As previously explained, the word "adventure" is sometimes synonymous with "disaster." Today is one of those days. Charles and I moved into our new home in Plattsburg, MO about three weeks ago. It's definitely a work in progress, but it's perfect for us. I was taking a nap (one of the perks of being a childless homemaker) and woke up to a loud humming noise.
At first, I thought it was the heater. However, the humming was louder than normal. It almost sounded like someone was taking a shower. Since I was home alone and definitely not preparing to take a shower, that sound didn't bode well. I immediately jumped out of bed and went to investigate. It didn't take long for me to discover the puddle forming on our bathroom floor.
Crepes.
Hopping into action, I first attempted to turn off the water around the leak. No go. Then I high-tailed it to the front yard where I knew the water turn-off valve was for the whole house. I'm not sure why, because I had no idea how to work the thing. Next step? Mommy!
No, really. I called her like 7 times. No answer. Double crepes. Last resort? I called the city and asked them to turn off the water since my pipe was spewing water and I couldn't stop it on my own. A few minutes later, a nice man came down and turned the water off with a large pipe-like key. (Of course! Why didn't I think of an obscenely long pipe key? Ugh.)
Finally, I got a hold of the owner of our house (we're renting to own) and she called the man who's been helping them get things fixed around the house. He came without delay, thankfully. A couple hours, a trip to the hardware store, and many curse words later, it was all fixed! He even put a new double breaker in our breaker box so we wouldn't have to flip the breaker every time we wanted hot water for something. Woohoo!!
I guess this adventure wasn't too terrible... although I definitely was freaking out for a bit there. My husband, trying to be all sympathetic, said "So, this is one of those days you wish were just a bad dream, huh?" Without pausing, I said, "I've definitely had worse." This doesn't even compare to how badly I wanted Sophia's diagnosis to be a bad dream. Comparatively, I've had a pretty good day, for sure.
So I had this baby floating around in my cabinet just begging to be used:
Pumpkin! And, since, we are less than a week away from last Thanksgiving, there's totally nothing wrong with putting it to use. The problem: what to make. I searched on Allrecipes.com for a good option, since I'm not well-versed in pumpkin-use. I landed here, mostly because it didn't require eggs (the last two of which I'd used in this super-delicious brownie recipe minutes earlier.)
However, I didn't have any apple juice or cloves. That wouldn't deter this adventurer! I substituted the apple juice for the same amount of melted butter (oh, my poor heart!) and the cloves for the same amount in allspice.
The recipe turned out to be thus:
15 oz can pumpkin puree
1/4 c + 2 Tbs butter, melted
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp allspice
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1. Combine everything in a saucepan, and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat, and simmer for 20 mins or until thickened, stirring frequently.
3. Once finished, chill in the freezer until ready to eat!
This stuff not only tastes delicious, it also makes your home smell all Autumn-y. Mmm.
A couple of shots for your viewing pleasure (read in a French accent, of course):
Thanks for reading!
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| Yes, my cabinets really are doorless. |
Pumpkin! And, since, we are less than a week away from last Thanksgiving, there's totally nothing wrong with putting it to use. The problem: what to make. I searched on Allrecipes.com for a good option, since I'm not well-versed in pumpkin-use. I landed here, mostly because it didn't require eggs (the last two of which I'd used in this super-delicious brownie recipe minutes earlier.)
However, I didn't have any apple juice or cloves. That wouldn't deter this adventurer! I substituted the apple juice for the same amount of melted butter (oh, my poor heart!) and the cloves for the same amount in allspice.
The recipe turned out to be thus:
15 oz can pumpkin puree
1/4 c + 2 Tbs butter, melted
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp allspice
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1. Combine everything in a saucepan, and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat, and simmer for 20 mins or until thickened, stirring frequently.
3. Once finished, chill in the freezer until ready to eat!
This stuff not only tastes delicious, it also makes your home smell all Autumn-y. Mmm.
A couple of shots for your viewing pleasure (read in a French accent, of course):
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| So, I didn't read the part about cooking it at first... and might have enjoyed some un-cooked goodness on a piece of toast. Don't judge. |
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| Le simmering. |
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| Aww, he found a brownie friend. Dare I mix them? Perhaps. |
A while back, a recipe I was attempting called for taco seasoning. Unfortunately, I had a total of absolutely none. So I said to myself, "Self, there must be a way to make taco seasoning. You don't just grow it." I did a search (where? Pinterest, of course) and ended up here. *cue singing angels from Heaven*
Whaaat? That's right. You can make taco seasoning! And it's inexpensive and totally delicious in a taco soup. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. You can make other things from the ingredients you already have in your house. Don't have tortillas? Make them. Want a cake or a batch of delicious brownies? The box is not mandatory! Is it weird that I didn't totally grasp that until I was in my twenties? Maybe. Don't judge me.
Since I didn't do a whole lot of intense cooking before Charles and I got married, (granted, I could cook pretty much anything out of the family cookbook without much trouble - I don't want you to think I was altogether incompetent) and I wanted some brownies a few days ago, I had to do a search for a good recipe. I landed here, and since I didn't take pictures, I'll let you take a little stroll to his website.
Back? Good. Anyway, I made those brownies and they were super delicious and Charles loved them (which is always a good thing.) Problem is, there were some left over because there are only two of us and the recipe makes a 9x13 pan-worth of brownies. Solution? Half the recipe. When I made them today, I put in half of everything (except I used two whole eggs because I didn't want to go through the trouble of splitting an egg in half.)
They turned out delicious again and, as they cooled, I proceeded to made the totally delicious pumpkin butter found in this post. Here's a picture of the brownies getting cozy with the finished pumpkin butter:
In the end, I was putting tiny spoonfuls of pumpkin butter on top of my brownie squares. Heaven! I would definitely recommend doing this for yourself. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Whaaat? That's right. You can make taco seasoning! And it's inexpensive and totally delicious in a taco soup. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. You can make other things from the ingredients you already have in your house. Don't have tortillas? Make them. Want a cake or a batch of delicious brownies? The box is not mandatory! Is it weird that I didn't totally grasp that until I was in my twenties? Maybe. Don't judge me.
Since I didn't do a whole lot of intense cooking before Charles and I got married, (granted, I could cook pretty much anything out of the family cookbook without much trouble - I don't want you to think I was altogether incompetent) and I wanted some brownies a few days ago, I had to do a search for a good recipe. I landed here, and since I didn't take pictures, I'll let you take a little stroll to his website.
Back? Good. Anyway, I made those brownies and they were super delicious and Charles loved them (which is always a good thing.) Problem is, there were some left over because there are only two of us and the recipe makes a 9x13 pan-worth of brownies. Solution? Half the recipe. When I made them today, I put in half of everything (except I used two whole eggs because I didn't want to go through the trouble of splitting an egg in half.)
They turned out delicious again and, as they cooled, I proceeded to made the totally delicious pumpkin butter found in this post. Here's a picture of the brownies getting cozy with the finished pumpkin butter:
 |
| Ooh la la. |
There's something my Dad's side of the family always says when they hear about me doing anything new: "You're on an adventure!" I hate it. I really do. Mostly because the first time one of them said it to me, an all-day solo airport fiasco ensued. Long story. Basically, I got up at dead-thirty in the morning, only to be bumped to the next flight, which turned around half an hour after lift off because the door wasn't sealed correctly. Many hours, several bumped flights, and two airports later, I finally got to my destination... and claimed my luggage which had been sitting there from the flight I was supposed to come in on originally.
Phew! Get all that? Good.
So why would I choose to write about our "adventures"? Well, simply because - say that word or not - there are roughly a bazillion adventures you'll take during your life. Good or bad, they'll come, and you just have to deal with it. So here we go - cue The Lacey Adventures.
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