Ruffles!

It's on the imperfect side of things but I have a good handle on how to make it better next time.  

HERE is the completed cake.

Pumpkin Baking - IT'S ON!

It started with a knock on the door Friday night reminding us of the block party the following day and my husband letting them know I would bring a cake for the cake walk.  Oops, forgot about that one.  So what is the easiest last minute cake to whip up?  A Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake!  As luck would have it I had frosting already made so the decorating was easy!  Here is my Ode to the Pumpkin Patch Cookie.

My contribution to the pot luck were Pumpkin Whoopie Pies.  Swoon.

To round out the weekend I made the Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Vanilla Sheet Cake from Picky Palate for our small group.  It was made with a cake mix base.  My, my, Pumpkin Pie.  This was good!  Go look at her pictures because they are WAY better than mine.  They will tempt you to try it.  Mine is just proof that I did :)

Just to prepare myself for holiday baking I took everything off my baking shelf in the pantry to do a little inventory.  Ummmm, I need to use up some of this stuff!  At least I can whip up at least five different things with a moments notice :)  I have a baking problem....which is evident looking at every different kind of chip you can imagine!

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

The question of what to have for breakfast keeps getting increasingly more difficult to answer.  I am an egg girl, so there is nothing like a couple of eggs over easy with a little melted cheese and bread, pita, tortilla, or whatever to sop up the runny yolk.  Perfection in my book.  Then  Apple Butter Yogurt enters my life and things start to get a little complicated  Sigh.  Love it.  NOW comes Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal.  I had this for breakfast and then again for an after school snack (I had to get a picture of it, of course :).    I am in breakfast heaven.

Before giving you the recipe I have to tell you that I rarely use just plain oats.  I always have some sort of mixture of things from my pantry in a jar that I use for oatmeal.  The mix I used this morning consisted of pearl barley, coconut, oats, and quick cook steel cut oats.  Sometimes I add flax seed, chia seed, or wheat germ.    If you want more of a textured oatmeal, use a mix of grains. You'll have to adjust the recipe amounts a bit so it cooks correctly.  If you don't want to bother grab your quick oats and think no more of it!

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

1/3 cup oats or mixed grains
3 tablespoons pumpkin puree (I always have some in the refrigerator in the fall, left over from a recipe or in case I need a Pumpkin Spice Latte)
2 teaspoons brown sugar (up to 1 tablespoon if you have a sweet tooth)
1/4 cup water (you will need almost 1/2 cup for mixed grains)
3 tablespoons almond milk (or regular milk)
pinch of salt
small splash of vanilla
generous dash of pumpkin pie spice
top with walnuts, pecans, dried cranberries, more milk - optional

Mix all in a microwave-safe bowl.  Always use a bigger bowl than you think you need to prevent bubbling over.  Better safe than having to clean up a microwave mess.  Microwave for 2 minutes (4 minutes for mixed grains).  Top with whatever you deem necessary!

A Woman's Guide to Fasting - Book Review

A Woman's Guide to Fasting by Lisa E. Nelson is an excellent resource for anyone who has the spiritual discipline of fasting on their heart or mind. It opened my eyes to what fasting is and what it is not, and the real reasons you may be called to do it.  It is all based in scripture and leads you to many verses to ponder about fasting.  Jesus is the main focus, as He should be.

Much practical advice is given for both short and long fasts.  Mrs. Nelson does not claim to give medical advice, only shares from her own experience, which are many.  She prepares you for what to expect before, during, and after a fast physically and spiritually.   She shares her own successes and failures.  Although there is much information she gives it at a personal level. 

I strongly recommend this book if you have been thinking about fasting.  I'm not sure it only has to be for women, as the principles are applicable for both men and women. 

Lisa says, "True biblical fasting is not about the external act of not eating; it is about the internal work of the heart seeking hard after God."  There is nothing more beautiful than wanting to know God and seeking Him.

Ephesians 3:14-19

 

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family  in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

Fancy Nancy Snacks

I made tiny treats for the Fancy Nancy Family Reading Night at our daughter's school.  Not the best pictures, but here is my endless display of chocolate dipped marshmallows embellished with an M&M.  Easy, right?  I dipped around 300 in less than an hour and a half. The kids (and adults) loved them.  I also made the fancy ruffled crape paper streamers and tissue paper pom poms I have been wanting to do since seeing them on Pintrest.   Lots of fancy fun!