Old-Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Photo from VeryBestBaking.com

I made these delicious pumpkin cookies two years ago and once the temperature started to change, I knew I had to make them again. Thank goodness I had saved a can of pumpkin from last season since there's a shortage again this year.

The cookies are very cake like. I made these to transport, so I opted against the icing. I'm sure the icing would be a nice touch, but it's certainly not necessary.

Recipe and picture from Libby's Site


Ingredients

* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour - 10.63 ounces
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar - 10.5 ounces
* 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
* 1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
* 1 large egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Glaze (recipe follows)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease baking sheets.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.

FOR GLAZE:
COMBINE 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.

Linger

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've seen mixed reviews on Goodreads about this sequel. Personally, of course I didn't like the ending, but it made sense. The subject matter is already fantasy, so why not? I also liked hearing the story from more than two perspectives. Isabel and Cole added a new dimension to the story and definitely didn't sugar coat the plot. Each voice had his or her own personality, a great feat for a writer and speaks to Stiefvater's talent.

Grace's parents drove me absolutely nuts, but I guess every young adult has to have some issues with her parents sometime in her life.

Again, I'm curious to see how the third novel plays out.

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Fix It Friday 72

Ahh, it's nice to be able to do a fix-it-friday again.

Here's the original:
And here's my edit. I used Pioneer Woman's Lovely Action and then the Fresh Color Action. I don't know the story behind this picture, but I love the emotion in it.

Chicken Coconut Curry

I guess I like to think I enjoy spicier foods than my palate actually enjoys. I used the full amount of suggested curry and peppers, yeah it was definitely a little too hot for my liking. I did really enjoy the hint of coconut though.

Recipe from Proceed with Caution, who was inspired by Check It Out

* 2 1/2 pounds chicken (I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
* 1 can coconut milk (I used King Arthur's coconut powder)
* 2 cups chicken broth
* 2-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper (depending on how hot you like your food)
* 2 tablespoons curry powder (again depending on how much you like curry)
* 1 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1 teaspoon coriander
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1-2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
* juice of 1 lime
* 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
* 2-4 carrots, peeled and sliced on the bias
* 1 tablespoon butter (optional)
* white or brown rice, for serving

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Wash and pat dry the chicken with a paper towel. Pour the chicken broth, coconut milk, and jalapenos in a baking dish then lay the chicken in the broth. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Then sprinkle the rest of the spices and squeeze the lime all over the chicken and broth. Add the carrots.

Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven, carefully remove the foil and mix up the broth mixture so the coconut milk breaks up. Put the baking dish back in the oven uncovered for another 30-45 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and very tender.

Once you remove the baking dish from the oven, carefully pour the sauce into a saucepan and add 1 tablespoon butter (optional - I made it without the butter and it was delicious!). Mix using a whisk, bring the sauce to a boil and whisk till smooth and reduced. Taste the sauce to make sure it is spicy enough for your liking. If not, add more cayenne pepper and curry powder. Serve chicken and carrots over rice and add the reduced sauce.

Alice I Have Been

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Honestly this book was tortuous to get through, but I did, so I'll give it two stars in stead of one. I understand the concept of the book--Benjamin wanted to give the world a glimpse into the girl who was Alice in the story, but it just wasn't keeping my attention. Alice had too many plots in her life and Benjamin tried to weave them all together, but it just didn't work. Even by the end of the book, I really didn't feel any feelings towards the characters. Sometimes I don't like the characters themselves, but at least that means the author did a good job developing a strong character. These characters were mostly names in books and didn't invoke any feelings or emotions from me.



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Shiver

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Overall I really enjoyed this book, but I will admit, I'm a little tired of the werewolf/teen love saga. That's not to say I can't wait to pick up Linger and see how the story continues.



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Banana Bread

Since I've discovered King Arthur Flour, I'm searching their site more and more for recipes.

I had some leftover bananas and figured I'd give a new banana bread recipe a try. Honestly, it was only ok for me. I like my banana bread sweet, but this was more of a spicy recipe. I think I'd love it with zucchini instead.

Recipe from King Arthur Flour

• 4 ounces unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
• 5 ounces brown sugar, light or dark, firmly packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 12 ounces mashed ripe bananas ( about 1 pound, unpeeled)
• 2 1/4 ounces apricot jam or orange marmalade, optional but tasty
• 3 ounces honey
• 2 large eggs
• 9 1/2 ounces King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 2 ounces chopped walnuts, optional

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a 9" x 5" loaf pan.

2) In a large bowl, combine the butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, beating till smooth.

3) Add the mashed bananas, jam, honey, and eggs, again beating until smooth.

4) Add the flour, then the walnuts, stirring just until smooth.

5) Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top. Let it rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.

6) Bake the bread for 45 minutes, then gently lay a piece of aluminum foil across the top, to prevent over-browning.

7) Bake for an additional 25 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven; a long toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center should come out clean, with at most a few wet crumbs clinging to it. The tester shouldn't show any sign of uncooked batter. If it does, bake the bread an additional 5 minutes, or until it tests done.

8) Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove it from the pan, and cool it completely on a rack.

Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I enjoyed it, but with life, I had so many interruptions reading it, I know I didn't get the full effect. I think when life slows down a little, I'd like to reread the whole series.



I'm still not sure if I like the ending though.



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