Pumpkin

photo from http://mixtomatch.blogspot.com

Did you know you can use a real pumpkin to make pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies?  Yes, I did too but I never knew exactly how you use it.  I have always used the canned stuff to make my baked pumpkin goods.  I never knew how to get it from fresh form to what I get from a can.

It actually couldn't be simpler.  I asked a friend and she told me.  I am posting this for others who never knew too.

Take the pumpkin (I have small ones, I don't know if the large jack-o-lantern size would work or not) wash the dirt off the outside and cut it in half, top to bottom.  Scoop out all the seeds and stringy stuff.  Then place them cut side down on a cookie sheet.  Pour some water on the cookie sheet so the pumpkins don't dry out while cooking.  Place in the oven at 350 degrees for about an hour until you can stick your knife easily in and out of the pumpkin flesh.  Let cool and scoop out the insides.  Then just use that as you would regular canned pumpkin.  See.  Easy Peasy!

I have done four pumpkins and have a TON of pumpkin flesh for breads and pies later.  I put mine in Ziploc bags and stuck it in the freezer for later.

I did make some yummy pumpkin bread using this recipe here.

http://blog.streaminggourmet.com/2009/10/23/ultimate-pumpkin-bread/

30 Days of Gratitude, Day 8

Today I am thankful for my friends.  They are the ones who support me, tease me, help me, listen to me, and help make me that best that I can be.  My closest friends are always there for me and I so appreciate them.  I know that I can call on them for anything and they will come quickly to my aid.  I so appreciate their candor when they think I am off on a tangent or when I am not being quite the best person that I can be.  I appreciate their thoughtfulness when I need a touching word or hug.  I appreciate their laughter and their ability to make me laugh, sometimes even when I don't want to laugh. I learn from them and love them to death!  You know me the best and you know how to best make me, well me!

(oh, I am going to cry  now.  Didn't see that coming.  I think I need to make some phone calls and let them know how much I love them.)

30 Days of Gratitude, Day 7

Today I am thankful that I was born in a country where I have my freedoms.  Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, petition, and press.  I don't always exercise my freedoms as some but through this blog I exercise quite a bit of those freedoms.  I am grateful that I was able to vote in our national, state and local elections and that my vote is counted.

My convictions are mine and only mine.  I can't impose my convictions on another as I know that others can not impose their's on me.

I teach my kids respect for others' opinions and convictions.  I teach them through my words and my actions.  We discuss (sometimes with passion) how their opinions are different but we never attack them as a person. This past election cycle has brought out so much hate.  It is difficult to see those who we will elect to lead us act so poorly sometimes.

I am thankful that I have my freedoms and that they are protected in our Constitution.

By the way, did you know that the first official nationally declared Thanksgiving Day was declared by George Washington to give thanks to our Constitution?  Yup!  So it is only fitting that in this month of recollection of gratitude I include our Constitution and our freedoms it protects for us.

Have a great day!

Are these elections making you nervous?

Are they exciting to you?  Nerve-wracking? Not interested in them?

I vote at every opportunity.  It is my right to vote and it is a privilege that I don't take lightly.  I vote in the rain, cold, snow, and heat.  I vote EVERY. SINGLE. TIME!  It is important to me not only as a woman but as a citizen.  It is our civic duty to vote.

So tonight I sit and watch the results come in and this election like the other presidential elections is exciting and also nerve-wracking.  I sit with excitement and watch the national broadcasts of the results and watch them fill in the map with the red and blue states.  I discuss with others about the electoral college and if we should get rid of that system or keep it. I want my candidate to win.  And it is fun for me to watch and wait.

So do you watch the results all evening?  Is it fun for you?  Do you care?

30 Days of Gratitude. Day 6.

Today I am thankful for the ability to stay home with my kids.  This has been a wonderful experience and one I will cherish for the rest of my life.  Each day is filled with routine things and new experiences.  I see them blossom right in front of my eyes.  Homeschooling was the best decision we could have ever made.

30 Days of Gratitude. Day 5

Today I am thankful for my Mom and Dad.  My mom continues to support me and my family in our endeavors even though she may not agree.  She is my trusted confident and she is my best friend.

I miss my dad so much.  He passed away 6 years ago but I still miss him every day.  He helped to teach me how to cook, build things, explore new ideas, and play Backgammon.  From him I get my sense of adventure.

I am so grateful to both of them for all they did for me and raising me right.

November. 30 Days of Gratitude.

Today is November 4th, so I am a bit behind on this, but I thought I would start my 30 days of Gratitude.

Sometimes in our everyday life we tend to forget the things that make us happy; things for which we are grateful.  This month so many are posting what they are grateful for each day.  I thought I would post mine here.  Each day I will post one thing I am grateful for.

Here are my first four, and they are BIGGIES!

1.  I am grateful for our Lord.  He watches over me and my family and guides us to a life better than we imagined.  Of all the things, I am MOST grateful for God.

2. I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful, loving husband.  He serves our family in more ways than I can list.  He loves us so much and is willing to move mountains to make us happy.  He works hard every single day and never complains so that we can have the things we need.

3.  I am so grateful for my children, I learn from them every day.  They are so helpful, curious, generous, and fun to be around.

4.  I am so grateful that we have found a way to homeschool our children.  This has been the most amazing experience.  Better than I could have ever imagined.

Okay, there are my first four.  What are you grateful for?