Pumpkin Pie Cake

Sorry that this is another recipe post. I haven't got pictures of Owen in his way cute Squirt sea turtle (from Finding Nemo) costume. He just won't cooperate for Momma! Hopefully Daddy can help for a second. Owen is a total daddy's boy at this stage. Anyway, on to the recipe.

This recipe is super special to me because it is the only recipe I have from my mom. So, to say the least, it is always a part of our fall celebrations.

Pumpkin Pie Cake
From: Jaylene Clinger Olsen

Ingredients

• 1 - 29 oz can pumpkin
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 tsp pumpkin pie spice (can substitute 2 tsp nutmeg and 2 tsp cinnamon)
• 1 1/2 sticks butter
• 1 - 12 ox can evaporated milk
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease 9x13 inch pan. Combine pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture. Melt butter and drizzle over cake mix. Sprinkle walnuts on top. Bake 60 minutes or until done.

Dinner in a Pumpkin Recipe

Barry's sister Amanda requested this recipe after my post about it. Melissa so graciously gave me a copy to share but I figured more than just Amanda would enjoy this recipe. It was oh so good.

Dinner in a Pumpkin
By: Ruth Ann Harrison
From: Melissa Thornock

Ingredients

• 1 small to medium pumpkin
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 (4oz) can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 - 2 lbs. ground beef
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 (8oz) can sliced water chestnuts, drained

Instructions

Cut off top of pumpkin and thoroughly clean out seeds and pulp.
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, saute onions in oil until tender. Add meat and brown.

Drain drippings from skillet. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms and soup. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cooked rice and water chestnuts. Spoon mixture into the cleaned pumpkin shell. Replace pumpkin top and place entire pumpkin, with filling, on a baking sheet. Bake 1 hour or until inside meat of the pumpkin is tender. Put pumpkin on a plate. Remove pumpkin lid and serve meat. For your vegetable, scoop out cooked pumpkin and serve.

Mixed Feelings

Yesterday definitely had it's ups and downs. I took Owen to get his 18 month pictures and he was absolutely awful. I was embarrassed. He wouldn't let go of me and throwing little tantrums. He wouldn't stand and kept head butting me backwards. I think I should have scheduled it in the morning on a day I had off. He had just woken up so he was cranky and hungry but wouldn't eat. Thank heavens we got one really cute one! Next time I'll know to do it in the morning.

Luckily my day turned around. We had Melissa, Jared, and Harry over for dinner and pumpkin decorating. They brought a casserole dinner baked in a pumpkin. It had ground beef, rice, water chest nuts, mushrooms, and onions. Then Barry helped Owen carve a pumpkin while Melissa, Jared, and Harry painted some. We had apple pie I made topped with ice cream too. We sure had a fun time together.

Husband Tag

1. Where did you meet? Initially online, but soon after on a blind date to what is now the Firehouse Grill restaurant.
2. How long did you date before you got married? 8 Months
3. How long have you been married? 5 Years
4. What is your favorite feature of his? His irresistible smile and blue, blue eyes
5. What is your favorite quality of his? His sense of humor. 
6. Does he have a nickname for you? Oh, the usual terms of endearment (honey, dear, etc)
7. What is his favorite color? He doesn't really have a favorite. Any masculine color.
8. What is his favorite food? Rib-eye steak and ribs
9. What is his favorite sport? He likes most sports. I say football, golf, and race cars are tied for first.
10. When and where was your first kiss? Our first trip to Utah together at his aunt's house.
11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Oh, the usual. Go out to eat and the movies. We do like going for drives.
12. Do you have any children? Owen, 18 months
13. Does he have a hidden talent? Well, like most men, the ability to put up with his wife. He's a great cook too.
14. How old is he? 32
15. Who said "I love you" first?  I really don't know. I might have said it first when I was put under to remove my wisdom teeth. He was in the room and apparently I said some funny things while I was going under. Ha-ha. I truly knew he loved me because he was right by my side through the whole wisdom teeth experience. I didn't have my mother to take care of me and he did even though we were just dating.
16. What is his favorite type of music? He likes country and Frank Sinatra era music. He likes Christina Agulia a bit too much. :0)
17. What do you admire most about him? He works so hard for our family and even does so much for others without a complaint.  He is also a wonderful daddy!

I tag Melissa, Allison, JaNan, Holly Schwendiman, Holly Davis, and Sabra.

Apple Pie...Yum

I am so thankful for the Relief Society. Today I wasn't having the best day because I didn't feel well. I was dizzy, had a headache (in part due to the glare from my monitor at work), and my tummy hurt. When Barry finally got home I took a quick nap before the Cooking Enrichment Group tonight. I didn't know if I would make it. They were learning to make pies. Barry loves pie so I had signed up Sunday. Plus he found out they had a cooking group and so he basically said I have to start going. He's always saying he is going to send me somewhere to learn to cook. Anyway, I had a really fun time with the ladies and it turned my day around.

I made an apple pie using just a canned filling. As you can see from the result it turned out really well. I'll bake it tomorrow. The recipe for the crust is super easy.

Pie Crust (1 Crust)
1 1/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
2 Tablespoons cold water

Pie Crust (2 Crusts)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil
3 Tablespoons cold water

Bake 10 minutes @ 425 F if pie has one crust. Bake 45 minutes or more @ 375 F if pie with two crusts (top and bottom).

Sift flour and salt. Mix in oil. Add water and mix into ball. If too dry add a little oil.

Fun with Decorating

This past weekend Barry, Owen, and I went down to Utah. We went down with Barry's parents. We needed to pickup Grandma's early birthday present (a piano) and haul other stuff for Barry's cousin.

It was a nice little getaway. As always, we had a fun time visiting Barry's sister Amanda. Owen loved playing with his cousins Noah and Eloise. We also had a chance to shop. I've been in the decorating mood so I begged Barry to take me to Tai Pan Trading. It's like a Pier 1 Imports but much, much cheaper and it has fun Christmas and other holiday decor items. I picked up some berry garland and Barry found a metal latern and milk can that he liked. We wanted to finish our decorating job of our nook in our living room.

I also finally got the rest of my Halloween decorations. I've really enjoyed these last decorating projects for our home. I'm so thankful to have our own home with places to decorate!

My Super Monday

Monday I invited Melissa over to help with some craft projects. It was lots of fun! We sanded, painted, and laid vinyl. Harrison was a great help with Owen. Here is what we got done. Thanks Melissa!