Rebecca Homecca

Since Pumpkin Weather is upon us I decided to take this opportunity to try some new pumpkin recipes. The funny thing is I love pumpkin flavored things, but I do not like pumpkin pie. Go figure.

For dinner tonight we had pumpkin waffles. The first batch did not turn out because I had the ingredients too wet. Which I figured out later was due to the fact that instead of a 1 cup measuring cup I grabbed the 2/3 cup. Which would be less. OOPS! I thought they were pretty good. I am assuming hubs liked them because he ate 3.  I think next time I will use actual pumpkin pie spice. I think I would like it better if it was, well, a little spicier.

Since I had the can of pumpkin open I decided to try pumpkin cookies to take to work. They are in the oven right now, so I can’t tell you how they are yet.

Here’s the waffle recipe: You will need a waffle maker. I have that fancy George with the waffle maker (thanks hubs!)

2 Cups flour

1/4 Cup sugar

1 TBS baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon (I did 3/4 and 1/4 nutmeg. Pumpkin needs nutmeg. It’s a rule)

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 1/2 Cup milk

4 TBS melted butter

1/2 Cup canned pumpkin

Stir together dry ingredients (Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Cinnamon, Salt).

In a separate bowl whisk together wet ingredients (I whisk the eggs first, then add the rest)

Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until combined. Do not over mix.

Cook per your waffle makers instructions.

It is awesome with butter and maple syrup. Hubs wondered how the syrup would be. Let me assure you, it is awesome. And you don’t need much because there is so much flavor in the waffles.

Now for the cookies! Just took the first batch out and noticed they do not spread at all. So how ever you spoon them on the sheet is how they will look.

1 Cup pumpkin

1 Cup butter, softened

1 Cup Sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

3/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon (I have a feeling I would like pp spice better)

1 tsp nutmeg

2 1/4 Cup flour

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Mix wet ingredients together until blended. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl.

Add dry to wet, stir until combined.

Spoon 1 tablespoon size on sheet, bake 13-14 minutes. Cool 1 minute before removing from sheet.

Here’s the fun part-

Cinnamon Glaze

Mix 1 1/2 Cup powdered Sugar with 1 Tbs softened butter and a little milk. Should have a smooth consistency. After combined stir in a pinch or two of cinnamon. Drizzle over cookies.

That sound fabulous. I will let you know!

After all of our adventures on Saturday, Hubs & I still had time to watch a movie. We watched No Country for Old Men. In standard Coen Brothers fashion, it was unusual and surprising.

I am still trying to get it through my head that Javier Bardem who played Sweet Denny from Grey’s Anatomy was a lunatic killer. And not just any lunatic killer, but one of the creepiest ever.

Anyway, we both gave it 4 stars. It was very different. I am not even sure how to describe it.

The premise is simple enough. A man stumbles across a drug deal gone bad and the drug guys are all dead. He then stumbles across the money. And that is where his trouble starts. They send this lunatic killer out to find him. Tommy Lee Jones plays the small town cop who is trying to find him and help him. But not in a typical movie way. He doesn’t really seem try all that hard. It was not your find him at all costs rescue missions that are standard Hollywood fare. The dialogue between him and his deputy was classic and provides a little comic relief, but again, not in a typical way.

And the ending? Also very far from typical. It was kind of a “huh?” ending, you are not quite sure what just all happened there.

I don’t recall there being too many swears, but it was rated R, probably for violence.

Yesterday was a great day. We did some work, had some play, spent time outdoors. It was a long day, but in a good way. We were having fun, but time was not flying so we were able to savor it.

Hubs has pictures of all our adventures over in his gallery.

After we did our work in the morning (hubs outside, me inside), we went and had lunch at our new favorite lunch spot in the neighborhood. Then we went to see a gallery showing dedicated to my art teacher that passed away. In addition to the work he did, friends and students submitted work. It was a beautiful show and had some of his unfinished works up too. It was also great to see his influence on so many people. His work is very different. I have heard it described as very organic and lush.

After that, we went to a Fall Fest that has different artists and artisans selling their work. They are often working on items in their booth, so that adds an interesting element. It is a juried show, so they quality of items is always really good. We did notice however, there was a lot of the same people as last year. That was kind of disappointing. But It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect for walking around the park.

Then we headed down to see an old timey baseball game. Which was really funny. It’s just kind of a goofy thing. A bunch of guys in old outfits playing ball. But they were arguing about crowding the plate and bad calls by the ump. After the game ended, they were breaking it down, like it was for serious. We did not stay long there because it was hot and we did not bring any chairs.

Oh, the other great thing about all three adventures was that they were all free. So we were able to have some fun times without shelling out a bunch of cash (except for lunch). We started for home and not quite on purpose took the scenic route. There was the most beautiful farm land.

Before finally heading home, we thought we should cool off with some ice cream. What could be better on a nice warm fall day?

One of my favorite things about my job is that I get to hang out with my friend Em all day. And some days we actually get some work done.

The other day everyone in the office was a little punchy anyway, and we got ourselves laughing so hard I actually had to take a moment. I am sure she won’t mind me telling the story that caused all the laughing. However, as previously mentioned, we were a little punchy, so I apologize in advance if it doesn’t sound as funny to you.

We have a lady that comes in once a week to take care of our plants.

I can tell you right now, Em is laughing just reading that line.

Anyway, this lady, she waters the plants and cuts the dead stuff off. Seems like a nice gig doesn’t it?

We have these really big palm tree looking things in our lobby that we call the jungle. Em noticed they were less jungley (totally a word) and plant lady was up front working on them. The following conversation occurs:

Em: Looks like they got a hair cut.

Plant Lady: Yeah, about a week ago. Just the bangs though.

This is where I started laughing because I thought plant lady was making a funny. But no, there’s more.

After an awkward pause, where Em is looking at the plant lady head cocked confused:

Plant Lady: Wait, were you talking about me?

I am supposed to be eating more spinach and beets, so says my chiropractor. Somehow it is supposed to help with regulating my blood sugar, which is supposed to help with my head aches.

The beets, they are not happening. I do like spinach in salads, but I haven’t been feeling salads lately.

I was reading an article about healthy lunch ideas (as I am trying to bring my lunch everyday to save calories and money) and one of the recommendations was a Spinach & Mushroom Fritatta. A Fritatta is like a quiche without the yummy crust.

So why not make a quiche since the crust is so yummy? Too many calories. I won’t miss it…or so I tell myself.

You are supposed to make it on Sunday and eat it all week. That might be a bit of a stretch. But Here’s the recipe:

I cut the ingredients down some because I only had 3 eggs. Also, I did not actually measure anything.

4 Eggs

1 (10 oz) pkg frozen spinach thawed and drained

1 cup ricotta cheese

3/4 cup grated parmesean

3/4 cup portobello mushrooms (I used white button)

1/2 cup finely chopped green onion

1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

Whisk eggs, then stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into a greased 9 inch pie plate

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes (until brown on edges) -mine took 35 minutes.

Cool for 20 minutes before serving. Or in my case until you put it in the fridge and re-heat later.

I also cut up some melon to have with it. I am hoping the protein from the eggs and all the good spinach vitamins will get me through the afternoon.

I think I cut out too much onion and salt when down sizing the recipe, so mine tasted a little bland. I also thought that some fresh basil vs. dried seasoning would be better. You could certainly mix the veggies up to suit whatever you like. Some red peppers would be good.

Today was my 2nd day and I was not feeling well in the belly. I tried to make myself eat it anyway, and that was not the best idea. I find if my belly is feeling a little hookie, dairy and eggs kind of make it worse. Luckily my BFF Em came to the rescue and got me some soup and a whole wheat roll, which was much more appropriate.

I may make it again, but an even smaller portion. I think 2 or 3 days is plenty for this dish for lunch. Besides, Soup season is coming and that I can eat everyday!

Yesterday we headed up north to meet the new baby. Grandpa has already given him the nickname Wild Bill. I think that might the fastest nickname assignment in history.

He is super cute with lots of dark hair and he likes to suck on his fingers. I held him for quite some time while he slept. He’s a solid little dude for being just new. He looks around a lot to see whose talking.

I miss him already! It will probably be Thanksgiving before we get up there again, and by that time he’ll be totally different.

We also stopped by to visit UT & AJ. Well, actually we heard there might be another baby there that we could pinch (no offense to UT & AJ, but they just look at you weird if you try and pinch them). Baby girl & her brother already went home though.

Then we headed down to Grandpa and Grandma’s house to see how Grandpa was doing after his pacemaker surgeries. It took four of to decipher the nurse’s instructions. I knew all those word puzzles I do would come in handy one day.

Sw-scribbles-ing

Hmmmm… I knew it was a symptom. Actually the ing part was kind of hard to distinguish, but there were other ing words, so I sort of assumed that part. Hmmmm…

Swelling! I yelled out like I’m on a game show.

I totally won the bonus round.

I have been seeing a lot of Halloween things around lately. The fact that it is like a month and half away is not my issue today. Which is not to say I don’t have issue with that fact. Because I do.

It’s the fact that I just realized that we will not have trick-or-treaters now that we have moved out to the woods.

I really liked the trick-or-treaters. Really, they were just treaters, nobody tricked. It was just all good fun. I did not even get irritated when kids who were way too old or moms with tiny babies would show up. I only get irritated if you (or your baby) are not in costume. Even then, it is only mildly irritated.

I LOVE little kids in costumes. It’s funny. I helped my BFF Em get a Pooh costume for her lil’ miss and it has a fat Pooh belly. Hysterical.

One year we had the laptop in the window playing a monster face singing monster mash. The treaters, they were mesmerized.

I’ve heard of some churches that do Trunk N Treat, but ours does not. So, no treats at house this year I guess!

I need some new school clothes for colder weather. Lucky for me, Coldwater Creek is having a sale on pants this week. I have gotten pants there before and I like them because they seem to be pretty good quality. Also, they have different fits that actually fit people, not mannequins.

Also, I fit into a smaller size in their pants. I know it’s just a number, but if it makes me fell a little better, I’m going with it.

I actually don’t like pants. I prefer skirts. But because I wear the same skirts year round (with the addition of tights in winter) they get worn out quicker. So, I am going to give pants another try.

As an added bonus, they emailed me a coupon for additional money off. So it’s a sale on top of a sale. It really does not get any better than that.

So anyway, I went tonight in search of pants. Even though they have good fits and good sizes, it still took a while. I had forgotten about the size thing, so the first three pair I tried on were too big.

Which totally broke my heart, as you can imagine.

So, I went out and got 3 more pair in my actual size. I found 2 styles that I liked, so then it was just a matter of color. Altogether, I tried on probably a dozen pair of pants, some more than once.

I should point out that all of them have to be hemmed because they are way too long, as all pants are…sigh. To tall for petite, to short for regular.

I was there for about two hours dealing with these pants. Finally, narrowed it to two, and went to check out.

They lady had obviously noticed that I had spent a lot of time with a lot of different pants. She said “Oh good! You found some pants!”

I said “I was bound and determined. I needed them, they were on sale, it was gong to happen today. End of story.”

She says “Sometimes, you have to take a tough attitude with pants.”

how true.

The UPS man comes in to work today and hears the music playing on our over head speakers. The following conversation ensued.

UPS MAN: Hmm. Journey, you don’t hear that everyday.

ME: Oh I do! I have their greatest hits in my cd changer.

(pause)

UPS MAN: Huh.

I imagine him thinking to him self “Now THAT you don’t hear everyday.”

I went for a walk down our road tonight after dinner. Hubs says it is .8 miles to the corner, so round trip is 1.6 miles. We have some steep hills that get your heart rate up quick.

When we bought this house I stopped working out because we were working 24-7. Then when we moved out here, I canceled my gym membership altogether because it was too far away.

So basically, other than working on the house, I have not worked out since before spring.

It is beginning to take a toll. My energy has been really low. Also, my back bothers me a lot more when I don’t exercise. Seems strange, I know. But sitting or standing aggravates it. Moving helps. I think it lubricates the joints or something.

It felt good to get moving tonight. Also, it is so peaceful out here. I liked the high energy of working out in a gym(and it did make me work harder), but it was really relaxing to be walking to the sounds of the birds instead of Justin Timberlake.