Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Seems a shame to throw out a perfectly good pumpkin.  The kids in primary got to actually carve a pumpkin,  cleaning out the seeds, and separating the slim from the seeds... roast the seeds and try eating them.  But then.. what do you do with the pumpkin after halloween.  

Donna takes it... chops it all up..  roasts it in the oven for 1 hour.....

And purees it in the food process and gets about 5 cups of lovely pumpkin puree.  

 A big batch of pumpkin muffin batter and a few dozen cupcake papers (left over from Ashley's wedding shower) and we have a big Monday morning feast at school.

 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

(recipe from Dianna Berry)

4 Eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup veggie oil

2 cups puree pumpkin

3 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

2 cup choco chips

In large mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in separate bowl.

Add to pumpkin mixture, also adding chocolate chips.

FOLD ingredients together (thanks Chantal) until just mixed.

Fill muffin tins 3/4 full and bake in a 400 degree oven for 16-20 minutes.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes.

Makes 24-26 muffins.  You can cut this recipe in half, no problem.. but why bother!

Christmas Parcel to Korea

 Even though its early November, I have to get this parcel in the mail before Nov 14th... so I am spending my evening wrapping up Stephanie and Sean's Christmas Parcel.

The first year they were in Korea I sent a huge box and it was filled with so many Xmas items from Canada and I sent it in Mid October.  I tracked it to Montreal within the first 3 days and there is sat until Mid December.  7 Weeks it sat in Montreal and when I talked to the post office, they told me it was waiting for a container to fill up before it went on the container ship to Asia.
That Xmas day... Stephanie had no parcel and my heart broke for her and Sean.  Their first Xmas away from home and it was lonely enough without the fun and excitement of opening gifts from home.   Her parcel arrived in Mid January and I learned a very valuable lesson.

This parcel is much smaller, filled with more appropriate gifts.. and toys for the kitty.  I will send it via Air Mail and it will be sure to get there by Dec 25th.  This is the 4th year that Sean and Stephanie are away from home.. and we were so lucky to have them here for Christmas just 2 years ago.. and had them home for 2 weeks this summer!

On there way back to Korea after a very busy and fun filled 2 weeks in Canada.

Jack Turns One today!

This week has been a full week of reminiscing about one year ago... and all the waiting, waiting, waiting.
 We thought for sure Jack would come before Halloween.... and he almost did.. but he changed his mind.  Meanwhile, I drove up while Michelle was experiencing labor... but by the time I got there.. all the action had stopped.  My thinking was, that it was going to happen any day, so I chose to stay a few days.. because I knew it would happen any day.

The next 6 days were very long and Michelle and Scott were nervous, tired, sore, stressed... and miserable.  It was my job as their mama to keep them active, and well fed... so they wouldn't be so anxious.  We carved pumpkins, and went to the market... got a big bag of samosa.  Jack's actual due date came and went.  

 an October  Snow storm... came... and went...

In line at the market.. waiting for their favorite treat.. Samosa

  Halloween came... and... went....

 Every day, we went to my sisters and worked on an amazing quilt she planned on making for Aurora for Christmas.  It was a big and overwhelming project and it was meant to be that we (Michelle and I) were looking for a BIG distraction.  Every day we traced flowers onto paper, then cut all the parts out. We talked about what we would do the NEXT day... if... Michelle was still around.  Then the next day.. we irons the papers onto fun fabrics which were spread out, all over Gail's kitchen.

notice the snow in the window.

Then the next day... we cut out all the flowers.... and ironed all the pieces together... Each one of these flowers had 3 to 4 different circles or squiggles and we had to write on each shape in code so we knew which fabric went on what flower... there were cats and lady bugs and butterflies too

Cutting out flowers... even Scott and lucy got into the act... it was something to do!

 

 This was the finished quilt, which we never did see.. because Gail had a ton of work to do on it before Christmas.

And we waited..... Gails Grandkids made a big sign for the window.... and Aurora put the final touches on it... and we waited.  Aurora was pretty excited for Jack to arrive because FINALLY she would be older than someone else.  She has been the baby of the gang for 3 years now.

 Finally, the quilt was organized, the snow stopped falling... and I had to leave to back to Greenwood.  Still no baby.  I went home.. but I left my suitcase packed.  Every day, I called and talked to the waiting parents and they got sadder and more anxious.....  and then Friday came... and Jack didn't... and the doctor said... Tomorrow is the day.

 They had the above sign on the fridge all week... and Jack never made his move.. so they arrived early Saturday morning, Nov 5... and the games began.   I left early Saturday morning amongst black ice and snowy skies.  I was so intent on getting there.. I forgot to check my fuel level.  Now, that would have been the worse thing.. but I was looking at the snow on the road and a thought came to me that I hadn't stopped for gas... and when I looked at my gauge... the light was on!  For how long.. who knows.. but I stopped at the very next exit and filled her to brim! (Don't even look at the fact that I was driving 110 km and taking a picture)

I arrived in Fredericton, just on time, to be a part of a very amazing experience... which I blogged from the heart about here.   

This is the VERY first picture of Jack... peeking out from him mothers grasp.. to see his Grammie, I think

My very first babysitting job... We sat in the warm sun from the window and waited for mama to have a shower, and I got to tell Jack all  about the waiting and waiting... 

All snuggled up, waiting to go home!

Seems like a life time ago now... and I guess it was.. Jack's lifetime, really.  We are so lucky and thankful to have our little Jack.. who is so happy all the time.. and so healthy and fun!

Heading to visit Grammie and Grampie!

Cherrios... a beautiful thing!

Aylesford Tartan jacket, just like his Grampie and daddy

 

Happy 1st Birthday Jack.