93 and a Chance of Autumn

 Today was in the mid 80's.

Tomorrow is forecast to be 93 degrees.

Happy Autumn.

If you are needing to get in the Autumn mood, try this:

Make a yummy spice cake batter (recipe below)

Fill cupcake cups half way.

Mix:

 1 pkg room temp cream cheese

2 eggs

1/2 c. sugar and a tsp of vanilla 

till smooth.

Now using an icing bag and a pointy tip with a fat hole, 

poke the hole into the surface of the batter 

and squeeze until the cup is filled about 3/4 of the way.

Bake as usual.

You now have Cheesecake-filled Spice Cupcakes.

Frost.

Gobble.

YUM.

Joanna's Mandarin Cake 

(this is what I used for the cupcakes, plus 1 tsp of cinnamon.  Double for 24 cupcakes)

1 c flour

1c.sugar

1tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1/4 c oil

1 can drained mandarins

(opt 1 tsp cinnamon)

Blend in mixing bowl 2-3 min.  Bake in greased 8x10 for about 30 min at 350.

Double the recipe for a 9x13 and bake an hour.

The color will be a gorgeous dark brown and it will fall in the middle after it comes out.  Totally ok!  No worries.  Now, if you are making the cake, while it is still hot, top it with this:

3/4 c brown sugar

3 tbsp butter

3 tbsp heavy cream or evap. milk

Bring to a boil and then pour over baked cake right out of the oven.

Or for cupcakes...

Cupcake Icing

 2 cubes butter

1&1/2 cup + powdered sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

a drizzle of orange flavoring

1-2 tsp milk

Beat butter until smooth, and then add brown sugar.  Allow to beat until sugar melts.  Gradually add powdered sugar and milk.  Allow to beat in mixer until it is so fluffy you could sleep on it.  

Add orange flavor and color if desired.

Since I kinda never measure when I make this stuff, here is a troubleshooter:

If it's a little too buttery, add more powdered sugar.  

If it is too thick, add a TINY bit more milk till it's smooth.

The longer you mix it the warmer it may get, so if the sugar isn't melted yet or it isn't

 fluffy enough, put it into the fridge for 10 minutes then whip it some more.

NOW it's Autumn!

Catching up

There are about five posts 

backed up on the conveyor belt in my brain 

like chocolates in an I Love Lucy Episode.  

Where to begin?

How about with a few chuckles.

The other day Jonah boy was enjoying a bit of time A'natural. 
He tooted.  Loud.

Suddenly, he spun around to look behind him on the floor,

searching for what he assumed must have 

been deposited there, and asked,

" Ah poot?"

(Where's the poop?)

Early Autumn

A crispness has come to the morning air, and though fall hasn't officially arrived, Autumn has, in all her splendor.  Only 11 months ago my dear friend Ruth said goodbye to her stillborn babe, little Rhys, who passed away at full term while she was in labor with him.  In the time since, we have all been strengthened and awed by her grace as she tenderly grieved.  Shortly after Rhys left this world, another little being came to occupy that same womb, and just two weeks ago Autumn Faith was born.  She came earlier than planned, surprising us all, but none more than her mama.  She was a perfect 6 pounds 7 ounces.  I got to hold her, and I felt like she might just slip right through the crack between my arm and my chest.  When my children were that size, they were 7 month fetuses!  Oh, she is so itty bitty and sweet.

Ruth has been so amazing and brave through out all of this.  It was not an easy pregnancy as she learned to live with the loss of her baby boy, then learned she would soon have a baby girl.  She has been an example of patience and true faith.  And now her waiting is over, her little girl is here safe and sound, and perhaps now, there is some portion of her heart that can rest.

A new mother's heart is tender.  It is an open wound, a bubbling spring, a nest.  How much more so is true for Ruth, who holds such a precious harvest in her hungry arms.

Early Autumn.  Early Thanksgiving.

Just minutes old.  Welcome to the world, little one. 

It just became a much better place! 

 

Oh, my gosh, don't you just want to gobble her up?  As my mother used to say:

"Please pass the baby!"