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

Did you think I dropped off the FACE of the earth...

...Well, I didn't...I'm alive and kicking...I've just been a terrible blogger!  I'm sure some thought that I ran away from home and changed my name to Gracie Lou!!  Well I tried but alias, my family found me!!  LOL.  I think my kids have a hidden low jack on me somewhere cuz they always manage to find me no matter where I'm hiding. 

Well it looks like I really have to bring you up to date on whats going on in our lives!!  WOW has it really been a year since I wrote...my my how time just seems to fly by!  So lets just give you some of the major things that have happen since September last year......
     
     ~At the end of last year we received some very exciting news...Cayla and Craig were over for a visit and they were getting Eric ready for bed and Eric came out wearing a shirt that said "Big Brother".  Yep yep...Cayla was expecting!!  Very exciting for us know that we were going to have another grandbaby sometime in Aug!  

     ~Christmas (2013) came and went. It was so much fun having Eric around.  It was so much fun watching him open all his gifts!  

     ~Seth played the Frog Prince in his Drama Club play "Ever After".  He sang, he dances and got kissed on the cheek from Snow White and Cinderella (Not sure how I felt about that, LOL).  

     ~Josh started driving and turned the big 1-6...(Stay off the roads)  

     ~In May Cayla and Craig graduated from ASU.  Craig will be continuing his education and is currently applying a different schools.  To save money they are temporarily staying with us cuz most of the schools Craigs looking at are out of state (tear tear tear :( ). 

     ~For the last year or so before Cayla and Craig finished school I was driving out to their place to help watch Eric 2 times a week.  It was so much fun getting to spend a couple of hours a week playing with him and watching him change every day!  

     ~Seth survived 6th grade!!  It was VERY questionable if he would or not!  There were times he had more homework than my High School and College students (Crazy crazy).  Now he's in 7th grade and knock on wood (yes my head) its starting out as a GREAT school year!!  

     ~Josh is a Jr. now and its kinda scary to stop and realized hes only got a year and half of school and hes than off on a mission....Oh plus hes dating and driving...wait did I mention hes driving!!  Seriously who said this was aloud...this growing up thing!  You think I would have learned with Cayla not to let it happen!  

     ~NOW for the BIGGEST and most EXCITING news this year...drum roll please...........We had a new grandson!!  David Gavin was born August 21st.  Its been so much fun having a new born around!  Hes so stinkin CUTE!  Eric just loves his little brother so much!!  

     ~Oh my heck...I almost forgot one other BIG bit of news...DJ retired from DPS!!!!  Who on earth would have thought that he ever would...not me thats for sure!  After 21 1/2 years he decided it was time to move on!  He was retired for a whole 18 hours and then started a new job...hes now a police officer for the community colleges.  He currently working at Glendale College.  Its been strange having him work this new job.  His hours are taking some getting use to and ready for this one...hes wearing a uniform again!  Thats been very crazy!  But he likes it!  

I know I've forgotten a ton but really its hard to remember what happened yesterday let alone all year long.  Geesh I'm lucky I remember my name!  But really I'll try and be better at updating this thing!  There have been so many new recipes and cards and crafts that I've made this year that really I should have added them.  Oh well, we all know life tends to get in the way!  

Best EGGROLLS ever...oh my gosh, I could eat these everyday!

There was one thing my sister, brother and I always looked forward to when my mom was cooking dinner...that was Chinese Food!!

Can I just say YUM!!!

 

Two reasons we looked forward to this was one...it was so dang good!! Best Chinese food every!!  No joke!!  Second reason was LEFT OVERS!!  Yes left overs!  You see mom would take left over eggrolls (cuz mom made a tone of them) and put them in our lunch for school!!  Left over eggrolls were better than cookies, Twinkies, cup cakes, chips and what ever treat mom would put in our lunch!! I'm serious!   I'll let you in on a little secret...shhhhh...my eggrolls never made it to school!! WHY because I ate them on the bus!  Good thing mom sent a sandwich and fruit because I couldn't help myself, as soon as I was out of site of my mom, I would eat my eggrolls!!

 

And now my kid and hubby LOVE them just as much as my sister, brother and I did!  I think if my kids could eat eggrolls every day! Pretty sure I could too! 

I've met people who don't really like Eggrolls but really like these!!

Of course you can't forget the sweet and sour sauce with your eggrolls

 

Start by making the filling and chill for a bit

 

HOW TO FOLD YOUR EGGROLLS

Place filling diagonally on wrap 

Fold bottom corner over filling; roll snugly half-way to cover filling 

Fold in both sides snugly against filling like an envelope; if you need to moisten edges of the flap with water to make them stick.  Most times it will stick on its own 

Roll wrap up and seal top corner 

Lay flap-side down until ready to cook 

Fry in either a wok or a deep fryer; making sure oil is hot but not too hot to burn.  Heat to 375

Time to eat...eggrolls will be hot in the center  

What to do with left over wraps...slice them up  

Fry them in oil  

Cover with either cinnamon and sugar or just sugar...what a great treat

Sweet and Sour Sauce...easy!!

 

EGGROLLS

(I have to be honest...I very rarely measure these ingredients...after so many years of making them I just know how much to add)

 

1/2 to 1 cup of bean sprouts (I use fresh but you can use can just drain)

1/2 to a cup of finely chopped cooked pork

1/4 cup finely chopped cooked shrimp

 (I buy the 5 oz cans and use the whole can, make sure you drain the can and chop)

1/4 cup water chestnuts finely chopped

(again I buy the 5 oz can and use the whole can, just drain)

1 tlb finely chopped green onion

1 slightly beaten egg

1 tlb cooking oil

1 tea soy sauce

1/2 tea sugar

1/4 tea salt

1 pkg of store bought eggroll wraps

 

Combine the first 11 ingredients; chill.  To assemble egg rolls, place 1 tlb filling near edge of eggroll wrap.  Fold edge over filling; fold in both sides.  Roll up, pressing gently to seal.  In wok that is at least 3 inches deep, heat 1 1/2 inches of oil to 375.  Fry, a few at a time, about 6 minutes, turning once.  Drain on paper towel.  Repeat till all are cooked.  Serve with sweet and sour sauce if desired. 

 

Also good in lunches cold.  They reheat very well.  You can also use chicken or beef in place of pork. 

 

Sweet and Sour Sauce

1/4 cup cold water

2 tlb cornstarch

1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

3 tlb sugar

1/4 cup vinegar

3 tlb ketchup

1 tlb soy sauce

 

Combine water and cornstarch; set aside.  In a small saucepan, combine remaining ingredients.  Stir over low heat, 3 to 5 minutes.  Stir in cornstarch mixture until sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.  Serve warm or at room temperature.  Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

 

If you use sweetened pineapple juice, omit the sugar.

If you don't want to make the sauce, you can either by sweet and sour sauce at the store or by plum jam and then melt it in a pan...taste good this way also.

 

Fried Rice

(This is such an easy recipe and so much better than buying a package at the store)

 

6 to 8 cups of cold cooked rice

2 tlb oil

1/2 to 1 cup chopped cooked meat (chicken, beef, pork, turkey...I personal prefer pork in my fried rice)

2 or 3 scrambled eggs

2 or 3 green onions chopped

opt: about 1 cup chopped cabbage

Soy Sauce

 

Turn on heat on the wok to about med-hi.  Add oil to hot pan; add onion and cabbage and stir-fry about 1 1/2 minutes.  Add cold rice and stir-fry about 3 minutes.  Add rice and soy sauce to taste (this could be a few tea depending on how much you like).  Add meat if you wish, but heat through about 2 minutes.  If rice seems a little dry add any kind of broth, water or more soy sauce.

 

A lot of times I make the eggrolls as a meal themselves or with the fried rice but if I have company coming, I will also make a beef and broccoli stir-fry to go along with them.  I'll post that recipe another time.

 

ENJOY!! 

 

 

Whats for dinner tonight...SWISS STEAK...

 

Growing up my mom was an amazing cook!  We ate very well, especially when it came to those foods we call comfort foods. 

 

It's funny because I find myself making a lot of these same foods for my family...and of course when I do it brings back so many childhood memories.

 

One dish my mom made a lot was "SWISS STEAK".

Can I just say YUM!!! 

 

This really is a very easy recipe...seriously if I can make it...anyone can!!

 

1 lb boneless beef round steak, cut 3/4 inch thick

2 tb flour

1/4 tea salt

1/4 tea pepper

1 tb cooking oil

1 14-1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano, and garlic (undrained)

1 small onion, sliced and separated into rings

1/2 cup sliced celery

1/2 cup sliced carrots

2 cups hot cooked noodles or mashed potatoes

 

Trim fat from meat.  Cut into 4 serving size pieces. Combine the flour, salt, and pepper.  With the notched side of a meat mallet, pound flour mixture into meat.

 

In a large skillet brown meat on both sides in hot oil.  Drain off fat.  Add undrained tomatoes, onion, celery, and carrots.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Simmer, adding water as needed, cover, about 1 1/4 hours or until meat is tender.  Skim off fat.  Serve with noodles or mashed potatoes.

 

 

It really was great to always come home from activities to a yummy meal!  So glad my mom taught me how to cook! 

 

ENJOY!!! 

How do you handle adversity...

A few weeks ago in Sunday School our teacher shared the following with us...I kinda found it interesting so I thought I'd share...

How do you Handle Adversity...

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life.  She did not know how she was going to make it, and wanted to give up.  She was tired of fighting and struggling.  It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. 

                Her mother took her to the kitchen.  She filled three pots with water.  In the first pot, she placed a carrot, in the second she placed an egg and the last she placed an herbal tea bag.  She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

                In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.  She fished the carrot out and placed it in a bowl.  She pulled the egg out and placed it in a bowl.  Then she ladled the herbal tea out and placed it in a bowl. 

                On the counter sat three identical bowls.  Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see?”  “Carrot, egg and herbal tea,” she replied

                Mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.  She noted that the carrots got soft. 

                She than asked her to take the egg and break it.  After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

                Finally, she observed what had become of the herbal tea bag as it had steeped in the boiling water.  “What’s the point, mother?”

                Her mother explained that each of those objects had faced the same adversity – boiling water – but each reacted differently.

                The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting.  However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. 

                The egg had been fragile.  Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

                The herbal tea bag was unique, however.  After it was in the boiling water it had changed the water. 

                “Which are you?”  she asked her daughter.  “When trials and adversity knock on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or an herbal tea bag?”

                Think of this: Which am I?

                Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my straight?

                Am I the egg that starts with a passive heart, but changes with the heat?  Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a financial hardship or some other trial and tribulation, have I become hardened and stiff?  Does my shell look the same, but on the inside, am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

                Or, am I like the herbal tea?  The tea bag actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain.  When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.  If you are like the herbal tea bag, when things are at their worst, you become better and change the situation around you.  When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

                How do you handle adversity?

                Like a CARROT,

                Like an EGG,

                Like an HERBAL TEA BAG?

 

I know which one I am...how about you?!?  Reading this made me stop and think perhaps there are some changes I need to make in my life!

What to do when you need a last minute dessert...

A few weeks ago we got asked to feed the sister missionaries at the last moment and of course we jumped at the chance to feed them!  We love having company over for dinner especially the missionaries!! 

Of course after talking to everyone in the family we came up with a plan for dinner (it was gonna be an stir fry and egg roll night...yum!  I'll put the recipes on the blog soon)!

But than Friday came along and I totally forgot about dessert...me, forget about dessert!  What the heck was wrong with me!  Everyone knows that dessert is the most important meal!  Well especially in our family! 

 

So it was time to go through all my cabinets and the fridge.  What did I have cuz I wasn't going to the store again!  Hummm, brownie mix, pudding cups, pudding mix, cool whip...could I come up with something simple, fast and good!  Well according to the family I did!

 

Chocolate Trifle

 

Bake brownies, let them cool and cut them up into cubes and place a layer in your bowl

 

I next layered chocolate pudding over the brownies

 

I took the cool whip and half the chocolate pudding mix and I mixed the two together (My kids love this on their waffles as a treat)

 

Layer the cream mixture on tope of the pudding, then top with brownies and repeat each layer until you reach the top.

 

You can make your layers as thick or thin as you like 

Top off with cream and chocolate chips and place in the fridge for a few hours.  I will say it was really good but even better the next day, so if you have time let it set over night. 

 

Happy eating!!

World Card

Everyone knows that I LOVE my stamping!  I enjoy doing it for my self...its what relaxes me!  I was even one of those people for years who didn't scrapbook cuz I really didn't want to get away from stamping...until I realized I can use my stamps with scrapbooking and I love to do that too!! 

 

So a few weeks back I got a new stamp set from Stampin Up (I would say 90% of my stamping stuff comes from them)...The Open Sea set...can I say LOVE THIS SET!  Can't wait to make more cards with it!   

 

Gather all your supplies (I've listed all the supplies I used)

 

 

 

 

Really its a very easy and simple card...I've got an old book I tare pages out of and I used my square punch to make the edge.  You'd be surprised what you can do with old book pages! 

 

Supplies Used:

~Basic Black ink (Stampin Up)

~Chocolate Chip card stock (Stampin Up)

~Very Vanilla card stock (Stampin Up)

~ Basic Black card stock (Stampin Up)

~American crafts premium Ribbon

~Sincere Salutations stamp set (Stampin Up)

~The Open Sea stamp set (Stampin Up)