Fall Baking

I love pumpkin and I love baking in the Fall, a favorite combination.  I found this recipe on Seven Spoons blog and decided this would be a good recipe to make and then be able to freeze.  With the guys gone the baking doesn't get eaten as fast or at all.  If you stop by for coffee I have treats ready this Fall!

Spiced Pumpkin Scones

Ingredients:
2 cups cake flour
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground clove
1 cup (1/2 pound, 2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, diced * I used salted butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup canned pumpkin purée (unsweetened)
2/3 cup 18% (table, coffee) cream, chilled  * I used half and half
1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons of milk or cream, for egg wash
Granulated or sanding sugar, for garnish

Preheat oven to 400°F. Use parchment paper to line a standard baking sheet and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. On the machine's lowest setting, cut in the chilled butter until the mixture resembles course meal. The butter should be in small pieces approximately the size of peas.

Lightly whisk together the eggs, pumpkin purée and cream. With the machine running still on low (or stir), pour the liquids slowly into the flour and butter mixture, stirring until just combined. Small bits of butter should still be visible, but almost all the flour should be incorporated.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Working quickly, gently knead the dough, folding and pressing gently until fairly smooth. The dough is sticky so use plenty of flour.

Divide the dough into four, and shape each ball of dough into a 4" round about 3/4"-1" thick. 

Cut each round into six wedges, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Once finished, brush each scone with the egg wash and sprinkle with granulated or sanding sugar.

Bake in preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the the tops are lightly golden and the cut sides look flaky and dry. When fully cooked, they should feel light for their size and sound almost hollow when tapped underneath. Cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes. 

Makes 24 medium scones.  Best served warm.

I put them in the freezer and I think as I use them I'll add a little glaze.  Next time I think I'll add some white chocolate chips and/or some pecans to some of them.

Enjoy!

Miss Autumn Has A Birthday

 My friend Holly had a milestone birthday on the first day of Fall.  She was in the New England states with her husband taking a dream trip on her day but when she got back her BFF Betty had a little birthday field trip planned for her.  Holly loves Fall, pumpkins, buntings, pie, field trips, chalkboards and friends.  I think Betty planned the perfect party.

 I wanted Holly to feel special. I made a crown and scepter so that I could crown her Miss Autumn.

And then because I am determined to bring back corsages with velvet leaves I made one for Holly.

HELPMEBRINGBACKCORSAGESWITHVELVETLEAVES

Though if I have to, I will singlehandedly do my best to bring back corsages with velvet leaves.

 She was pretty surprised to run into all of her friends at Stoney Ridge Pumpkin Farm.  It took her a bit to realize that we were there to celebrate her birthday.

 There is so much clever, cute and creative at Stoney Ridge.

 Apple pie with the works for lunch?  Yes please!

 Betty organized a little Holly-Lu-Jah time to make Holly feel loved and special.

 I want to take Hubby to Stoney Ridge this week.  After the guys grew up I stopped going, uhmmm Stoney Ridge is for the big kids too.

Happy Birthday Miss Autumn!  You really are the Queen of Fall.

And a BiG thank you to Betty for organizing such a fun field trip!  

Oh October, I Love Thee

Happy October!  I love the nonmonths.  The months with no major holidays, months where the season change is so obvious, months with nothing but everyday stretching out in front of me.

 The farmer's corn is still standing.  Last night a corn chopper drove past our place and I thought for sure they would turn in and start chopping.  No, not yet.  The night they chop corn is the night we don't get much sleep.  The corn field driveway is right next to where we lay our heads for a good night's sleep.  The trucks grinding their gears and hurrying the crop out of the field all night is a bit noisy.  I am not complaining though because overall a field of corn is a quiet neighbor.

 October is Hawley's birthday.  On October 30th he will be 13 years old or in dog years he turns 91 years old.  His first birthday involved a dog party with Shadow and Eddy, and a lot of little boys.

Hawley always looks away when I want to take his picture, he gets all shy and bashful.

 "If I don't look, she'll put down the camera."

 Eventually Hawley can't resist, sighs and gives me a cheesy dog smile.

Isn't he a distinguished, handsome old guy with his grey?

 I am trying to get myself a new pair of shoes.  Just one pair.  I have bad feet.  So in order to get one new pair of shoes many will be ordered, tried and returned.  The pile is growing...  I have returned some already. There won't be a perfect fit, so the lesser of the evil will be chosen.

First world problems.

I'm looking forward to Therapy Thursday, a quiet weekend and just enjoying a nonmonth.

Enjoy October, my friends!

Chris, au revoir!  All the French you need to know... où est le marché aux puces?

(translation, where is the flea market?)

A September Weekend

 The last weekend in September was a beautiful, busy weekend.  I did some decorating for Fall on Friday.  Last year I skipped Fall because I was getting ready for the Holiday Homes Tour.  I went straight into Christmas.  So this year I was anxious to do a little Fall around the house.

Fall decor includes candy at the Stone House, specifically candy corn.

 The mini pumpkins are from Pennsylvania and bring back good memories of our girls trip to see Nancy.

 The old stand by and my favorite, scrap book stickers on mini pumpkins, easy peasy!

 I added a few things upstairs this time as we had weekend house guests coming to stay.

 I did some Fall cleaning upstairs and that felt good too.  All three bedrooms were full and it was fun.  I hope they had as much fun staying here as we had having them stay.  It was fun for me to have someone to bake for again.

 Loren and Katie with their children, Madison and Charlie and Katie's brother, Jan David stayed with us.  They are family of my BIL Jeff.  We hadn't met before they arrived but had such a nice time.  It was like we'd known them forever.  Charlie loved the Legos and the Atari, Madison loved her room and they all loved the chocolate chip cookies.

 On Saturday morning I went junkin' with Chris and Shelly.  Shelly grabbed this Yellowstone map from the 1930's for me.  I think I'll frame it for the '57 Aloha.

 A little yellow radio for the '57 Aloha and of course, a bit of Christmas for moi.

 It was a wonderful weekend, now onward to October this week.

Doesn't time just fly?

Around Here

Around here things are pretty ordinary, normal, just so everyday.  And I am really thankful for the mundane.

I ironed all of the summer clothes and put them away this week.  Every Fall I have a pile of Summer clothes that need ironing.  And honestly, I whinge and moan about it like no tomorrow.

I mentioned needing to iron on Monday and Hubby asked if I hadn't just done it the week before.  Uhmmm, no.  I just complained about it the week before, I didn't actually DO it.  There is always a two week lead time of whining, whinging, complaining etc. prior to actually ironing.

But now it is all caught up.  Bring on the jeans and sweaters, which need no ironing.  Best part of Fall!

Less time in the laundry room.  It's the little things.

A laundry room pic, since that's where I've been this week.

 The '57 Aloha walls are stained and now getting a couple coats of shellacy type stuff.

 The patio hut, where friends love to gather with us for a meal or a drink in the summer is now a paint station.  It's not pretty nor as much fun, but it works.

 I've been hogging this book, Happy Homemade Home, from the library.  Overdue fines!  I may just have to order it and own it.  There is a lot of pretty and clever in it.

Hubby and I are getting company this weekend.  Our upstairs bedrooms will be full of guests including a young one that may play with Legos.  I can't wait to hear that digging through the Lego bin sound.  The kids are the ages where they'll love our treat drawer so I plan to fill it.  Actually, any age loves our treat drawer.  Just ask my brother Ken.  I am cleaning and tidying tonight and then tomorrow I hope to do some decorating for autumn and baking with pumpkin.

Sometimes the normal, the chores, the change of seasons, the little things are the biggest blessings.

Enjoy!

Last Weekend of Summer

 On Saturday morning I walked in the Walk to Defeat ALS.  Aunt Nelda had a lot of people on her team and we were all so happy that she was able to be there.  Tanner and Clayton are so sweet with her.

 My sis, Kathi and I came to support Aunt Nelda in her fight and Les Kooistra in his fight against ALS.  Les was there but I didn't see him or Karen.  There were 500 people signed up to walk.  Karen, we keep missing each other!

 Meanwhile at home, our firewood for this winter was delivered.  Hubby and I stacked it at a record breaking pace early this morning.  We get our firewood from Dave and he is very insistent that no rain ever touch his firewood.   His firewood is clean, dry and a beautiful blend of alder, maple and birch.  If you're into that sort of thing, it's a big deal.  And yes, we are.  Hubby and I are officially firewood snobs.

 After the walk on Saturday Leslie and Caitlin picked me up to go wedding dress shopping with them.  Caitlin is engaged to Jon and they are planning their wedding for this fall.  I got all teary and touched when they asked me.  We had the best time.  Caitlin said yes to the dress.  It was such an obvious choice.

Of course, the dress isn't pictured.  Top secret!

We celebrated her dress with a peach bellini at Scotty Brown's in Bellingham while feeling pretty elated and smug with our success.

 On Sunday we had dinner at my folk's place and then Mom told us to go to the orchard and pick out some pumpkins.  She had an accidental pumpkin patch growing out of the compost pile.  Happy accident.

 My sisters and I had fun gathering the pumpkins.

After dinner and the pumpkin patch Hubby and I went home to watch the rest of the Seahawk's game.  I told Hubby that I was getting the flu, I had a headache and was nauseated.  I was definitely getting sick. Sigh.

Then the Seahawks won and I was healed.  A bad case of nerves made me physically ill.  I don't think I can do this every Sunday so we need a blow out.  Next Sunday is a bye, thankfully.

On the bright side, Hawks won and I don't have the flu.

Overall, a great last weekend of summer.  

And now...

it's FALL Y'ALL!