» autumn

A Thankful Heart

Launi — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:31:53 +0000

“Let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!”

Henry Ward Beecher

Pumpkin Spice Fudge

Launi — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:32:06 +0000

In my never ending quest to find all the incredible pumpkin recipes on the face of the earth, that are NOT called pie–we’ve talked about this before– I came upon this recipe innocently enough on a blog called Family Bites. This amazing fudge is smooth, creamy and —I shutter to say—has all the positive traits of pumpkin pie without…you know…being…pumpkin pie. All the right spices and flavors in a little, bitty scrumptious pumpkiny morsel—that I dare you to leave alone for 10 minutes at a time. I know I couldn’t–and I’m incredibly brave.

It’s magic I tell you.

Beware…be-WARE!!

Ingredients:

3 cups sugar

3/4 cup butter

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 T. corn syrup

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

12 oz. white chocolate chips

7 oz. jar marshmallow cream

1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

Melt butter in a 3-1/2 quart saucepan. Add milk, pumpkin, and sugar. Stir over medium heat till sugar begins to dissolve, then add corn syrup and spice. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a full boil. Allow the candy to boil for 10 minutes–stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, in the bowl of your mixer, blend marshmallow cream and vanilla for about a minute. Let sit.

Remove candy from heat and slowly add the white chocolate chips, a handful at a time. Stir until melted, then add the rest a bit at a time. Pour candy into marshmallow mixture and blend on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Immediately pour into a lightly buttered 9 x 13 Pyrex baking dish. Allow to set for about 30 minutes. Cut in squares and cover with foil.

Move over pie–you’ve met your match!!

Pumpkin Spice Fudge

5.0 from 1 reviews

Ingredients

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 T. corn syrup
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
12 oz. white chocolate chips
7 oz. jar marshmallow cream
1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions

Melt butter in a 3-1/2 quart saucepan.
Add milk, pumpkin, and sugar.
Stir over medium heat till sugar begins to dissolve, then add corn syrup and spice.
Cook, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a full boil.
Allow the candy to boil for 10 minutes–stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of your mixer, blend marshmallow cream and vanilla for about a minute.
Let sit.
Remove candy from heat and slowly add the white chocolate chips, a handful at a time.
Stir until melted, then add the rest a bit at a time.
Pour candy into marshmallow mixture and blend on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Immediately pour into a lightly buttered 9 x 13 Pyrex baking dish.
Allow to set for about 30 minutes.
Cut in squares and cover with foil.

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“If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.”

— Rabbi Harold Kushner

In a Matter of Minutes

Launi — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:35:00 +0000

Ok, well, perhaps it was a couple of hours…but still. In one afternoon the leaves on our old, ~~ridiculous~~ lovely willow tree–which are still green by-the-way– just came launching down, half burying the driveway in the process. Now, if we could just get them all scooped up and plopped down into the garden for next year. That would be wonderful.

I love leaves.

But wait. By the next morning we had this…

which turned into this.

I love snow.

But here’s the dilemma–the ground may look like this–right now, but the tree still looks…

like…this. I know, a busload of leaves still up there–right?

Our tree needs to get with it. It’s November already, for Pete’s sake.

Sheesh.

So, in the next few days, if the snow melts and we get back to seeing green–so to speak–perhaps between all the turkey and stuffing and pie and potatoes, we’ll find a way to toss all those silly leaves out back and maybe…just maybe, there’ll be hope for next year’s garden. Either way.

I love Autumn.

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.”

— Sarah Ban Breathnach

A Patch of Pumpkins

Launi — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:05:07 +0000

We thought about making the trip to a real, live pumpkin patch this year…

but Lily and Beckham went with their Pre-school class last week.

So I had to wonder if they’d think our funny, little- bitty patch was…you know…lame.

After all, what could possibly be exciting about 4 or 5 pumpkins growing in the backyard after seeing one of the real true Linus type pumpkin patches?

As it turns out, there just seems to be something magical and lovely about stomping around in a nearly forgotten, spent garden…

to find just the right pumpkin. The one that feels like it has always been yours.

The one that feels like it already has your name carved on it…somehow.

Kinda made our patch feel very, very real…after all.

Confusion In The Ranks

Launi — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:00:17 +0000

On the heels of the post about how “Autumn is most certainly coming now, bla-bla,” I have to say…it seems to me like only part of our yard is catching on. The pumpkins are doing their best to look all nice and Autumy. Two points for them.

The choke cherries–if that’s what they are–look ready to feed the birds till December. Good job choke cherries.

And our wood pile is set to “extra dry” in anticipation of cooler things to come. Way to go wood pile.

But I ask you…

What is Autumn-ish about a rose bush that’s still blooming all over the place?

Down rose bush, down.

And doesn’t parsley know that when you pick every last bit of it–it’s not suppose to…

come back again?

Enough already, parsley.

And why is it that now, in mid October we’re finally–FINALLY–getting a few piles of tomatoes? Ok, that’s not so bad, but still…

Why won’t the seasons behave like they’re suppose to?!

Tis’ a puzzlement.

Seriously.

Snowy Scarf

Launi — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:00:07 +0000

Finally, we’re getting a bit colder weather around here and it seems to be nudging our sleepy green leaves into turning. Not that I’m begrudging the strange, lovely October sunshine, oh no–but at last it feels more appropriate to begin working on a few little things for…dare I say…Christmas.

A simple double crochet grid pattern can turn into the most luxurious, fluffy, amazing thing–

just by using this crazy yarn.

This stuff feels like you’re crocheting with soft, squishy pipe cleaners. :}

And I can personally vouch for how warm it will be, as I had to keep moving the project off my lap every 10 minutes or so to keep from over heating! Pretty sure I could warm up some Eskimos with this toasty piece of work.

Which is good, because Autumn seems to be coming…

at last.

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Launi — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:17:03 +0000

I admit–there are some really crazy things going on around here. Wheat grinding, label reading, brown rice boiling, sugar shunning—I tell you, it’s frightening. I mean, it’s almost like, everyone in the house is trying to focus on becoming more healthy…all at the same time. I know, when does that happen? Creepy, right?

Well, it’s not only true, but we’re actually having an ok time with it besides. Oh, there’s a bit more work than just ripping open a box, certainly. But with all of us on the same page, it’s actually…fun. And I believe that the reason it’s fun is that anything hard to do becomes easier when you don’t have to do it alone.

Those are either incredibly wise words or my new codependent motto. Either way.

Now, please don’t be afraid when you see this really healthy, actually good for your recipe. I swear, it tastes great too. You must trust me on this. In fact, I bet your kids will even eat these yummy things–and have no earthly idea that it’s…kind of…like…you know…health food.

Joke’s on them.

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup oatmeal

2 tsp. baking powder

1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1/4 cup olive oil

2-3 Tbsp. honey

1/2 cup milk

2 cups peeled apples–diced

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients and set aside. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, then add oil, honey, and milk; mix well.

Slowly add dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Stir in apples. Fill muffin cup 2/3 full and bake for 18 minutes. Remove from muffin tin and allow to cool.

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

5.0 from 1 reviews

Serves: 12

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup oatmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup olive oil
2-3 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup milk
2 cups peeled apples–diced

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine dry ingredients and set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs, then add oil, honey, and milk; mix well.
Slowly add dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
Stir in apples.
Fill muffin cup 2/3 full and bake for 18 minutes.
Remove from muffin tin and allow to cool.

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Back To The Canyon

Launi — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:05:47 +0000

With everyone going in so many directions these days–just to make life work…

it’s a wonder that somehow…

finally, finally…

we made it back to our favorite canyon…

for that very same thing that we do, every year– you know…

soak in the beauty of this incredible world we live in.

Oh, there are a few new–very welcome faces this time…

but other than that, we try our best to keep things…

sweetly…

beautifully…

playfully…

deliciously—

the same.

Because no matter where these “baby birds” of mine have been…

or where they’ll go someday—

right now…

it feels perfect–

just like this.

:} 511

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Be sure to head on over to my daughter April’s blog Prairie Grass Patterns to enter her Anniversary week giveaways!

They’re incredible!

October?

Launi — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:17:14 +0000

I seriously have no earthly idea how we got here–to October–so fast. But Autumn is the very best time of year, in my book so I intend to savor every second of it.

Warm cider–and pumpkin bread–here I come!

Care to join me?

:} 514

In This Kitchen

Launi — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:05:34 +0000

today–if you just happened by, you would have been greeted by the lovely scent of peaches.

As you may know, we’ve had one heck of a time getting any of these pretty things in jars or bags or–well, anywhere, for that matter, besides our tummies.

But after buying our third box–a big one this time–we finally had the self discipline (or the box was big enough- ha!) to squirrel some away for the winter. With applesauce and pears and tomato sauce ahead of me, I just didn’t have the “umph” to bottle the peaches–kitchen is still too warm.

So Miss Chompy and I blanched and peeled and sliced and counted pitts…ahem…

and packed away 9 lovely bags into the freezer. There’s just something soothing to a woman’s heart about piling up food for the family for another day. Don’t you agree?

Oooh, I see Autumn smoothies and peach shakes and fruit crepes and peachy applesauce in my crystal ball.

Guess heading back to the Farmer’s Market for more peaches is also in my future.

Are you canning something this year?

:} 519