What Happened To This Year?

       Ok I remember thinking in January this year how strange it was to say “2014”!!  Wasn’t that just a few weeks ago!!   Seriously, “WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS YEAR!?!” 

     ~Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago I was taking down all the Holiday decorations, and now I’m putting them ALL back up again! What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just May and the boys were finishing school, Seth 6th grade and Joshua 10th?  And now they are already half way finished with 7th grade and 11th grade!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just May when Cayla and Craig graduated from ASU...it seems like yesterday and NOT months ago!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just yesterday– Not the beginning of this year when Eric told us that he was gonna be a BIG BROTHER!!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just last week that DJ retired from DPS after 21 1/2 years...wait that was in July!!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just yesterday that the newest member of our family, David Gavin, was born, making Cayla and Craig parents of two kids now...Seriously was that back in August!! What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just yesterday that DJ and Suzi were starting their own family with three kids and NOW they are grandparents and loving every minute of it, Spoiling grandkids is so much fun and now we have TWO! What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just last month when Joshua was my youngest and playing with his toy cars and NOW he’s blessing the  Sacrament, driving and dating!!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just the other day that Seth was acting silly, reciting movies and shows he liked and now he's acting and singing in school plays!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just the other day that DJ started his new job as a police officer with the Maricopa Community Colleges...Wait that was in July and now he in a new position as a detective with them!?!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago that Seth and Josh were so small they would dance around the kitchen with mom and acting silly...And NOW they have danced in the Phoenix Temple Cultural Celebration for the Prophet of the LDS Church.  They started practicing yesterday...Oh wait that was back in September!!  What Happened To This Year!!

     This year has truly flown by!!  And during it we were blessed with so many blessings even with our personal trials and  tribulations. Through all of it we have grown closer to each other and to our Savior.  As the kids get older and prepare for  missions or start their own family we realize the importance of family and how blessed we are to have the opportunity to be together. We want to wish all our family and friends a very special Christmas and to remember WHY we celebrate this time of year! 

     Have a safe and Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!      

Pumpkins pumpkins pumpkins...

Growing up I have lots of memories of my mom cooking.  She's an amazing cook (I know I've said that before but its true) and she taught me everything I know...or should I say TRIED to teach me!!  (I am a little hard head)

One of our favorite things to make - especially at Thanksgiving time was Pumpkin Pie.  Oh my goodness but my mom made the BEST Pumpkin Pie!!  BUT...growing up and eating my moms pie and than other peoples pie I always noticed there was something a little different about her pie...hers was kinda a brownish-orange color, kinda the color of the spices used in it while every other pie was orange...WEIRD I know but it was a fact!  And I found that I perfered the flavor of my moms pie over others......

It wasn't until I was a teen that I understood why...my mom never used canned pumpkin...she always used fresh pumpkin...pumpkin she rendered down herself left over from Halloween. 

Canned pumpkin (or pre-bought pies) uses orange food coloring so you always get that orange color to your pie!  Since getting married I've followed in my moms footsteps and I've never used canned pumpkin...I've just rendered my pumpkins from Halloween down and freeze it so I can use fresh pumpkin all year long!  

I've had a lot of friends over the years ask me how to render down a pumpkin!  I know a lot of people get spooked with the taught of rendering a pumpkin but seriously its as easy as 1 - 2 - 3!!  I've shared this with lots over the years and I figured I should just wright it down now!  

RENDERING DOWN A PUMPKIN

1.  Cut in quarters and remove the seeds 

(Save the seeds if you wish to dry them and add seasoning) 

2.  Chop up into smaller pieces 

(Some people prefer to keep the pumpkin in two larger haves to bake) 

3.  Microwave in a covered dish until the pumpkin skin is very tender

(You can bake at this point on a cookie sheet but I prefer to microwave-its faster) 

4.  Once tender let cool 

5.  Once cooled cut of skin 

6.  Place in a blender and blend pieces until smooth

7.  Place 3 cups portions in bags and freeze  (3 cups is enough to make 2 pies) 

(some people like to can theres)

1.  Cut in quarters and remove the seeds 

2.  Chop up into smaller pieces 

3.  Microwave in a covered dish until the pumpkin skin is very tender

5.  Once cooled cut of skin 

6.  Place in a blender and blend pieces until smooth 

7.  Place 3 cups portions in bags and freeze  

Once you have your pumpkin rendered down your ready to make Pumpkin Pie!!  

Its really an easy recipe and it taste so GOOD!!  Its Seth and Joshuas favorite pie!!  

PUMPKIN PIE 

(I usually always double this so I can have 2 pies) 

2 eggs slightly beaten 

3/4 cups sugar 

1/4 tsp cloves 

1 2/3 cup evaporated milk 

1 1/2 cups pumpkin 

1/2 tsp salt 

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp ginger 

1 pie shell or crust 

Mix filling in order given.  Pour into pie shell.  Bake in preheated  425' oven for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350' and continue baking for 45 minutes or unitl knife in middle comes out clean.  Then cool...top with whip cream and ENJOY 

Gather all your ingredients 

Place all ingredients in bowl

Mix well

Pour into pie shell

Bake at 425' for 15 minutes 

VERY IMPORTANT...reduce heat to 350' and continue to bake for 45 minutes 

Cool and ENJOY 

Yummy Pumpkin Streusel Bars

If I've said it once...I've said it a million times...

I AM FAR FROM BEING A PERFECT MOM!!! 

I don't always have the cleanest house..

I don't always have dinner on the table by 6...
Heck sometimes dinner is a fend for yourself thing...
Finding activities for my kids is always a challenge...

So lets just say...
I AM FAR FROM BEING A PERFECT HOMEMAKER!!!

I've mentioned not being perfect before but to try and work towards being a better mom I try and make breakfast fro my kids during the school week (now when my daughter lived at homed I feel short on his when she got into high school cuz she had to leave for school at 5:15 in the morning...um thats really early and I figured she could handle breakfast herself, she'll be a mom someday and would need to figure out breakfast for her kids so why not start now...see not a perfect mom).  Don't get me wrong, there is an occasional bowl o cereal in there now and than because its hard to come up with a varity of different meals every day...that includes dinner too!

But this time of year its totally easy...WHY cuz its Pumpkin season!!!    

So what did I find and come up for breakfast today...

PUMPKIN STREUSEL BARS  (Yummmmmmmmmyyyyyy) 

These are supper moist and delicious and can be served for breakfast or dessert! 

 Yes this would be my son stuffing his face with Pumpkin bars...
...after dunking it into his milk 
(oh and spilling it all over the table...messy child!)

STRESUSEL TOPPING 

~1/4 cup sugar 

~1/4 cup brown sugar 

~1/2 cup flour 

~1/4 cup cold butter 

~1/4 cup cinnamon 

PUMPKIN BARS 

~4 eggs 

~1 2/3 cups sugar 

~1 cup vegetable oil or canola oil 

~15 oz pureed pumpkin (I like using fresh pumpkin not canned but you could use can) 

~2 cups flour 

~2 tsp baking powder 

~1 tsp baking soda 

~1 tsp salt 

~1 tsp cinnamon 

GLAZE 

~1 tbsp butter, softened 

~1/2 tsp vanilla 

~1 cup powdered sugar, more as needed to reach desired consistency 

~1 tbsp milk, more as needed to reach desired consistency 

~1/4 tsp salt 

INSTRUCTIONS 

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees 

~To make streusel, combine sugars, flour and cinnamon into a bowl.  Cut cold butter into them until crumbs form.  Set aside. 

~To make pumpkin bars:  In a large bowl combine eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin and beat until light and fluffy.  

~Add dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon, to the pumpkin mixture and whisk until well combined. 

~Pour into greased 9x13 pan. 

~Evenly sprinkle and distribute crumb topping over pumpkin bar batter. 

~Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until done and toothpick test comes out clean. 

~To make the glaze:  Cream butter in a medium bowl. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and salt and beat until glaze is smooth.  Add more powder sugar and milk as needed to reach desired consistency.  Pour over warm bars. 

~ Serve warm or cold.  

~To make streusel, combine sugars, flour and cinnamon into a bowl.  Cut cold butter into them until crumbs form.  Set aside. 

~To make pumpkin bars:  In a large bowl combine eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin and beat until light and fluffy.  

~Add dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon, to the pumpkin mixture and whisk until well combined. 

~Pour into greased 9x13 pan. 

~Evenly sprinkle and distribute crumb topping over pumpkin bar batter. 

~Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until done and toothpick test comes out clean. 

~To make the glaze:  Cream butter in a medium bowl. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and salt and beat until glaze is smooth.  Add more powder sugar and milk as needed to reach desired consistency. 

 Pour over warm bars. 

~ Serve warm or cold.  

Breakfast is served!!

Yum
               yum
                            yum

Bitter Sweet feelings.....

Its always a bitter sweet feeling I get after Halloween! 

You see anyone who knows me - knows I LOVE this time of year...

You know, HALLOWEEN, THANKSGIVING,

 ummmmm BLACKFRIDAY (yes thats a holiday to some), 

CHRISTMAS and NEW YEARS!!

I also LOVE decorating my house!!  (I don't have nearly enough decorations...YET) 

I LOVE all my Holiday decorations. 

 Its fun putting them up...

taking them down is totally a different story though!!!!!

When it comes to taking my Halloween decorations down - I have mixed feelings......

Why you ask....

Well first off I LOVE how my house looks with all the spooky decorations up.  Plus its the start of fall...you know cooler weather (well sorta for us in AZ).  

Its just fun...dressing up, the candy, the food, everything!! 

On the other hand I get SUPER excited when I take my Halloween decorations down - 

Again why you ask -

BECAUSE that means in less than a month it will be Thanksgiving...

and Thanksgiving is followed by

BLACK FRIDAY and 

DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS!! 

Black Friday in itself is a major holiday.  Unfortunitly it should now be called Black Thursday since most stores are open now on Thanksgiving night!  I have to admit I go out with my best friend Teresa to people watch...we don't necessarly go out to get all the major deals.  If we happen to come across a deal that makes the outing even sweater but really is all the people watching...so if you happen to be out on black Friday don't do anything silly cuz we are watching...oh and laughing!!  LOL 

And of course that same weekend its time to DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS!!  Christmas is my favorite time of year to decorate for!!  

And the other BEST part about Halloween and taking my decorations down...

CHRISTMAS MOVIES and CHRISTMAS MUSIC STARTS!!! 

In our house it'll be Christmas movies and music 24 hours a day!!  

It's so IS the BEST TIME OF YEAR ...

But taking the decorations down is always a

BITTER SWEET FEELING!!!  

Fall is in the air and that means Spiced Pumpkin Muffins!

Ahhhhhh.....All around the country Fall is in the air!  

Whats that mean...the air is crisp and cool, the leaves are changing colors, sweaters, scarves, fuzzy slippers (ok mostly for me), and of course in our house that means soup, apples and of course PUMPKINS!!  

But guess what...

AZ hasn't caught on with the rest of the country that its Fall!  Our states a little slow when it comes to following the rest of the country.  Well, maybe I shouldn't say that...we have dropped down the the low 90's and our nights and mornings are perfect...Whohoo!!!  

But in our house we will NOT be denied FALL!!  We will not be denied our Soup nights and of course we will NOT BE DENIED all the yummy foods you can make with PUMPKINS!!!  

I love getting as many pumpkins I can this time of year and to render down the pumpkin so we can have fresh pumpkin anything all year long!! Really fresh pumpkin changes the taste of food, I like it so much better than can. Last year I think I did about 12 pumpkins and believe it or not...we are running low on our pumpkin supply...its time to start building my pumpkin supply back up.  

 To start the season off right I made one of the easiest pumpkin recipes I have ever found...

SPICE PUMPKIN MUFFINS...

really you can't get any easier than 3 ingredients, 4 if you count water...and its super super good!  

Lets get cooking!!  

Gather all your ingredients 

1 Spice Cake Mix 

about 2 cups of fresh pumpkin puree (between 16-20oz) or 1 can of pumpkin

3 eggs 

1/4 cup water 

Mix all the ingredients together.  

Place in a well greased muffin tin or in muffin cups.

  This makes about 18 muffins.  

Now to make these muffins extra special you will want to all the following streusel topping. 

Streusel Topping

1/2 cup flour 

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/4 cup butter  

Mix four and sugar together, then cut in butter.  

Place a couple of spoonfuls of topping on each muffin.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes.  

For a super easy recipe this has become one of my families favorite muffins! 

 And trust me we eat a lot of muffins!!  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

 Add cake mix, pumpkin, eggs and water

 Mix well

 Spoon into muffin tins, about 2/3 full

 Next prepare streusel topping - add flour, brown sugar and butter

 Cut in butter

 Streusel will be crumbly 

 Spoon on top of the muffins 

 Place in oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes 

 Remove from oven when finished

Enjoy either warm or cold, with butter or without