Trick or Treating Boo Buddies

Halloween School Parade

This year's sweet costume....

Pictures from Halloween past...

What to do with all those pumpkins!

Pumpkin Pasta recipe 

Cut 1/2 a butternut pumpkin into 2cm cubes.  Place in a large saucepan of boiling water

along with 500g of pasta and cook for as long as the packet suggests.  If you have a basket

to separate the pasta from the pumpkin while it is in the water it will make the process a lot

easier, but if you don't that's fine too - you can just pick it out.  Meanwhile, saute 1 large diced onion, and 2 crushed garlic cloves in a saucepan with 1 Tbsp olive oil.

Drain pasta and pumpkin, set pumpkin aside in a bowl, return pasta to pan and leave off the heat.  Mash pumpkin and add enough light cream to make a sauce consistency, season with salt & pepper.  Add pumpkin, onions, 1 Tbsp. margarine or butter and 2 Tbsp herbs (rosemary, basil, thyme or sage are good) to drained pasta, return to heat and mix thoroughly until heated. Top pasta with your favorite Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Last Week of Halloween Decorations!

Pumpkins Come Alive!

Remember Casper The Friendly Ghost?

As Halloween nears....

                            Pumpkins Waiting...

                        Black Cats celebrating....

                        Make no bones about it....

            Halloween is creeping up on us!

Morning by the sea...

Brrr...looks cold, but can you believe it will get close to 80 degrees today?  I usually run with our dog Max on these days because it gets too hot in the afternoon!

I've been book tagged!

I was book tagged by my sister Michelle today!  Here are the rules...Grab the nearest book. Open the book to page 56.  Find the fifth sentence.  Post the text of the next 2 - 5 sentences in your journal/blog along with these instructions.  Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one:  pick the CLOSEST.  Tag five other people to do the same.  

Here's what it says in the book I just grabbed:

"Don't be too severe, Tigerclaw; it was a busy night last night.  I expect they were tired,"  meowed Lionheat gently.  "You have not yet been assigned a mentor, Firepaw," he went on.  "For now, Tigerclaw and I will share your training."  Firepaw nodded enthusiastically, his tail held high, unable to disguise his delight at having two such great warriors as his mentors.

     

Guess what book it is!

(Okay, so I wouldn't even be able to guess - it's called "Warriors Into The Wild" a series book my 9 year old is reading right now....)

Show and Tell Friday

Today I'm showing you my little corner of the house - a space I can really call my own!  Some of my favorite things include seashells, favorite cooking books, a beautiful vase of silk flowers my best friend gave me for my birthday,  a small sign with a saying from E. E. Cummings which I love, and a small picture of my family.  I love to have these few things close by whenever I work at my desk:)  Thanks to Kelli for letting me share again!  For more great show and tell visit

http://www.kellishouse.blogspot.com

My favorite Hollywood memories...

                   

                         "To Catch A Thief"

                  

                    "Roman Holiday"

                    "The Road To Rio"

                     "The Wizard Of Oz"

Remember when they made movies you could never forget?

Shrimp in a Spicy Ginger-Cilantro Broth

This is a "souper" fast "souper" healthy soup I put together for my family....it only took 15

minutes to make!

Ingredients:

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 bunch cilantro

2 inch knob of fresh ginger, unpeeled

2 cloves garlic

1 Thai chili pepper (I used red pepper flakes or omit for kids)

1 lb fresh cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 cup frozen Asian-style vegetables (I used a Harvest mix)

Pour chicken broth into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave covered on high until broth is hot, about 3 minutes, depending on the power of your appliance.  

Meanwhile, chop cilantro, including stems.  Reserve 1 cup of chopped leaves for garnish.  Thinly slice ginger.  Crush garlic cloves with the flat side of your knife.  Cut chili pepper in half; remove seeds if you want less heat in your soup.

When broth is hot, pout into a medium saucepan.  Add chopped cilantro stems and leaves (except reserved cup), ginger, garlic and chili pepper and cover.  Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes.  Strain broth into the microwave-safe bowl, then return strained broth to saucepan.

Add shrimp and vegetables.  Cook for 3 minutes.  Garnish with remaining cilantro leaves.

Show and Tell Friday

Nothing makes me smile more than to walk into a room in my house and look at drawings made by my daughter.  It's a neat way to see how much she's grown and the way she looks at things at each stage in her life.  Seeing even the smallest scribble warms my heart!  Thanks to Kelli and everyone who stops by for including me in your day again!  

Frighteningly Cute Towels

Here are a couple of spooky towels that are too cute to use so I'm hanging them in the window!

Kelli's cards

Thank you Kelli for inviting us to make cards!  I know it's a bit early, but here are a couple of Halloween cards I made this weekend....just a side note, when moms get inspired...

My daughter's card...

          

          ...daughters get inspired too!   Thank you!

Boo Bling!

Happy October!

The Pumpkin children, every one, 

On Hallowe'en go out for fun;

With Jack o'lantern and his crew

They find such jolly things to do.

- Elizabeth Gordon