Thursday, October 28, 2010

Culinary Adventures with Bob and Al: I heart pumpkin

Any excuse I can find to bake with pumpkin, I usually take. Soooo, I was extra excited to find a recipe for Pumpkin Shortbread Squares on Tasty Kitchen.

Check out this recipe:

  • FOR THE SHORTBREAD BASE:
  • 1-¼ cup All-purpose Flour
  • 3 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar (heaping)
  • ½ cups Softened Butter
  • 1 dash Salt
  • ½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • _____
  • FOR THE PUMPKIN FILLING:
  • 1-½ cup Pureed Pumpkin
  • ½ cups Packed Light Brown Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
  • ¼ cups All-purpose Flour
  • _____
  • FOR THE TOPPINGS:
  • ⅓ cups Chopped, Toasted Walnuts (or Any Other Nut)
  • ⅓ cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • ¼ cups Prepared Caramel Sauce

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 8×8 square dish with parchment paper or foil (if desired) and spray lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for shortbread until moist. Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Set aside.
In different large bowl, whisk together ingredients for pumpkin filling. Stir until smooth. Pour over shortbread and smooth the top. Sprinkle nuts and chocolate chips over top and press lightly into filling. Drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the entire dessert.
Bake 45 minutes-55 minutes or until pumpkin filling has set. Cool completely before removing. Cut into 16 equal squares and serve.
Note: I happened to put mine into the fridge and ate a piece cold and actually preferred it that way! So maybe give that a try to see if you’d like that better than warm or at room temperature.
I didn't use caramel in mine, so technically they were low fat! I'm SO healthy. ha.
Next time I make them I think I'll scratch the whole walnuts and chocolate bit and just do a Streusel Topping.
here's a streusel topping recipe: (this was in the pumpkin bread recipe I made earlier this month) - also courtesy of Tasty Kitchen!
  • FOR THE STREUSEL TOPPING:
  • ¼ cups Butter, Softened
  • ½ cups Brown Sugar
  • ¼ cups Oatmeal
  • ¼ cups All-purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 3 Tablespoons Ground Flax Seed
  • ¼ cups Chopped Pecans (optional)

How did people find recipes before the internet? Oh yeah, they talked to each other??! Weird!
Thanks to my Bible study girls for trying out my inaugural pumpkin shortbread squares!!

Go Judds!!!

Shout out to one of my favorite couples of all times and by far my favorite Tulsa citizens.....The Judds!!

They're running a 9 mile race on Saturday in preparation for a half marathon. So proud of them and the hard work they've done...that biz isn't easy!!

Love you guys!

As Hot Sundae would say, "Put your mind to it, go for it, get down and break sweat."


sorry about the shotty quality of this video. how sketch is that? all you tube had to offer me.

This is neat

(the following said in my best used car salesman voice)

Did you just start a company??

Do you need a logo??

Do you not have the Benjamens ($$$$) to hire a super cool design firm to crank one out??

Well, that's okay.

Just go to Logo Design Guru!

(car salesman voice stopping now)

So, guys, how cool is this? You put up a the amount you want to pay for your logo, say $100, and lots of graphic designers compete for your business and you get to pick from however many logos are submitted. Then they send the files to you so that you're ready for business!

Is this cool or what?

Should I put up like $10 and see if anyone will make a logo for ppppffffftttttt? HA.

Role Reversal

This whole Cody Ross/Rangers World Series bit is turning me into quite the sports fan.


Pop Quiz: Who insisted on staying up last night and watching the 9th inning? Robert or me?


go ahead. guess. 

The correct answer would be me. Alexis - the sports fan. Role reversal in the Scarff home last night.

This is so odd. Baseball on television used to get me an immediate case of narcolepsy. A major shift has happened since these play-offs have been going on- I'm engaged in the game, the innings fly by and I'm constantly asking Robert about the rules of baseball. (He's shocked at how much I don't know.) Also, I somehow didn't know that someone sang "God Bless America" between the 7th and 8th inning during every game. I don't know how I missed this, probably the narcolepsy? (btw...good job last night, Tony Bennett).

I love sports, Alexis

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Cody Ross Day

Yes, New Mexico is really this excited about Cody Ross.

I love it.

Rangers Pandemonium

It can be seen on the streets of Dallas and it is definitely in the walls of my office.

One of my bosses' is wearing a Rangers hat AND shirt. (Mary, guess who? ha.)

To this I say....at least try play it cool, Rangers fans. At least act like this isn't the first time in franchise history the Rangers have see the world series. I mean, maybe save your gameday gear for the actual game??

Then again, what do I know about being a diehard baseball fan? Not much.

My gosh. The postman even has a Ranger cap on. Is this a uniform violation?

Maybe my problem is that I have a deep dark secret......I'm rooting for the Giants. Sorry, Texas, but I have to stay true to my roots and cheer on my Carlsbad, New Mexico hometown boy and MVP of the NLCS, Cody Ross!!! Plus, they have the pitcher that looks like the kid from Dazed and Confused and that's fun. PLUS, I'm really happy from my new blog friend, Amber, who is a big Giants fan. (Thanks to HipLip for exposing me to new blogs and Amber :)!)


Robert told me that he's a big deal because he's so skinny, yet throws SO HARD. 

Yes, I've lived in Dallas for 4 years and yes, I'm excited for the Rangers. But, I'm way more excited for Cody, his wife and adorable kids and his whole family! Carlsbad Cavemen for LIFE!!!


Go Giants and Go Cody!!!!

and when I die I'll be Sooner dead.....

Literally.

This gentlemen took these words to heart.