Also Love Pumpkin

Ready to take this recipe out for a spin this year.

I will probably ruin it with wheat flour and dirt.

Here it is in its pure form. Good Luck, sweet recipe, Good Luck

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

from Kipper's Snacks by Kip

I just tried this recipe for the first time yesterday, and I thought it was worth passing on. I like the flavor of pumpkin and chocolate together, especially in a moist, cake-like bar cookie such as this. As a variation, I tried adding some chopped pecans, which worked well, but the recipe would be delicious without them, too. A vanilla or cream cheese frosting would be a nice touch here for some extra sweetness.

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium high speed until smooth. Add egg and vanilla and blend well. Then beat in pumpkin puree. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips. Spread batter evenly in 9 x 13-inch pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake until toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, about 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan and then cut into squares.

Banana Bread Surprise

We had some brown bananas today, so, in the spirit of my industrious mother-in-law, I decided to make some banana muffins.

But I got all creative during the process, threw in some zucchini and improvised the rest. I think this is what I did:

Banana Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
Yield: 12 to 14 large muffins
Pre-heat oven to 350 and spray muffin tins

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 t. baking soda
1/3 cup yogurt
3 small and ripe bananas
1 to 1 1/2 cups zucchini
1 cup bitter sweat or semi sweat chocolate chips

Whip all ingredients together one at a time with a Bosch or other electric mixer. Batter should be light and airy. Fill muffin tins completely full. And bake about 30 minutes. Keep an eye on it.


Enjoy!

Weddings, Weddings

Tim's parents and grandparents have been in town since last Thursday. Everyone headed to Utah this week for two family weddings. His cousin Johnny got married on the 18th, and his cousin Sarah got married today. It was all a lot of family, flowers, ribbons, bows, dresses, temples, lunches, dinners, driving, waiting, hugging, crying, laughing, talking, playing and THEN ... doing it all again. I loved it!

Weddings really are amazing things to be a part of especially when you love the couples so much. So I cried a lot and was "touched" a lot by all the moments and all the magic. Loved it all.

Mostly I was reminded about how much I love my husband. This week I have felt a lot of gratitude for my man and our 6 year journey together. I really love him ... even when he gets off work early and does not go get our kids from daycare while I am still at work. (Almost killed him for that one this week until he offered to give me $250 for my pain and suffering.) Tim mentioned today that it would be nice to get married all over again knowing what we know now about life and each other. I told him that, yes, that would be nice, but at the same time no one would need to come and support us because starting all over with what we know now would be one easy journey. No need for gifts. No need for a production. I liked the production, so I guess it was worth going it to it all blind. But regardless, I really love being married to Tim. Life gets better every year.

I love the innocence and love that radiated from Sarah and Corey today. I was totally in love with them and in love with love. Sarah looked amazing and so happy, and it was a pleasure to share this special day with them.

To Old Navy and Beyond

To Old Navy and Beyond:

Well, not really beyond... that would be really far. But for sure "beyond" in the theoretical and emotional senses of the word.

I was a day late, but I did it. I walked from my local grocery story in Highland, Utah to the Old Navy in American Fork and back again. I started walking at 10:23 a.m. and returned to the car at about 2:30 p.m. But, of course I stopped to shop and feed the baby, so I think it took about 3 hours and 10 minutes to walk.

The walk was about 10 miles and went really well. It was hot, and I got a late morning start. But I survived. I about died at the mile 2 mark when I had to pee so badly I could hardly go on. I made a slight detour and used the ladies' room at the AF rec center. But I made the rest of the trip bathroom free. Imagine that.

I was thrilled to get to Old Navy, but almost turned around at the edge of the parking lot without even going inside so I could get a jump on getting home. But then, of course, I remembered how much I love Old Navy in the depths of my soul. I went in, bought a shirt for me, bought two shirts for Quinn, but did not return Tim's wrong-sized shirt as planned because McKenna was crying.

On my way out of the parking lot, I stopped at Target and fed McKenna. We took a stroll through the baby clothes area, of course, and then I was headed home. Everything was fine until about mile 8 when my back started to really hurt. I kind of wanted to die, and I could not figure how I felt so good just 2 miles before. But I made it through. I was listening to The Time Traveler's Wife the entire walk, which I really enjoyed, but when my back hurt, I took a listening break and focused on my body instead. It worked, and I felt better after a little focused walking and meditation.

I spotted my car in Highland just at the climax of my book. So, standard, I walked the last 100 yards slowly and then drove even slower on the way home so I could keep listening.

My biggest obstacles were these tiny, but sharp little thorns that kept attacking my stroller tires. I had to be very careful where I rolled. A few times I had to stop and pull as many as 10 thorns from the tires after crossing dirty patches on the side walk. Not cool.

When I got home I was greeted by a sunburn and a tired attitude .... Oh, and a very, very, very wet t-shirt. So wet.

I got a little blister on the bottom of the pad of my right big toe, but it could have been a lot worse.

Plus, I love the shirt I bought myself for $8.

Next: 12 miles. Bring it on.

3-Day Giveaway Results!!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered the 3-day giveaway in celebration of my reaching all but $500 of my fund raising goal for the San Diego 3-day Breast Cancer walk this November.

Tonight after Sunday dinner I put all the names in "my walking shoes," and Tim did the honors to pull out the names.

The Grand Prize Winner of a Pendant of her choice from Cherry Cottage Pendants is:

Bridget Reed!!!

The second place winners who will receive a gift basket of goods are:
Lizza Nelson and Melissa Jones

Email me with your address if you are one of the winners.

Congratulations, and thanks for all the readers who have been supporting my walking efforts.

Last Chance

Last Chance to enter the 3-day drawing. Just comment with your name, and you will be entered into the drawing tonight.

7 Miles and Headed to Old Navy

So this week I did my first "really long" walk. I went 7 miles and loved it. That may not seem that far, but for those who live close ... that is from the American Fork freeway exit to my house! Dear me. I really loved it. I think it helped that I warmed up my body by walking every day for 4 days before the big walk.

This week: 10 miles!! I am ready to roll. Since 10 miles is SOOOOO long, I wanted to make sure I am walking somewhere I really want to get. So of course I chose Old Navy. On Friday, I will be walking from Kohlers in Highland to OldNavy in American Fork. It is 5 miles each way. Ill have my returns in the bottom of the stroller, and I'll be ready to roll on in, do some shopping and then head home.

Wish me luck, and don't forget to enter the drawing for the giveaway!

A 3 Day Giveaway!!

Make sure to leave a comment on this post to be entered in the drawing!!


I posted earlier this week that I would do a giveaway when I have less than $500 to fund raise for the big 3-day walk.

We did it! Thanks everyone!

I've only got $330 to go in order to reach my minimum of $2,300. But I would really like to be able to raise $3,000 for breast cancer research, so keep those donations coming in. Together we can fight breast cancer and win. Donate Here.

Giveaway Details
To enter the giveaway post a comment with your name and inspirational walking message, and I will put your name in the drawing. If you donate at least $1,I will put your name in the drawing 3 times. I will put all the names in my walking shoes on Sunday night (9/20) and draw for the winners.

The Grand Prize is a beautiful Pendant of your choice from Cherry Cottage Pendants.



Other prizes include:
CDs, DVDs, t-shirts, buttons and homemade bread

Many will enter and many will win so do NOT delay. Did somebody say relay!? I WISH!! No such luck.


The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a 60-mile walk over the course of three days. Net proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and National Philanthropic Trust, funding important breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment.

Walking is Hard

Walking is hard and long.

I might be the slowest walker EVER! Kari and Tobi did 10 miles this weekend. At my pace right now, that would take about 5 hours.

I've also got 2 flat stroller tires. Dear me!

Good thing it is for a good cause.

Donate to the 3-day Walk here. Every penny counts.

I will do a big blog giveaway when I have only $500 left to raise.

Donate

Pudding and Brownies

Yup, it all worked out.

The zucchini brownies and the whole grain bread pudding. Yummy. We loved them both.

Try them.

And don't skip the frosting on the brownies. SO good and sweet and sugary and chocolaty. Enjoy!

Going Going

Since Friday Morning I've:

Walked 2 miles
Went to work without a shower (and looked just fine)
Went to Costco in the late afternoon
Ate a chicken bake
Took Quinn to the Highland splash pad
Got Quinn to bed
Woke up at the crack and drove to Orem
Met Bridget and drove to Midway
Left Swiss Days without getting out of the car because of rain
Settled in at the Heber house and let Quinn ride a horse
Cleaned up a blow out diaper (size 2)
Headed back to Swiss Days
Bought a "I hope they call me on a mission" sign for my DAUGHTER'S room
Spend the last of my pennies on a bracelet for Quinn and two magnet boards for the kitchen
Drove home and squeezed some money out of the credit card to buy gas
Left my phone in Heber
Hung up 14 pictures on the walls in my house
Switched the pictures around
Made Tim's favorite dinner
Cheered for BYU
Collapsed in bed
Got two girls and myself ready for church in 25 minutes
Came home from church after one hour
Napped
Made dinner and had a picnic
Made bread pudding -- yummy
Walked to the park
Hung out with a friend
Watched "State of Play" and drooled over Ben Affleck who I have loved for over a decade now
Finished a last load of laundry before the washer died (forever)
Prepared 3 lectures for 5 classes
Made zucchini brownies
Made powdered sugar in the blender
Helped Tim make Labor Day burgers
Had friends over
Made Labor Day Burgers again ... and potatoes
Cleaned the house
Cuddled my kids
Listened to my audio book while nursing
Picked out Quinn's school clothes a day in advance
Nursed my baby in the night
Got Quinn ready for school
Walked 2 miles
Hung out with a friend
Took a back to school gift to Louis Purdie
Picked Quinn up from school
Managed her tired and sick fit
Put on a show
Made lunch
Ate brownies
Listened to more audio book
Took pictures of McKenna
Sat around
Blogged

Lost my Phone

Hey Friends!

I lost my phone in Heber yesterday. I'll have it back in a few days, but FYI, I am not ignoring you when I do not call or text back. Email me if you need to chat!

JillFellow@gmail.cm

Bread Pudding

So I was thinking of getting into the bread pudding business -- making it that is.

I found this recipe. Will you bread pudding lovers give it a look and tell me if I should make any changes?

Also, can you use wheat bread? Can you use low fat milk?

Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk (or 2 cups half & half)
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar (white or brown, depending on taste preference)
3 eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups bread, torn into small pieces (french bread works best)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

1. In medium saucepan, over medium heat, heat milk (or half & half) just until film forms over top. Combine butter and milk, stirring until butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm.

2. Combine sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 1 minute. Slowly add milk mixture.

3. Place bread in a lightly greased 1 1/2 quart casserole.

4. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Pour batter on top of bread.

5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Serve warm.

If you make the sauce to put on top of your bread pudding, adjust the sugar in the bread pudding recipe, change it to 1/3 cups sugar (the sauce has the other 1/3 cup in it).

Bread Pudding Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk
2 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup granulated white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. flour
dash of salt

Directions:

Mix everything together and bring to a boil for 3 - 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Set aside for 5 minutes, then pour on warm bread pudding.

The Mommy Walk vs. the Quinny Walk

One of my biggest struggles to going on long walks for my 3-day training is keeping Quinn in the stroller. I've got all the right equipment. Here is my double B.O.B,




and while Quinn loves it, some times we get about a mile from home and she says, "Ok, It's a Quinny walk. I walk." I have to convince her to stay in the stroller so our walk wont take 7 hours (when we normally have only 1 to get it done.) I try to tell her hours before me leave that we are going on a Mommy walk and that we can go on a Quinny walk after day care or tomorrow or whenever. She can say "Ok" a hundred times, but without fail, she wants to talk when we get out there. So things get kind of tough out there.

I do all kinds of things to distract her:

• I bring fruit snacks (lots of packs)
  
• I point out the letters on the street signs
• I bring and read books
• I sing songs
• I take big detours so she can't see any play grounds while we walk
• I bribe her

So it is quite tricky.

By the time we get home, I am so tired! I feel completely spent, mentally and physically. Dear me. But I also feel really great, and I am ready to step things up with longer and longer walks.

And I've learned that Quinn does way better in the morning, and she also seems to relax in the stroller for longer if I am walking with a friend.

Friends, I need walking partners. Email me if you want to go on a 5 mile walk or longer!!!
Jillfellow@gmail.com

Donate to my fundraising to fight breast cancer here.