sinfully sweet tooth

reeses!  yum!

what is it about this time of year?  generally, i'm a very healthy person.  i work out 5 days a week (and enjoy it most of the time).  i eat healthy food because i like it and it makes me feel good (inside and out).  but then fall weather arrives and with it comes pumpkin muffins, halloween candy and spicy chai lattes.  and my healthy aspirations seem harder (and harder) to stick to...

i <3 halloween munchkins too!

all i want to do is bake oatmeal raisin cookies, drink hot chocolate, purchase (and consume) reeses and go apple-picking (and make apple pies, crumbles and coffee cakes...and then eat them...)  i feel like i could literally subsist on sugar, spice & everything nice this time of year.

baking apple pie : )

there must be something in the air that arrives with falling leaves, early dusk and crisp breezes.  something that makes my sweet tooth come alive with ravenous force.  luckily, i can (usually) control my voraciousness just long enough to get me through to the next celebration or holiday (or weekend).


pumpkin muffins

oh, pumpkin muffins, how i love thee (and thanks to han, i have a dozen of you in the fridge : )  ok, i can't resist.  i'm going to get a pumpkin muffin now and some tea too...

what's your favorite fall indulgence?

.

the ties that bind

family is always greater than the sum of its parts. (or at least my family is...) unique individuals acting as one united front. collective memories. shared traditions. happy times. sad times. always with food, love, laughs and a lot of hugs. these are the ties that bind...

learning family history from aunt marilyn on st. patty's day

aunt marilyn's pineapple bread pudding (a.k.a. 1950s here we come!)

1 1/2 cups softened butter (you know it's going to be good when you start with that much butter : )
3 cups sugar
dozen eggs, lightly beaten

2 1/4 cups crushed pineapple, drained well
2 1/4 cups mandarin orange slices, drained well & cut up
15 slices white bread, crusts removed, cut into cubes

cream butter & sugar. add eggs. pour in pineapple, oranges & bread cubes. mix gently & pour into a greased 9" by 13" (or larger) casserole dish.

bake uncovered at 350 for 50-60min.

enjoy with family : ).