Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Need a new way to delish-up your cold fall mornings? This may be able to help you get out of bed on those cold, winter (or late fall) mornings. Or just bring it back to bed and enjoy eating it snuggled under a good, warm down.

Serves 3-4

1.5 cups water (or milk)
1 cup pumpkin
3/4 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 cup oats
Toppings: agave nectar, brown sugar (if you want), milk, cool whip

Bring water, pumpkin, vanilla, and spice to a boil. Add in oats and cook for 7-10 minutes.
Serve in a bowl, topped with milk, agave nectar (need a good squirt or two because other wise its not sweet enough) and a dollup of cool whip.

Much and Link Love (November 8 edition)

Daylight savings time and colder weather. But pretty red trees on my way to work. Almost makes up for it.

1. I love fall. Everything about it.
2. I love really long meals with friends (at a restaurant) where you are just talking, sipping, and you have a great waiter.
3. 13 miles hiking through downtown Richmond on Saturday have made my feet really tired.
4. But, that doesn’t negate the really cute boots I got yesterday at Kohls. I love Kohls.
5. I’m doing pretty well on my goals I’ve set.
6. This week is Bstudy, baking, CMA awards, bday dinner for a friend, trip to Asheville and Ridgecrest, youth discipleship weekend with Troy Temple, and a conference with Tedd Tripp (even though I’m not a parent).
7. Vacation is coming soon. 4 WHOLE DAYS. Can’t wait. That means I’ve got some things to accomplish before I go.
8. Here is what is on my coffee table right now: InStyle, Durham Foodie, Dorie Greenspan’s Baking Cookbook, a recipe I must share tonight with pictures.

Link Love:
1. Thank you Katie McCoy for this post on single girls waiting for Mr. Right.
2. And while we are on relationships, Ken offers this bit of advice for single guys in Toy Story 3.
3. I have always wanted a map of the world…how cool is this one?
4. Mom and I are going to try this over Thanksgiving, Thanks CasaBrasi!
5. Love how Carolyn McCulley presses on with hospitality and shares with the rest of us!
6. Another thing I’m getting over Thanksgiving…my Christmas tree!
7. I’m going to a holiday open house here, can’t wait!

Chocolate Chip Nutella Cookies

Chocolate Chip Nutella Cookies

Finally bought some Nutella when my parents were here over the summer. Got around to using it tonight for these yummy cookies.
Chocolaty – with a hint of hazelnut goodness known as Nutella.

1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup of brown sugar
3/4 cup of white sugar
1 cup of Nutella
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup of chocolate chips

Cream, then combine dry. Fold in chips. 350, greased cookie sheet, small cookie scoop, 11-12 minutes depending on cookie sheet and other variables. Mine cooked perfectly at 11:30, but check it the first time around at around 10 to see how far you have to go to get that perfect doneness.
Enjoy.

Raleigh Style: Furbish Studio

Raleigh Style: Furbish Studio

Jamie Meares has a stylish studio downtown Raleigh. Here are my fave shots of the day. Go by there. Enjoy. Shop. Have style.

Sara Foster's Blondies

Sara Foster's Blondies

Here is another good blondie recipe from my Durham/CH cafe friend, Sara Foster. These make a lot so I’ll be dishing them out to folks tomorrow.

4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 sticks, unsalted butter, softened
4 cups packed brown sugar
4 eggs
1 T vanilla
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Combine dry. Cream sugar and butter, add in eggs then vanilla. Mix with dry. Fold in nuts and chips.

Bake in greased 17×12 shallow pan. Press the batter into the pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 325. Enjoy!

Apple Walnut Maple Muffins

Apple Walnut Maple Muffins

Sara Foster is my go-to muffin lady. These were good, very fall like.

3 cups flour
1 T baking powder
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp EACH salt, nutmeg, allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
1 stick butter, unsalted, softened
1/4 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Grade B (preferred) maply syrup
1 c milk
2 granny smith apples, peeled, chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts

Combine dry, set aside. Cream wet together (up to syrup). Combine wet with dry, alternating dry and milk. Fold in apples and nuts.
Bake at 375 in greased muffin tins for 30-35 minutes.
Enjoy!
These would probably taste really yummy served warm with maple syrup drizzled over the top. I had to take them somewhere, so I couldn’t do that.

True Beauty

True Beauty

I love this quote a saw on a blog about a month ago. Love to hear your thoughts on it – or what makes you beautiful!

“True beauty radiates from a woman who gracefully walks the path designed uniquely for her. To walk the path of God’s will is to show others the beauty of Christ.”

One Sydney Road

One Sydney Road

You don’t have to live in Australia to shop in Australia (or just Ohio). One Sydney Road is now open for business. I’ve been following this girl’s story on Makeunder My Life and love seeing people follow a dream.
This is a great location for gifts, home interior, and anything else to make you feel pretty – or your home to look pretty and stylish.

Much & Link Love (Nov 1) and November!

Well, thought I might tie these two posts together since November 1 falls on a Monday.

1. Great weekend: the ocean, 31 miles, mahi mahi tacos, and a Gator win!
2. Getting organized and down-sizing.
3. Love seeing old friends: they are rare!
4. Love talking about what God is doing in my life.
5. Love hearing about what God is doing in others’ lives.
6. Thankful for my pastors and their wives.
7. Much to do – hopefully celebrating by the end of the week. Press on!

Link Love:
1. I want to make this now that the weather is getting cooler.

2. She seriously is a great food writer – and I love her books, though I have different one – am asking for some of her’s for Christmas

3. Do you watch Glee? Here are some good reasons NOT to. I’ve only watched 5 minutes of one, and it was one of my un-edifying, make-me-cringe – 5 minutes of my life.

Now for November:
1. Living healthy! That is def on my menu!
2. Ice Skating – not to make a fool out of myself or break anything is always a good goal.
3. Meta – our big youth wknd at PBC – Troy Temple, one of my fave people from SBTS is speaking!
4. Tedd Tripp in town in Apex for a conference. Looking forward to that – live blog coming.
5. Hiking Grandfather Mountain and some girl time with a friend.
6. My third half marathon in Charlotte on Thanksgiving Day
7. Parents are in town for that week, be good to get some things done.
8. BABIES! They are coming from different place. I love new babies!
9. A new life class at church – am excited about something new.
10. Writing Writing and more Writing.