Going to the Pumpkin Patch

The kids got to go to a total of 3 pumpkin patches this year. The first one wasn't much of a trip, they didn't have anything fun for the kids to do, no hay rides and you couldn't even pick your own pumpkin.





So we decided it was time to go someplace with things going on and off we headed to Deals Orchard. The kids had a great time. They got to listen to music, go in a Tee Pee, ride the pony's (the girls loved this, Carter was petrified), the petting zoo wasn't much but the kids thought it was fun. We rode on the hay ride that was pulled by draft horses to the patch and picked out the perfect pumpkins. Then off to the little store for a sample of apple cider and a free apple. We go a carmel apple to share and the kids thought that was pretty cool too.









Then the next weekend we went to the Berry Patch with their Aunts, Uncle and cousin. They had fun there too. Got to pick another small pumpkin after riding the hay ride out to the patch.







The best part of fall, going to the pumpkin patch did not disappoint yet again!

6 already and a friends party too!

How does it happen that they grow up so fast? My little girl was just a baby not so very long ago and now she is 6, in school full time and ready to be a grown up.
The week of inductions to try to help you along, the day at the pumpkin patch, scaring the tractor driver when we went to pick out the perfect pumpkins. The feelings that you were never going to come. And now you are here, you are perfect in every way. You know what you want and have no problem questioning something if you just don't think that it can possibly be the right way. All the qualities I hope you have as an adult you have already. You drive me to the brink of craziness with them now but all I can hope is that you keep them as you get older and don't let anyone tell you its wrong.

We had purple cake on your birthday along with your favorite...LASAGNA! The cake wasn't the greatest but it sure was pretty!!



You got to have your very first friends party and what a party it was.
The ice cream party was a huge success. I spent many hours preparing for it.
It all started with the invites!

I then made a banner that said happy birthday


We set up everything to look like an old time ice cream parlor. We had old jars for the candies, we ate our ice cream out of old ice cream dishes. I got lemon drops, sour cherries, mini unicorn suckers and marshmellow ice cream cones for treats.




We put the toppings in old mason jars and you got to build your own sundaes, out of homemade ice cream of course. What could be better than Homemade ice cream from fresh milk?

We played pin the cherry on the sundae and everyone put their names on the cherries. What a great way to remember your party and who all came to enjoy it with you?



We had ice cream cone cupcakes that most didn't eat, the ice cream was so much better, but they sure looked cute!


Then we opened gifts and boy did you get some great ones.


After that we decided since it was so beautiful outside we should go out and play. The kids had so much fun. It was fun to watch them cycle through all the fun stuff outside, from playing frisbee to the riding the rope swing, playing on the playset and of course the sandbox was a hit too.
I also made the gift bags from ice cream fabric, added ribbon hair ties and the kids loved them.

Teasers

There is so much that I need to post...so just a teaser of whats to come!
There is birthdays, sewing, pumpkin patch and knitting. So much that I will have several posts of things to share!

It was comfort foods for dinner

I am sure we all have those food that we had when we were in school that we miss. There are not a lot of them that I remember as being all that great but there is one. One that I have spent many a day trying to find a recipe, that one that I have thought long and hard about. And that is the one that I have finally figured out how to make at home. With good ingredients, that is fresh, and YUMMY.
SPOONBURGERS!!!!
Now doesn't this look DELISH!

It is going to seem pretty involved but it really is quite easy to make.
Here is what you need for the meat mixture.
2 to 3 lbs hamburger (or your choice of ground meat)
1 small onion chopped
2 to 3 cloves garlic chopped
2t ground mustard
2 t chili powder
1 can diced tomatoes drained and pureed
1 to 2 cups ketchup
salt and pepper to taste
dash worcestershire sauce
1/4 t celery seed

Brown the meat, onion and garlic, drain.
Add remaining ingredients and bring to a bowl.

For the breading on top
1.5 cups scalded milk or reconstitued powdered milk
1/2 c sugar
1.5 t salt
1/2 cup butter or shortening
2 eggs beaten
2 T or 2 pkts yeast in 1/2 cup hot water
Flour (approx 4 cups)

Mix all ingredients together, when you can touch it and its still a little sticky.
Let rise
punch down
Take 1/3 of the dough and roll out to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. This will be put on top. Save the remaining dough.

Now put the meat mixture in the bottom of a 8 x 11 baking dish. I sprayed mine with cooking spray and it helped with the breading.
Place cheese slices (I used kraft cheese slices) on top of the meat mixture.
Now take your rolled dough and place over the top, trimming to fit and rolling the edge around to make it all fit.

Place in a oven at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes until top is browned and cooked thru.
This is what was left when it was finished!



Now we used the rest of the dough to add to the meal and made cinnamon rolls.
So take the remaining dough and roll out to 1/4 inch thick.
Smother it with softened or melted butter.
Cover it with a nice layer of brown sugar. I was out of brown sugar so I made my own. It is sugar and molasses to taste.
Sprinkle with cinnamon (this is to taste)



Roll into a jelly roll, cut approx 1/2 inch thick and place in the pan to let it rise.
Cook at 350 for 25-35 minutes.


Now I don't know about anyone else but I don't think that cinnamon rolls are complete until you FROST them.

This is the recipe we made for the frosting, it is a Cream Cheese Frosting.
1 package cream cheese (8 oz)

1 stick butter (8 tablespoons)

4 cups confectioners sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons imitation vanilla (I think if you use pure vanilla extract cut it to 1 tsp)

Make sure your cream cheese is softened to make it easier. Add the first 3 ingredients to the bowl and then when it is mixed up add your vanilla. It is oh so yummy.