipping chocolate you use or ?????
Do use bread sticks a cookie sticks????
Tell Bob Weldon had a heart attack. I can't believe it as Weldon can eat 1 potato chip and quit. What is someone who can stop at 1 potato chips doing having a heart attack? Also tell Bob I am going to send an email with Weldon, Marie, George, Doug and Karen. The email might say it from Weldon, as I can't figured how to delete his comments yet and add my own.
Love Joy
I think it just takes practice to realize you can reduce & replace things when you're baking & cooking. I often reduce the oil & sugar by half when I'm baking. I just don't see the need. Brownies don't do so well without the oil though. Learn as you go! The little chocolate sticks are breadsticks covered with chocolate & rolled in almonds. They're called Pocky & are sold at the store. WinCo carries the dark choc & strawberry kinds, Walmart carries the strawberry & almond kinds. Just check the Asian food section at your grocery store for Pocky. We love them all but my fave is the almond or coconut. Haven't seen the coconut around for a long time though. I passed the message along to Bob. I hope Weldon recovers quickly!
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