Deb's Smashing Pumpkins Muffins

Wow has the temps changed! Back to cold again....so time for something warm and soothing (besides tea).
I am calling this Deb's Smashing Pumpkins Muffins although I used canned pumpkin, so don't freak out on me :)  You could bake your own (make sure they are pie pumpkins) saw them in half, scrape, get the stringy things out, save seeds to roast, plant whatever, cook, remove from outer skin....oh what the hey, nope, just use canned pumpkin! Now go preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake pans, we're gonna have some fun!  (I spray my liners so the muffins do not EVEN have a chance of sticking)!
Do they taste that good?  Well I have it on the best of authority that they do! My 20 month old grandson loves them, and unlike Mikey, he doesn't like alot.

Great plain or...

But wait! It gets better! I added a "drizzle" of icing...ok so my drizzle is bigger than some,(you know it's rude that you point that out right? :)  but it really is only about 2 teaspoons of icing.

so here's the recipe:

...with just a drizzle of icing 

https://sites.google.com/site/httpez4u2doblogspotcom/deb-s-smashing-pumpkins-muffins

Click above to print recipe and at the bottom of the screen it has print page. :)


Deb's Smashing Pumpkins Muffins
Mix in a large bowl:
1 can of pumpkin
3 T. coconut oil
4 T. natural unsweetened applesauce
1 c. sugar (now u know why uns. applesauce:)
1/3 c. your choice of milk (I use soy)
1 t. vanilla extract

In another bowl:
1 1/4 c. flour (not self rising)
1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 t. baking powder ( did  u know u can use 2 parts baking soda and 1 part creme of tarter in place of the           baking soda if you are out of bk. powder? I tried it, works great!) but still add the other baking soda too)
1/3 c. chopped black walnuts (or your fav. nut)
4 MEDJOOL dates chopped into bits , (yes it needs to be medjool, they totally taste better. You can get them at Sam's or most health food stores.)
 & a pinch of salt
The reason I add the nuts and dates in with the flour instead of folding in later is so they are "coated" and don't clump together in the batter.

Mix the 2 bowls of ingredients together. Fill the cupcake liners, I use a large ice cream scoop and it makes it soooo easy to fill the liners without a mess and you get the same size each time.   Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes. (You know you can push a toothpick into the center and if it comes out clean it is done right?)
Do NOT ice until you are ready to eat.  Everyone loves these at room temp, but I like them heated in the micro for about 15 secs. as it really brings out the taste of the nuts. Then drizzle on about 2t. of icing. (recipe below)

Icing:
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 T. milk (again I use soy made with powder and water)
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. apple pie spice
1/2 t. vanilla
Mix. That's it! If it is too runny don't add more powered sugar, add dry milk or coffee creamer (hey a flavored one might be good, let me know if you try it please) then you won't have extra sugar!  Wanna see what it looks like when you heat it, drizzle on the icing and cut into it? Thought you might!

Who needs Calgon? These can take me away!

Thanks to my friend Cindy for the Girlfriend tea and dessert plate sets she bought for us sisterchicks!

So brew yourself a cup of chamomile tea (it's good for relaxing and hopefully you grew some this summer and have it on hand, we'll discuss how easy that is later!) put it in pretty dishes and put your feet up and  really think about all your blessings then thank God for them because that's where they ALL came from!

Stay warm my friends and remember to tell your friends about my new blog.

It says "Easy for you to do" but I simplified it to:

ez4u2do

Big warms hugs, pass them on!

Pool noodles are not just for pools anymore!

Hello This is me...

 Debbie Brooks Riffel , ok so it was a few years ago, but you can see my profile pix for an update:)  and my intentions are to create a blog that will share ideas that I have found in magazines, from others, thought of myself and found on Pinterest that I have actually done!  I will also tell you if they worked or not and why. This is where it becomes your blog. You can add yours as well and you can help when one of us are in trouble with a project or say well done when you enjoyed it! 

1st Installment (why do I feel like a bank when I say that?)

Today  is a cloudy, warm day and I am seriously thinking of springtime, gardens and shorts!  Which has led me to my first topic: pool noodles.  I know, I know, pool noodles? Yes! They are amazingly cheap (at the Dollar Store for $1, weird right?:) and they just got them in so you should be able to easily find them! Today I found 2 fun things to do with them and actually did them.

Warning: these projects took a hugh amount of time...both together probably 10 mins. ok, maybe 9.

1. Go to the Dollar Store and stock up on pool noodles because there will be more projects on the way.

2. Get a knife and a sharpie pen.

3. Go to your closet and get out your boots, short, tall, yes we love them all!

4. Put a noodle in your boot! (That sounds mean doesn't it! teehee But it's totally not!) and mark with a sharpie right above the top of your boot.  (Mark it a bit higher than the boot so you can remove it without reaching in when you are ready to wear them.) Turn noodle over and insert in 2nd boot and mark slightly above the top.  Remove noodle and cut through on both marks.  (serrated knife works great) and the floaties do not "crumble" like styrofoam.  

5. Put the 2 measured pieces in your boots and voilà ! you have boot forms!  I even used the center piece left over for a pair of ankle boots, so 1 floatie did 1 pair of tall and 1 pair of short boots!

That's 50 cents for support for your boots not to fall over!AND if you have problems with stinky books you can put a piece of newspaper in the end of the floatie, fill with activated charcoal (or baking soda) and plug the other end up with newspaper and that will absorb the odor.  I had tried just rolling newspapers up with rubber bands around to put in the boots but the tops kept falling over.

Ok so 2nd project for the day.  As I mentioned it is warming up and soon the electric blanket will be coming off the bed.  But I always feel like my feet are "tucked in" because the sheets and covers lay on them...so....

I took a pool noodle and put it under my mattress pad at the bottom and now my feet and toes are still warm but free to wiggle! :)

Bed without noodle at the bottom

Put in that noodle!

Add some "lift" (about 2 1/2") depending on your noodle

you really can't even see the noodle!

Looks normal from any angle!

It raises the blanket about 2 1/2". You can zip tie several together if you want a higher rise! Great bonus: you can roll the arch of your feet on them and it is like a mini massage! (no need to get out that tennis ball for it, it is now built right into your bed!)
A couple of other uses for noodles...ok, I had to use my mom's stuffed bears as a subs for a baby but here it is:

Use it to "prop" up your wee one in a photograph just like the pro's do!  (There is a noodle under that blanket) and it doesn't slip and it is soft on the precious babies.

Well welcome to ez4u2do!  Please tell your friends, then as the title says "Get it together! Then share it!"
My email is askdebnow@gmail.com   Send any comments about this blog and ask to be added to posts your ideas.  No questionable behavior, language or content.