Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie

Well I've actually been back in the kitchen a little bit. And it's been so nice! And let me just tell you... I made pumpkin pie for our family dinner (here at home) and My Man SAID IT WAS THE BEST HE'D EVER EATEN! If you know my man, you know he's not just blowing sunshine... well you know where. And then! Then! I made pecan pie (Pioneer Woman's no less). And My Man said it was THE BEST HE'D EVER EATEN! Seriously, I should stop cooking now. :-) Just kidding. Not to mention I made Pumpkin Cheesecake for our actual Thanksgiving Day Dinner - and that's my holiday fave.

Then, I realized not one of these recipes is on my blog. Now I'm way, way behind! I've got pics, recipes and even a couple of cute crafts I need to tell you about!!

So, here is the link to this fabulous pecan pie...

Now, pumpkin pie....

1 15 oz can of pumpkin

3/4 cup sugar

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

1/2 t ginger

1/2 t nutmeg

2 eggs 1 can (12 oz) evaporate milk

1 unbaked 9" pastry shell

whipped cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 425. Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and nutmeg in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pastry shell. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350; bake for 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whip cream before serving.

And last, but not least...

Pumpkin Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

5 T melted butter

1 cup plus 1 T sugar

3 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened

1 t vanilla

1 cup canned pumpkin

3 eggs

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t nutmeg

1/4 t allspice

whipped cream

springform pan

Make crust with crumbs, butter and T of sugar (you can skip the sugar if you're using sugar and cinnamon sprinkled graham crackers). Bake the crust for 5 minutes. Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and beat until smooth and creamy. Pour into crust. Bake 70-80 minutes. When at room temp put in fridge. Chill. Use dental floss to slice. Serve with cool whip.

I knew I should have kept my mouth shut...

Not that I'm superstitious. But, I had to go and announce to the world how well Christopher was doing. That very week he started getting up with gas. Terrible gas. Up all night with gas. And we all got sick. I thought my head would split open when I got up in the night with him. Lo ran a fever. My Man was sick too. The other two had colds but no fevers and weren't cranky but we went through a lot of tissues.

Anywho, everyone's on the up and up now, except for poor baby with his gas. Trying gripe water this week. Not so much so far. We'll just have to wait it out I guess...

More pics though.

We were putting lights on the tree... and it suddenly seemed like a good idea to decorate Powell.

As soon as the first leaf falls the kids want to make a leaf pile...

It's Going So Fast

So. Tired.

That's not really relevant. I just can't seem to process anything else until I get that out of the way!

And yet so blessed. A dear friend looked at me last week and said, 'Carissa, you have 4 beautiful children.' And that sums it up. My Man and I look around the living room in the evening at our children and are just amazed. There's nothing else to do but marvel. And be tired :-)

Tomorrow Christopher will be 3 weeks old. It seems impossible. And I know it won't be long before he (dare I say it) doesn't even look like a newborn. He has been such a good baby so far. I'm afraid to say that out loud!

Here are some recent pics...

This makes me smile

I know I should wait until the announcements are done, but I couldn't wait to share this...

The last 9 days of my life... and the first 9 of his

This is My Man and me at around 3:3o in the morning on the 26th :-)
Here he is! All 10 lbs of him! Actually it was his 15 1/2 inch head that was such an issue! Is that TMI?

There it is. Iguess 12, 13, 14 is average. Well, I guess 14 is on the bigger side.

Aunt Mallory

Aunt Jenny

Cousin Lily and Cousin Jackson

Aunt Michelle, Uncle Justin, Grandma Bolinger, Papa Bolinger, Cousin Lily, Cousin Jackson, and Christopher

Aunt Sarah

My Man and Little Man

3/4 of my kiddos

Papa

Big Sister

Big Brother

Big Sister

Head full of hair... did I mention that this is exactly the color and texture of Maryanna's hair? Her's was probably a little longer and maybe filled in a little more around the face. Did I also mention that I had terrible heartburn with both of them? Kind of funny if you know the old wive's tale, huh?

Getting dressed to go home

Taking care of the last minute details...

Home with all the sibs...

Photo op :-)

You don't know it, but he was talking to him. Told him how cute he is and how much he loves him :-)

I don't think anyone stuck stickers on him at the hospital...

Cousin Jackson

:-)

I love, love, love this one.

My little spider...

Make-Ahead Muffin Melts!

I am totally serving these at the next brunch I have or go to! They're amazing and completely 'make ahead'! My wonderful sister-in-law brought these last weekend to bless us after Christopher's birth (even though she herself had a 4 week old at the time)! We stopped sharing them with the kids after that first morning. They couldn't fully enjoy them - that's what we're telling ourselves.

These are simply amazing!

She got the recipe from Pioneer Woman, so here's the link... ENJOY!

Make Ahead Muffin Melts

One Week

My baby is one week old today. I can't believe it and I'm already mourning his newborn baby look, b/c I know it's going to be gone in just a couple of weeks! I really wanted to post his one week picture and kind of do a week in review with the pictures from this past week. But, the day is getting away from me and I'll have to post them another time.