Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts

10/6/11

Ready for Fall Baking!

As a person who loves to cook, (and eat), Fall is one of my favorite times of year! This is due, in part, to the delicious array of autumn recipes that seem to arrive with the passing of the season. Apple Crisp, Baked Squash, Cranberry Sauce, and Pumpkin Pie... I am so ready for Fall baking!

One of my all-time favorite recipes was first published in the Chicago Tribune in 2007. (See the original post here.) The recipe is titled Mimi's Pumpkin Cookies, and was passed down from a Grandmother to a Granddaughter, who was the person who shared this with Tribune readers 4 years ago.

These cookies are fantastic! Easy to make and fairly easy on the budget, these light and fluffy delights are now a commonly requested treat in my home during the months of October and November. Watch for Pumpkin Puree, (Pumpkin Pie Filling), to go on sale at your favorite store. I always snap up an armful of cans. You just never know when you're gonna need to satisfy that sweet tooth... and there's so many tempting creations!

Not wanting the recipe to disappear in the archives, I thought I'd re-post it here, to share with all of you.  Are you ready for Fall baking? Enjoy! Happy Fall!

By the way, after they're baked, and you're scarfing them down with reckless abandon, don't forget to pour yourself a nice, hot cup of coffee, and stop by OnlineAuction.com to relax a bit, while browsing further treasures at FleaPirates Plunder!

Mimi's Pumpkin Cookies
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes
Yield: 3 dozen

For cookies:
1 cup each: granulated sugar, vegetable shortening, pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon each: baking soda, baking powder, vanilla , cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

For icing:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter, milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup confectioner's sugar

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl; stir in the vanilla and cinnamon. Set aside.
2. Beat sugar and shortening with a mixer on medium speed until creamy; add the pumpkin puree and the egg. Beat until just mixed together; reduce mixer speed to low. Add 1/4 cup of the flour mixture, beating until combined. Repeat with remaining mixture, beating after each addition.
3. Drop by generous teaspoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake until barely brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.
4. For icing, combine the brown sugar, butter, milk and vanilla in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat on High (100 percent power) until brown sugar melts, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from microwave. Stir in confectioner's sugar until icing is smooth, adding a bit more milk if needed to desired consistency. Spoon icing over each cookie.

Nutrition information per serving:
134 calories, 44% of calories from fat, 6 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 8 mg cholesterol, 18 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein, 82 mg sodium, 0 g fiber

10/1/10

Here Come The Seasons!

 Can you believe it is October 1st already? The annual decorating and celebrating has gotten into full swing at my house... even our trees are finally starting to cooperate and are slowly evolving into beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow! It's one of my favorite times of year. As autumn leaves tumble to the ground, we plunge into Fall. Here come The Seasons!

The local brick-and-mortar businesses are overflowing with festive fall treats and sparkly autumn trimmings, along with lavish amounts of candy that you know we'll all buy, in anticipation of trick or treaters to come. Are you ready?

Online Sellers can get into the spirit, as well! There is already a thread in the OnlineAuction.com Forum, dedicated to showcasing our members' Fall finery. And did you hear about the latest contest at OLA? It's a store decorating contest! Announced only one day ago, and accepting entries until October 30th, this contest has already captured the attention of 6 stores, and will certainly tempt others to join in the merriment.

Start your season off right, by visiting the houses of these stylish sellers!
Jaswood 2
DraggonTagger
Fleapirates
FleasField
Aesthetics48
DebsVarietyShop

Which one gets your vote?
(No, you don't have to pick mine... hehe! They're all grand!)


All of the fine sellers at OnlineAuction.com are opening their doors to Holiday and Halloween sales! You'll find hundreds of wickedly great deals, on a variety of seasonal merchandise, using phrases like Halloween, Fall, Autumn, Witch, Ghost, and Costume in the search box at OLA. Scary decorations, spooky frills, cute accessories, and downright beautiful accents await you. To entice you, here are a couple auctions that I believe are worth sharing...



This Halloween Candle House with Ghosts, Skeleton and Mummy is featured at my house, (Fleapirates), for a starting bid of only $4.99! Set the mood for Halloween Haunting with a single tealight candle!






This Infant Toddler Pumpkin Hat Stocking Cap Fall Winter Baby is the latest handmade offering from my friend DraggonTagger! While this one is infant sized, look for larger sizes in her store, and be sure to check for other designs, like strawberries and blueberries! Prices start at only $4.



A Sinister Skull With Lantern Halloween is one of my favorite offers from YawningDawg! Attractively priced at $26.95, this is sure to add just the right spirit this Halloween season!







Yes, we've got enchanting jewelry, too! This Vintage Jewelry Charm GHOST Goldtone Halloween can be found at BlueHanahCottage! At only .99 cents, how can you resist?








Here come The Seasons! Happy Fall ~ Happy Halloween ~ Happy Hunting, from all of us at OLA! We hope you'll keep your eye on us, on these treasures, and on all the bargains at OLA, this season and beyond!