Here it is. My confession...

I. Love. Harry. Potter.

Perhaps it's because I grew up with Harry. Perhaps it's because I initially wasn't allowed to read the books. Maybe it's because J.K. Rowling is awesome. Who knows. All I know is, I love Harry Potter.

So much that October this year became Harry Potter month. It just hasn't been the same since the movies ended. There's nothing to look forward to with the series. It's truly over. Ended. So sad. Anyway, October became Harry Potter month. I made a schedule of what I was going to cook and when we were going to watch each movie. I spaced it out over the month so we would finish right before Halloween (saving that day for It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!, of course).

My senior year of high school is when the last book came out. Clark likes to tease me because I made him go to the midnight release of the book. He also makes fun of me because I dressed up. He always seems to exaggerate my "costume". Truly all I did was put on some jeans, a button down, and tie. However, with my hair, he always said I was a Hermione. Just to come clean... here's the one piece of evidence.


Now that that's out of the way, let's move on to the recipes, shall we?

How do you celebrate Harry Potter? By making butterbeer and pumpkin pasties, of course! While there are plenty of other sweets that could be made, these two stand out the most to me. So, here you are. Celebrate all the awesomeness that is Harry Potter with your very own butterbeer and pumpkin pasty!

Butterbeer

Ingredients:
This recipe is for four servings of butterbeer.

- 4 12oz bottles of cream soda (or just 48 oz of cream soda, a two liter works just fine)
- 2 tsp of imitation butter PER serving (I actually used "Butter Buds" because I was unable to find legitimate imitation butter, which should be a liquid.)
Optional: 1 shot of gold rum per serving

For the foam:

- 1.5 C heavy whipping cream
- 4 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp imitation butter (or butter buds)

Directions:

- Make sure your cream soda is nice and cold! In the bottom of your glass, put your butterbuds/imitation butter and your rum if you're making this adult-butterbeer. Pour your cream soda over it and make sure it mixes well.
- For the foam, whip your heavy cream on medium speed for three to four minutes.
Note: Because Michael was sleeping when I was making this, I just whisked it to death for four minutes. Had I used an electric mixer, my foam probably would have been a bit more "firm".
- Add the sugar and whip for another two minutes or so, until soft peaks begin to form.
- Add your vanilla and butter and mix for another 30 seconds or so, until soft peaks can be seen again.
- Add your foam to the top of your cream soda mix.
To make the foam mix in a little bit, I saved some cream soda and pour it on top of the foam as well so it was foamy throughout rather than just on top.
If you like, sprinkle some raw sugar, sprinkles, or whatever you like on top of your butterbeer!

WARNING: You will have a mustache, especially if you have one already...


And if you don't make enough for seconds, people can get violent.

Now on to the...


Pumpkin Pasties


Ingredients:
(For the dough)
- 1/2 C butter, cold, cut into pieces
- 3/4 tsp sugar
- 1.5 C all purpose, unbleached flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 8 oz cream cheese (low or fat free), cut into pieces

Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350.
- Mix your dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Add the butter and use a pastry cutter (like you do for blackberry scones) to blend it in until it looks like you have course crumbs.


- Add the cream cheese and use the pastry cutter until you no longer can, switching over to a spatula or spoon until you get a nice mess.


- Add some flour to a surface or the bowl and knead the dough until you get it nice and round. Divide into two (if you don't want to make the whole recipe) and freeze or refrigerate half (if you want to).
I would suggest putting it in the fridge while you make the filling as well.


Ingredients:
(For the filling)
- 3/4 C pureed pumpkin
*Note: I only used half of the dough recipe, but made the whole filling recipe. Needless to say I had quite a bit left over. If you only intend to make half, make sure to cut the filling recipe in half as well.*
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1 egg
- 1/3 C sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla

Directions:

- In a small saucepan, heat your pumpkin and spices until warm (over low to medium-low heat).
- Whisk in your egg, vanilla, sugar, and salt. Let cool for a few minutes before proceeding.

BRING IT ALL TOGETHER NOW!

- Roll out your dough and use a biscuit or cookie cutter to cut into circles. I am not blessed with either of these, so I used the fabulous Boogie Wipes container and a knife.

- After you cut them, roll them out to make the dough thinner (note how they're not perfectly round, which is totally fine).
- Use a heaping teaspoon to put filling in them. Make sure you put it closer to an edge, rather than right in the middle.

- Fold them over and roll or pinch the edges with your fingers (or I believe you could use a fork).

Now you need: (optional)
- 1 egg, scrambled
- raw sugar

- Use a basting brush and lightly go over the tops of them with your scrambled egg. Next, sprinkle sugar on top.
A half recipe makes about seven pasties (but may make more if you have a standard biscuit cutter for the dough)!

- Put them in the oven and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until they're nice and golden on top (or just about to be golden, which is what I prefer).



Enjoy with your butterbeer or all on their own! These things go fast!

Have a Harry-Potter-Filled-Happy Halloween!




Butterbeer recipe inspired by: Bakingdom.com.

Pumpkin Pastie recipe adapted from: BrownieBites.com.

Autumn is the time for soups! For some reason, it's so much more delicious to have taco soup rather than just plain tacos. If you don't think you agree, make this recipe and then get back to me! It's super easy and delicious.

Ingredients:

- 1 lb hamburger, or ground turkey
- 3 tbsp low sodium taco seasoning
- 1 can black beans (I believe it's 15 oz or so; same applies to all "canned" ingredients.)
- 1 can corn kernels
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 1/2 red and 1/2 yellow bell peppers, chopped finely
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/8 tsp chili pepper
- 8 C water + 3 tsp beef bouillon
tortilla strips
If you don't want it "spicey", leave out the last three ingredients! Also, if you want to add an onion, it may kick up the flavor!

Directions:

- Brown you hamburger. Season with the cumin, cayenne, and chili if you want it a little bit spicier.
- Place your hamburger in a large pot, along with the water, taco seasoning, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce for simmer. Let simmer for one to two hours.
It does taste better if you let it simmer for a LONG time. Like, four to five hours. However, it's not entirely necessary!

- Serve warm. Top with anything from tortilla chips to sour cream! It's that easy and delicious!

While Clark was away, my schedule was jam packed. I was working for the school newspaper, working two jobs, going to school, and taking care of our fur-babies. I was exhausted.

I complained. There's no way to tip-toe around that truth. I took advantage of the fact that my husband was gone. After all, I went from my parents' house straight into marriage. I had never known any life other than one that held someone, or more than one someone, caring for me. Maybe it made me a little spoiled, and maybe it made me even more high maintenance... but that's life.

I finally left my on-campus job to devote more hours to my job at Calvin Klein (an outlet store). I really loved the job and loved the people. It was a sort of safe haven, since I had started it right before Clark left and the employees there seemed to understand more than anyone else. Maybe because most of them were older than me and had been in relationships longer. I'm not sure. Either way, I ended up leaning on the people there as much as I could.

There was one employee who clearly viewed me as a young, spoiled, immature brat. No, she never used those words, but the way she spoke to me, looked at me, treated me... it was very clear. Granted, she was that way with a lot of people, but it felt as though she seemed to really focus on me.

At the store we had a sort of policy at closing. Usually there would be two employees, plus whatever managers were there. So, whichever employee got there first would get to go home first and not have to follow the manager to the bank. Because of this, I always made sure to get there early. It was worth it to me to show up ten minutes before I could clock in and get to leave early than to have to stay there late and drive home in the pitch-black-dark.

I hate driving at night. I'm actually dreadful at it, anyway, so I try to avoid it as much as possible. With Clark that was easy, but with gone it was a bit more difficult. Now, going home when he was there wasn't bad-- because I knew someone was waiting for me. But, going home without anyone waiting for me... it gave me goosebumps.

So, there was a day I was working with the said employee (who happened to be the floor supervisor) and we were just talking. The store was slowing down, there was another employee, and we were probably about an hour away from closing. I had a lot of homework, I was exhausted, and all I wanted was to be home. So I asked if I could go home early.

She laughed at me. "No, Emily, you can't."

All I said was, "OK." I didn't understand why it was funny, but I was not about to let my exhaustion turn into super crankiness. I knew that she and the assistant manager had been talking about me always going home early. My friend/co-worker had told me just as much. They couldn't fight it every time, though. It was the manager's wish that not everyone stay through closing. They didn't need to pay everyone for the hours. And if I was willing to sacrifice some money to go home early, they couldn't argue with it.

So I went about folding shirts, as I had been doing.

"You know, you're such a princess." This was directed at me.

"Excuse me?"

"You just think you're always supposed to get your way. I mean, why do you want to go home, anyway? It's not like anyone's there waiting for you."

"You're right. He's at bootcamp," I gave her a look that, thankfully, she didn't see. "I want to go home early because I have a lot of homework to do, and because I don't like driving home knowing that no one is there. So, the earlier it is, the less I freak myself out. But it's no big deal. I'm on the schedule until closing, so I'm here. I just thought I'd ask since the store was slowing down and there haven't been customers in here for the last hour."

"It's not like there's anyone waiting for me, either, but you don't see me freaking out."

"I'm not freaking out. That's not what I said."

"Would Clark pick you up? It just seems like you can't take care of yourself."

I was boiling inside. "I'm not a good night driver, and no he wouldn't. But he would be there waiting for me. Something to look forward to after a stressful drive. It's no biggy. I just thought I'd ask."

I walked away. I wasn't about to continue to go through that.

While this conversation was no really called for under the circumstances, I knew she had a point in calling me "princess". Clark being away gave me a chance to find something I hadn't even looked for since high school: independence. Like I said, I went from my parents' home to being married. I wasn't used to doing things just for myself, or entirely on my own. It may sound silly, but I was still searching. Clark being away gave me a chance to really do some things that I may have never done if he hadn't left.

I ended up going home early... go figure. I got on Facebook (such a bad decision) and made my status that I was a "princess who can do things for herself, but doesn't mind being taken care of," or something like that. The employee was my friend and commented, "I like it." (This was before Facebook had the "like" option I believe.

I wasn't ashamed of who I was, but I was angry for the ways he accused me of being it. Like somehow wanting to be taken care of, or wanting someone waiting for you at home, was such a bad thing. Isn't that what most people crave?

I may not have been looking for it, but after dealing with Clark's superiors in the Marine Corps, I definitely developed a "I-can-do-it-myself" attitude, and I wasn't about to let someone at work belittle what I had accomplished thus far during my time alone.

For whatever reason, "Banana Pumpkin" sounds better to me than "Pumpkin Banana". Either way you put it, this bread was fantastic! Since I was giving it away, I pretty much stuck to this recipe from Skinnytaste.com. I didn't want anyone getting something funky, nor did I want the experiment to go totally wrong when I was planning to give it away. However, I'm not sure at this point I could really go wrong with banana. (See Banana Oatmeal Muffins, Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Banana Carrot Bread, Banana Zucchini Bread, and Banana Blueberry Muffins.)

Ingredients:

- 3/4 C unbleached all purpose flour
- 1/2 C whole wheat flour
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 C pumpkin puree
- 2 tbsp butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 C light brown sugar, unpacked
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp vanilla


Directions:

- Preheat your oven to 325. Grease whatever sort of pan you are using.
- With a mixer, beat your butter and sugar together. Add the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla.

- Mix in your bananas, followed by your dry ingredients.

- Pour your batter into your bread pan(s). Let bake for at least 60 minutes. If you are making muffins, cook for around 18 minutes before checking on them.

While we did give two mini loaves away, we just had to keep one to make sure it was gift-worthy. I promise you, it most assuredly is!

I premiered this recipe on Post Graduation Studies, a high school friend's blog. Make sure to check it out!

This recipe is easy, tasty, and budget friendly. It's fit for a meal for anyone, ranging from the starving college student to the family of four!

Ingredients:

- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 lb thinly sliced chicken breasts
- 1 clove of garlic, minced (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder or salt)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (low sodium)
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- 3oz package of chicken flavored ramen
- 1/4 C water
- 1lb package of Asian Medley frozen veggies


Directions:

- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger, then the chicken. Sautee until cooked through (no longer pink).
- Add the vegetables and cover the skillet. Cook for about five minutes, until the veggies are cooked through.
- While the vegetables are cooking, cook the ramen noodles as directed (without the flavoring). Drain the noodles.
- Add soy sauce and ramen seasoning to the chicken/veggie mix. Toss in the noodles.

*Note: If you get the seasoned veggies as I did, you probably don't want to add the ramen seasoning. It makes it REALLY salty, even with low sodium soy sauce!*

This recipe is delicious and easy! If you're feeding more than two people, I would double up on the ramen noodles.



Inspiration for this recipe came from: DisneyFamily.Com.

Clark and I sort of have an obsession with oriental food. Whenever one of us isn't feeling well, it's SO tempting just to order Chinese food and relax together. To help break that habit, I thought I needed to learn to actually make some of our favorites.

This was a bit time consuming, and didn't QUITE turn out as I had hoped (AKA it didn't look as pretty as I wanted it to), but Clark ate all of it. We had NO leftovers. So, I'd say it was a success.

Ingredients (for the chicken):

- 1 lb chicken, cut into 1 to 2 inch pieces
- salt and pepper
- 1 C cornstarch
- 2 eggs, beaten

For the sauce:
- 3/4 C sugar
- 4 tbsp ketchup
- 1/2 C distilled white vinegar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic salt

Directions:

-Preheat your oven to 350.
- Dip your chicken into the cornstarch, then the egg, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the chicken in a 9 x 13 baking dish.

- Pour your sauce over the chicken.
-Cover the chicken with aluminum foil and put in the oven. Cook for an hour. Every 15 minutes, turn the chicken. Use your judgement if the chicken needs to cook a shorter or longer amount of time.

While your chicken is cooking...

Ingredients (Fried Rice):

- 1 packet of instant rice (I used brown, but you can use white if you wish. I probably should have made two packets, since Clark LOVES fried rice. So, if you need a lot- make sure to double up!)
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 C frozen peas & carrots mix
- 1/2 small onion
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 4 tbsp soy sauce

Directions:

- Heat the sesame oil in a skillet/wok to medium/ medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and veggie mix. Sautee until tender/ the frozen veggies are cooked.
- Lower your heat to medium-low/medium heat and push your veggies to one side of the pan. On the other side, add your egg and scramble/cook it. If some of your veggies get mixed in, it's really ok.


- Add the rice and soy sauce once the egg is cooked, and mix it all together. Cook until completely warmed/mixed together.



Serve your final products together and enjoy fabulous homemade comfort food!

This recipe came from the fabulous workings of: Life as a Lofthouse!

It's happening. I woke up the other morning with the desire to play Christmas music. I sang, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "Angels We Have Heard On High" to Michael last night to try to put him to sleep. That "itch" for the holidays is there. If I indulge anymore, it will turn into a disease.

I know I've posted on this several times. My constant love of the seasons. Ultimately, autumn outweighs them all. I love all the seasons for different things, but, truly, Autumn is my favorite. I love the sweaters, the foods, the leaves, the holidays, the pumpkin patches and apple orchards and hay rides and festivals and... I think you get my point. I L-O-V-E Autumn.

Yet here I am, excited for Christmas. This is not to be overshadowed by my excitement for Thanksgiving, of course. But I love Christmas carols and family traditions and I KNOW Michael is going to be more "in to" Christmas this year, because he totally figured out the unwrapping of presents on his birthday.

Don't get me wrong. We are having an extraordinary autumn. Although, I must admit, it's only just now getting to the perfect weather I crave. You know. Sweaters, jeans, mittens weather.

To add fuel to the fire, here are some pictures of our wonderful Autumn... followed by things I have in mind for Christmas :).

My Pumpkin and Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe that featured on Standpipe & Sprinkles!

Our trip to the pumpkin patch (see Pumpkin Picking).

Apple picking.

Applesauce Cookies with Caramel Frosting.

My acorn treats being featured on DIY Bride! (For original post, see Blogging on a Budget: Seasonal Exceptions.)

Homemade Sweet & Sour Chicken with Fried Rice.

Now, things to come!


Mint Chocolate Cookies (picture used from BakedPerfection.com).

A giveaway/auction/fundraiser for Team Fearless, Relay For Life.


Shopping ideas for baby and daddy during the holidays. (Image taken from Home by Heidi.)

White Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes (picture and inspiration from Bake Your Heart Out)... OK... I have a bit of a peppermint addiction starting around December.


Christmas tree hunting, decorating, and more!


Make sure to check in for all these fabulous treats and more! Also, anything that you may want (a recipe, post about family/outings, etc.) please feel free to contact me and I'll do my best to appease!

These cookies just taste like fall. They are truly a perfect dessert for this season. Easy to make, positively adorable, and as long as you love apple-- perfect.

Ingredients:

(Cookies)
- 1/2 C butter (one stick)
- 1 egg
- 1 C unsweetened applesauce
- 2 C flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cloves

Directions:

-Preheat your oven to 375.
- Beat your butter, egg, and applesauce together.
- Stir in your dry ingredients (premixed or not, whatever is easiest on you).

- Drop the cookies on a prepared sheet, or use a cookie scooper. Size is relative. However large you want them!

-Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a cooking rack.

While they are baking....

Ingredients:

(Frosting)
- 1/4 C heavy cream
- 1/2 C unpacked brown sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1 to 2 C powdered sugar

Directions:

- Beat together the brown sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Place in microwave for 10 to 30 seconds.
- Mix in the powdered sugar until you have the right consistency.

Give your cookies sufficient time to cool before frosting.

Voila! Easy and delicious.

As you may remember from Sorority Blues, I was having some difficulties with my sisters. Perhaps it wasn't their fault. After all, none of them were married. They didn't quite understand precisely what I was going through with Clark being away. However, a few of them were in long distance relationships. I had hoped, perhaps, they would step up and try to really get me out to do things. Sadly, I was mistaken (save for one sister, that is).

Well, at this time I was in a Literature Theory class where I met my now bosom friend, Becca. She and I started talking thanks to her fabulous Wicked bag (as in the musical), and hit it off from there. It just so happened that at this point in time, she was actually dropping from her sorority thanks to a lot of drama and ridiculousness. I shared my woes about how my sisters weren't being supportive about Clark being gone, and we then adopted each other.

Our spring formal was approaching, and it just so happened that it was on my birthday. Thanks to the "tapping" drama from the last function I was at with Clark, I had to stay at formal all night (or at least until Lady President told me I could leave). Well, I certainly didn't want to be stranded all night by my lonesome. Since Becca was dropping her sorority, and had mentioned already buying her own formal dress, I invited her as my date. Of course she said yes. From then on, we were pretty much inseparable.


I decided to have people meet at my house before the event (I forgot what we called this). Since I had to be there all night, I had to drive. Having a minivan meant that I pretty much always got assigned to drive people as it was. I decided, since it was my birthday, I would make cupcakes for everyone. Perhaps I was secretly hoping that they'd all sing to me. Well, much to my dismay, no one ate cupcakes before we had to go. In fact, very few people arrived even remotely early. They showed up and then we had to leave (we were assigned a time). One of my sisters, who was actually moving in with me over the summer and basically already living with me, bought me a sunflower (my favorite) and kept wishing me happy birthday, but no one else seemed to care.

When we all piled in the car, I asked Becca to direct for me off the directions I had printed out.

Let me lead with I am AWFUL at directions. Terrible. Truly. Thank goodness I married Clark, who seriously has a GPS in his head.

So, I asked Becca to direct. However, there was some confusion, and I took a wrong turn. One of my sisters was from the town, and was like, "Where are we going?"

I looked in the rear view mirror and said I was following the directions I printed off.

"Well, you're going the wrong way. You need to turn around. You could have just asked me, I am from here."

My van was jam packed (as in, there may have been one or two people extra) and they were all being loud and my feelings were hurt that no one had wished me a happy birthday or even partaken in the cupcakes I made, and I was stressed because I'm awful with directions but had thought that out and here I was going the wrong way anyway.

"Look," I said, "I'm just following the directions. If we don't come up on the road it says next, I'll turn around, but until then could you just let me drive?"

It may have been nastier than that. I am biased, after all.

She rolled her eyes, said something under her breath to her date, and let me be. Five minutes later, we turned around.

"So, now you're going to listen to me?" She just had to say.

"Well, we figured out what we missed on the directions. Next time why don't you drive."

When we finally got to formal (truly not that late), the sister who had been telling me where to go and whatnot ignored me the entire time. So, when we all sat down at a table, it was me, Becca, and most of the people who had been in the car with me (save the sunflower-sister), and they didn't talk to us at all. Seriously. I basically felt like I was an outcast imposing on formal. I was so mad.


Becca did her best to make the night worthwhile. I think we spent most of the night talking to the female bar tenders (although I wasn't drinking) than we did anyone else. If we weren't talking to them, we were dancing. Thank goodness Becca was super outgoing and loving, because I think I would have spent most of the time sulking at the table or in the bathroom if it wasn't for her.

When we left, we gave more people a ride. At least they had the courtesy to thank me and offer me gas money. Becca spent the night. We stayed up talking/watching a movie and divulging in the cupcakes I made.

My family and friends from afar did everything in their power (sent me flowers, presents, phone calls, etc.) to make up for the fact that Clark wasn't there, but they weren't either. I was so thankful to have one friend, who I wasn't even close to at that time, to really just take over and make my day amazing. Because, admittedly, I'm one of those people who wants a parade on their birthday. Becca definitely did her best to do all that and more for me, even if my "sisters" didn't.