How did she know I was wondering about this?
Just this weekend, as I looked at our soon-to-be carved pumpkins, I thought, “So how do you use real pumpkins to cook and not just buy the canned puree?”
I’m glad I decided to check in on Becoming Homegrown today. She’s listed on our East Valley Mom Bloggers Connect page. There, I got my answer.
You have to buy a PIE PUMPKINS! (Ok, so now WHERE do I find one?)
She includes instructions on making your own puree.
Hmmm… this may be a new weekend project.

My daughter and I wrapped up our holiday baking over the weekend with a gingerbread house. I’ll say “baking” loosely since we didn’t actually bake the house. We just decorated it. We giggled and smiled as we picked out the candies, watched the frosting drip down like snow on the roof and snuck a few pieces of sweets in our mouths.
It goes without saying that we didn’t meet our goal to bake every night. We didn’t even come close. But we did enjoy the times we broke out the “baking …

My sister in law held her annual cookie day this weekend! I’ll post a few of the recipes we used (as soon as I find them!) but in the meantime, I’ll share her decorating tips.
I love how she organizes this event for the five grandkids old enough to help. She puts tiny bowls of toppings on a turntable in the middle of the kitchen table. This year, we had lots of goodies for the kids to use: licorice; marshmallows; a candy mixture of M&Ms, Skittles, gummy bears and Sweet tarts; red hots; …

During a college speech class, I once presented a talk on my history of cooking disasters. It wasn’t hard. Earlier that year I started a small fire in the dorm kitchen. It resulted in more than 150 coeds evacuating right as many were getting ready for a Friday night out.
So it comes as no surprise that I would have at least ONE dish not turn out while attempting to do more holiday baking than I’ve done in years.
After making fudge from a kit, I broke out my great grandmother’s butter …

This week is CRAZY (ok, so are the next few weeks). So when I bought baking supplies from the store, I picked up a few easy, put together kits (that bakes up goodies I don’t have to find recipes for).
I worked late last night so when I got home, there was only an hour before bedtime. I pulled out this fudge kit. The directions were pretty easy: dump the supplies in the right order into the sauce pan, stir it up then pour it into the pan. I gave my …

YUM! There are a two downtown Mesa locations that sell a treat called “magic bars.” If I go there for lunch, I often buy one.
Now, I can make them at home! (They look better in person.)
Once again I tackled a treat I’ve never baked – turtle bars. My daughter had a ton of fun sprinkling the nuts, toffee bits and chocolate chips on this one. I wasn’t sure she would like coconut (she didn’t when she tasted it before being cooked), so I only put that on half the bars. …

We took a few days off baking because I was sick. Maybe I’ll make up for it this weekend.
Maybe I won’t.
I made my first cheesecake last night. As usual, I’ve discovered a few things. First, NEVER give a 5-year-old Oreo cookies to divide up without realizing she is likely going to lick off all the frosting rather than scoop it off with a spoon. Second, a springfoam pan is VERY useful (until yesterday, I didn’t even own one). And last, it’s important to WATCH the cheesecake cook the last few …

I confess: We didn’t bake last night. My mom offered to fill in this post.
She made a batch of ice box cookies from a recipe passed down from my great-grandmother. We called her “Grandma Big Cookie.” I remember making these many Christmases growing up. Personally, I like them sliced a little thinner so they bake up like a cookie crisp. Just make sure they don’t burn.
Ice Box Cookies
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 lb margarine
3 eggs beaten
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
5 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
opt: chopped nuts or raisins
Cream together the …

I found this recipe in a House Beautiful magazine and adjusted it for my use. It sounded so yummy in November, but I didn’t get around to making it. When preparing to bake daily in December, I dug up the recipe.
It’s delicious! My daughter wasn’t too impressed with the smell and texture of the pumpkin when baking, but the frosting was a hit. It’s not too sweet of a treat, either. In fact, I ate one for breakfast and pretended it was a muffin. I confess, this came out better …

My daughter and I tackled my favorite cookie: Peanut Butter blossoms. I love how they taste. They’re fun to make. My daughter really liked putting the Hershey Kisses on! My only wonder with this cookie: how do you keep it from cracking apart?

I learned another lesson about myself too: I don’t always measure exactly when cooking. I’m too impatient! It requires 1 teaspoon? I’ll guess as I pour it in. Half a cup? Just dump in what comes up after I scoop the measuring cup in the container.
Clean kitchen after …