Things that I love...

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year! A time of changing seasons, ( if you don't live in the desert) a time for family gatherings, falling leaves and cooler weather,( such a blessing when you live in AZ.) I thought since I am starting this blog and doing some soul searching, I would start my day today remembering the things that I love in my life....

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.  ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French
 (quotegarden.com)

Things that I love... 

Family
Friends
porch swings 
the sound of blowing leaves
thunderstorms
the smell of homemade bread baking
children laughing
homemade cookies
first snowfall 
sitting by the fireplace while it is snowing outside
Christmas
Christmas music
Christmas baking
Smells of the seasons (cinnamon, cloves, pumpkin)
pumpkin pie
pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin
Going to the pumpkin patch and Jerome, AZ with my kiddo's every October

Ok, so my family has a tradition where every October we go to a pumpkin patch  outside of Prescott, AZ. They have  music, wagon rides, a corn maze for the kiddo's, a train ride, face painting, concession stands that sale corn on a stick, kettle corn and of course, PUMPKINS!!!
It is a GREAT place to go with family. Here is the link for anyone interested in the AZ area: www.azpumpkins.com

Following the pumpkin patch we head to historic Jerome, AZ and have dinner at the "Haunted Hamburger" Check it out: www.thehauntedhamburger.com 
This is a loved tradition in our family and makes for wonderful fall family memories!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! I wanted to add some family photo's but have seemed to misplace them on my PC:(I will keep searching and add some as soon as I find them. Maybe this blogging journey will help me get more organized.....one can hope, right?  


things I love continued...

baking with the kiddo's...Ok, so behold the season of sugar cookie cutouts!! We have already broken out the Halloween cookie cutters and it's not even October. This makes for a fun playdate activity and came to the rescue for me last weekend when my daughter (Sophia) had her two girlfriends over and for some reason they couldn't all agree on anything...so, I broke out one of my favorite sugar cookie recipes and put the kiddo's to work. Check out the recipe below: 

Ultimate Sugar Cookies

1 1/4 C. Sugar
1 C. Crisco (butter flavored)
2 Eggs
1/4 C. light corn syrup
1 TBLS vanilla 
3 C. Flour
3/4 t baking powder
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

Heat oven to 375: Combine sugar and buttered flavor Crisco in a large bowl.Beat at Medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, syrup, and vanilla and beat until well blended.
Combine flour, soda, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add to creamed mixture at low speed. Tip: If to sticky, place in the refrigerator for an hour.

Roll out on floured surface. Do not over work the dough! have kiddo's cut out their designs, They can either sprinkle colored sugars on at this point or wait to frost when cool. Bake for 5-9 minutes. Do not over bake! Remove cookies onto foil or cooling rack, let sit 2 minutes then frost if desired!! 

Yummy Butter Cream recipe:

6 T. butter
41/2 C. powdered sugar
1/4 C milk
1/2 t vanilla

In a small bowl beat butter, til light and fluffy. Gradually add about half of the powdered sugar beating well. Beat in milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar. Add additional milk if necessary for spreading!! Yummy!!

Happy Fall Memories!!