Showing posts with label Pumpkin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pumpkin. Show all posts

Splash of Fall Soup

I am making Vanilla Pumpkin Soup today. 


I took a nice lil ol pumpkin, took out the seeds to roast later and cut it up in chunks.


Then I started taking the 'meat' out of the pumpkin.  This was going on a cookie sheet to roast in the oven.


The outer shell was saved to feed to the wild birds outside. 


I then took the roasted pumpkin and added it to half n half, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, butter, chicken stock, cinnamon, almond flavoring and sugar. Brought that to a boil.


Then I blended it all in the blender. Made it into a warm rich goodness!



Time Outs Giveaway

We have the Grandbabes this weekend again. I love it. But why do we have them? Well because as the book says "Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too". It is even touted on Mommy Needs a Time Out blog.  And I completely agree, don't you.  This weekend the Other Daughter is taking her Object of her Affection to a Star Trek Convention.  What a trip that will be.
In the meantime we are enjoying the kiddos.  Last night was the Friday Night Lights.  It was so much fun to see the kiddos enjoying the excitement of the game.  And I loved the concession stand food, who is with me there?  Today will be games with the kids and hopefully a hot dog/s'mores cookout tonight.  Oh and the local school fall carnival too!  What are your plans?
 But I also want touch on ways to take a time out.  No you do not have to go and sit in the corner.  I use to love my 3 pm bubble baths.  It was perfect timing.  I would slip into the tub with a good book and music and soak for 30 minutes.  Then when I popped out, dry and dressed I was ready for anything.  That was just when the kids came in from school.  A time out really helps an overworked overwrought woman get refocused.  And yes if your a mom, wife and caretaker your overworked daily.  When you take time for just you then you can recharge those batteries.  One of my favorite ways to recharge is by doing a mini me time.  I can load up, run away from home and then find a great secluded area.  Now I can walk around, enjoy the heavens and the earth while letting all of my stress just flow away.  This helps us become better moms, better wives and just better.
I loved hearing this same idea applied to couples to this last week.  That if mom and dad  do not get to be a couple then they can not be the best of parents.  Remember it was by being a couple that you 'became' parents.  Dear and I are also making time for us as a couple.  Weather it be time to cuddle and review the day or each of us rubbing lotion on each others feet.  But that is not our time together passion....nope....you may laugh.  But we love COFFEE.  You should know it.  So we make a pot of delicious coffee (our fav is Folgers), set up all the goodies.  I take mine with sugar and cream (again fav is Land O Lakes Half & Half).  Then sit out on our big ol front porch reviewing the day.  It makes  you feel like you are the king and queen of your own lil domain.  Especially with the birds singing (make sure to have feeders and water out for them this fall/winter) and knowing you have time for just you too.
I am also having a ladies afternoon coffee today.  A group of my friends and prayer group.  We are going to gather on the porch and share our coffee and our prayers for each other.  I can't wait to get out all of our fun coffee cups, the Folgers Special Roast, sweeteners and our Land O Lakes Half & Half on a tray.  I am setting the table on the porch with bright colors and using bible verses printed on colored paper to make conversation starters.  The ladies prayer group is going to be treated to some home baked goodies too.  We are having Pumpkin Dessert Cake.  It so goes with the holiday season.  Fall is wonderful.  A time to review and renew.  A time for....time outs.
Mix and pour into 11 x 17 pan and bake at 350 for 35 minutes. 
I do wish to thank House Party for the Folgers and Land O Lakes goodies and party.  I want to thank the publishers for "Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too" book.  As always no one pays me, they just share goodies.  How lucky is that?  But I can share with you.  We have a copy of "Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too" for one lucky winner.  Just leave a comment for me below.  (Remember to leave your email.)  Extra entries are for following on GFC, twitter and facebook.  Comment for each on so I know. 

It's a Monster Mash

Ready to carve the pumpkin? I know I want all the innards to cook so I am more than ready. But if you need a lil artistic help the use the scary looking guides that are on BHG.  I know that I am not very artistic so I have to use the lil cheats to make things look really good.

And I love this idea.  I was thinking it would be great for the theater group that my College Girl is with. One of them dresses like the celebrity, all ready for the red carpet. And the others follow the celebrity around, snapping photos and yelling "Over here!" and "Look to the right!"   Of course they would all want to be the celeb while CG would be the only paparazzi. 

Of course it is time for bake sales too.  Always happens in the fall.  Those are some easy cupcakes to decorate.  Even I can do that.  Some white icing and red drops.  Mummies for all.  You can find more of these ideas at BHG too.

I even carved a virtual pumpkin.  But I did miss the goodies inside that could have become pumpkin bread.  But he is a nice ol pumpkin in my thought.  If your having a party for the kids and grown ups, then you might want a drink bar just for the kiddos.  I love the thought of a mad scientist lab for mixing juice drinks.  A few interesting glasses and beakers if you can get them.  A lil dry ice for atmosphere and voila' you have the makings of a lab.  The kids could really get into mixing up different flavors.  But here are some more ideas for drinks that are fit for the whole family.

I know that the kiddos here are looking forward to some of the specials on TV.  Now I know there are the ol time favorites.  But for the littlest ones I am looking forward to showing Timmy Time.  It is on Playhouse Disney where I can be real sure that it is age appropriate for them.  And Timmy Gets Spooked is just scary enough for a 2 year old, I promise.  You can check show times to see when it is on in your area.  A good way to monitor TV time too!

So what are some of your plans for this season.  Make sure you don't just run into the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays without having time to enjoy fall.  It seems that they try to make things happen just way too fast now.  Halloween items were in the stores next to back to school.  And they already have Christmas decorations going up.  I just do not get that at all.  Do you?  I think that is why I am often a Scrooge by the time Christmas does roll around.