Fall Decorations Part 2!

A few weeks ago I posted about my Fall decorations and I've wanted to add more, so that is exactly what I've done! :)

I originally planned to put apples in this basket. I knew that real apples wouldn't last long and if I was going to go the fake route, they had to look pretty darn good!

I ventured out to find them yesterday, but instead came home with mini pumpkins. I love them! And it gave me the idea that in winter I'll swap out the pumpkins for pine cones. 

While out looking for the apples, I also came across this cute lil' guy.  

I'd been looking for a scarecrow decoration and this one was perfect. Didn't hurt that it was on sale on top of it already being a bargain! 

I also added a pumpkin outside the front door (pictured below), which will be carved next Friday night.  In years past, I've purchased my pumpkin from a local farm, but this year I wanted something quick and without any hassle.  I saw the line to the farm nearby on my way home from the store and was so happy with the pumpkin I'd just purchased for $2.99!

Last but not least, I've had an electric jack-o-lantern inside all season, but not many people get to see it.  I don't have outlets outside, but tonight I realized that the cord can fit under the door without any damage. 

I think a nice wreath with Fall leaves or Sunflowers or something seasonal would be the last finishing touch.  Maybe soon... :) 

Amazing Apple Pie in Autumn!

Last night when I walked into the bulk warehouse store by my house I was instantly drawn to huge green apples that looked so crisp and tasty.  I instantly wanted to make an apple pie, so guess what? I did just that!

I cheated a little bit though - I used a frozen pie crust. :( I was too lazy to make the dough since I was making other things too, and to be honest I think it still tastes great!

Instead of using both crusts I made a brown sugar crumble topping.  I've made a few apple pies before, and after thinking about it, I've always used the crumble instead of the traditional two crust method...

Before baking.

And after.

I wanted to eat it instantly, but I was good and waited!

Anyway - the pie, is great. I love all the festive foods that come along with the fall season and this pie is absolutely one of them! 

Festive Fall Foods!

I loooooooove Fall, or Autumn as some call it. I like the sound of both, but Fall just comes more natural. I think it's one of those regional things because most people in Arizona and California call it Fall.

Anyway, I love Fall for so many reasons! Pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Corn, Pies, Crisp Air, Leaves changing colors, Squash, Apples, Lower Temperatues and sooooo much more.

A few weeks ago I was so excited for Fall and to get the season started, I attempted two different recipes for baked butternut squash. I'd never done it before, but I think both were a success.  I don't remember why - but I only have a photo of the candied one. I assure you though that the other was super tasty too!

The first of the two times I made a candied roasted squash. I love sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar so I thought that this would be just as great.  It was amazing, but I was a little impatient and a few parts could have been cooked a little more.

That same evening I was reading a magazine and found a recipe for a roasted butternut squash with butter and thyme. I had some thyme in my fridge from roasted carrots, and I thought what better thing to do with the herb and the squash I had left over?

Over all, both recipes were tasty, but I preferred the one with thyme over the candied version. I was in shock to be honest because I thought I'd for sure lovvvvvvve the sweet sugary one but the thyme won me over.  :) 

Fall Garden - 6 Weeks

I originally thought that there wasn't anything new to report about the garden, but about halfway through taking this week's photos I realized that I was ALL wrong...

Once I got closer to take pictures of the individual herbs in my big container, I realized that something had started to attack my Garlic Chives.  There were what appeared like little black eggs all over the individual chives closest to the soil.  I'm thinking either aphids or thrips, but that's just after some quick online research.

I did a quick inspection of the two other herbs and the spinach in that container and those seemed fine, so I made a quick decision that the chives were past the point of saving and they had to be sacrificed to save everything else.

Before I realized the Garlic Chives had to go...

And after!

RIP Garlic Chives

Other than the small little problem mentioned above, everything seems to be going well with my garden.  I have five tiny jalapenos, numerous green tomatoes, but still no actual snap peas!  I'm hoping they'll come soon because the plant sure looks amazing!

Jalapeno Plant

Tomato Plant

Tiny Green Tomatoe Clusters AGAIN! :)

Snap Peas

The Herbs are all doing great as well - except for the chives as mentioned above. My fingers are crossed that I was right and the cilantro and parsley aren't contaminated, but I'll know soon enough!

Cilantro

Flat Leaf Parsley

Upright Rosemary

Mint

Anyone need any mint? I have tons!!!

Basil

Scallions

Sometimes Ming likes to help!

And last but not least, are the crops I planted for fall - beets, carrot and the spinach! Not much has changed with the first two - which is sorta sad... and I think one of the spinach plants is in the beginning bolting stage. I know you can't really stop it but I'm trying. Other than that though, the iron-filled green is thriving!  

Beets

Carrots

Spinach 

Pulled Pork That's Finger Lickin' Good!

One of my friends recently said they'd been wanting some tasty BBQ pulled pork.  Being that I enjoy cooking - especially if it's for my friends, I decided I'd give it a try.

I did some searching online and found many different recipes.  I ended up using this one (surprise, surprise, it's from the The Pioneer Woman's website...), but modified it just a bit. 

Instead of the pork shoulder, I used a smaller cut of pork - a boneless tenderloin that was just a tad over a pound. And after adding all the ingredients in the crock pot, I decided to add about a third of a can of root beer.  Many other recipes called for it, but this one didn't and it ended up being a great addition!

I served the pulled pork with warm buttery rolls (I omitted the rosemary this time, so I could use them as pulled pork slider buns!), some oven-baked fries (the recipe calls for russet potatoes, I substituted red potatoes) and sweet corn.

Half way through the meal, the pulled pork was deemed a recipe that I would absolutely be making again!

Wishing Mike A Belated Birthday With Baked Goods!

My friend Mike had a birthday towards the end of September.  For his birthday I told him that I'd make him something sweet and delicious and that he got to pick what it was! I've been super busy lately, so I didn't have a chance to make what he wanted until this week.  

With lots of yummy things to choose from, he ended up choosing................ 

M&M cookies!

I went with his choice, but added peanut butter chips to about half the dough for an added surprise!  

I'm actually not very happy with the way the cookies were photographing though. I take my cookies out when they're still a little bit gooey to ensure they stay chewy for a few days - that is if they last a few days... 

Nevertheless, they tasted amazing! 

Alison, Mike's fiance and one of my dearest friends, came over for dinner the night I baked the cookies and she was my guinney pig taste tester!  

She approved (even if they don't look too pretty...)!

Happy Belated 26th Birthday Mike!  

Homemade Catnip Toys: Take Two!

A couple months ago I attempted to make homemade catnip toys with catnip I'd grown, dried and crumbled.  You can read all about that here! 

I knew that I'd give homemade catnip toys another go eventually and that time is now! This time I'm taking a different approach though.  

A few weeks ago I noticed my catnip was getting big enough to cut down again, so the catnip toy process was beginning. I chopped it almost completely to the soil and gathered the stocks I'd cut into three bunches then hung them to dry.  

I noticed towards the end of this week that it was dry enough to use, so this afternoon I took the dried stocks outside to crumble.  The leaves easily slid off and I crumbled them once they were in the zipper plastic bag.  

My cats were inside watching me do this and Kahn could not stop crying. At one point, Ming was up on the desk peaking trough the blinds trying to get a better look.

Well they didn't have to wait too much longer to enjoy the goodness because I made the ground catnip into two new toys tonight!  I used fabric from some sleep shorts that I never wear anymore and the ribbon came from them as well! Can't get much more homemade than that.  :)

One catnip toy for each kitty!

Kahn wanted the first of the two even before I was done making it. He was pacing around me and climbing on the back of the couch.  I gave him a tiny piece of crumbled catnip and he instantly went crazy on the coffee table. Uh-oh...what am I in for when he gets the actual toy???

This is what I was in for!!!

He loveeeeeed it and went crazy playing with it for a good 15 minutes.  Ming loved it too, but wasn't as obsessed as his lil striped friend.

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my amazing older brother and wonderful sister-in-law's 4th Wedding Anniversary! 

I remember their beautiful wedding day in Tucson, AZ four years ago today and wish them many many manyyyyyyy more years to come!

Happy 4th Anniversary, Randy and Becky!

xoxo

Fall Garden - 5 Weeks

It rained three days earlier this week. It wasn't constant rain for three days, but a pretty good amount each day. After day two I thought that a few of my crops were getting too much water so I covered my beets and carrots with the chairs and brought the basil inside. It lived in the guest shower stall for a good 24 hours and seemed to not mind one bit!

Beets

Carrots

I have to admit, I was scared that it might, but the rain didn't do any damage.  Yes, I know - rain = good for gardens, but too much rain isn't...

The herbs are still all doing amazing.  Even with cutting back the Flat Leaf Parsley and Garlic Chives a week ago, they're still going strong.  The Parsley may be a lil small still, but I have faith it'll be full and leafy again in no time!

Flat Leaf Parsley

Garlic Chives

Cilantro

Scallions

Mint

Upright Rosemary

Basil

My Basil plant continues to amaze me!

And look - it even has tiny new growth near the soil.

My Spinach is still doing great, but not much with it has changed. I plan on enjoying it in a couple salads this week!

My Snap Peas looks really cool, but it is still just the vines. I can't wait until it starts to produce food! 

The Tomato Plant looks kind of sad.  I've finally come to terms with it and can admit it. Although it's appearance isn't the greatest, it's still thriving.  I see new flowers and tiny tomatoes all the time and am excited to see new clusters growing!  

And last but not least, the Jalapeno Plant.  I have about 5 mini jalapenos growing with other blooms and tiny buds too!

Check back next week for the latest progress! :)