The Fickle Hobbyist

Archive for the ‘recipes’ Category

(oh, and they’re vegan, too!!)

There is just something about this time of year. Maybe it’s because fall is my favorite season, maybe it’s because the hot temperatures are cooling down, and maybe it’s because all the leaves are turning such vivid colors. I don’t know, maybe there isn’t just one single thing, but a combination of things. I love that we have beautiful Indian summers up here. It’s bright and sunny, warm, yet there is a slight nip in the air. The evenings get really cool. It’s times like these when I want to light a candle, and snuggle down to some hot spiced cider, and watch a good movie. Isn’t it funny, it’s times like these when you want to smell the smells of fall. Cinnamon, clove, pumpkin, I guess it’s because we know that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, there are pumpkins everywhere, and maybe it’s because we are beginning to bake more, now that the hot days of summer are over. Soups and casseroles begin to replace salads and barbecues. Anything with pumpkin and spice just screams of “comfort food”.

Autumn recently posted a blog about her pumpkin bread. As soon as I finished reading it, I got busy and made myself a batch. Believe me when I say it’s every bit as good as she described. Another benefit of this time of year is that you can actually find canned pumpkin on the grocery store shelves. It only comes out for a few short months a year, so you can bet I stock up!! Here is an easy recipe for pumpkin ginger scones. They aren’t very sweet, but they are dense, and moist, and go great with coffee. And with being full of pumpkin, I’d say they’re pretty good for you, as well.

1/2 cup sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp soda
3 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup margarine
2 cups pureed pumpkin

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in the margarine. Add pumpkin, mix well. On floured surface, knead dough (it’s a little sticky, flour your hands). Push into a large circle, roll out to about 1 ½ inches thick, cut into triangles ( use a big or long knife and just press it down on the dough, and flour your knife if it sticks). Put on cookie sheet or stone, bake @ 425 for 12-15 minutes.

This dough is quite wet, so you’ll need to use a spatula to get the scones off the counter onto the cookie sheet. (or use some wax paper to make it easier)
These are a nice little treat to serve up with coffee for company around the holidays. Can anyone say “Pumpkin soy latte?”

Tami’s Tip of the Week

While you’re making all these wonderful fall breads, etc, why not whip up a batch of Maple Spiced Butter?  You can put it on biscuits, toast, waffles, breads, you name it.

1 stick butter or 8 TBSP margarine, softened
2 TBSP pure maple syrup (I suppose a good grade syrup would be fine)
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Whip all together, and serve.

This afternoon the girls and I took part in one of my favorite fall traditions; carving pumpkins and roasting the seeds.

The first thing you’ll need are two cuties and two pumpkins.

Make sure that you really really love the pumpkin you chose.

Well, I suppose if you didn’t love it, it would be easier to carve it.

Either way, get in there and get messy.  Cut the top off and dig in!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s cold and squishy, but it will be worth it.

Ok…I suppose you can eat some of it if you want.

When you’re done clearing out the seeds, clean out the guts and scrape the inside clean.  Then, plan your “jankolantern” face.

Cut very carefully and admire your handiwork.

Now, on to the important stuff!!  Rinse those seeds really well and pick out all the yucky pieces of pumpkin guts.  Then, put them on a cookie sheet and pop them in a 350 degree oven to dry them off.  If you’ve got time, you can let them dry overnight, and go right to basting the next day.

Once they’re no longer wet, grab some REAL butter and stir it into the seeds.  How much is up to you.  The second, most important ingredient is this stuff…

Like it says, it’s pure magic.  They are not lying.  Of course, I realize every region has their own favorite seasoning, so use whatever “all purpose seasoning” you like.  Just realize it won’t be as delicious as anything made with Johnny’s.  Salt to taste.

Continue roasting until the seed makes a popping sound when you bite it. At LEAST 20 minutes, maybe more, once you’ve basted them.

Roasted pumpkin seeds are one of my favorite things.  They are also very nostalgic for me.  I remember carving pumpkins in high school after class had ended, and going to the football games with a pocket full of warm seeds.  I remember roasting them with my mom when I was little.  They’re such a comfort food for me.

What are your favorite fall traditions?

-Autumn

I am a bath person.  Few things are more enjoyable to me than a nice hot, aromatic bath.  Sometimes I like a candlelight bath, but most times I just like to grab a good book, and sit in there until the water gets cool.  It’s always been a great way to end the day, and head off to bed all nice and relaxed.  I know that most people prefer showers, they jump into the shower first thing in the morning, then busily head off to start their day.  I think with today’s busy lifestyles, sometimes we just need to slow down and have some quality “me” time.  My bath is just that!!

For years, I’ve made these fizzy bath bombs.  They are full of skin and water softening agents, coupled with aromatic oils, then to top it off with an ingredient that actually makes them fizz in the bathwater, makes for a very relaxing spa like experience.  I make these, but rarely get a chance to use them myself.  I like to give them as gifts, as accents in my gift baskets, or just to give to someone for no reason as all.  Today, I gave one to my massage therapist, and she was beside herself.  She said it made her day!!  One of these days I am going to make a batch strictly for myself.

Most of the ingredients you can purchase in your local grocery store, except maybe for the citric acid crystals.  I have always worked in a pharmacy, and had access to ordering it.  If your store doesn’t carry it (it’s also used in fruit preserving, so maybe you can find it), just ask your local pharmacy if they can order it for you.  Most can.  It would usually be there the next day.  This is the ingredient that makes the fizz.

The coconut oil is usually found in the nutritional area of the grocery store.  I don’t buy the most expensive, virgin kind, etc (I save that for actually consuming) but they have several different grades, so go with the cheaper one.  It’s solid at room temperature.

This particular recipe is very hard to form into a ball, but works very well put into a tiny soap mold.  While mixing this up, I even think this would do well just put into a decorative jar with a seal tight lid, and a scoop.   I will add another recipe with the same ingredients, but with different amounts below, which is very easy to shape into the shape of a ball.

Ingredients:

1 cup citric acid crystals
1 cup baking soda
½ cup corn starch
½ cup coconut oil (or you can use any light oil)
Scented oil and coloring

Mix dry ingredients.  Melt coconut oil until liquid.  Add to dry ingredients
along with scented oil and coloring.  Mix well to incorporate.  If mixture
is too crumbly, add a light oil (sesame, etc) a TBSP at a time to the right
consistency to press compactly into a mold.  Press tight.  Put onto a sheet of foil, and dry overnight.  Wrap individually.

I use different oils for fragrance.  At our local arts and crafts store, I had previously bought soap fragrance and coloring.  It won’t stain your skin like food coloring.  Sometimes I use the ocean scented oil, other times I use eucalyptus and lavender oil.  You can add any aroma you find relaxing.  I’ve even added some of my favorite perfume.

Here is the recipe for the ones easily shaped into balls
(plus it makes a much smaller batch, using less ingredients)

2 TBSP citric acid crystals
2 TBSP cornstarch
¼ cup baking soda
3 TBSP coconut oil
¼  tsp essential oil (fragrant, sesame, etc)
Coloring

Mix dry ingredients.  Mix oils.  Slowly mix together.
Shape into balls.  Dry overnight.

Tami’s Tip of the Week

Take one of your fizzy bath bombs, and place it in a drawer or linen closet (wrapped loosely, as to not get oil on anything, but enough to let the aroma free).  Your area will smell like a spa.