Almond Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bundt

Let me start by saying, whoever baked pumpkins for hours, pureed them, drained them, mixed them into a cake mix and then baked again, wow, impressive (or just plain Crazy?!!).

 

Next time my friends, I will buy the pumpkin in the can at the store..

 

This recipe was worth it though.

 

  

Almond Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins (Bundt)

(This has a sweet amaretto almond chocolate flavor with the moistness and barely there hint of the pumpkin)

 

1 box Almond Poppyseed Muffin Mix  (less the poppyseeds)

2 cups Pureed fresh Drained Pumpkin pulpy consistency (keep some of the water from draining) or 16oz Canned Pumpkin

¼ C Water or Pumpkin water (drained from the pumpkin puree)

2 Eggs

½ tsp Ground Cloves

½ tsp Cinnamon

½ tsp Nutmeg

½ tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

½ tsp Ground Ginger

1 Tblsp Baking Soda

1 Cup Flour

1/4 Cup unsweetened Cocoa

1/4 Cup Stevia Sweetener or ½ cup sugar

12 oz Mini Chocolate Chips

 

Mix ALL Dry ingredients, Almond Poppyseed mix (do not use the poppyseeds) , Cocoa,

Flour, Sugar spices, soda, flour.  Make a well in the center and using a mixer mix in wet ingredients until well mixed,

fold in with spoon or spatula the mini chocolate chips

 

Bake in  10 inch prepared (oil/floured lightly) Bundt for 45 min 350 or until toothpick is clean.

Ensure cake is completely cooled before edging around with knife to separate and invert on plate.

Can use muffin pans as well 30-35 min 350 or until toothpick comes clean.

 

For my Bundt I used Stevia sweetener and fresh pumpkin, but you can substitute. J

You can use Yellow cake mix and add  1 Tsp almond flavoring or Almaretto, or just yellow cake mix for more of a pumpkin flavor)

You can also use grated zucchini in place of the pumpkin as a variation.

Happy Halloween

Eeekkk!  I am scared.

My home made scarecrow costume is actually quite comfortable and easy to wear.

I was not able to get a pair of overalls or war some work type boots to

complete the ensemble, however I do have work gloves with straw and an

accompanying crow.

 

Homemade Scarecrow Costume:

 

 

 

How to make the Homemde Scarecrow Costume:

Around $10-25 to make:

 

Shirt: Oversized plaid from closet or Goodwill: $4.99-7.99

Straw: Party Store kids hula skirt : $2.99

Straw Hat: Good Will $.99

Crow: Party Store $3.99

Work Gloves: Goodwill .99

 

The cost really depends on what you have around.

You can get a shirt

cheaper but I wanted a specific color and size.

I had to have this oversized roomy orange plaid one, I will keep it!

The hat,I actually had a few from making scarecrows as a project for the afterschool program last year, and Conrad's Go West theme play Concert Play Costume. 

And the birds, I had some from decorating a greveyard scene in our yard last Halloween. 

So most of this stuff was  pulled together from around the house.

 

Instructions: 

Cut to size the hula skirt as "hair" and hot glue hula skirt to the inner edge of hat

I suggest you try on the hat, if you have long hair, tuck it or ponytail it and fit it the way you will wear it.

take a marker and draw around the hat clos to your head.  I just marked a few spots on the side and back.  This is so whan you hot glue the "hair" on, that it will not change the fit of the hat.

If the hat is too large, then you can glue the hair more on the inside

than the outer edge.

Add some remaning cut straw to top of hat edge with hot glue carefully, add small black bird.

With more remaining straw glue to work gloves, I folder them over 2 inches first and add to inner fold so straw is sticking out of fold.

Add another crow if desired.

Add some brown eyeliner as a nose and freckles.

Conrad's Costume 2012

His last haircut grew out like Spock.

So fitting it is that that is his costume this year.

 

 

 

 

Christmas Cards with the Silhouette Cameo and Dies

Poppystamps Grand Madison Arched Window Die

Silhouette Cameo Pine Tree Image

mini crystal elements

 

 

Silhouette Cameo Wreath and Eiffel Tower Image

Savvystamps Happy Holidays Die

Silhouette Cameo Reindeer Image

Clay cardstock

Echo Park Yardsticks Paper (deer)

Martha Stewart Holly paper

American Crafts Shipping Dept red & white paper

Crystal Sticker Elements nose

Stampin'up Tis the Season Stamp

Fresh Ink Red Currant

 

Measure it out on the computer,

I only do about 4 cut images at a time.

 

Pop them out

I used spray adhesive

December Daily 2011

What is up with Scott???!!!!

For the past few months, Scott has started a novel.  It is something he is really compelled to write.  A sort of graphic pulp novel. I don't really know how else to describe, but as a fiction sci-fi fantasy.  He has characters churning inside his head wanting to be let out and goes into his study and does not come out for hours. 

He even has a way of dictating into a microphone and it writes for him too.  Cool.  I have not seen him much in action, I try to give him his space.

Sunday night we arrive back home.  My foot and ankle swollen from a 3.6 mile hike with Laura up to lower Wallace Falls in Gold Bar, WA.  Of course about 1/2 way in it started giving me trouble, but I could not give up.  It was so beautiful out there.

Anyway, we get home and Scott places an icepak on my foot and ankle.  He tells me that he really must call his family.  Yes, I agree, I tell you that almost every weekend.  Why are you telling me this tonight when they are already asleep?

Well... I finally set up the voicemail on the new phone, he tells me.  And they are trying to get ahold of me. (Really??!!)..

 I realize, Eeeeeek I have not done that yet either. I still have no clue if anyone has left me a message.  Damn new technology.  Don't get me wrong, I love the new Iphone, it is just that with the lame phone, I just pushed the 1 key until my messages came up.  Now the NEW phone, it prompts for a password.

- Hey, I never had a password.  So push here to contact AT&T, you push it, it says you must contact your provider directly.  I was by pushing call AT&T?!  What?   (%&(@@$) I gave up.

I love that man to death, but he can get to writing and drawing and lose himself for weeks.

So I do not know where his novel will take him, or how long it will be, will it ever end?  What is happening with the Pontiac?  Answers I just do not know.

 I do know he is happy in there, and he still loves his family (though he is aware how he is not showing it) but he is happy and feeling more fulfilled...and I make sure he eats.


 

Road Trip to Leavenworth, Wa 10/21/12

Deception Falls

Highway 2

Between Leavenworth and Seattle

 

 

I always sneek in a waterfall...or 2 or 3 even.

 

Maypole and Leavenworth walking round the shops 

 

 Fall colors. So brilliant

Tum Water Dam

 

 

Birch trees with glowing yellow leaves

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Oak Tree in the square in the middle of town

Leavenworth, WA

Mom and my Sister Laura at Kristall's Restaurant 

Road Trip to Leavensworth, Wa 10/20/12

 

We travelled the roads around leavensworth all day Saturday.

Beautiful vibrant leaves on fire with their flame of color

dazzled us as we round every country turn

 in the road

 

Fiery Reds with plum

A Stop for Dinner and the 59 er Diner!

 Tum Water Dam

 Wenatchee River 'Swift Water' Picnic Area

Muffin Bundt

I love Blueberry muffins. 

Sometimes I only want half as thay can be very large.

I took  2 Krusteaz mixes 2 for $5 at the neighborhood safeway, made sure to drain the blueberries very well, and made a Blueberry muffin bundt.

I am too lazy time challenged to scoop all the muffins, treat or put in the muffin liners too..

 

 

 

 

Viola, came out of the pan perfectly.

It is wonderful to cut the size you want, and not have all of the crumbly topping get all over the place that the regular large store bought muffins have.

So this is not full scratch, but fast and very good, less messy.

 

 

 

Punk Rock Mohawk !

We sent this over to Conrad's pal for Halloween.

 

Conrad will be Spock this year, and I hope to get a picture up soon of him dressed up.

 

 

Fall Leaves

This weekend for Mom's birthday,

we will be driving to Leavenworth Friday and stay the weekend.

 

We did this last year, however on moms birthday, and the leaves hadn't turned yet.  She was a little disappointed, so this year we are leaving 3 weeks later. 

I am hoping the will still be on the trees!

 

Alot are falling.  So neat.

 

Silhouette Cameo die cut December 25.

 

 

 

Pumpkin Carving 2012

Scotts pumpkin had an eerie shape and then green.

He carved this wicked grin.

 

 

Conrad just loves getting his hands elbow deep in pumpkin guts.

 

Thanks laura fo all of the great gourds!

 

Without a candle, Scott's pumpkin is so creepy and scary

 

I was more thoughtful and selected a smaller one. 

Less muss and fuss.

 

My look, dopey.

 

Ahh pumpin guts.

 

The great pumpkin carver