Gooey pumpkin butterscotch brownies

I made these brownies tonight. Well, I think I need to find a 11x7 baking dish if I'm going to make them again and take out a small loan (brownie mix, butterscotch chips, butterscotch topping, pumpkin, butterscotch pudding). They were gooey and good even if my pan was a few inches off in size.

Fall family photos

Ready for the Regatta

I took this photo on Friday on my way to work. This weekend is the Head of the Charles Regatta. Any event with Fried Dough is a good event.

Afternoon in New Hampshire

BIG RED

I just got home from seeing Secretariat. It was fantastic!

I spent the day in Maine...

...with these lovely ladies. They LOVED Maine (I knew they would). We ate at the Lobster Shack (in Cape Elizabeth), shopped (they put the shop in Shop 'til you Drop), saw the Bush Compound, two lighthouses, and the beautiful coast. On the way home we stopped at Mike's Pastry in the North End and I showed them some Boston/Cambridge hot spots. And they got the grand tour of my condo.

The quilt story

I started this quilt a while ago (like May of 2009) for my friend Debbie. The 20 completed squares sat on my table. When she confirmed a few months ago that she'd be visiting in the Fall I decided it would be great to be able to hand her the quilt when she was here. And the completed squares sat on my table. A few weeks ago I finally sewed the 20 squares together and sent it off to the machine quilting lady in Iowa. I got the quilt back last Friday, finished the binding on Saturday, washed it so it was all crinkly and last night when Debbie arrived, I handed her the quilt. She loves it.

Another quilt is done

I love crème brûlée

I love crème brûlée. I always get it when I go to Cafe Lalo in NYC. It's something I've never made but have wanted to and since I recently got a hand-me-down kitchen torch so I really do need to attempt it. Last night some friends invited me over for some homemade crème brûlée.

It. was. delicious.

A good friend...

...doesn't mind picking up your stool softener for you.

Today

I've called my niece Sweet P ("Sweet P for Patton") since she was about two years old. This card has been on my vanity mirror for years. I saw it this morning and it made me smile.

The back story

Click here to read a very nice story (scroll down after the pictures). And, P.S., this guy, Jonathan Canlas is an amazing photographer.

Pumpkin Squares

PUMPKIN SQUARES (I got this recipe from Gloria Daniels)

4 eggs

1 2/3 cup sugar

1 cup oil

2 cups pumpkin

2 cups flour

2 t baking powder

2 t cinnamon

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

Beat eggs, sugar and oil. Add pumpkin. Sift dry ingredients together and add to mixture. Pour into greased jelly roll pan. Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frosting

3 oz. cream cheese (softened)

1/3 cup butter

1 T milk

1 t vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla until creamy. Add sugar and frost.

*These make great cupcakes.

Hudson River Valley

I told you it was beautiful!

A stop on the way home: West Point

My plan was to travel home today by way of the Hudson River Valley. It's one of my favorite areas of the country. I got derailed (lost) within minutes of my leaving my friend's home so I went back to their street and backtracked the way I got there Friday night and hopped on the Garden State Parkway. When I stopped the first time I got the Atlas out of my trunk (how old fashioned of me--but mapquest drives me nuts). My plan was to stop at West Point. I visited there years ago and I've known two cadets who have gone there. The first time I visited, I stopped at the cemetery and to my surprise saw the grave of a friend's brother. He died while serving his mission and I believe their dad taught at West Point at the time and that is why he was buried there.Today I couldn't remember where his grave was so I went into the chapel and looked through the notebook and found what section it was in. I love the rocks on the top of the marker. I'm sure someone who loves and misses him put them there. West Point is a beautiful place. Unfortunately I only saw a few cadets in uniform (probably because it was Columbus Day).

Kate's party

Kate's 7th birthday party was on Saturday. It was a treat to be there for the festivities!

The girls

The Jersey Ures

The REAL housewife of New Jersey

Hostess gift

7 cents stories

This is what happened.

I went to get soup for lunch the other day. I was in line, standing right in front of the cashier holding my soup and crackers, and she started to ring up the woman behind me who had set her food on the counter. That woman said, "Oh these are mine" and then the clerk told me she was going to ring her up first (I guess that was easier than voiding a transaction). I was mildly annoyed but whatever.

Then she rang up my soup and it was $2.58. A small soup is usually $2.51. I questioned it but at this point I just wanted to eat my lunch. There was a bit of a language barrier between myself and the cashier and then suddenly she reached over and grabbed the little container that people put their extra change in and dumped it into my hand. I was trying to count it and see if it was the right amount and then because there was a crowd of people behind me (and I didn't want to make a scene) I left. When I got back to my office I realized she had shorted me 7 cents.

I went on line and filled out a feedback form. Within 10 minutes I received a call from the manager and today I got this letter with my 7 cents attached.

I have another story about 7 cents. Years ago I mailed my cousin a letter and it arrived "Postage due - 7 cents". When I saw my uncle he gave me a hard time about it (was it that big of a deal?!?). I could have given him a stamp or 7 cents but I decided to pay him back in the most inconvenient way possible so I mailed him a check for 7 cents. The next time I saw my uncle (it was Uncle Lee--I only have one uncle) he questioned why I sent him a check for 7 cents and I replied, "Well, you made such a big deal about it..."

Cousins Club

My cousin Darlene called last week to see if her son Nate could stay with me for a few nights. I think I met Nate 15 or 16 years ago at my cousin Julie's wedding. Nate spent the summer working in Wisconsin, Ohio, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. He's rambling around the country now before going home to the "O.C.". It's been fun getting to know him. And I'm impressed that he took some of my advice about places to go and things to see. He's adventurous! I think Nate is great.

Best apple crisp recipe -- ever!

APPLE CRISP

Mix the following ingredients together and pour into ungreased 9x13 inch pan:

8 cups peeled and sliced apples

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 T flour

1/2 cup milk

1 cup water

Topping:

1 1/3 cups flour

1 cup oats

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup butter, melted

1 t salt

2 t cinnamon

2 packages dry Butterscotch pudding (not instant)

Mix topping ingredients together and crumble on top of apple mixture. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, approximately 45-50 minutes.

Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!

My new favorite book

I received (my blog friend) Camille's book in the mail today. It was like Christmas! Camille is an amazingly talented quilt/fabric designer and I'm glad to have a copy of her book in my collection.

Hand-me-downs

Yesterday my friend Kristen (Sister) gave me 3 bags of clothes. I've mentioned before that I never got hand-me-downs as a kid because I was the only girl. My favorite item might be the olive green sweater that I'm wearing right now. Thanks, Sister!

Grace's baptism day

I went to Lynnfield this morning for Grace Rebentisch's baptism. She was all smiles and it was nice to be there on her special day.

While we were on our drive...

...Kristen's husband was climbing at the Gunks.

(photo taken by Kristen's brother)

A Saturday drive

My friend Sister and I went for a drive today. I had been talking up the Fall BBQ from last Saturday so our first stop was Red Apple Farm. The corn was better last week but the pulled pork sandwich and beans were great. After lunch we meandered up to New Hampshire and found a few antique shops. I bought a few hankies and books for a dollar. The skies were clear, the air was crisp, and the foliage was beautiful.

Cowboy tote

I had some friends over for dinner a few weeks ago and one of the little boys was enamored with another little girl's purse. He put it over his shoulder and walked all over my apartment. His great great aunt visited him recently and he dragged her purse around his apartment. Last night I had an idea and I made him a cowboy tote and I bought a few little cars to put in it. I'm having dinner at his house tomorrow night and will give it to him then. I hope he likes it!