Saturday - Pumpkin Waffles

Yesterday was the last day of the fiscal year at my day job, which means its time to celebrate! What's better than having waffles for breakfast? Pumpkin waffles of course. I have been meaning to work out a recipe for these for a few weeks but had been too busy. I did learn to turn down my waffle iron temperature on these. (The first one was a bit toasty!)

Spiced Pumpkin Waffles

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup butter melted
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. In a large bowl mix together the first 5 ingredients (dry).
2. In a separate bowl beat the eggs together with the sugar and pumpkin. Add in the milk, butter, and vanilla slowly.
3. Combine both bowls and blend completely.
4. Pour batter onto preheated waffle iron, being careful to not over fill. Cook until light brown.

Color of Leaves

The weather has been beautiful lately and all the trees are turning wonderful, gorgeous, though brief, colors. We took advantage of this and took a walk to the park. The boys got exercise and I got to shoot some pictures.

Hello Autumn

I love Autumn, or "Fall" if you prefer. It's my favorite season. Maybe it because autumn is when my birthday is (in November) or maybe it's because Jered and I were married in October. Or maybe it's the comfortable temperature which let's us wear sweaters and boots. But probably it's the food if anything that makes me love it. Pumpkin anything and I'll take it. I have already made pumpkin bread. It is the best with some cream cheese spread on it.

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups white sugar

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour two 8x4 loaf pans.
2. In a bowl mix together the first 6 ingredients. In a separate bowl sift together the last 4 ingredients (dry). Stir the dry ingredients in to the wet ingredients until completely blended.
3. Divide the batter between the two loaf pans.
4. Bake for about 50 minutes or until your test pick comes clean from the center.

Renaissance Festival

What do you do on labor day? Go to the Des Moines Renaissance Festival of course! Jered and I went to the RenFest a long time ago and had a great time. So we decided to take the boys and see what they would think of it. The festival is a lot bigger and more organized than it used to be. The have cool buildings and more vendors of wares and so much food.




The Entrance

Magic

There was a fiddle player at the entrance, she was amazing! The decorations were really cool too.



The gates

Once through the gates there was so much to see. The boys instantly ran for the wooden sword seller.



Checking the Food options

Riley playing

King and Queen

There was a royal court with all the usual pomp, and shows of sword play. They also have jousting matches.


Sword Show

Goat Petting

In the children's area there was a petting zoo were there was a goat and pony and bunnies to pet and hold.

Pony

Max got into the action by trying out the knife throwing booth. He actually got one!

Knife Throwing

The best part of the Renaissance Festival is the people watching. There was some great costumes and people this year.

People Watching

Pirates

Lady in Red

Riley