House update

Forgot to tell you, I took about a million pictures of the house today. Check out my flickr site for all the action. We are almost done framing!!

Pumpkin Spice Cake

M and I met with some friends this evening for a potluck dinner AKA covered dish dinner. Per usual, I had decided to bring a dessert.

I spent the last few days discussing with M what I should make for dessert. This consists mainly of me asking M "what should I make?", he giving me a suggestion, me agreeing with it, and then a few hours later determining that his suggestion won't work. Thus, I end up mulling over ideas until something hits me.

You would think that M would figure my pattern out and start suggesting things he doesn't like. Unfortunately for him, he hasn't but, every once in a while I do end up making one of his suggestions.

This morning during our normal Sunday breakfast at Ria's, I finally got an idea. Ria had two awesome specials this morning, an omelet with mushrooms and gouda, too die for, and pumpkin pancakes with crystallized ginger whip cream.

Totally ripping that idea off, I present you with:

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Crystallized Ginger

Prep a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and set oven to 350 deg F

Sift together: or dump in a bowl and stir around with a whisk for a while
2 1/2 C flour
I used a modified "nearly normal flour" with an additional 1/4 tsp xanthan gum, any gluten free flour with xanthan gum should work. For you wheat eaters out there, use all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves

In a stand mixer, cream together until nice and fluffy:
1/2 C butter
2 C sugar

Add and beat thoroughly:
1 large egg
1 1/2 C pumpkin puree canned or homemade

Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture alternating with 1/3 C water

Fold in:
1/2 C finely chopped crystallized ginger

Bake at 350 deg F for 45 - 50 minutes

Cool and frost with your favorite frosting, cream cheese or buttercream would work well

Easy Vanilla Buttercream from Cook's Illustrated, March & April 2005

cream together:
10 tbs Butter softened
1 1/4 C powdered sugar

Add:
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbs cream I use half and half

beat slowly until combined, then beat on high speed until double in volume

Cookie Day!!

We all have our holiday traditions where we prepare for the holiday with our friends and families. In my family, we gather for "cookie day" a day where we make cookies for our holiday giving and eating. My mum often invites a friend or two and we share recipes and spend the day baking, eating, and sharing stories. This has been a tradition as long as I can remember.

This year I thought it would be fun to share our holiday preparations. So here is the plan:

1. Host or go to a holiday preparation event.
2. Blog about it, add some recipes, if you are willing to share, then send me a link to your blog with a picture and a short description for me to post here.
   
3. or, if you don't have a blog, email me with a description of your event that you wouldn't mind having posted, some pictures, and recipes.
   
4. Throughout the month of December I will post these events on my blog.

Oh... you probably want my email: frannylue@hotmail.com

I will be accepting posts and emails through December 31st.

Happy Holidays!!

A few shots during the day

So you can actually see something.

The view from down the street, remember there will be one more story on the back half of the house.

The front of the house, think solid walls (with big windows) and that is pretty much what you will see from the front.

M on the third floor balcony, searching for the skyline view...looks like we may have to go up to the roof for that.

For more pics head to flickr.

Moving on up

This is pretty much full height in the front of the house, one more story plus roof access to go on the back. I guess we will be in the trees! (Don't worry no trees have been harmed in the making of this house, they have however been pruned a bit!)

Moving above ground

First floor walls went up today!

Hope you all took time to vote today. M and I were in line for about an hour and a half. We then rewarded ourselves for doing our civic duty by checking out the house and getting breakfast at Ria's before heading to work.

Not only do we have walls, we have a ceiling!

Or a floor depending on how you look at it. Either way framing has finally begun!

Check out all the action here.









Now, I'm off to do some knocking on doors for Obama. Remember to get out and vote on Tuesday!!