How to Freeze Pie Pumpkin

I do not buy pumpkin in a can, because I'm pretty sure I can taste the can, but I do enjoy the occasional pumpkin treats! So finally this year I decided I would make my own pumpkin puree - no cans! It is simple and so healthy for you. These are sweeter than the larger carving pumpkins.
I started with 2 pie pumpkins. They are smaller pumpkins and they usually say specifically "pie pumpkins".  Mine cost $1.99 each. So throw away your cans and make your own pumpkin puree! It's worth the time and the cost! These are the best for everyone's favorite bars Simply Homemade Pumpkin Bars!

Pumpkin Puree:

• I washed my pumpkins in warm water first, then cut them in half. I started at the top next to the stem and used a serrated knife to cut it in half.
• Scoop out the seeds and the stringy stuff part.
• Place the pumpkin halves upside down on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 350F for 45 minutes.

• Remove from oven and let cool.
• Using a spoon, remove the pumpkin from the skins.
• Use a blender or food processor until smooth.
• I froze mine to use later. It will be great for pumpkin pies, pumpkin bars, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes, or your favorite pumpkin food.
• It yielded 4 cups of pumpkin puree from each pumpkin. 

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Liquid Laundry Detergent

I think I have finally found a recipe for laundry detergent that I really like! I liked the powder detergent but I am really loving the liquid version. I gave some to my family members to try and they really like it too.  I have seen a lot of these recipes and they are all pretty similar. I used a combination of The Duggar's Family,www.duggarfamily.com and one from my March 2012, Country Sampler Magazine.  The basic recipe is the same, it's how you get to the finished product that I really wanted to simplify. So hopefully this works for you and you love it too!

Here's what you need:

• a 5 gallon bucket (you can pick them up at lots of places either free or cheap)
• 1 bar of Fels Naptha 
• 1 c Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
• 1 c Borax
• Very Hot Water

I made this batch in my 5 gallon bucket from start to finish. I grated the bar of soap and then heated up about 2 quarts of boiling water and carefully poured into my bucket with the grated soap and stirred until it dissolved. Then fill the bucket about half full of water (doesn't have to be boiling, just warm). Stir in 1 cup Washing Soda and 1 c Borax. Stir well until all the powder is dissolved. Then add enough water to fill up the bucket. You will need to stir with a long handled spoon or..if you have a drill with a mixer attachment, that works too.  Stir, cover and let sit overnight.  It will gel overnight, then you can either leave it in the bucket or pour it into smaller containers. I used 1/2 gallon and quart jars to store it and then pour into another container and add water and shake well.  You can also add essential oils when it has cooled if you want.  The Duggar recipe says this makes 10 gallons, when you fill an old laundry dispenser half full with soap then fill the rest with water, shake before each use. I don't dilute mine that much, but you might have to try a couple different mixtures and see what works for you.  They recommend using 5/8 c per load for top loader(180 loads) and 1/4 c. for front loader. (640 loads) I just fill mine to the line for a normal load, in my front loader. This is safe for HE machines I have actually had to clean it less since I started making my own laundry detergent, and I always use vinegar in the rinse cycle. See Cleaning your Front Loader.   As always, please leave your questions and/or comments, we love reading them!

~Simply Angie

Pear Sauce

I've been waiting and it finally happened! Pears went on sale! I love pears but I don't really like to eat them whole because I never know exactly how to keep my fingers my getting sticky. Then I saw a recipe on www.nourishedkitchen.com for pear sauce and I jumped for joy was very happy! It's simply awesome and easy to make!
Directions:

• 6-8 ripe pears (Bartlett or D'Anjou) peeled, cored, and chopped
• 2 vanilla beans (whole)
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Place the chopped pears in a pan and add water but not to the top of the pears, you want enough water so they can cook but not too much so that your sauce will be runny. Simmer over medium heat until they are soft, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat, if you have too much water you can spoon some of it off the top. Remove the cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans. Mash with a potato masher until the consistency is smooth (or cool your sauce and use a blender or food processor). Pour into glass jars and refrigerate. I used 8 pears and filled 2 pint jars. Enjoy!

Pear sauce - mmm so good!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Paper Mache Pumpkin Decoration



Pretty Pumpkin



If you haven't been in the first grade for awhile, you may have forgotten how the paper mache process works! It's still a messy project, but I must admit I had fun! You remember my fake pumpkin search from last week? Well, the saga continued and I was still searching for one more pumpkin but I finally gave up! I couldn't find exactly the pumpkin I was looking for so I decided to make my own!

My paper mache pumpkin steps:

Make the paste first using 5 cups of water and 1 cups of flour, you might have to add more flour (consistency of cooked pudding) 

Many paper strips (I used white printer paper because I didn't have newspaper) cut 1 inch wide

One medium size balloon (from the dollar store)

Thin ribbon (or you could use string)

• Pour 5 cups water into a pan and add flour.
• Whisk flour and water and cook for 3 minutes over low-medium heat.
• Pour the mixture into a medium bowl (I used my Pampered Chef batter bowl). It should be smooth.
• Let it cool - it takes about 30-45 minutes.
• While your paste is cooling, cut strips of paper, you'll need about 20 sheets of paper if you're using copy paper.
• To get your pumpkin shape started, blow up your balloon to the size you want your pumpkin, but don't tie it yet.

• To make the ridges for the pumpkin shape: Take your ribbon (or string) and wrap it around the pumpkin. Start at the top where you would tie the balloon, go around the entire balloon and end at the top, add about 4 inches to each end of ribbon (so you can tie it - but don't tie it yet) and cut the ribbon.
• Let the air out of the balloon and cut 3 more pieces of ribbon using the first one as your guide.
• Now, don't panic, this sounds confusing but it's really not hard. Take the bottom ends of the ribbon and tie them together with the top ends of the ribbon (it should resemble a circle).
• Blow up the balloon almost to the size you want, hold the top with your fingers, and with your other hand, slip the ribbon circle over the balloon. Then blow up you balloon slowly, the ribbon should start getting tighter. This is the time when you can adjust the ribbon over the balloon to get the ridges in your pumpkin. When your ribbons are in place, tie your balloon at the top. (Your ribbons ends will be at the top also). Be patient, it might take a couple of tries. It might be helpful if you are having problems to have someone hold the balloon for you while you are adjusting the ribbon. I have also heard of people using rubber bands instead of ribbon or string for this step.
• Ok - that was the worst part. Take a deep breath and enjoy a cup of coffee!
• Start to cover your balloon with the strips of paper, one at a time, dip the paper into the paste. Using your fingers, make sure both sides of the strip are covered, and don't have too much paste on the paper or it will take longer to dry.
• I covered the balloon with one layer of paper, then set it in a large bowl outside in the sun to let it dry. 
• I applied 3 layers of paper strips in total. You want to make sure each layer dries before you apply the next layer. It takes several hours. I let mine sit overnight before I painted it.
• After my pumpkin was dry, I cut the top of the balloon off. When I did that the ribbon pulled away from the sides of the pumpkin so I pulled it out. I don't think you have to do this.
• I looked for something to use a stem for my pumpkin and ended up finding a piece of potpourri that fit in the top perfectly! Use what you have!
• Before I painted I sanded the bottom lightly to make it more even. I left the imperfections of the paper because I like that look. You could lightly sand your pumpkin if you wanted a smooth finish.
• Paint your pumpkin. I used 2 coats of antique white acrylic paint, then finished with mod podge (matte finish) and I topped mine with a doily (of course)!!

almost ready for paint



done!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi