October, 2011 |

Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on October 28, 2011 by admin

Yum! I don’t bake often, and I admit I am really not that good at it. I prefer cooking to baking, probably because baking requires more precision which is not my natural way.

But this recipe is SO good, and the perfect cookie to enjoy on a brisk fall day. I got this recipe out of my (former) neighborhood cookbook, from my good friend Debi.

I distinctly remember about a year ago (probably the last time I baked cookies) her son was at my house and the boys were enjoying whatever cookie I had just made. Her son informed me my freshly baked cookie was “good” but “not as good as his mom’s pumpkin white chocolate chip cookies”. I didn’t forget that, he definitely raised the bar–or at least piqued my curiosity to see just how good those cookies really were.

So, when I found I had the recipe in this fabulous cookbook my neighbors had joined together to make a few years back, I had to try it. I think that her son was right on, these are really good! Just be warned, the recipe makes enough to share.

The cookie ingredients you will need

Ingredients

2 c butter (softened)
2 c sugar
1 16 oz can pumpkin
2 eggs
4 c flour
1 T pumpkin pie spice
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 bag white chocolate chips

Frosting

1 can cream cheese frosting
1/4c brown sugar

Heat oven to 375.
Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice, set aside.
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add pumpkin & eggs beat until smooth.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the bowl. Beat medium speed until blended.
Stir in chips.
Baked on greased cookie sheet 12-14 minutes.

fresh from the oven, just waiting to be frosted.

While cookies are baking, mix frosting with the brown sugar. Spread on cookies when warm.
Enjoy!

Yum!

And….here is the printable version for your cookbook!

pumpkin white chocolate chip cookies

Happy Halloween everyone! I am off to start packing as we road trip for our Halloween weekend. I am so excited to see my friends, take the kids trick or treating in their old ‘hood and especially for a wine date with my girls Terry and Trinity…Have fun and be safe everyone!

Linking up to:

Posted in Cooking/Recipes, Events | Tagged Baking, cookies, Fall, printable, pumpkin, recipes | 2 Comments

Happy Halloween

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Terry

I just wanted to share some photo’s from my 2010 Halloween Party… It was such a fun event for adults and kids alike. I am not hosting a party this year which I am bittersweet about. I had such a busy October and November is jam packed with weddings and holiday events, that it just wasn’t in the cards for 2011.

On the bright side (or the dark side- whoooooo haahahhaaa!!!) Amy is coming back here to Trick-or-Treat with us!!! It is such a “treat” to get to spend some time with her and enjoy a spooky night together with our children. Whether you’re having a party, or just Trick-or Treating with friends, I hope this post inspires you to have a Spooktacular Hallows Eve!!!

The Girls (Check out Amy as a beautiful mermaid and me as a saloon Girl)

Spooktacular Alcoholic Potions!!

Appetizers Anyone?

Hooooo Goes there?

This Mummy actually belongs to my friend Trinity. The head is hollow and you fill it with Candy by the door for Trick-or-Treaters. IT is sooooo spooky facing out the window, it scares me every time.

Dessert: Ina Gartens Pumpkin Parfaits– To Die For!!!

Posted in Entertaining, Events, General & About Us, Holidays | Tagged entertaining, event, Halloween, party, Recipe, spooky party | Leave a comment

Fall’ing for my {new} Porch

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Amy

While I can’t yet show any pictures inside my home as we are still in unpacking mode, and waiting on some final details to be installed –like our fireplace mantel– I can reveal my new porch!

Hands down, this is my favorite spot in (or out of) our house. It was an absolute necessity in our floorplan so we could enjoy the view of the lake from our lot, and it expands the living space in our new home. I could NOT wait to “decorate” the porch.

We have already put it to good use, but I finally found some time to add some seasonal details to make the space feel more livable.

I can’t decide, wreath on the glass door or not?

Cushions still to come, but in the meantime they are the perfect relaxation spot.

The glass door adds to the view of the lake from inside, but I am finding that it needs a lot of cleaning of little fingerprints!

I added a basket of blankets, its getting chilly here in the evening and finally feeling like fall!

I am already looking forward to making this my spot for a glass of wine later tonight…

Some fall decor…

Halloween is coming! My boys have already said we don’t have enough “scary” decorations?!?

My daughter’s own little spot on the porch

I made these flower pots, super easy–spray paint and decals.

I hope you are having as nice as a fall weekend as we are here! Enjoy.

Linking up to~

Posted in Home Inspiration, Home Tours, Real Spaces | Tagged autumn, Fall, fall decor, Porch, pots | 2 Comments

Moving in…

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Amy

It’s finally here. After months (OK only four months), our new house is ready and we have moved in. And, since we have still have no internet at the new house, I have been unable to post about the house now that its done.

What a journey this has been…if you read my earlier moving posts you may remember that we were apprehensive about our move. We left a town of 6000 people and have arrived in an area with A MILLION people. We left the mountains for the coast, and our families and dear friends for an area with a very transient (military) population.

But, on the other hand I still feel a bit of “pinch me”…am I really living in this house? Waiting (and moving around all summer, and imposing on our family and friends!) to build was so worth it. Our house is far from “perfect” or even “grand”, in fact it’s smaller then our last home, but it makes me feel happy and so blessed. From each light I agonizingly picked out myself, and the white kitchen I have wanted for SO long, to the front porch I have long had on my dream house “wish list”.

My brand new kitchen (its not this clean anymore!)

It is also, most magnificently, on the shore of a beautiful and very peaceful lake.

The view from the front porch (one side)

Already living here brings me such a sense of peace. Our family vacations each summer on the most beautiful spot on a beautiful lake in Maine every year, so while I think the beach is nice (and its just 5 minutes away) I find having the lake to be worth the trade-off of less space for this incredible view.

So, when the cable company shows up to finally connect my house to the cable box at the street, I will begin posting better interior pictures. Promise! In the meantime, here is a gratuitous shot of my daughter in her new room (for some reason it looks very large here, but its actually quite small).