Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

We have this awesome ice cream shop here in town, Farr's (actually it is a couple blocks from our house - walking distance!)

Anyway, hubs took the boys there yesterday (reward for the week). Hoss has been dead set on pumpkins lately and he wanted pumpkin pie ice cream if Farr's had it - guess what, they had it!

Today hubs brought me home a scoop and It. Was. Awesome! It probably would have been much better had I let it come to temp, but I couldn't restrain myself and wolfed it all up; bringing myself back into the present just before licking the cup dry.

It tastes just like chilled pumpkin pie, has all the flavors and scents of pumpkin pie spice, like I said AWESOME!

Farr's Ice Cream - $1 for 1 scoop or $2 for 2, cone or cup. Tax included.

It's Been 1 Hell of a Year

It all started 1 year and 2 weeks ago. What happened you ask? My great uncle passed away (heart attack). Then it all came home to me 2 weeks later (Oct 23, 09) I received a phone call from my brother (other calls and txt came before this final call) All he said was 'she's dead'. My brother isn't much for sugar coating anything.

1 Year ago today, around 4p I found out that my ma was found dead (stroke/heart attack).

A couple months later my little cousin went to the hospital (she was in here early 20s), she had been in and out of hospitals all her life. But this time, she didn't come home. She died unexpectedly around 7a the next day.

A couple weeks after this, my grandfather died (ma's dad). He was old and had several (double digit) strokes over the past couple years.

From this time on, me and my sister-in-law would notify each other if family, or friend, or someone the family knew had passed. I stopped counting after 12 (12+ in 1 year). Morbid, yes...but that's me.

Anyway, it's been 1 hell of a year.

Things have gotten better...they aren't great, but better.

All week I had been getting more and more depressed as the days went by (not looking forward to today). Yesterday was bad...I had been trying not to think about it and trying not to cry. Last night though the tears ran. I happened across an email from ma (I wasn't looking for it, I thought I was clicking my SPAM folder, but what opened was the DRAFT folder with an email from her). I was fine, until hubs asked how I was doing and I told him about the email (not about reading it, just happening across it).

The beer (I know, I know) the beer helped too.

Chewy, Yummy, Goodness

Trying my hand at chewy granola bars.

It seems pretty simple actually. I used the recipe from:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/granola-bars-recipe/index.html
(if I knew how to do the - you can see that 'HERE' link thingy, I would use that, but I don't so you have to cut and paste...the ol'school way).



The hardest part was trying not to eat the ingredients while I waited for the nuts and coconut to toast.

I didn't use the exact ingredients that A.Brown used. I used sun flower seeds, pecans, peanuts, coconut and chocolate chips (of course, the chips melted as I mixed everything together...no worries). I also put everything on a cookie sheet (too big, should have used a smaller pan).



The syrup that you melted down, will not look like enough to bind everything, but it is.

I used my large, balloon chip bowl (Pyrex 444) to mix everything.



From licking the bowl and the spoon, I can tell you that it is very yummy!



I cut mine with a pizza cutter and since they are homemade they are not perfect. I got about 24 out of this one mix.



You could also just buy the mixed grains/chocolate if you want, but if you read the ingredients there are lots of 'extras' in it.

Herbie

I took Hoss to preschool several years ago and found this beauty hanging out. Hoss's teacher said we could have him because she was afraid of cats (I know, right!)

We had Herbie (the large black cat) for a few months and then I brought home BumbleBee (Hoss named both).

For 3 fun years we enjoyed Herbie. It's been a month now that he has been missing.

Did he catch a ride with the neighbors daughter without her knowing and now he can't find his way home (it happened before and she brought him back).

He is a loving kitty. Friendly. Has stripes and a white undercoat. Has a knot on the top of his head and I miss every bit of him. He is also rather large (tall).

We miss you Herbie and hope that you come home soon.

Oh Bloody 'ell

We had a couple Halloween parties to go to this past Saturday night.

I fully intended on going as 'can't decide' (clown outfit, witch hat, funky wig, fairy wings and vampire makeup)...I still have a couple days where I can go as that, and I might still.

Anyway, Saturday I changed my mind and was going to go as my default - a witch. Hubs saw the costume (a witch gown that ma made back in the 90s), said it was Gothic. He said I should go as a vampire (something I had never been).

I even went and got me fangs (Vampire fangs, fangtastics)- they were a waste of money. The denture adhesive didn't work well and the teeth broke (I exchanged them for another pair and those too broke).

Anyway, putting on my heavy makeup (I felt so pretty, I don't usually wear a lot of makeup).

The purpose of this blog:

If I was going as a vampire I was going to do it right and have blood staining my mouth.

I didn't want to use blood red makeup, I wanted it to run and look as if I had just fed. I used KoolAid to make the blood. About 1/4 tsp KoolAid powder and a couple drops water. I used a toothpick to have it run from my mouth - I thought it was cool looking (hubs thought the blood was a little much - really?!?).

What I learned --- KoolAid stings when on the skin (makes you wonder what it does to your insides if it stings the skin), tastes good though and the real lesson...it stains! 2 days later and I still have blood stains around my mouth.

Homemade Baby Wipes

2 TBSP Baby Oil
2 TBSP Baby Soap
2 Cups Filtered Water

Paper towels, take the roll and cut it in half, pull out the core. Put in a plastic container (I am using a wipes container, that I bought a while back).

I am undecided on if I love them or not.

Oh My Goodness, Oh My Goodness

Liquid Reese's



The remaining 2 cups of nuts from yesterday.

Plus, a Tablespoon honey.



I'm a dark chocolate type of girl.



Black gold. Mmm.

It isn't Nutella. It isn't as sweet as Nutella, but still good.

*other recipes say 1TBSP peanut oil (this thins out the PB, other wise it is thick),
Put in airtight container, put in fridge. Will keep for 2 months.