Annabelle's First Pumpkin Patch

Once upon a time, way back in October, we took Annabelle to her very first pumpkin patch. We didn't go last year, since she was so tiny and young. We just didn't see the point.

This year, she is walking and super into everything, and we knew she would LOVE it. Unfortunately, we couldn't find an actual patch around us... so we went to a gardening center that had a fun set-up. There is a nice pumpkin patch about an hour away, so we plan on going there next year (assuming we're still in this area by then).

It was a great success! She loved posing with the pumpkins and carrying the small gourds away. Everyone there was watching her because she was being her sassy, smiley self!

I'm so glad we decided to lug the big camera out with us on this day. We got some of my very favorite shots of her... ever!

2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins: Recipe

It's Friday again, and since it's finally September, I am sharing this super awesome pumpkin muffin recipe with you all!

Recipe is subjective, though. I feel pretty silly even sharing this one. It's all over Pinterest, though, so I had to give it a try... and what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't share my results with you? ;-)

I'll admit it. I thought they were going to be dry and dense... and not very good. Luckily, that was not the case! The canned pumpkin turned these bad boys out just right!

This recipe made 12 muffins for us. We ate them ALL within a few days. I totally meant to freeze some for easy snacks for after Baby Cookie gets here... but that went out the door when we tasted how good these are. Plus, they're so easy, I'm sure I can whip up another batch soon!

2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package cake mix (any kind - I used butter pecan here, but I've heard spice, carrot, and yellow all work really well!)

• 1 15 oz. can pure pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)

• OPTIONAL: chocolate chips / cream cheese frosting

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350º.

2. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix and the pumpkin.

3. Use a beater to mix until batter is consistent.

4. Add chocolate chips if you are using. (I used the mini ones in mine!)

5. Scoop the mixture into muffin liners.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes (mine needed 22 minutes exactly).

7. Try to let them cool before digging in... but we couldn't wait that long!

Are you a 'pumpkin' person?

What's your favorite kind of muffin?

    

Our Halloween Decorations

Today is Halloween... which is my second favorite holiday of the year (only behind Thanksgiving). When I was a kid, it was undoubtedly my favorite... because candy. And costumes. I just love everything about it.

This year, my husband and I are hosting a Halloween party at our home. We're excited because we never really got to celebrate Halloween together while he was at the Academy because it always fell on a week day... so he couldn't leave base, and I had to teach the following morning.

Well, it's on a Friday this year, and we are STOKED!

That's what we have so far for tonight! I am going to be busy today finishing my costume, making orange jell-o shots, a big punch bowl of orange martini, and setting up the snack area! I can't wait for trick-or-treaters early this evening and for friends to come over after that!

Also, my husband and I have the nerdiest costumes ever... I am going as Miss Frizzle (from the Magic School Bus), and he is going to be Bill Nye the Science Guy! 

• What are your Halloween plans?
• Do you like the dress up for Halloween?

Oatmeal Pumpkin Cream Pies: A Recipe

Recently, I needed to make a dish to take to a recipe club event, and the theme was "fall favorites". I LOVE everything pumpkin, and I knew this would be the perfect time to make the Oatmeal Pumpkin Cream Pies I had pinned on my Pinterest desserts board. The recipe comes from Sally's Baking Addiction, and it was a big hit. I'm even considering making these again for Thanksgiving when my family visits. 

INGREDIENTS

OATMEAL SANDWICH COOKIES

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 large egg

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 2/3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

PUMPKIN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

• 1/4 cup pumpkin purée

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

• 2 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (to thicken)

• salt, to taste

DIRECTIONS

OATMEAL SANDWICH COOKIES

1. With a mixer, cream butter and sugars until smooth.

2. Add the egg and vanilla, and mix well.

3. Slowly stir in the baking soda, cinnamon, oats, and flour.

4. Mix together until just combined.

5. Chill the dough for at least one hour in the fridge. 

6. Preheat the oven to 325º. 

7. Roll 2 tsp of dough into a ball, and place on cookie sheet.

8. Bake for 9 minutes. Let cool for one minute before moving to a wire cooling rack. 

*I had to bake mine for about 15 minutes for them to be at the right consistency for me, but that may just be my oven or preference. 

PUMPKIN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1. With a mixer, mix the cream cheese, butter, pumpkin purée, and spices on medium speed until creamy.

2. Add powdered sugar, and continue mixing.

3. If frosting is not thick enough (mine was definitely NOT thick enough), add flour, a little bit at a time.

4. Add salt to cut the sweetness, if desired.

5. Spread a generous amount of frosting on the bottom of one cookie, and sandwich it with another cookie, until all cookies are gone. 

*Cookies stay fresh for up to five days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 

ENJOY! 

• What is your favorite "fall" food?
• Are you on the pumpkin bandwagon this year?

Fall Favorites {Blogtember Challenge}

September 21st Prompt: Fall favorites. What do you love most about this season?

Where do I even begin? I love everything about fall. Well, almost everything. I hate the allergies that come with fall, but deep down, underneath all of that Allegra, Sudafed, and Singulair,  I am a fall girl at heart. It is my favorite season, and I am so glad I have lived in an area that actually has a fall season each year of my life (Missouri, Colorado, and now Ohio). I'm not sure if we'll really get a true fall at our next base in Texas, so I'm going to live it up while I can!

As you can see, fall exploded in our house this past week. I printed some fall photographs and a free printable I found online. I added a wreath from Target and attached a small scarecrow to it. I bought a basket and filled it with fall colored leaves and a few gourds. And what fall ensemble would be complete without a pumpkin scented candle from Bath and Body Works, right? (My favorite is the vanilla pumpkin marshmallow!)

I also made oatmeal pumpkin cream pies for the AFIT Spouses Recipe Club, which was a blast again. I am so glad to have the opportunity to meet ladies who have been married into the military for just as long as me and for many, many years. It's great being able to share stories and learn from the ones who have been around longer.

In fall, I love:

• the colors
• the smells
• the foods
• the leaves
• the crisp weather
• the clothes
• football season
• the holidays
• pumpkins
• parties
• giving thanks
• the decorations
• family time
• a "new" season

What do YOU love about fall?