Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ok, Ok... I know I'll stop with the pumpkin stuff.  But this is one of my favorite traditions.  I love an evening of homemade chili, hot apple cider, family, friends, pumpkin carving and it's wonderful bi-products; happy faces, stuffed tummies, spooky jack-o-lanturns and glorious salty pumpkin seeds.  This is the recipe I use every year but I occasionally like to change up the seasonings...

After carving out the inside of my pumpkins, this year was an especially good yield, I place the pumpkin seeds in a strainer.  While running water over them, I try to pick out all the "pumpkin guts" that made it in with them.  Once I have them all cleaned out, I coat them with olive oil while still in the colander.  I spread the seeds out flat on a baking sheet and coat with season salt and another seasoning of choice.  You can use the seasonings sparingly or extra salty like I like them :) This year I chose a Pico de gallo hispanic seasoning.  I bake them in the oven for 40-45 minutes, stirring every 15, at 350 degrees.

Pure yumminess!  Oh, why can't there be a pumpkin harvest year round? Would love to hear some other pumpkin seed recipes!

My Pumpkin Tribute

Ok, this ones for all my pumpkin lovers out there.  I was thinking this morning how incredible it is that a color, smell and taste can ultimately change a bad mood to a good one for me.  Therefore, I decided to share the happiness and divulge all my little pumpkin obsession secrets to you.  I literally count down the days till when the stores start bringing pumpkin back and here are a few seasonal favorites of mine...

This is Trader Joe's seasonal pancake mix and it is to DIE for.  My kids love it too.  It's music to my ears to hear Adelyn ask for the pumpkin pancakes that make her happy :) Me too, Adelyn, me too.

This is the moistest pumpkin bread I have ever tasted.  I love making muffins out of it.  Little perfect portions of perfection!

Another one from Trader Joes.  This tastes INCREDIBLE in vanilla yogurt!

 Already mentioned these once in a previous blog but they are so good I thought they deserved an encore!

This is my favorite!  These smell goods make me feel good.  Love you Bath and Body Works.

Of course there are countless others such as, my beloved pumpkin spice latte, Yankee's pumpkin spice candle and just the simple lovliness of a pumpkin all by itself.  I think I have "accidently" rubbed off on my daughter and she is now tickled with pumpkins.  

She told me yesterday that orange makes her happy and our new favorite pass time is taking Chango for a walk and spying the pumpkins on people's porches.  Love this wonderful season that promotes thanksgiving for the boundless beauty God has graciously given us.  Right now, I am more than thankful for the pumpkins :)

Ingenius Pajamie Jams...

So one of my latest battles is one that I would never have dreamed three years ago pre-kids I would be waging war against.  Pajamas.  You heard me.  Pajamas.  It seems like every time I go to grab these little night time garment monsters one or the other is missing, no upper or no lower.  Adelyn is very particular about her wardrobe these days and I wouldn't dare offend the diva by mismatching her at nigh night time.   What would her stuffed animals think?  Many a tantrums have ensued by the very suggestion of wearing a discombobulated ensemble.

The solution came in a folding laundry session with my love.    Jason's synapses were firing that night.  He suggests, "Why don't we just tie the pants around the shirt in a loose knot.  You know, kinda like you do with socks?"  GENIUS!  So simple, yet so profound!  I was oddly jealous that, I, supermom had not thought of it first.  Now I don't know about you, and maybe I'm just getting lazy these days, but I really couldn't care less about wrinkled socks, undies or jammie jams for that matter.  Therefore, I really didn't care that we were knotting my freshly washed laundry.

Look at them!  Neat little pajama bundles.  Our fashinista is satisfied, Mom is relieved knowing that there will be no late night matching games and Dad is a little puffed up with pride that his idea was a perfect fit for our little dilemma.  It's the little things people.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies...

These are my go to fall recipe.  Cheap, easy and incredibly delicious!  I've tried to make similar recipes from scratch for bragging rights but Betty Crocker got it right with this recipe!  I've found mine this season at Target in the Halloween baking section.  What's your favorite fall recipe?

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Today is the day!  I know it's sad but I look forward to this day all year.  PUMPKIN... SPICE... LATTE...  It represents everything that I love.  Fall, pumpkins, the beginning of perfect cool weather.  The moment I smelled this baby an overwhelming comforting presence took over.  The thought of hayrides, apple cider, homemade roasted pumpkin seeds and carmel apples made my heart skip a beat.  Love is in the air.

Goldfish Bread

This was an impulse, spoil my granddaughter,choice from my mom at the grocery store. At first I was a little ticked because this is not a splurge I would usually indulge in and the thought of the tantrums that would follow when I tried to present the "regular" boring bread, did not seem like fun. However, I soon began to see the power these little whole wheat fishies held. This child will eat anything I squeeze between these two pieces. I mean anything. It is also a bargaining tool and has been used as a treat for good behavior. Beats something non-nutritious!

Scaredy Squirrel

This is one of my favorite picture books! It's about a little squirrel who doesn't leave his tree ever. He is overly cautious with the fear of the unknown and obsessed with the safety of routine. Until, all his planning goes out the window with an unplanned and unexpected turn of events. He learns that sometimes the unknown isn't as scary as it seems. It is very funny with adorable illustrations. I love this book and beg Adelyn to let me read it often :)

Eat Better America

eatbetteramerica.com

I discovered this site last year while grossly plumped-up pregnant. I had reached the point where I felt like I probably needed to put down the Doritos and pick up an apple. However, I felt a little intimidated and hesitant about trying "healthy" options because...
a. The recipes are usually expensive.
b. The recipes are usually tasteless and gross.
c. I cook for a family that would revolt if they knew I was sneaking in veggies or anything good for them for that matter.

However, I quickly fell in love with this recipe/lifestyle site for several reasons.
a. I don't even know I'm eating healthy and most of the time neither does my family. It teaches you ways to healthify everyday favorites to lower the not good for you factors :)
b. All the recipes have reviews, nutritional facts, helpful hints and star ratings. Not only could I choose the ones that I thought looked good but I could find out from others if they were before buying all the ingredients.
c. You can save recipes in your own online recipe box. Therefore, I could easily access them from my phone while at the grocery store or my kitchen.
c. simply organized and easy to navigate.

The reality is... if anyone would struggle to make healthier cooking options it would be me and I have completely switched over all my recipes to this site!

Tomme Tippee Bibs

I have pros and cons about my It's the Little Things selection today but for the purpose of travel it's all smiles.

Reasons I love these...
1. They come in fun colors. Enough said.
2. They roll up into a nice convenient pouch that can hold a spoon and a fork. I keep one in my diaper bag at all times for those unexpected last minute chances to socialize around food :)
3. They are easy to wipe down in a hurry.
4. The pouch at the bottom catches the majority of food spillage.
5. BPA free and kiddos can't pull them off!

Reasons that don't bother me so much but might bother you...
1. The neck is kinda big even on the smallest setting so you can still have some not protected areas. However, when on the go it's better than nothing :)
2. They stain easily with dark sauces (spaghetti and such).

Trader Joe's Fruit Crushers

My obsession of the day...

These are a great snack for my kiddos with sneaky sneaky veggies mixed in. They have three flavors now, apple carrot, apple banana, and just plain apple. They are resealable and don't need to be refrigerated until opened so they are a great quick snack to throw in your bag on the go.