Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Pumpkin Streusel Pancakes


Why just eat Pumpkin Pancakes when you can eat Pumpkin Streusel Pancakes with a Cream Cheese Glaze??
Every fall I like to make pumpkin pancakes at least one time and thought these sounded decadent and mouthwatering.
They were delicious but very sweet and rich. Just sayin!! Not something I can indulge in often but I guess one time won't hurt. I think I would cut back on the amount of streusel the next time, maybe just adding it to one side. The pancakes are good on their own without the streusel too.

Pumpkin Streusel Pancakes

Streusel:
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar packed
1 tsp cinnamon
4 Tbsp cold butter cubed
Combine together with a fork or your hands until crumbly. Set aside.
Pancakes:
1 1/4 cups flour
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 large egg separated
2  Tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
In a bowl whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
In another bowl whisk together milk, egg yolk, pumpkin, canola oil and vanilla. and wet ingredients into dry and whisk until combined.
Beat egg white until soft peaks form. Fold into batter.
Heat griddle to medium low. Cover with cooking spray or I like to brush mine with some melted butter. Pour 1/3 cup of batter onto griddle and top with 1 or 2 tsp of streusel. Cook until bubbles start to form. Flip over and add some more streusel on top. Cook until done.
Serve with maple syrup or cream cheese glaze.
Cream Cheese Glaze:
2 oz very soft cream cheese
1 tsp very soft butter
Beat until very creamy,
Stir in 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 3/4 tsp vanilla
Add a few Tbsp milk until desired consistency.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The Fall Garden


I know I didn't blog much about gardening this summer like I intended, but other than daylilies most everything in my garden suffered with the heat and drought.
Not that I'm ready for winter, I am glad this summer is over and hopefully next year will be better!

We had Indian summer weather this week with temperatures in the 70s and I spent a good part of it cleaning out flower beds. I know some people do it in the spring but I prefer doing as much as I can in the fall.

We have not had a hard frost yet so I still have a few blooms remaining. That will probably change by the weekend or next week. It sounds like rain and colder weather is in the forecast. We sure have been blessed with a beautiful fall.
Autumn Joy Sedum

Fall Mums

Centranthus Ruber (Jupiters Beard)

Pink Autumn Sedum

Butterfly Bush

I loved the little dwarf zinnias. I have always grown the tall ones but this was the first time I planted these. There were only two in a pack but each little plant spread out two feet. Are these as easy to grow from seed as the tall zinnias? I think I'll save some seeds and see.

Orange Cosmos

Thunbergia aka Blackeyed Susan Vine

My carpet roses still have a lot of blooms.......
and buds.

Dianthus
These are sold as annuals here in zone 5 but mine come back, sometimes for a few years before dying out. I've always loved these cheery little flowers.

Gerbera Daisies
These overwinter very well in my garage. I water them occasionally and pull off the dead foliage in the spring and they are good to go. One of my favorite container plants.

Hen and Chicks
This is the only succulent I have but it seems like succulents are the newest garden craze! I see them all over pinterest and in magazines. They are starting to grow on me and I might add some more varities. I like them best in containers, especially hypertufa.



The last of the fall color here in my cove.

Weeping Cherry
Anyone else agree with me that weeping cherry trees are just not worth all the work?? In my opinion one week of blooms in the spring just isn't worth all the hassle we go through keeping all the shoots trimmed off to keep it weeping!! It's a constant battle all summer long. If it wouldn't be at the corner of the house I'd just let it go.  Seriously considering replacing it with something else. A Paper Birch perhaps??

On the other hand the Weeping Cotoneaster is slow growing and rarely needs pruned to keep it's weeping shape. Plus it's a favorite for the birds.



And a few of my little feathered friends.


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Fall Color Continues


I wasn't planning to do another post on fall foliage again, but the color has been so extraordinary this year and has been much longer lasting than previous years I just couldn't help myself.


I was fully expecting the peak to be past when we headed out on Sunday to see if we could still find some nice color.
We didn't have to travel very far to view nature's beauty. These were all taken in the county where I live.



Oh.....I want this old cabin!!!



A carpet of leaves. Autumn is such a beautiful time of the year. Please don't leave!

I made my husband turn around to get a photo of this old rustic cabin. LOVE!!!





Tunnel through the trees.






I don't know what it is about old barns but I just love them. Maybe it's the nostalgic feeling I get when I reminisce about the time spent on my grandmas farm.

The more weathered they are the more charming. If barns could talk just think of the stories they could tell.



Amish School House




Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Beautiful Fall Foliage


We are really enjoying nature's brilliant display of colors this year.  After the drought we had this summer I was not expecting the spectacular fall colors we are having.


We are pretty much at peak right now which is a week or two ahead of normal.




Amish School House

I especially love old rustic barns.

I thought I had been on every road in my county at some time or another, but we found some places I've never been to. Like this road. I didn't even know it existed. Passed by it many times and never noticed it. I felt like I discovered the counties best kept secret.


We were awestruck by the beauty around every bend in the road.


What a totally picturesque country road.


Amish Corn Picker.







 I hope this inspires you to get out and enjoy this wonderful time of the year.