the {Pumpkin Queen}

I think I should hitherto be known as the Pumpkin Queen. I've been cooking so much with it lately, but 'tis the season and it's been so good!

Today for breakfast, I made these Pumpkin Pancakes courtesy of my mother-in-law, courtesy of my sister-in-law, courtesy of allrecipes.com! It made quite a large batch (10 pancakes, I think?) so we have a couple left over for breakfast tomorrow. These were YUMMY! Light and fluffy, very flavorful, wonderful with butter and syrup. Definitely a "will-make-again".

And... {PS: I currently have Pumpkin Whoopie Pies in the oven...again!}


Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar

Directions

In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt, stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Counting Down...

In just a couple short hours, we will know what "type" of Baby Shaw we're having!! I'm so excited I could...well, you know. Pee. Which is a good thing because I'm supposed to about 1.5 hours before my appointment. Then, after "you-know", I have to drink 24oz water in 1 hour for the ultrasound. (Was that TMI?!)

Pending full and complete cooperation from the construction zone, I'll be sure to post the "results" soon!

Have I mentioned how excited I am?!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

So, what should you do with some leftover pumpkin? Make pumpkin whoopie pies, of course! This recipe was originally called MINI Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, but since there's only the two of us, I figured we really don't need 36 {mini} pies! Better to make 10 regular size ones. :o) Not only do these pies have the standard cream filling, but it's a cream cheese filling. Yum. Definitely put these on your "to bake" list.

COOKIES
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

CREAM CHEESE FILLING
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

FOR COOKIES:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Lightly grease or line four baking sheets with parchment paper.COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large mixer bowl on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pumpkin and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until combined. Drop by heaping measuring teaspoons onto prepared baking sheets. (A total of 72 cookies are needed for the mini pie recipe.)BAKE for 10 to 13 minutes or until springy to the touch. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

FOR CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
BEAT cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until light and fluffy.SPREAD a heaping teaspoon of filling onto flat side of one cookie; top with flat side of second cookie to make a sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling. Store in covered container in refrigerator.

*Since I made regular size pies, the cookie "drops" were more like a heaping tablespoon or two and the same when spreading the filling on the baked cookies.

Pumpkin-Apple Muffins

What better way to start a perfect autumn Saturday than with an appropriate fall-themed breakfast?! I've been doing a lot of apple coffee cakes for breakfast on Saturday's, so we decided to switch it up and do muffins this week. I had a can of pumpkin burning a hole in my cupboard, so these Pumpkin-Apple muffins were perfect! I also realized this morning that I only have a 6-cup muffin tin!? Weird. I never noticed before! So I made two batches of 6 for us and I used the rest of the batter to make mini-muffins for refreshments at church tomorrow.

I only did a couple things "different" to this recipe. It calls for 1 tbsp. pumpkin spice, which I did not have. So I used this easy substitution:

1 tsp. pumpkin spice =

• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves

Remember there are 3 tsp. in a tablespoon, so you should triple each of the measurments to get the tablespoon. Also, I added oats into the streusel topping. These came out wonderful and delicious and will definitely be made again.

15 Week Baby Bump

Wow, huh?! Although it does seem a little early to be sporting a bumpity~bump. And before you ask, yes, there is only ONE little "Bug". Stop that crazy talk!

Sweet Shaw's ~ $2.08 Profit

I typically don't do many catalina deals because, well, I just don't. However, there are certain times when I will , this week being one of them. Shaw's has a cat promo buy $30 of select products (check out Deal Finding Mom for a list to get you started) and get a $15 catalina. I might actually roll this one a couple of times this week. The best part is, the $30 total is based on pre-sale prices!! Woo hoo! I Needed some eggs (craving chocolate. was going to make a cake) and milk (which was needed to go with the cake), so I did a quick trip this evening. I never did get the eggs. Guess I'll have ice cream instead!

4 cartons Breyers ice cream (@ $5.99 ea) BOGO = $11.98 ~ used (2) $1/2 & (2) double q's = $7.98 ($1.99 ea)
2 Over the Moon milk (@ $2.99 ea) $5.98 used (2) $1/1 = $3.98
4 Sargento shredded cheese (@ 1.99 ea) $7.96 ~ used (4) $1/1 and (4) double q's = $FREE
4 Lipton recipe secrets (@ $1.00 ea) $4.00 ~ used (2) $1/2 and (1) double q = $1.00 ($.25 ea)
Total before coupons: $31.72
Total oop: $12.92 ~ Got back $15 catalina = $2.08 profit!!

**(The Breyers and the Lipton are what counted towards the cat deal. The Breyer's counted as $5.99 (psp) x 4 and the Lipton counted $1.69 (psp) x 4 = $30.72 psp thus, generating the $15 cat!)

Thirsty?

Lately, the Lord has given both Aaron & I such an overwhelming desire to be genuine in our Christianity, and with that to evaluate what being "a Christian" really means to us. How is my claim to be a "Christ-follower" reflected in my life? Is it even affecting my life? What am I doing to change? To make His desires my desires? To put aside my comforts for His perfection? Christianity is not about what God can or will do for me...it's about what I am doing to further His kindgom and His agenda. We've been doing a lot of practical application Bible study recently and (much to my chagrin!) I've been realizing how Phariseacal I really am! I know all the right answers (and they sound really good!), but without application with the right heart attitude, my knowledge is worthless.

James 1: 22-24 ~ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

I read this post on my sister-in-law's blog today and it only fueled the desire already planted in my heart!! I long to have such an intimate knowledge of Christ and to walk in such close communion, that my life reflects Him...and only Him. She said it best with, "I commit to immerse myself in Your Word so that who You are is such a part of me that I cannot settle for less."