Fall

I love fall with a passion! Unfortunately, this year I have been busy with school, but I have still managed to enjoy it some. Just no mountain trips this year, but I will be alright! Right now I am loving the colors, flowers, decorations, cooler weather, and especially the food! Pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin beer, pretty much anything pumpkin I am indulging in! Good thing I have been running outside a lot lately! So I have included two pictures for your enjoyment! One is of the tons of squash I have been buying at Trader Joe's and having for dinner several times a week. Yum! The other is of my dining room table decor that I have right now (and yes that is candy corn in the mason jars)! Happy Fall Y'all!

So true...

I'm just being honest here... I can't keep anything from A! Maybe I just see her as an extension of myself, which means I'm not telling anyone else right :)

So close, yet so far....

53 days until I have my last day of class. 7 weeks. It doesn't seem like that much to anyone else (especially the husband), but to me it seems like eternity right now. Grad school has become the bane of my existence and I am ready to be done. Oh well, only 53 more days (and that pesky board exam) stand between me and my big girl NP job!

We live, we learn

I think this was the downfall of many of my friendships from younger years. I always put others first, but now I have learned to surround yourself with people who treat you the same way (or else you become resentful).  Now I have genuine friendships with people who I would do anything for and the moment I need them, they are there! This is what true love and friendship is all about and I feel blessed to have found this in some very special people in my life!

Pumpkin Pie Crunch

So my favorite dessert of all time is Pumpkin Pie Crunch! It's like Pumpkin Pie, only crunchy, and better. Not to mention very easy to make! I have been asked to share this recipe every time I make it and of course I am willing to since it was shared with me! So here it is!

Pumpkin Pie Crunch
1 box Butter Golden Cake Mix (I have used both name brands for this and they both work)
1 15 oz can solid packed pumpkin
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
4 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 cup of melted butter (that's 2 whole sticks, yes I said 2, and that's why its so good!)
1 cup of chopped pecans
1 tub of Cool Whip

Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom of a 9 X 13 " pan.  Mix pumpkin, evaporated milk, pumpkin pie spice, salt, eggs, and sugar in bowl. Pour into greased pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over top of the mixture.  Sprinkle half of the pecans on top of the cake mix.  Drizzle melted butter over pecans.  Bake for 50-55 minutes.  Let cool completely.  When cool spread cool whip on top and sprinkle remaining pecans on top.

I will say that I have made this recipe A LOT over the past 5 years and have some troubleshooting advice from messing it up too many times! Make sure the pecans go on the cake mix before the butter or else they will burn. Also, don't use only one stick of butter trying to cut calories. It will burn and the crust is not good.  And be sure to let it cool completely. Sometimes in the fridge for hours or else the cool whip will melt and it will be a mess! Overall, it is super easy and tastes fantastic!

And so it begins....

Well, I decided to start a blog... again. The first time lasted one post. I intend to do more this go around. Now on to the name. Have you ever noticed how everyone gathers in the kitchen when you have a party or family function? I absolutely love that! That's how you know you are comfortable and "at home". I love having people standing around in my kitchen because it means that I have made everyone feel welcome! The dining room and living room always seem so stuffy and reserved. Too much like grown up world and I don't want to admit that I am one! So, that is why I wanted to name my blog after those kitchen gatherings. This is a place for me to tell all about what is going on in my life! I can't promise it will be often or interesting for that matter, but hopefully I will get something out of it!