It's Here

It is finally here. 'the smitten kitchen cookbook' came today and I am so very excited. Deb Perelman does a wonderful job of adapting recipes so they are approachable and easy to understand. She is going to be in Hyde Park this month and I will be in line to get my copy signed.

More recipes to come!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin cookies are my all-time favorite as they are associated with the best month of the year, October. This year I tried a new recipe that I found online. It is hard to go wrong with these cookies.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

makes 12-16 cookies

• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (or all-purpose)
• 1 and 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or less)
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl whisk together pumpkin, egg, and vanilla until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, spices and chocolate chips.  Fold together the wet and dry ingredients until just combined – do not overmix. The cookie dough will be very thick.

Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets and slightly flatten to the shape you want your cookie.  Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for at least 3 minutes and transfer to a wire rack.

Bosco

This little guy gets his own post. Before our visit to the pumpkin patch, as previously mentioned, we went to a tiny place in Illinois called Fillmore to see our new puppy. His name is Bosco and I could just about explode with excitement. We have talked about getting a dog for as long as we have been together. Five and a half years later and the time is right. He was born the day before our wedding, and he has one blue eye. He is our dog. We bring him home next weekend and there will surely be numerous posts with him to come.

Pumpkin Patch 2012

Our annual pumpkin patch trip was cut a bit short (more on that later) as we were running short on time with the rental car and we picked a patch that was much larger and more extreme than we initially thought (Martha Stewart is a regular). It was also in Amish Country; nothing like being at a four-way stop with three horse-drawn carriages. 

We went to 200 Acres in Arthur, Illinois about four hours outside Chicago. It is so nice to get out of the city, even if for a few hours to take in the beautiful fall weather.

 

When we got home there was a little fall treat waiting for me. I love Moonstruck so much; their fall chocolates are so fun. Ian is the best. 

Back In the Saddle

After months of a baked good-free summer, I tested the water with a fall favorite. You may recognize this cake from last year, but it is so good the recipe should be repeated.

 

 

The recipe comes from Sur la Table's, 'Art & Soul of Baking:'
Pumpkin Spice Cake

• 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened (65° to 68°F)
• 1½ cups (12 ounces) firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (8 ounces) canned pumpkin puree (not spiced pumpkin pie filling)
• 2 cups (7 ounces) sifted cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¹⁄8 teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ cup (4 ounces) buttermilk, at room temperature

Mix the butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed for 4-5 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and pumpkin puree. Mix all dry ingredients and add into the pumpkin mix first then add the buttermilk and end with the flour mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. 

I cut the cream cheese maple frosting and instead opted for a simple glaze. No final pictures of the cake as we were in a rush for dinner with friends. The host made a spectacular cannellini bean and kale soup that was a showstopper.  

This Happened

I married the most wonderful man in the world on September 15, 2012 in my parents' backyard. It was a perfect Seattle day and all was exactly as it should be. Photos are from the lovely and talented Diana Rothery Photography.

Spring/Summer in Review

The past few months have been a blur. I have loved everything about this summer, so much so that I neglected the blog for weeks and weeks. It has been quite a spectacular spring and summer and here they are condensed down into a handful of pictures. 

Celebrating the end of 2L. 

Many trips to Big Star's patio and Dana's roof.

 

 Sadie's (my) bachelorette party in beautiful Walla Walla.

 

All-consuming wedding planning happened for months: 

 

Hunting for stamps on Etsy.

 

 

Wedding license!

Ian does Seattle! 

Summer weddings in suspenders!