*Recipe* Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

 I'd never really heard of a "Whoopie Pie" until I first went to Maine to visit Josh's family.  I suppose I had them growing up, or a version of them, but I'm pretty sure that Grandma called them "Homemade  Oreos."  Regardless, since first having one in Maine, where they are pretty much their own food group, we have come across them every now and them in various places.  Our local Amish market here sells a few different kinds of them... regular chocolate, chocolate chip, and in the fall, Pumpkin.  After Josh's Aunt posted a recipe on Facebook for the pumpkin version, I decided to give making them, a shot.  I knew they would go over famously with Josh, and the Mainers that he works with, and they did!  These are a great, comforting fall recipe, and surprisingly simple!



Ingredients

For Cookies

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup canned pumpkin

For Filling

• 3 cups powdered confectioners (icing) sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp vanilla
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

For Cookies

• Preheat oven to 350F and grease 2 cookie sheets or cover with Parchment paper
• In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves.  Set aside.
• Using a mixer, combine brown sugar and oil.  mix until smooth.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each egg.  Add vanilla and pumpkin until combined.  
• Gradually mix in flour mixture, and continue mixing for about 1 minute.  
• Drop by heaping tablespoons on prepared baking sheets. 
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, until they spring back when poked.  Allow to cool for a minute on the pan and then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.  

For Filling 

• In a bowl, combine with a mixer, the powdered sugar and butter on slow speed (or you will have a mess). Increase slowly until it is combined but crumbly.  
• Our in the Hal and Half and vanilla and beat on high until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes. 
• Place half the cookies upside down, top with a generous amount of filling and put a second cookie on top.  

Makes about 16 cookies.  Store with wax paper between layer as they are very moist and will stick together. 

Fab Friday Faves 10.27.17

Happy Friday everyone and a very Happy Birthday to the world's greatest Stepdad, Jim! Last week was really quiet, and I could not come up with five favorites, so here we are this week.  Josh and I enjoyed a gorgeous, very un-fall like weekend, by going to the last day of the Maryland Renaissance festival and to the U.S Oyster Shucking competition and Maryland Oyster Festival.  This week I spent most of my time out and about enjoying the real fall weather and getting into the Fall and Halloween Spirit.  Everyone have a great Halloween weekend and stay safe!



Josh and I attended the second last day of the Maryland renaissance Festival.  The Festival runs two months, every year and is pretty amazing.  The whole huge festival area is done up as a Renaissance town and is permanently there.  There was tons of food and drink, plays, live music, street performers, shops with all kinds of items to purchase, falconry, a jousting show, a petting zoo and many other things to keep everyone entertained.  There were some amazing costumes, so the next one we go to we are definitely dressing up!



On Wednesday I went for a drive to check out some of my favorite places for fall foliage.  On my way to Chapel Point, I noticed a sign that I didn't remember so I pulled in and it was a brand new county park!  They were actually just getting some final work done on it while I was there but I went on a walk to check out some off the trails.  There is an eagle nest observation area, a butterfly garden and about 3 miles of trails that go along the river and through the woods.  There is an open house with a guided walk tomorrow if anyone seeing this is interested!



On Sunday we went to Leonardtown, to the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds to the Maryland Oyster Festival and U'S Oyster Shucking Competition.  We tried some delicious oysters and checked out a ton of local craft vendors.  they also had live music and tons to do for the whole family.



My October Expack arrived last week and I think it was the best one yet.  I got Ketchup chips (it's no secret they are my favorite), Cheezies, Some Tim Hortons coffee, butter tarts and a Crunchie Bar.  Yum!



I got some new boots from Kohls the other day.  I have been looking for some wine/burgundy boots for quite a while, and these ones were super comfy and the perfect color.  Not to mention, thanks to a sale, a Kohl's 20% off coupon and Nicole letting me use her $5 Kohl's Cash they were about 60% off!


Today I'm linking up with:

/ Bright On A Budget / Smidge of This / Simply Sweet Home /  Style Elixir / Sincerely, Paula / A Little Bit of Everything /

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Fab Friday Faves 10.13.17

Happy Friday Y'all!  And Happy Friday the 13th??  Is that a thing?  I know it's silly, but I still get a little freaked out on this day.  Josh has been gone this week to Pittsburgh for training, so Smudge and I have been hanging out having girl time, and I've hung out with Jules and Nicole and Jackson to get some human interaction.  I'm planning on going out to Purse State Park this morning to look for some shark teeth, hopefully I don't run into the Goatman.  The leaves have finally started to turn here, and Wednesday the temperature dropped below 80, thank goodness.  Bring on Fall!  Have a great weekend everyone!

I got this months FabFitFun box a few days ago and it is so amazing!  This is one box that I totally recommend if you can swing it.  Click here to sign up and get a discount!

Another, more low key box that I got was the #sendjoy box.  This was a group of 100 girl that made up cute little fall boxes to send to another random woman to make them smile.  I am in love with mine.

I went out for two Mexican lunches this week, one at Rosa Mexicano in National Harbor with Jules and to Cafe Rio here in Waldorf with Nicole and Jackson.  Both meals were delicious!  Rosa Mexicano is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant, plus their Sangria is delish.

Somehow I forgot to include this in last weeks 5, but I got my DNA results back from Ancestry.com! As you can see, I am quite a mix, and I was a little surprised by the results.  If you want to get a DNA test check out Ancestry.com.

On Saturday Josh and I went to downtown La Plata to Rocktoberfest.  There were a ton of really awesome bands and great food.  We had no idea that it would be so awesome, I totally recommend checking it out next year.

Today I'm linking up with:

/ Smidge of This / Bright On A Budget / Style Elixir / Sincerely, Paula / A Little Bit of Everything / Simply Sweet Home / 

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*Recipe* Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Muffins

I've been waiting a month and a half to post this recipe... I've also been waiting a month and a half for fall to finally arrive.  It still hasn't hit Southern Maryland, its still mid 80s with insane humidity, but at least some of the leaves have started to turn!  When I made these muffins, I sent most of them to work with Josh, and apparently they were a hit, even though they were a bit early.  Anyway, here's hoping fall gets here soon, and maybe I can make them again!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 - 15 oz can pumpkin
• 3/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup Almond Breeze Almond milk (I used silk coconut milk)
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

Directions for muffins

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Line 2 muffin pans with liners (recipe will make about 24).
• Combine flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
• In a large bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin, coconut oil, almond milk and vanilla extract.  Whisk.
• Slowly fold dry mixture into wet mixture until just combined.
• Fill muffin liners about three quarters full (using an ice cream scoop works great).

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• Combine sugar, pecans, and cinnamon in small bowl. 
• Sprinkle about a teaspoon (maybe a bit more) of the topping on the unbaked muffins.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Let cool for about 10 minutes in the muffin pan before moving to a cooling rack. 
• Enjoy!

Fab Friday Faves 10.6.17

Good morning! So, ya, I haven't blogged in over a month.  I can't actually believe it has been that long, but I really have been busy! Josh has been working less hours than usual, so, we have sen trying to take advantage of that.  I spent over a week in Florida, celebrating Josh's birthday and cleaning up from Hurricane Irma (our damage was minimal, just a lot of mess) and during that trip, I ended up badly dislocating me kneecap and (I think) breaking my wrist. So I was laid up and not exactly in a good mood. I was back for a few short days before Miranda came for almost a week, so we spent our time touring around DC and the area and just in general being busy.  So I think, that today is the first time in quite a while that I haven't had some sort of excuse! Since I haven't done a Friday blog in so long, and really don't have much to report from this week, besides Miranda's trip (which will have it's own blog)  I am going to share a few highlights from the past month.  Everyone have an awesome weekend, stay safe, and tune in again soon!

As I mentioned, Miranda was here for a few days and we did all the DC stuff you have to do... all the monuments, a Brew Tour, a Nationals Game and a quick trip to Baltimore and of course shopping.  We had a great time, and check out my upcoming blog for more.  

In Tampa, before we went to the Bucs v. Bears game, we stopped in at Datz.  I have been wanting to go here since before we moved here because of their insane brunch menu.  They have become famous across the country for their crazy sandwiches, desserts and drinks.  It was as delicious as the hype with awesome service.  But be sure to call ahead or it may take your hours to get in!

Smudge Celebrated her 11th birthday on September 10th so she got a special hat and birthday cake!  She loved it.

I got this gorgeous Charmed Aroma ring, from my latest candle, a pineapple, while I was at the house.  Not only is the ring really nice, the candle smelled amazing!

 I got a hair cut and color, FINALLY, that I don't mind.  If anyone can tell me any places in Southern Maryland or DC where I can get a good haircut and color that don't charge an arm and a leg, I would really appreciate it!

Today I'm linking up with:

/ Bright On A Budget / A Little Bit of Everything / Simply Sweet Home / Life As We Know It / Style Elixir /

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