My Famous Pumpkin Roll

Two times every year I receive requests to make my pumpkin roll, the weekend of my BIL & FIL birthday dinner and Thanksgiving. I am not a pumpkin person, can't stand it actually, except for pumpkin roll. The sweetness of the filling makes up for the pumpkin. 

For the cake:

3/4 C. Flour

1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/4 Tsp Salt

3 Lrg. Eggs

1 Cup Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla

2/3 C. Pumpkin Puree

For the filling: 

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened

6 Tbsp Butter, Softened

1 Cup Powdered Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla

1/4 Cup Pecans, Chopped

Extra powdered sugar for dusting of towel & cake once finished

Cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line a pan with wax paper and then lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pie spice, and salt. Mix and set aside.

In another bowl beat the sugar and eggs until smooth. Add the pumpkin and vanilla until combined.

Finally add the dry ingredients until the batter forms. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth until there is an even layer.

Bake for 13-15 minutes.

Immediately invert the cake onto a towel that is sprinkled with powdered sugar. Roll up the cake and towel together. Cool completely.

Filling:

While the cake is cooling in the towel start the filling. 

Combine the cream cheese and butter until smooth. 

Beat in the vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. 

Once the cake is cooled, unroll it and remove it from the towel onto a clean surface. 

Spread the frosting over the cake and sprinkle the chopped pecans over top, now re-roll the cake. 

Wrap the pumpkin roll in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour before cutting. 

Meatballs & White Sauce

I would say sweedish meatballs but these aren't exactly that, so I will say white sauce. My favorite part about this meal is that the meatballs are made in the oven. No need to stand by the stove frying them up.

Meatballs

2lbs Ground Beef

2 Eggs

1/4 Cup Chopped Onions

1 Cup Bread Crumbs

1/4 Cup Milk

White Sauce

1 Cup Beef Stock

1 Cup Milk or Heavy Cream

1 Tsp Soy Sauce

2 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Sprinkle of Garlic Powder

3 Tbsp Flour

Salt & Pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

While waiting for the oven to heat combine all ingredients in a large bowl & mix together. 

Shape into balls & place on a cookie sheet.

Once heated, put meatballs into the oven for 15-20 mins.

While waiting for the meatballs to cook you can start the sauce.

Whisk together the stock & milk in a sauce pan on Medium-High heat.

Once boiling add the rest of the ingredients & continue to whisk until thick, 10 mins.

By now the meatballs should be done. Remove from oven & add to sauce (after it thickens).

Remove from heat & serve over noodles!

Edible (Eggless) Cookie Dough

Ingredients
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1/4 Cup Butter

1/4 Tsp Vanilla

1/4 Cup Milk

1 Cup Flour

1/4 Tsp Salt

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

Directions

In a large bowl mix together the sugar & butter until smooth.

Add in the milk & vanilla until combined.

Next add the flour & salt until blended.

Then fold in the chocolate chips.

EAT, EAT, EAT!

**Note: I advise to NOT use this as actual cookie dough to bake cookies. 

Creamy Garlic Shells

So delicious, these shells taste just like the store bought packets (minus the nasty additives)! Whenever I go to the food store I find myself turning away from the noodle and rice packets. They're so tempting. Always on sale, quick in a pinch, & tasty....well now I can have the same taste & ease with this recipe.

8oz Medium Pasta Shells

2 Tbsp Butter

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

2 Tbsp Flour

3/4 C Chicken Broth

3/4 C Milk

salt & pepper

1/4 C Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder

2 Tsp Parsley

                                                      Cook noodles like normal & drain. 

 Return pot to medium heat on the stove then melt butter. Add garlic & saute until brown. 

 Sprinkle in flour then whisk & cook for 1 min.

 Slowly add chicken brother and milk, continuing to whisk until smooth. 

 Season with salt & pepper then switch to a wooden spoon to mix until thick & bubbly. 

 Take pot off heat. Stir in parmesan cheese, garlic powder, & parsley until combined. 

Add cooked pasta & stir until covered. 

Serve!

36 Weeks!

How Far Along:  36 Weeks

Weight Gain/Loss:   14lbs from the beginning to now. I haven't gained or lost any weight since my last appointment. 

Sleep: Good actually!

Best Moment This Week: Learning that my body is working on it's own to have these girls.

Movement: Still active but have slowed down. 

Food Cravings/Aversions: Ice.

What I Miss: Being able to turn over in bed w/o the pain of my belly and walking normal w/o a waddle. 

Stretch Marks: Yes, oh well!

Belly Button: Out of course. haha.

Wedding Rings: Off. Too tight ):

Mood: READY!

Labor Signs:  Shortening cervix, slight contractions, 2cm dilated, 90% effaced. 

Milestones: I made it to the point that the girls won't need the NICU when they are born

Doctor Appointments: 
-Monday I met with Dr. Herbst in Sayre who will be assisting Dr. Wood with the twins.
-Tuesday I had my last appt with Dr. Wood before I get induced. 
-Tomorrow I meet with Dr. Dolkart for the last time.

What I look forward to: Meeting my girls.

Homemade Spicy BBQ Sauce

Ingredients

4 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

3 garlic cloves, peeled & chopped

3 Chipolte Peppers in adobo sauce, diced

1 Quart of Tomatoes with juice (I used my home canned kind)

1 Cup Ketchup

5 Tbsp Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Pinch of Cajun Seasoning (see recipe here)

1/4 Cup Apple Juice

Put the oil, garlic, and peppers into a sauce pan and saute for about 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes, stirring until it begins to boil.

Add the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, & apple juice. Stir to combine.

Let simmer for an hour, cool, & put in a container (we used a mason jar)

Korean Beef

Is it one of those days where you waited last minute to pull something out for dinner? Or perhaps you just don't feel like cooking but aren't able to get take out? This recipe is simple, delicious, and quick to make! 

The ingredients below are for a family with two adults and two toddlers, it leaves a little left over for my husbands lunch. So please feel free to change the amounts of each according to the size of your family.

Ingredients

2 Pounds Ground Beef

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Soy Sauce

2 Tablespoons Oil

6 Cloves Garlic, Minced

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Peppers

Salt and Pepper

1 Red Bell Pepper, Chopped

1 Orange Bell Pepper, Chopped (optional)

Rice, Cooked

Roman Lettuce, Whole Leaf

Directions

Heat a large pan over medium heat and brown the beef with the garlic and bell peppers in your oil. 

Once browned, drain the fat and add your brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, salt, and pepper.

Simmer for a few minutes so the flavors can mix.

Serve over your cooked rice or spoon into a lettuce leaf to eat like a taco. 

Banana Bread

Ingredients

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter, Softened

2 Eggs

1 Cup Mashed Rip Banana's

1/3 Cup Milk

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

2 Cups Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease the bottom of a 9x5 or 8x4 bread pan with cooking spray or butter.

In a large bowl mix together the sugar and butter with a spoon until light and fluffy. Then beat in the eggs until combined. Next stir in the bananas, milk, and vanilla until blended.

In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Once mixed add all of it to the banana mixture and stir until the dry ingredients are just moistened. Pour into your greased bread pan.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, remove and cool for 5 minutes in pan before removing.

Fighting Morning Sickness.

Thankfully with this pregnancy I have not had any morning sickness (knock on wood) but with the previous two I had it horrible in the first trimester. So I looked into ways to help relieve the nausea, the following are things that I have tried (marked with a *) and other things that I heard work wonders!

1. Watermelon

It's high water content and fruit sugars can help alleviate nausea. Bonus, it's delicious and can be used in slushies, smoothies, or just by itself.

2. Ginger *

Fresh ginger is best, peeled and shaved into hot tea. If you can't get a hold of fresh ginger then try to find flavored candies, ginger ale, or ginger gum. 

3. Peppermint *

One drop of essential oil under the tongue and done! You can also try gum, altoids mints, or hot tea...all peppermint flavored.

4. Eat Cold Foods *

Food that is cold, such as pasta salad or fruit stored in the fridge, has less of an odor then food that is hot. 

5. Small Meals

Usually when I started to get nauseous was when I realized I waited too long between meals. Eating small meals throughout the day instead of the normal breakfast, lunch, and dinner helps with keeping your stomach full and gives you a less chance of getting nauseous.

6. Drink Lemon Water

As you know during pregnancy you are suppose to up your water intake. Sometimes the taste of plain water can lead to some women getting sick. By adding lemon to the water and a teaspoon of sugar it will change the taste and help relieve the nausea. 

What did you do to help fight off or calm morning sickness? Feel free to comment!

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

So I've been in a baking mood, a side affect of pregnancy. Lucky you and lucky husband of mine(: 

Suggestions are more then welcome, I love trying new things!

Ingredients

2 1/4 Cup Flour

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Cup Butter, Room Temperature

1/2 Cup White Sugar

1 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar

1 Tsp Salt

2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Large Eggs

2 Cups Chocolate Chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl whisk together the flour & baking soda, set aside.

In a mixer combine the butter and both sugars until fluffy.

Add your salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed. 

Add the chocolate chips and then the flour mixture until combined.

Scoop into balls and place about 2 inches apart of your baking sheet.

Bake until edges are brown, about 10-12 minutes.

Remove and cool!

Fresh Tomato Sauce & Canning It.

This summer my husband & I have decided to can and freeze as much as we can so come winter we have a stockpile of fresh veggies and more. Home canning and freezing is much healthier & a lot more delicious then the store bought vegetables.

So far I have frozen green beans & onions, today it was time to can tomatoes and my homemade sauce. I picked up my tomatoes from the local produce stand, came home, and started preparing. 

NOTE: There is NO meat in this recipe. If you would like to add meat you will need to either eat it immediately, freeze it, or use a pressure canner.

Fresh Tomato Sauce

Ingredients                                                        

Oil

Chopped Onion

Minced Garlic

*Tomatoes; peeled and halved (see Canning Tomatoes post on how to do that)

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Oregano

Parsley

Lemon Juice

Step 1

Add enough oil to a large pot to lightly cover the bottom. Once it is hot, add garlic and onions. Saute until onions are clear. Stirring often. 

Step 2

Add tomatoes to the onions and garlic. Stir to blend. 

Step 3

Add spices & a dash of lemon juice. Stir once more.

You can add as little or as much spices as you'd like.

Set a timer for 40 mins and relax! Stir occasionally.

*After cutting the tomatoes in half use either a spoon or your fingers to scoop out all the seeds. Add the tomatoes to a food processor or blender to break them down.

Once the 40 mins is up you can begin the canning process.

Canning Tomato Sauce

Supplies

Hot Water Bath

Wide Mouth Funnel

Ladle

New Lids

Rings

Quart Jars

Step 1

Fill clean, sterile jars leaving 1/2" head space.

Step 2

Wipe tops of jars to make sure they are clean after filling. Place and screw on lids & rings.

Step 3

Place in the hot water bath (which should be boiling). Set your timer for 40mins, lower the jars, and place the lid on the bath.

When the jars are finished remove them from the water bath and place on a towel somewhere with minimum exposure to drafts. Let them sit for 12-24 hours to make sure they seal properly. 

Don't mind the jars labeled "salsa. That post will be coming soon. 

Once the 12-24 hrs is up you will want to check your can lid.
-If the lid is dipped down in the middle, it is sealed.
-If you press down on the lid & it doesn't give, it is sealed.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at shamburger411@gmail.com or post a comment!