Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Swirl Bread (recipe) Normally, I avoid doctors' offices like the plague. I have this fear of walking out with more symptoms than I came in with. But a few years ago, I was feeling really crummy so I finally headed to urgent care. It wasn't half bad! In fact, I was pretty pleased with the whole arrangement. Who knew urgent care could be the place to be on a Monday night?! The nurses apologized for the wait and asked if I needed anything. The waiting room was empty and quiet and stocked with current magazines. What is this, a medical spa?! I thought of my husband at home, putting four kids to bed and sank deeper into the Keep Reading
How to make pumpkin puree
I'm pretty sure I could live in a perpetual season of Autumn and be perfectly content. The crisp days and rainy nights, the bright colors and cozy flavors. I am crazy about all of it. While driving home yesterday, I stopped abruptly on the side of the road twice in the span of ten minutes. Each time, my five year-old daughter hollered from the backseat, "Did you forget something, Mama?" Why yes, I did. I forgot about that beautiful row of bright red trees and that farm stand that has perfect pumpkins for two bucks each. We turned the car around and drove back for a phone full of pictures and a trunk full of pumpkins. My kids accept this as normal Keep Reading
Pumpkin Spice Pancakes recipe
Pumpkin Spice Pancakes I want to talk about pancakes. Pumpkin Spice Pancakes, to be exact. This recipe is one of my family's absolute favorite fall breakfasts. I've made them three times in this past week alone. No joke. These pancakes are sugar and spice and everything nice. Add a side of scrambled eggs or bacon strips and you have a great start to a lazy fall morning or a busy fall day. Don't care for pumpkin in your pancakes? Make this recipe for the BEST basic pancakes on the planet. I like them topped with the standard butter and maple syrup, my kids prefer a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar, and my husband adds a dollop of homemade Keep Reading
Pumpkin Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe)
Pumpkin Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting Last week my 5-year old son announced we should make a pumpkin cake. Not one to argue about such things, I started looking at recipes. A bunch of them were 2 or 3 layer jobs or had ingredient lists a mile long. Way more involved than I was interested in tackling on a Tuesday afternoon. Then I found this recipe from Bon Appetit and knew it was the perfect fit. Basic ingredients, simple steps, and we were eating cake about an hour after we started. Now that's my idea of a good time. The cake is dense without being heavy and moist without being greasy (So many pumpkin recipes start with 1 cup of Keep Reading
How to roast pumpkin seeds
How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds The other night, a friend casually asked me where I had bought pumpkins this year. Um... pumpkins? I don't have any pumpkins. I saw some outside the grocery store last week and seriously considered piling my four children on them and taking pictures, like some weird pumpkin patch outing gone wrong. The thought of being blocked from Instagram was the only thing that kept my grocery cart on the straight and narrow. What is wrong with me?! I love everything about fall. But other than eating a piece of pumpkin pie, I barely even understand it's already October. Is it having toddlers? Coronavirus? Do I just need to buy a new Keep Reading
Pumpkin spice scones (Starbucks Copycat)
Pumpkin Spice Scones (Starbucks Copycat) Back in the old days, when my husband and I were DINKS (Dual Income No Kids, if you didn't know the lingo), Starbucks was part of my regular work routine. Tall latte, pumpkin scone. I'd fork over four bucks + change and happily be on my way. The old days had some serious perks. These days, my work uniform involves yoga pants (workout optional) and hooded sweatshirts (kid stains probable). Any coffee shop that doesn't have a drive-thru option is dead to me. Now I can make a good cup of coffee without setting foot outside my house. But man, it was hard to quit those pumpkin scones (which is unfortunate, as Keep Reading
Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe)
I had never even heard of pumpkin cookies until a few years ago. I was at a friend's house, when she casually asked if I wanted to try some cookies she had just made. Wait, pumpkin cookies? That's seriously a thing? Where have I been? After eating a socially unacceptable amount, I was in love. The following week another friend brought a big platter of frosted pumpkin cookies to our mom's group. They were equally delicious. Suddenly, I was feeling like everyone was in on this great secret but me. Good thing she brought me the recipe the following week. Now I'm in the club! If you haven't joined yet, this is your chance. Trust me, these cookies are Keep Reading