Autumn Days

au·tumn

Webster's Definition: The season of the year between summer and winter, lasting from the autumnal equinox to the winter solstice and from September to December in the Northern Hemisphere; fall.

Erika's Definition: Perfect time for hot chocolate, pumpkin pies, beautiful changing leaves, football games (not that I watch many of them), warm apple cider, Halloween and pumpkin carving, Thanksgiving day Parade, family birthdays and celebrations, mums, hay rides and corn mazes, apple picking and pie making, long handmade scarves, no AC and open windows, harvest and fresh produce, swimming and diving season (WSU Alumni Meet...woohoo!), sweatshirts and cardigans, cinnamon potpourri, Black Friday, homemade chex mix, costume parties, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes, colorful front door wreaths, jumping in leaf piles, trick-or-treating and an excuse to eat an abundant amount of candy, candy pumpkins, stuffing and gravy, and Christmas just around the corner.

Looks like we have a lot to be thankful for this year!

I have been lucky enough to spend some time in Texas with my sister, brother-in-law, my new nephew and of course their dog. Brenner is now 10 months and is such a character. Just during my first week here, he has started crawling all over the place and loves to help me type on the computer.

It's Boo!

My sister and I LOVE baking and can always come up with an excuse to make something sweet and delicious. In fall fashion, we whipped up some Pumpkin Mini's with Cream Cheese frosting.

As you can see, someone already stole one!

Pumpkin Bars

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

4 eggs, beaten

1 16-oz can pumpkin

1-1/2 cups sugar

1 cup cooking oil

Method:

1. Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.

2. Combine eggs, pumpkin, sugar, and oil.

3. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and beat until well combined.

4. Spread batter in an ungreased 15 x 10 x 1 baking pan and bake @ 350 for 25 minutes

or

Drop spoonfuls of batter into mini cupcake pan and bake @ 350 for 10 min.

5. Let stand and cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

3 of cream cheese

1/4 cup of butter or margarine

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

Method:

1. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla til light and fluffy.

2. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

3. Spread over cooled bars or muffins.

Happy Fall!