Fall

Chewy Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies

/ Jodi / 75 Comments

Chewy Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Is anything really better than a good old-fashioned homemade chocolate chip cookie?  Well, this time of year, there sure is!
After all, it’s pumpkin and spice time.
So why not make Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies?!

This cookie is a crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside version – unlike most pumpkin cookies, which are more cake-like (and wonderful too!)

Feel free to vary the spices to your liking.  No need to add nutmeg or ginger if you don’t have or don’t like.  Feel free to adjust the amount of cinnamon to your taste.  Some might like milk chocolate chips in these, but I prefer semi-sweet.  Milk chocolate chips seem almost too sweet to me.

I found a recipe at Chelsea’s Messy Apron, and tweaked it up to my liking.  Here is how I made them.

Chewy Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Servings: approx. 6 dozen
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. butter (4 sticks)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 cups brown sugar
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 4 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 3 tsp baking soda
  • 6 cups flour
  • 3  1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Soften butter in a large bowl in microwave until just melted.  Stir in sugars and completely combine.  Whisk in egg yolks.  Stir in vanilla and pumpkin.  Add salt, spices, and baking soda, and stir well.  Add flour and stir until all is combined and a soft dough forms.  Finally, stir in 3 cups of the chocolate chips, reserving 1/2 cup for decorating tops at end.  (If you prefer, you can just add them all at this time.)

Cover bowl with saran wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

When dough is fully chilled, and you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Roll dough into golf ball-sized balls.  Place on baking stone or cookie sheet, and bake 9-12 minutes until lightly brown on top.  Decorate tops with 3-5 chocolate chips after removing from oven, but still leaving on baking stone/cookie sheet.  Remove from baking stone/cookie sheet after 5-7 minutes, and cool completely on cooling rack.

Once cool, place in large gallon-size Ziploc freezer bags and store in freezer.  Cookies thaw quickly and taste delicious right out of the freezer.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pumpkin’ It Up for Fall!

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

Pumpkin’ It Up for Fall.

Happy First Day of Fall!

Happy First Day of Autumn!

Happy First day of Pumpkin Season!

I may have a slight obsession….

with all things pumpkin.

Can you ever have too many pumpkins…
to celebrate
Fall?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pumpkin Chili

/ Jodi / 57 Comments

Pumpkin Chili.

Autumn is the season for all things pumpkin!  (Can I get an “Amen?”)

So when a friend recently mentioned pumpkin chili, I just knew I had to try it.

I found a recipe online and tweaked it a bit.

And Oh My Pumpkin Lovin’ Heart!!!!!

Not only is this pot of comfort delicious, it is healthy and nutritious!  It’s chock full of veggies and ground turkey and chicken.  Pumpkin is heart healthy with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.  Tomatoes provide the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K.

A tub of this is being delivered today to a family near and dear to my heart who just welcomed a new baby (their second), along with some cornbread, so busy Mommy doesn’t have to worry.  Hoping big brother loves this as much as my granddaughter loved sampling all the ingredients that went into making this yesterday.

Give this yummy recipe a try, and let me know how you LOVE it.

Happy Pumpkin Season!

Pumpkin Chili

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 6 links (8 oz.) sweet apple with maple chicken sausage (or your fave), chopped
  • 1 sweet onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup chopped sweet red, orange, or yellow peppers
  • 2 16 oz. cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 16 oz. cans pumpkin puree
  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 3 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 Tbsp. oregano
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 2 tsp. brown sugar
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 Tbsp. olive oil

Garnishes (optional):  sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions

Directions

In a large pot, heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil, and saute onion and garlic for 2 min.  Add peppers, and saute another 3-4 mins.  Remove from pot and reserve.

Add 2 more Tbsp. olive oil to pot, and brown ground turkey and chopped chicken sausage approx. 10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.

Add veggies back into pot, along with beans, pumpkin, tomatoes, chicken broth, and spices.  Stir well.

Lower heat, cover pot, and simmer for 1 1/2 – 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

To serve, garnish (if desired) with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced green onions.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Autumn’s Grand Decree

/ Jodi / 45 Comments

Autumn’s Grand Decree.

The old dogwood tree
whose blossoms caused glee
when bursting open in Spring

cannot compare
to the colorful majesty
of Autumn’s grand decree.

 

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Getting Cozy

/ Jodi / 63 Comments

Getting Cozy.

Getting out the pumpkins.
Getting out the candles.

Getting ready for colorful leaves
Getting ready for crackling fires.

Getting ready for flannels and hoodies.
Getting ready for fleece.

Getting ready for pumpkin lattes.
Getting ready for baked apple everything.

Getting ready for simmering soups.
Getting ready for thick, hearty stews.

Getting ready for Fall.
Getting cozy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Get Cozy

 

Watercolor Boats in Marina at Sunset

/ Jodi / 57 Comments
Boats in Marina at Sunset Watercolor 11x14 Fabriano Artistico 140lb Cold Press

Watercolor Boats in Marina at Sunset.

The other evening, I felt like painting something different.  I found a very talented watercolor artist on Youtube, Tim Wilmont, from the UK, who generously shares his talent via Youtube demos,online classes, and workshops (if you are fortunate enough to live near him or be able to travel to Venice or Tuscany to attend one of his week-long workshops).

Well – since Venice or Tuscany are not in my near future, I settled for watching Tim's live demo of boats and tried my hand at it.

The painting above was my second go at it.  The first is torn in half, and the back will be used for warm ups or color testing.  This second one, though nothing near the talent of Tim, feels pretty good for me.

I learned a lot watching Tim (twice)!  I long for the day when I will have the natural gift to know where to leave white and light so instinctively and how best to balance blending colors.  And drawing is the first challenge for me, but I did it.

Thanks, Tim.  I look forward to watching more of your tutorials, and maybe someday – just maybe – I'll see you in Venice!  (A girl can dream can't she??!!)

My painting is for sale in our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY shop, and if it doesn't sell before September 9th, I'll be taking it to our FIRST EVER McKinneyX2Designs booth display and showing at the Lake Latonka Fall Festival!

Colleen, my daughter-in-law, (who makes extraordinary rustic signs and crafts from reclaimed pallet wood – like these autumn signs and adorable pumpkins!)

and I are excited to participate in this Festival, which is in it's 38th year.  If you live anywhere nearby, we hope you will come visit!

What I did with this painting (and what I do with most all) is make it available for sale as an original and in 8×10 and 5×7 prints, which are printed on soft, 100% cotton watercolor rag paper that look almost like an original.

Boats in Marina at Sunset Watercolor 11x14 Original Matted and Framed

I also make my watercolor prints into cards on Solar White 80lb Super Smooth Card Stock and box them in sets with envelopes and tiny gold bows.

Check us out on Facebook or Etsy or visit us in person at the Festival next month!  We'll be the ones who are laughing loud and having fun!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Endings and Beginnings

/ Jodi / 32 Comments

autumn-leaf

The wind has picked up a determined strength.
And the cheerful orange leaves are all but lost.

The hours of daylight have grown shorter in length.
The morning’s dew has turned into frost.

Autumn’s time is growing near her blissful end,
And winter is waiting for her turn to shine.

Snowflakes and icicles will soon impend.
and warm crackling fires under woolen fleece blankets will be so divine.

One season’s sad retreat
makes room for the next’s joyful beginning.

Goodbye Autumn – it’s so bittersweet
as we prepare to welcome winter’s first inning.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

/ Jodi / 33 Comments

pumpkin-banana-chocolate-chip-bread-1

What do you do when you have over-ripe bananas and a half of a can of leftover pumpkin puree (from making Chewy Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Cookies – which Hubby has officially declared his current all-time favorite cookie!)?

pumpkin-banana-chocolate-chip-bread-2

Well – you make wonderfully sweet and delightful Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Bread of course!

Have you ever thought of combining pumpkin and bananas in a yummy sweet bread?

Wowza!  Pure blissful deliciousness!

pumpkin-banana-chocolate-chip-bread-3

If you are looking for a lovely Autumn sweet bread to enjoy with your morning coffee, afternoon tea, or to curb your after-dinner sweet tooth, look no further.  And how fun is it to make four mini loaves instead of one big loaf so you can keep one (or two) and share the others as sweet surprises for friends or loved ones!  To me, that is more than half the joy in baking…. creating something I can share to make someone smile and brighten their day and tantalize their tummy.

Make this bread to share as a Thanksgiving hostess gift or guest’s sweet surprise.  Or just make it to enjoy!  I’m betting you will!  Warm from the oven, a slice with some melting salty butter is just about heavenly!

Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

  • Servings: 4 mini loaves
  • Print

Ingredients:pumpkin-banana-chocolate-chip-bread-1

  • 3/4 cup softened butter
  • 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree
  • 3 mashed ripe bananas
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on high approximately 2 minutes.  Add eggs and continue mixing until light and fluffy – 1-2 more minutes.  Add pumpkin and mashed bananas.  Mix well.

Add dry ingredients:  baking soda and powder, cinnamon, salt, and flour, and beat just until blended.   Remove from mixer.

Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips with wooden spoon or spatula.

Pour into 4 greased mini loaf pans.  Sprinkle tops with remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.

Bake for 40 mins or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes in pans and then remove loaves to cooling rack to completely cool.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The Color of Bliss

/ Jodi / 34 Comments

autumn-leaves

If I had to choose
a color
to describe
Bliss,

I believe it would be
the color of maple leaves
in the Autumn sunshine
dancing in the breeze.

They delight my senses
with their bright
and joyful display.

Until Spring…

when the color of Bliss
is again the color
of the maple leaves

even though that color has changed.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Focusing on peace.

Autumn’s Golden Glow

/ Jodi / 50 Comments
Autumn's Golden Glow - 9x12 Watercolor Painting

Autumn’s Golden Glow in New Gambouge and Cadmium Yellow – 9×12 Watercolor Painting

Along our usual lunch time walk, Charlie and I pass a house we refer to as the one ‘where the kids live. ‘

There are not many little ones that live on the street we walk on (much to the dismay of the sweet kiddos that recently moved into this home).

But when we do pass this home, if we are lucky and the kids are home and out playing, they come running to visit us.  What a joy that is for both Charlie and me.

When the family first moved in and Charlie was newly adopted, he would cower when they came running.  These day, he looks for them with anticipation when we pass.  What a difference a year makes.

This watercolor painting is my very loose interpretation of the beautiful trees that line the street in front of “the house with the kids.”  It was such a beautiful sight this past week that I had to take a picture with my phone as I knew I wanted to paint it.

Soon all the leaves will be gone, but this day they glowed golden in the Autumn sun.

Wishing you a day that is bright and golden and glowing.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi