Dinner in a Pumpkin

Tis the season for pumpkins! I love fall and I think part of the reason I do is because of the pumpkins we can eat for dinner, dessert, and carve! Here is a family favorite that my sister requested for me to post:

Dinner in a Pumpkin
1 medium sized pumpkin
1 lb Hamburger
1 onion
1 garlic clove minced (I added this you don't have too)
1 1/2 cup cooked rice
1 can sliced water chestnuts drained
1 can mushrooms
2 tbls brown sugar
2 Tbl soy sauce
1 envelop of lipton onion mushroom soup- combined with 2 Tbl flour and 2 cups water (or use 1 can cream of mushroom soup)

Preheat oven to 350. Carve a lid in the top of the pumpkin, scoop out all the insides and throw them away, set pumpkin off to the side. Brown the hamburger with the onion, and garlic. Once the meat is no longer pink add the water chestnuts, mushrooms, and the soup. Mix well, then add the brown sugar and soy sauce bring to a boil. Then add the rice mixing well. Scoop the mixture into the pumpkin, put the lid on, and put it into the preheated oven for one or one a half hours.

*Time depends on how large your pumpkin is.

JJCole Warehouse sale

The warehouse sale is coming up!

Wise words from Dr. Laura-

Green Pepper Tofu

2 lbs firm tofu cut into 3/4 pieces

Whip together, then mix with the tofu pieces:
1/4 c soy sauce 1 tsp onion powder
1 Tbsp peanut butter 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Brown tofu over medium heat until liquid id absorbed in:
2 Tbsp oil

In another pan, saute together until crisp-tender:
1 Tbsp oil 1 (8 oz)can water chestnuts, sliced and drained
1 bell pepper cut in squares 1 Tbsp fresh ginger rood or 1 Tbsp powdered ginger
6-8 green onions chopped

While vegtables are cooking, whip together
2 cups cold water 2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup soy sauce

Pour the mixture over the browned tofu, and add the crisp veggies continue simmering until thickened. Optional to add almonds (they are really good in it!). Mix well and serve over rice.

*Note when buying tofu get the extra firm, and drain all liquid from the package.

Halloween decor!

My little sister Kendra made this cute little decoration! Isn't it sooooo cute! She used the little mini pumpkins, and cut the bats out of black card stock, not sure what she used for the stick things. It is sooooo cute!

Deal! for Nursing Cover

Here's a deal I stumbled upon. . .

Go to THIS SITE and buy a nursing cover! Use the code: backorder, and it'll be FREE! All you pay for is the shipping, which is like $8.95 or so. It's a steal, and they make for AWESOME shower gifts!

(not sure how long the code is usable)

Cool decorating ideas!

Found this website!
Check out the ideas for the votive candles



and the embroidery hoops for wall decor


So easy and creative, it shows you how to do all these cute things! Love cute, cheap decorating ideas!

Digital scrap

It's September and what holiday is coming up?! Halloween! I am so excited to dress my two munchkins up this year! I always want to be crafty and creative, we'll see how this year goes!

For all the digital scrapbookers out there, I found the cutest kit! Here's a preview of the kit and a link. There's a way you can get it free, or for only $1.97! Love it! Happy scrapping!

Click Here for the link to this cute kit!

Eating out... with kids!

Being pregnant, for me (at least this time around), means eating out a lot, lot more. More than a babysitter is really available. So we go as a family. To McDonalds, to Firehouse, to OliveGarden, everywhere. We aren't brazen enough to take our crazy toddler to Hamiltons or something as fancy as that, but we're not limited to only Chucky Cheese, either. Most of our experiences are good, but some have been disastrous. When I came upon this article from BabyCenter, I figured I had to share. It's helpful info for me, and hopefully it will be for you as well.

Tip: Click on the "teaser" to read more. Or just go here. Bon appetite!

Highlights

Before you go
Once you're there
Heading off behavior blowups

It's easy to see why many parents of young children avoid restaurants and prefer to eat at home, where thrown food will hit only members of the immediate family. But sometimes it's necessary — and even fun — to eat out. If you have a 2- to 4-year-old and you're still uneasy about dining out, these suggestions will help: ...

Fruity

I figured since we're in the season of yummy fruit, I'd share a little tidbit about fruit.

Fruits that ripen AFTER picking:
Bananas
Melons
Kiwi
Papaya
Pears

Try to eat as close to picking: Stone fruit (apricots, plums, nectarines, peaches, etc)

Fruits that DON'T ripen after picking:
Apples
Grapefruit
Pineapple
Lemons
Limes
Oranges
Tangerines
Watermelon

*smell is the best indicator when something is ripe.

*ripe stone fruit should smell like the fruit they are, they also give slightly.

*color: deeper, more intense color the better the fruit.