Back in Cali

This was us with Molly and family at the Pumpkin Patch.

And here's the Girl Posse (minus Lisa, who was off being operatic), from our cookout Saturday night.


So we are home again, in Southern California. We had an uneventful flight. Rebecca slept most of the flight, and she didn't have any ear trouble (I was worried, because she is having an allergy attack and has been stuffy and snotty). Ramy's sister Myrna picked us up at LAX (we flew out of Ontario, but back into LAX). I was able to get all three suitcases unpacked yesterday afternoon while Ramy took Rebecca to see his mom. Went to the grocery store and we were all pretty tired and went to bed early. Rebecca was asleep by 7:30 (which was 9:30 Central time). Today, I woke up early and got some work done on my internship applications while Rebecca slept. Then she woke up in a really good mood and was content to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins while I did even more work! Hallelujah! (Or, as Rebecca says, "Hi-dee-doo-dah!" We went to Trader Joes and cleaned up in the kitchen. Then I made some really delicious pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins. I guess it is kind of like doing a rain dance in hopes of rain - if I cook and bake fall things, then hopefully it will cool off and actually be like fall! As it is, temps are in the high 80s still and we're wearing shorts. Bleh.

Here's the recipe I use for the pumpkin bread/pumpkin muffins. This recipe will make two loaves of pumpkin bread or a loaf of bread and 12 muffins, or 24 muffins.

3 cups sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup vegetable (I use canola) oil
4 eggs
2 cups pumpkin puree
2/3 cup water
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg (or 1 tsp. of the jarred stuff)
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two loaf pans. Mix sugar, applesauce, and oil with mixer. Add eggs and blend. Add pumpkin and blend. Add water and blend. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg and add slowly, mixing just until fully incorporated and not lumpy. Stir in chopped nuts. Fill pans equally. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake loaves for 1 hour or until golden brown. (If making muffins, cook time will be approximately 30-35 minutes).