Blogger Friend School #7 Pumpkin Party

After a few weeks off, we are returning to Blogger Friends School (it was fall break!) This week for our assignment we are suppose to share a pumpkin related activity. Mine will be two really tasty recipes that we have tried and really like around here.

The first recipe is from Tammy's Recipes. If you haven't checked out her site you should. It has a wealth of information on it (and she is from here in northern Ohio as well!). The recipe we tried is Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins.

Yield: 18 muffins

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 3/4 cups pumpkin
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
2 cups nuts, optional
2 cups butterscotch chips/morsels

Instructions:

1. Combine all dry ingredients. Add pumpkin, eggs, and oil. Mix until smooth. Add nuts if desired and the butterscotch chips.

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until done.

The other recipe is a bit less healthy, I found this one on Allrecipes.com

Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup white sugar, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, mix together the crushed gingersnap cookies, pecans, and butter. Press into the bottom, and about 1 inch up the sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake crust 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Set aside to cool.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, and vanilla just until smooth. Mix in eggs one at a time, blending well after each. Set aside 1 cup of the mixture. Blend 1/4 cup sugar, pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the remaining mixture.
3. Spread the pumpkin flavored batter into the crust, and drop the plain batter by spoonfuls onto the top. Swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.
4. Bake 55 minutes in the preheated oven, or until filling is set. Run a knife around the edge of the pan. Allow to cool before removing pan rim. Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.

Now for a verse that has spoken to me lately. That would be a scripture that was read on Sunday in our worship time at church.

1 Chronicles 16:8-10
8 Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
9Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
10Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.

Wednesday's Website #3

I almost forgot about posting a website today. The site I have for you can be a messy one. It also is a great learning experience for the children as well as a wonderful way to spend time with them. And of course, after my post about my new stove, I must also say that it is a great way to get to know your kitchen appliances better!
Without further adieu, here it is-
Kids Cooking Activities
Not only does this site have recipes that are geared towards children, they also have a newsletter, lists of age appropriate kitchen tasks, food facts and lot of other neat stuff. Check it out then get the kids and hit the kitchen!

Charlotte Mason blog carnival #4

The new Charlotte Mason Carnival was published yesterday. (I am a little slow!) Come read it at Dewey's Treehouse. These carnivals are a great way to stay inspired on the homeschooling path. I am enjoying reading about everyone and how they incorporate the CM method into their schooldays. The next one will be at one of the blogs I read on a regular basis, On Our Journey Westward. Check out her site now and you'll find a lot of other neat stuff- then come back in two weeks and read her CM carnival posting.

Baking on the Brain

Last week Sunday my dad and stepmom took me out to eat for my birthday. Afterwards they wanted to stop at Best Buy for something. They lead me over to the appliance section and down a row of stoves. Then they turned around and asked me which of two stoves did I want. I got a new stove for my birthday.

To understand what this means to me you would have to know my old stove. The pilot lights never stay lit. The oven door wont shut all the way. The hinge to the one side of the oven door is completely busted. The heat in the oven is distributed unevenly which means food has to be rotated. The sides of the stove and the top of the front where the handles are gets very hot when the oven is on and can burn you.

How much do I appreciate my new stove? Today marks a week since it was delivered. In the last week I have made- cookies, cheesecake, muffins (twice), quiche, a casserole, pineapple coffee cake, two scone cakes and overnight french toast. (That's all that I can remember.) I don't normally bake like this either.

To let you all share in the thrill, I thought I would share a few recipes I made today. I have had these recipes for years but never actually made them. I really like the almond, as did most of the kids, but the apple is really good as well.

Honey Almond Scone Cake

3T better butter (50/50 mix of butter and extra virgin olive oil- can use just butter)
1t almond extract
3T honey
2 large egg whites ( used one egg)
3/4c flour
1/4c oat bran
1t baking powder
1/8t salt
1/4c buttermilk (I used kefir)
2T honey
1/4t almond extract
3T unblanched sliced almonds

Beat together butter, almond extract and honey. Beat in egg whites. Mix dry together and and add to butter mixture along with buttermilk beating till blended. Pour into greased 8" round pan and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Combine honey with almond extract and spread over top
of warm cake. Sprinkle with the almonds. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Apple Scone Cake

3T better butter (50/50 mix of butter and extra virgin olive oil, use just butter if you want)
1t vanilla extract
3T honey
2 large egg whites (I used one egg)
3/4c flour
1/4c oat bran
1t baking powder
1/4t cinnamon
1/8t salt
1/4c buttermilk (I used kefir)
1 large apple peeled and sliced thin
1 1/2T sugar
1/4t cinnamon

Beat together egg white, butter, vanilla and honey. In separate bowl combine dry ingredients and add to the wet ones with the buttermilk beating until blended. Fold in apples. Bake in 8" round cake pan at 350 for 20 minutes. Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over top of cake.

Old fashioned Story Time

I don't know how many know the name Garrison Keller, but when I was growing up my dad listened to his radio show every week. He told stories about a little fictional town and the people there.

Recently I read two books that really reminded me of Garrison Keeler and his stories. The books here Hometown Tales and Porch Talk by Philip Gulley. Gulley is a Quaker preacher in smalltown Indiana. He has a radio show on one of his local radio stations and posted stories in his church's newsletter. Someone asked him to publish those stories and the result has been 11 books.

The stories are short, simple, poignant, funny and thoughtful. The books are a quick read and very enjoyable.

I let my dad borrow the one book and he thoroughly enjoyed it as well.

Bella

Have you heard about this movie? It is called Bella and it is opening in theaters this weekend. I just listened to the director and lead actor as they talked on Family Life Today's daily radio show. These men are very upstanding believers who are trying to bring a message to the world. Family Life Today is highly recommending this movie and after all I have seen about it I think it looks very promising with a very pro-life message. If the opening weekend is good then more movie theaters will carry the movie and it will reach more people. Check out the article, listen to the broadcast and visit the movie's website. Then go see what looks to be a very promising film.

Thursday's Thankful Thirteen (17)

Last night as I was going to bed, the dishwasher was running and the washer was on timer to run later in the night. That meant I would be waking up to clean dishes and clean diapers. It brought me to the awareness of how thankful I am for modern conveniences. Here is my list of all I am thankful for-

1) washer
2) dishwasher
3) stove (may I add my *new* stove with working hinges on the oven door, thank you dad!)
4) blender (love those smoothies!)
5) running water in the house
6) toilets
7) computers and the internet
8) automobiles
9) cameras (can you imagine not having *any* pictures of your children as they grow up?)
10) microwaves
11) modern medicine- it may have its issues, but its better then leeches, right?
12) sound systems- I know an awful lot of our congregation would not be able to hear pastor preach without it
13) refrigerator