Pumpkin Chocolate Cookies in the Middle of the Night!!!

I woke up this morning at 12:30am and couldn't get back to sleep. What an annoying occurrence. So while I was counting sheep backwards, trying to roll my eyes back into my head, and pleading to get some sleep. I thought of ideas that would use the pumpkin I had in the fridge. I started looking online for different ideas. There are so many fabulous recipes, in fact I found a new one that I want to do next time I make a roast. I had to settle on an old time favourite, well old time since I have moved to America. Choice was made, all the ingredients were put out on the counter and I tried to get back to sleep.

This morning I got up and made the wonderful pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Amazingly yum if I do say so myself. Also so easy. I had it made and cooked in 20 minutes and a dishwasher unloaded and loaded too. I took a bunch to work for Rex and shared with a few other people too.

For those in the pumpkin mood here is the recipe. 1 packets of spice cake mix, 1 small tin of pumpkin, chocolate chips. Mix all together and then bake for 13 minutes in a 350F oven. So good and so quick. If you don't have spice cake mix you can use regular cake mix and then add fabulous pumpkin spices. Good luck with the cooking.

The Soon to be World Famous - Candice's Pumpkin Roll

Tonight was the annual Pumpkin night at Suzanne and Kim's house. I wanted to try something that I had not created before, so the crazy online search for recipes began. I found trifle, cookies, and so many other recipes it was hard to decide. I opted for a pumpkin roll. For those Aussies, this is a Swiss roll, but with a pumpkin based cake and a cream cheese icing filling. It took me total about 20 minutes to make this divine dish. I didn't take a photo, but I am sure that I will make it before the end of the month again :)

It was delish.... So if you are interested I am putting the recipe up. Seriously this was one of the easiest and yummiest desserts I have made in a long time. I found it on allrecipes.com

When I bought it to Suzanne's, Daryl asked me if this was my world famous pumpkin roll? After I tasted it, I decided that it would become a tradition and world famous too.

Enjoy xx

Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll
Prep Time: 20 Min
Cook Time: 15 Min
Ready In: 55 Min
Original Recipe Yield 10 servings

Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch jelly roll pan or cookie sheet.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir in pumpkin puree, eggs, and lemon juice. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Spread the mixture evenly.
3. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 minutes.
4. Lay a damp linen towel on the counter, sprinkle it with confectioner's sugar, and turn the cake onto the towel. Carefully roll the towel up (lengthwise) with the cake in it. Place the cake-in-towel on a cooling rack and let it cool for 20 minutes.
5. Make the icing: In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and sugar with a wooden spoon or electric mixer.
6. When the cake has cooled 20 minutes, unroll it and spread icing onto it. Immediately re-roll (not in the towel this time), and wrap it with plastic wrap. Keep the cake refrigerated or freeze it for up to 2 weeks in aluminum foil. Cut the cake in slices just before serving.
Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 316 | Total Fat: 14.1g | Cholesterol: 100mg

The Laser Saga continues...

"Candice what is that lady talking about?" Isis asked me this morning. I proceeded to tell him about how Mummy and Candice were talking to the lady about getting some laser hair removal done. "You mean they are going to shot you with a hand laser all over?"
Isis is a very visual child and was extremely excited by this prospect. After all was said and done I am getting my arms lasered and my Mo... I don't have much of a mo, but seriously, I am so excited about them arms. Finally!!

What real Americans are like!!

What a place the state fair can be!! Yes I went there this weekend, and I was able to take Uncle Neil and Auntie Martha with me. There were people eating whole turkey legs, chocolate dipped bacon, corn dogs, funnel cakes, funeral arrangements, animals, arts & crafts, pig racing, auctioning animals, Latino culture fest, and so much more that words can not describe. So in order to make it more memorable, I am going to do a picture post. Enjoy the slide show of this wonderful tribute to American culture. Just to help with the visuals, Uncle Neil ran up to several of these people and asked if we could take photos, just so we could have picture evidence. He also grabbed my arm at one point and said this is how he pictured America. So glad they both could experience this =)

Why all the meetings??

This week has been a week of meetings...
Sometimes I feel like school is like church... as many meetings as we can possibly call. I have learned about diabetes, Praxis tests, observations, collaboration, and a million other things. I am sitting at home and wondering where this week went. Then I realise that most of it was spent in meetings. I have many more to come, which gives me a lot to be looking forward to. On this flip side I have been having a great week of teaching at school. The kids have been great and we have been working hard to get some great things happening. I also got a great order of books and will be getting some more in a week. I love books and they make me happy. I also have a fab night planned tomorrow for Marj's birthday. Can not wait!

Cooking Bearnaise Sauce

This afternoon I went and spent some more time with Nicky and the twins. I love being there. It's great to catch up with Nicky and get some baby loving. The boys were cute today. While we were there, Nicky and I were talking about cooking and what we have been cooking. So I decided to cook again. I cooked yummy chicken, friend onions, and friend potatoes. I put the onions on top of the chicken, topped with avocado, and then a yummy Bearnaise sauce. I have to say it was rather amazing. The sauce has a nice lemon tang to it. I don't have an exact recipe, but it goes something like this. Egg Yolks, water, lemon juice, butter, salt, and pepper. Put all the ingredients in a double boiler, except for the butter. Stir with a whisk and then add the butter slowly until the sauce thickens. Enjoy!

The Summer of 2010

This has been an eventful Summer for me... Where do you start with what happened??

So this has possibly been the fastest summer of my life, even while being the slowest!! I thought I might do a little photo entry to show what I have been up to!

Event #1 ~ Mum was here for 3 months. She was a heaven sent. We had lots of fun hanging around at home, Logan, Arizona, and Nevada. Mum came out just as school was finishing up for me. The kids loved meeting her and enjoyed having Mrs. Bailey signing all of their year books =) Half of the kids coming around had no idea who she was, but none the less loved it. Mum also helped me through the Ben break up. She made sure that I was alright. It was hard (and I am not going to post all the gory details), but I am still happy for the amazing time I had together with Ben.



Event #2 ~ I finished my first full year of teaching school!! YAY! I loved this year and can't believe how much I have learned and am excited for this new year and all the adventures that will come with only having a class of 24.

Event #3 ~ Logan for Barfuss Memorial Day games! We hung out with all the Barfuss family for a fun day. The Capareda's drove all night to make it there. Auntie Kay had broken her arm earlier in the week and just got out of surgery, but she was not to be deterred from spending time with family and games ;) Mum started a bean bag fight, and we even saw her running... It was an amazing sight to see.





















Event #4 ~ Mum and I went on a nice 2 week road trip. We started it off with a great trip to the Grand Canyon. Even though we both had been there before, it was still so amazing and breath taking to see it all. We spent a week with the Capareda's in Phoenix. We were able to play a bunch of games, eat some great food, and catch up with friends. I went to dinner with a bunch of the old gang and went to visit an old friend Chad. He had a big night of games and dinner, which was a blast. Mum and I also spent 5 hours floating down the Salt River in Phoenix. It was a hot, fun day. We went with my friend Shane and his wife and friends. I think Mum may have moved in order to get in and out of the tube, but she left Shane and I do the rest. She floated down attached to us and enjoyed the day. Even though we had plenty of suncream on, I still managed to get a nice burn on both my legs.

Event #5 ~ After Phoenix, we went to Vegas. We had a 5 days by the pool. When I say 5 days by the pool, it was literally that. Mum never left the resort, and I left to get some more books and some groceries. It was possibly the most amazing and relaxing fun week of my life. The view was amazing in a desert, and the tan was even better.

Event #6 ~ My cousin Mel married by best mates brother, Todd. It was a beautiful day and ceremony. A lot of the family was there and towards the end of the summer they had a lovely reception before they headed out to Australia.

Event #7 ~ Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur Museum. Jasmine, Isis, Phoenix, Mum, and I went and learned a lot about dinosaurs. Mum and I feel asleep in the 3D movie, obviously it was very exciting. Isis switched into high gear teasing. When we saw this huge shark, he leans over to Phoenix and says "That is going to eat you!" Can't imagine where he would learn to do something like that.

That was a brief run down of the summer for me. I loved having Mum here and spending lots of time with Jasmine and the family up in Logan. After Mum left I caught up with lots of friends that I had not seen much over the summer. All in all a pretty good summer. Hope all is well for you.

Love Candice xx