Kiss Your Diet Goodbye Pumpkin Cinnamon Buns!

Yup...you read that right!  Go ahead kiss your diet goodbye...at least just for today. Those who know me, know how much I love pumpkin.  You can read about my pumpkin obsession here. But for now, just know that you want NEED to try these cinnamon buns.  I started with a basic recipe, but as usual I changed it to fit my taste buds.  These take a little time, but they are sooooo worth it.  Come on Celebrate the season with me...and let your waistline go a little crazy as you enjoy one of these babies!

You will Need:
2 Packages of active dry yeast
1/2 cup of warm water (110-115)
4 eggs
1 cup of shortening
1 cup of canned pumpkin
1 cup of warm milk (110-115)
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
1/3 cup of instant butterscotch pudding
1/3 cup of instant vanilla pudding
1 tsp. of salt
7-8 cups of flour

For the Filling:
1 1/2 sticks of butter (approx.)  Some of this is used to butter your pans
1 cup of packed brown sugar
2 tsp. of cinnamon.
*The butter is for spreading on the dough and the pans.  Don't mix with the brown sugar and cinnamon.

For the Icing:
1/4 cup butter melted
3 T. of real maple syrup
1/2 cup of strong coffee
1 tsp. of vanilla
1/3 tsp. of cinnamon
5 cups of conf. sugar
*This is more of a "drizzle" then frosting, so don't be worried if it seems thin.  As it sits, it thickens.

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water.  Add the eggs, shortening, pumpkin, warm milk, sugars, pudding mixes, salt and 6 cups of flour.

Beat until smooth.  Mix in enough additional flour to make smooth and elastic.  I used my kitchen-aid but hands work just fine:)

Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top.

Cover and let Rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down and divide in half.  Roll each portion into a 12-in.X 8-in. rectangle.

Brush with butter and sprinkle with half of the cinnamon filling.  Leave some space around the edges (about 1/2 inch).  Roll up jelly-roll style starting with a long side.  Pinch seams closed.

Cut each into 12 slices and place in buttered pans.  Repeat with other portion.  Cover and let rise until doubled. 

Bake at 350 for 25-28 minutes until golden brown.  Spread icing over warm buns.

Enjoy these warm from the oven with (of course) more icing drizzled on top.  You might want to schedule about 3-4 hours of treadmill time in there somewhere.  Blessings to all!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Since tomorrow is the first day of September (the day Fall officially begins for me) I am posting a delicious recipe.  If you like pumpkin lattes you really need to try this recipe.  Being a coffee connoisseur, I really think this is good.  The only thing that I would do different is if you have a sieve to pour the milk/pumpkin mixture through as you add to the coffee go ahead and use it. If you don't have one, don't worry, it still tastes just as good.  Here you go!

You will need:

1/2 cup of ground coffee (try to use "good" coffee...it just taste better).
1 1/2 cups of water
3 Cups of whole milk
3/4 cup of canned pumpkin
1/3 cup of packed brown sugar
Scant teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
Whipped cream and additonal cinnamon for garnish.

Brew the coffee and water in your drip coffee maker.  Meanwhile in a large pan combine the milk, pumpkin, brown sugar and spice.  Cook and stir over medium heat until steaming.  Divide the coffee among five mugs; add pumpkin mixture.  Garnish with whipped cream and additional cinnamon.

These are soooooo.... good.  Have a great Day.

Two more little reasons why I LOVE Fall!

I went to the store today to pick up a few misc. items but decided to stroll down the home fragrance aisle and... my heart leapt for joy.  There sitting on the shelf was a whole display of lovely new Fall scents by glade and Airwick.  Knowing I had coupons for these items I grabbed three and left on my merry way.  Is it weird that I look forward to going home and cleaning and then spraying (or plugging in) a Fall scent.  Hey what can I say...I'm easy to please.  Here's what I found!

The sprays are a scent that Glade came out with last year called "Cashmere Woods."  I sooooooo love this scent.  It reminds me of a cross between a woodsy smell and a comfy sweater with the lingering scent of perfume on it. 

The Airwick scent is called "Hot Chocolate and Fireside."  If that doesn't say enough...chocolate and the smell of a cozy fire...I think I'm in love.  Do you have a favorite fall scent?  If so please share it with me in the comment section.  Have a great day:)



Countdown to Fall!



To say that I am excited about the arrival of Fall would be the understatement of the century!  I wait all Summer for Fall to burst on the scene in all of its wondrous glory.  Thought I would give some reasons why I love fall so much!

1)  I love the colors...they are so warm and inviting.  It's no coincidence that my whole house is pretty much Fall colors.

2)  I love the Cinnamon Butter that Country Crock comes out with in the Fall/Winter Season.  Have you tried it?  You need to!

3)  I Love the aroma of flavored coffees brewing in my coffee pot...hazelnut, pumpkin spice, Golden French Toast...O Baby...Be still my heart.

4)  I love the smell of homemade baked goods filling my house...especially anything with pumpkin.

5)  I love my Northface Fleece...we hardly ever are away from eachother.

6)  I love scarves

7)  Honey Crisp Apples...Need I say more?

8)  Saturdays spent at Fall festivals with the hubs and kids.

9) Pumpkins, Gourds and haybales...O my!

10)  Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte...it's a beautiful thing.

This is my Ode to the Pumpkin!

How do I love thee let me count the ways!

From Pumpkin pie to cookies you fill my Autumn days.

In the center of my table or perched upon my porch,

You shine in brilliant shades of orange, like a flaming torch.

In many shapes and sizes, none distort your beauty...

I should fill many a book if I told what you mean to me.

I wait for three long summer months for you to arrive upon the scene,

And when at once you get here, I can't help but dance and sing,

So beautiful little pumpkin, whom I've anticipated all year long,

In my humble opinion you can do not wrong!

And tomorrow in honor of this lovely little creature I will post some of my favorite pumpkin recipes. And by the way I won't hold it against you if you dislike or despise the pumpkin in any way.

The table is the center of our home. We do everything from eating to school to artwork there. I have a big old farm table that I love and a trough much like this one in the center. Mine isn't as full as this, but now that I have this idea, I will be trying to get this same look. I love old rugged pieces of wood. They has so much character and they are so rustic and charming. Don't you just love all the colors in this center piece? I don't think I will ever tire of looking at this. So what are you all doing for your fall decor...Please share!

So I really LOVE fall. No surprise there! I saw this picture and I thought to myself...I could picture myself here, walking down this road, holding hands with my hubby. I imagine we're both wearing our favorite fleeces and talking about why we love this time of year. We were married in the fall (albeit that it we had a huge snowstorm on our wedding day...that's NY for you) and our wedding was decorated for fall, complete with a stone path and white bridge...just beautiful. So fall has a lot of really good memories for me. A cozy fire, a good book, the kids laughing and jumping in the hay, Fall Apples (one of life's simple pleasures) and of course a really good cup of coffee. Everything is just better with coffee and don't you forget it. There is nothing like waking up in the morning and feeling that "Fall chill" in the air. For me there is nothing cozier than fall colors...I could wrap myself in their warmth for the next 50 years and be just fine. So on that happy note...I will continue on down the path with my hubby and a picnic basket complete with a cozy fall blanket to sit on...Fall...there's nothing quite like it.