pumpkin squares with creamcheese icing

This recipe is seriously fail-proof. It is soooo good, perfect for fall, and so simple!

They're always a hit and although they always satisfy my pumpkin cravings...

they definitely keep me coming for more :)

Ingredients:

3 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oil

2 cans (15 ounces each) of pumpkin puree

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of cloves

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix first four ingredients in a medium sized bowl until light and fluffy.
Sift together the dry ingredients separately, then stir into wet mixture.
Spread batter into a 9x13 inch pan that is greased.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Cool before frosting!

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 8 ounce package of cream cheese
1/2 cup of softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups of icing sugar

I promise, you won't regret making these! They're always a favourite and get gobbled up right away :)

p.s. ♥ clara

diy: TARDIS painted pumpkin

I really really love Doctor Who.

If you didn't know that before, I'm sure it's blatantly obvious now.
(Remember the TARDIS shoe diy?  More proof.)

This pumpkin actually has a funny story behind it.  I found it while we were harvesting pumpkins about 6 weeks ago, and I thought to myself: "What a strange looking pumpkin.  It's almost shaped like a rectangle!".  I instantly knew that it had to be mine, and that I was going to paint it like a TARDIS.  So here we are!  I painted it like a TARDIS, and am quite pleased with it.

Materials:

-blue paint

-black paint

-white paint

-paintbrushes (one large, one small)

-white paint pen

-a lot of patience

Directions:

First I washed and dried my pumpkin to ensure no dirt remained.  Then I painted 2 coats of blue paint over the whole thing, letting each coat completely dry before applying the next.  Next, I used a small paintbrush to paint fine black lines along the "corner edges" of the TARDIS, and let it dry.  I used a pencil to then outline the black rectangle at the top of each side (where "Police Public Call Box" will go), as well as the 8 panels on each side. I painted the black boxes in, as well as mixed a dark blue colour to outline each panel.  After everything was dry, I wrote out Police Public Call Box using pencil first, and then used a white paint pen to write over top of it.  I printed out the little sign for the front door, and stuck it on with double sided tape!  

{*Update: I fixed the missing windows :P  so now it looks much better}

Let it dry, and you're good to go!

Happy pumpkin painting!

p.s. ♥ kelsey

diy: dip-dye glitter pumpkins

Oh man, am I ever in love with my latest project!  Dip-dye glitter pumpkins!

I've had this idea in my head for a while, and was so happy that it came out exactly like I wanted.  Kind of rustic/farm-y mixed with glam.

I think these would make such fun and versatile decorations, from adding a bit of sparkle to your home, or they could even be used as part of a center piece for Thanksgiving or a Fall wedding.

Materials:
-pumpkin(s)
-glitter
-modgepodge
-tape
-paintbrush

Instructions:
1)  First make sure your pumpkins are clean and dry.
2)  I chose to only glitter half of my pumpkins, so I used masking tape to tape about halfway down my pumpkin.  Or you could freehand it if you really wanted to.
3)  Paint on modgepodge wherever you want glitter, then sprinkle glitter generously over the modgepodge.
4)  Shake off extra glitter, and touch up any spots you missed.
5)  Once your pumpkins have completely dried, it's a good idea to gently paint on another coat of modge podge!  This will dry clear (I promise...mine did!), and will help keep the glitter from getting on absolutely everything.

I hope you all have a fun and tasty Thanksgiving weekend!  Our farm is going to be absolutely bonkers busy, but I'm thankful that I get to spend it with my family!

p.s. ♥ kelsey

tasty tuesday: pumpkin pancakes

Some days it's just not your day.  And you have three epic recipe fails in a row.  

Let's just say that last Sunday was not my day.  It was a very humbling experience to have so many catastrophes in the kitchen....and looking back on it, I can finally see the humour in it.  Pumpkin pancakes were one of these fails, and I actually made 3 different batches until I was finally happy with the end result!

So, I now present to you....pumpkin pancakes!  These are delicious, cozy, and are absolute perfection on a crisp Fall morning.

I've been trying not to overload you guys too much on pumpkin and apple recipes, but I have stopped resisting...so be prepared!  And let us know in the comments if there are any recipes in particular you'd like to see.

In the meantime, you should probably make these for breakfast tomorrow, or lunch, or supper....or heck, just for a snack!  You can always stick them in the fridge for the next day, or pop them in the freezer for later.

Pumpkin Pancakes
adapted from: allrecipes.com
yields: about 12 pancakes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsp brown sugar (packed)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground allspice
3 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

[optional]: 1 cup chocolate chips (or chopped pecans)

Directions:
1)  In a large bowl, mix together milk, pumpkin, egg, oilk and vinegar.
2)  In a small bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and soda, allspice, cinnamon and salt.
3)  Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just mixed.
4)  Heat a greased frying pan (or griddle) over medium high heat.
5)  Pour batter onto the pan, flipping when bubbles appear on one side.  Brown both sides, and serve hot.*

*I used a 1/4 cup to ladle out the batter, and then used the back of a large spoon to spread out the batter a bit.  

And you don't need to grease your pan/griddle after every pancake.  Do it before you start, and then again every 3 to 4 pancakes (or whenever you notice them start to stick!).  Not greasing your pan will give you nicer, more even colouring on your pancakes!

Also, it's a good idea to cut open the first one or two you do to make sure they're not gummy inside.  If they are, just turn down your burner/griddle slightly.

Oh yes, I topped them with chopped pecans and they were perfection!

Now go!  Make pancakes!

p.s. ♥ kelsey

good morning saturday

good morning, lovely saturday. 

here in Edmonton, fall is definitely here. we've got crisp, fresh mornings, cuddles under warm blankets, hot cups of tea, and pumpkin pancakes with maple syrup. mmm... now that I'm done bragging about my wonderful morning, I think I'm going to go laze around in bed again.

happy fall weekend, dears!

p.s.  ♥ clara

tasty tuesday: pumpkin pie yogurt parfaits!

I am absolutely in love with fall. As a girl who grew up in southern Ontario, I seriously miss the beautiful changing colours of Ontario's countless maple trees. Fall to me meant long hours raking our big backyard with my little brother then jumping off our trampoline into mountainous piles of crunchy, colourful leaves. It also meant pumpkin season. Every year, my parents took us out to the pumpkin patch where we would get to pick a pumpkin (not everyone is as blessed to have grown up on a real farm *cough* kelsey *cough*... and no, I'm not jealous... not at alllll..). I'm getting side-tracked though, so to get to the point, fall = pretty leaves = pumpkins = best season ever. 

Don't ask how that equation works, it just does. And yes, math is not my friend. 

So here's a deliciously simple breakfast or snack for all you fellow pumpkin-loving fall people!

Seriously, it's awesome. Healthy, scrump-ta-la-lump-tious, and so so simple!

Ingredients

1 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
2 tbsp maple syrup

1 cup greek yogurt
1 cup of your favourite granola
1 tbsp hemp

Instructions

1. Mix together the first four ingredients.
2. Start with a base layer of granola.
3. Layer in your greek yogurt and pumpkin mixture.
4. Finish it off with a dollop of greek yogurt and sprinkle more granola and hemp on top.
5. If using mason jars, make extras and stick them in your fridge for an easy breakfast-to-go!

Happy pumpkin picking, dear friends!

p.s.  ♥ clara

tasty tuesdays : pumpkin cookies

om nom nom.

There is seriously nothing better than having pumpkin in fall. pumpkin pie, pumpkin spiced lattes, pumpkin scones, pumpkin soup, and of couse...these absolutely scrumptious pumpkin cookies!

{  I  N  G  R  E  D  I  E  N  T  S  }

2 cups butter
2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 cups pumpkin

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

4 cups flour

Pre-heat oven for 350 degrees. Beat together the first four ingredients. Then add the next four ingredients to the mixture. Put dough in mounds on cookie sheets and bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes, or until the bottoms are slightly golden.  

{  I  C  I  N  G  } 

cook & dissolve : 1/3 cup butter, 1/2 cup milk, 1 cup brown sugar

let cool then add: 2 cups icing sugar & 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
drizzle over cookies & enjoy!

enjoy the smell of your house after baking these.

mmmm, love the smell of fall!

p.s.  ♥ clara