Pumpkin Season

 Sunday afternoon art by Cannon--a sweet watercolor of a Pumpkin!  I love it!

 

So, as I keep gushing about .... this season of year is possibly my FAVORITE-- and one of those reasons is baking with pumpkin! Mmm pumpkin makes everything so moist and delicious!  I love it.  I thought I would share some of my all time favorite pumpkin recipes today.  The recipes are on my other blog www.thesisterscafe.com and will be linked under the pictures.

 

This is the BEST pumpkin bread ever, I am serious!

Pumpkin Bread with 3 variations

 

Next up--Pumpkin Cream Trifle that is to DIE for!

I honestly like this better than pumpkin pie. Yes. you will find this on our dessert table this Thanksgiving!

 

 

Pumpkin Cream Trifle

 

Ok now you are going to think this sounds crazy, but trust me when I tell you it is so good!  When I visited my sister Brittany a couple years ago in Seattle she make Pumpkin Curry with chicken (a Costco Rotiessere chicken to be exact).  It was delicious!  I came home and made it for my family with shrimp.  It was excellent--but I usually make it with chicken.  YUM!

 

Pumpkin Curry

 

Now these Pumpkin Pancakes make the perfect meal--we even have them for quick dinner this time of year.  I included a Apple Cider Syrup with this recipe, which I think is fantastic, but boys are not very adventurous with their pancakes and they prefer maple.  Either way these pancakes really hit the spot!

 

Pumpkin Pancakes

 

 

Here is to some happy Pumpkin baking this fall!

 

Fieldtrips and Caramel Apples

 

Last week I drove out in the country to meet Cannon's 2nd grade class at an apple Orchard. 

The drive was incredibly beautiful and good for my soul!

It was nice to have a little alone to think about all the good in my life and appreciate the beauty of Autumn here in Tennessee.

 

Then it was a JOY to be with my little Cannon who was thrilled to have me there. 

Which I know I need to enjoy while I can--pretty soon he will be too old and cool to want his Mom hanging around with him and his friends:)

Man I love this little boy!

 

Aren't 2nd graders just the cutest?!

 

We learned all about the orchard, went on a hayride, had lunch together and left with fresh apples and cider to share with his brothers at home.

 

I am so glad that I went even though I had a long To Do list waiting for me.  It was worth it! 

I left feeling a deep sense of happiness, I knew it was one of those days I will always remember!

 

We ended up making caramel apples--YUM!

I used this recipe below--

 

 

Homemade Caramel Apples

1/2 cup butter, cubed
2 cups packed brown sugar
 1 cup light corn syrup
Dash salt
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 to 10 Popsicle sticks
8 to 10 medium tart apples, washed and dried

In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter; add the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in milk. Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 248° (firm-ball stage). Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Insert Popsicle sticks into apples. Dip each apple into hot caramel mixture; turn to coat.  Place on greased waxed paper until set. Enough for 8-10 apples.

 

oh these silly boys of mine!  Connor and his photobomb shenanigans--lol!

Can you tell Cannon is proud to share these yummy apples with his brothers?

 

And I have saved some of the cider to make these Apple Cider Caramels.

Hope you have a great week!

 

This morning I listened to this talk and was completely inspired.

(it was given at the mens meeting but I still found it powerful for me)

I am ready...

for CHANGE

I have been having thoughts like this running through my head...

Source: beccabae.tumblr.com via Melanie on Pinterest

I am ridiculously excited for fall!
 What is it about the change of seasons that is so good for the soul?  I find each new season so refreshing and rejuvenating--I love it!

 So even though it was 90 degrees outside and felt like summer, I went ahead and changed out my front door wreath for an autumn leaves look.

 Removed the now scraggely pink and purple summer blooms, planting some golden Chrysanthemums ($1.19 each)  and a budding auburn Mum ($2.50) So pretty for just $5!
 I can't believe that those sweet potato vines are still going strong!

I also changed out the throw pillow covers in the family room for a warmer Fall/Winter look and put a few "fallish" items here and there. 

I also picked up some 'Autumn' wallflowers at Bath and Bodyworks  (love that scent) and baked our favorite pumpkin muffins.  Yes those are both links--I couldn't recommend them more:)

I may be' jumping the gun' a bit, I think the official first day of Autumn is Sept 23, but I can't help myself!
It was a delight to see my boys reactions to the changes around here.  Much to my surprise, from my 4 year old to my husband they all actually noticed and loved it!

So yes, we are {VERY} ready for Fall...bring it on, please!

Speaking of change...I am seriously considering a major change with my hair.  I am so tired of dealing with the frizz brought on by the humidity here. I am dreaming of really cute SHORT hair. Maybe something like this... 

Source: google.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Or this...

Source: twitter.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Such a daring move for me, but I think it would be SO much easier, and take SO much less time which sounds SO appealing. 

 What do you think?  Do you have short hair?  Do love it or regret the cut?

Autumn Love

Have I mentioned that I LOVE this time of year? Seriously, this just might be my favorite time! There is something so wonderful about the Fall! And it reminds me of my sweet Dad who has always loved this time of year.

I love...

*Fat Pumpkins on the porch--just waiting to be carved!

*spooky decor here and there much to the delight of my children

*our glowing Mr Bones to welcome evening guests


*oh and the leaves...we are surrouned by trees here in Tennessee. They canopy the roads and fill all available space! I love the bursts of autumn color they offer and I am mesmorized and charmed by the way they softly flutter through the air and then dance excitedly around passing cars. Beautiful!







And look at the size of this one! We grow some serious leaves here in Tennessee!

*and last but not least I love baking with pumpkin this time of year! Yum!

This pumpkin cranberry bread is amazing and makes your home smell divine!
I also highly recommend these pumpkin pancakes with apple cider syrup:) I will be making them this weekend! Can't wait!

For some reason my heart has been so full lately.

I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for all the beauty in the world, and the simple but powerful opportunities for happiness that He lovingly provides.

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

PS thank you for the sweet emails and comments!

Weekend Yeah!

photo credit
I LOVE this time of year...

Weekend Plans:
(*orange words are links!)
Clean my bathrooms; enlists the boys!
Make some fall treats to Boo our friends with
Visit an apple orchard and sample some fresh cider and homecooked fritters
Fast this Saturday-Sunday
Have some yummy family meals, including this warm and wonderful soup
Really connect with my children--inspired by this sweet parenting message below:)

Love this quote from the above video regarding family meals:

"It is not the food, but the family interaction

that nourishes the soul"

Have a Happy and Sweet Weekend!

Kicking Off October

(A few little pumkins from last October at Thanksgiving Point in Utah)

On October 1st I searched EVERYWHERE in Chattanooga until I found this movie "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow"

( a Halloween favorite from my childhood):

I then made my Mom's famously delicious homemade hot chocolate and Brad picked up some fresh donuts with Halloween sprinkles.

The perfect treat to surprise our boys with a little Halloween family party {on a school night} to kick off October!! A spooky and delightful time was had by all!

Happy October Everyone!

Halloween in all it's GLORY!

OUR Halloween Story 2008

I LOVE Halloween and here is why:

Preparing pumpkins to be JACK -O-LANTERNS

School Parties & Friends

Dad's Trick
BIG bowl of carrots that he offered to the trick or treaters saying "Take all you want!!"
The looks on some little faces was HILARIOUS, (some sweet little ones would say thank you and start taking a few!) before he would laugh and bring out the candy!

Mom's Treat

Warm homemade Macaroni and Cheese Gratin

(yes it is a link to the recipe-yum!)

Grandpa and Grandma

Cousins

It's a big effort to get a picture of these three!

The SPOILS

The END

Lil Pumpkins For Sale

We picked up pumpkins last night!

Tonight we are transforming them into SPOOKY jack-o-lanterns! YIPEE!!

Sunday Morning Surprise

SNOW Look what we woke up to Sunday morning (October 12)! Coleman was the first one up and was bundled in his snow clothes and out playing before his brothers had even rubbed the sleep out of their eyes. It didn't take them long to join him though! We had to find all the gloves, boots and even whip up some hot cocoa!

This picture was taken on Friday afternoon just 2 days before the above pictures! Bridger is in shorts! Utah weather is very fickle in the fall! Crazy!! And I have to say--the snow is all melted and gone now and my flowers still look pretty good! I may have a couple more weeks of enjoying them, maybe.