5 Recipes for Canned Pumpkin

Libby's introduced its now famous canned pumpkin in 1929.  Since then, cans of Libby's canned pumpkin starts to fly off the shelves of grocery stores this time of year.  While pumpkin pie is a traditional take on canned pumpkin, I thought it would fun to take a look at five different vintage/retro recipes that utilize this seasonal goody. 

Frozen Pumpkin Parfait Squares

This sounds so delicious!  And it would be really easy to veganize too!  Just swap out the butter for shortening and the ice cream for a soy or coconut milk based ice cream.



Pumpkin Dream Pie

I think this pie would be a nice twist on the usual pumpkin pie that so many of us enjoy on Thanksgiving.  Plus, it's an ice box pie, so there's no cooking involved!

Cloud O'Pumpkin Pie

This is another twist on the pumpkin pie.  One pie I really do enjoy is coconut cream pie and this pie seems to be a hybrid between a pumpkin dream pie and a coconut cream pie.  This might be my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner!

Pumpkin Cookies

2 cups flour                              1 cup quick oats

1 teaspoon baking soda                   1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt                         1 cup soften butter

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar      1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg slightly beaten                              1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup Libby's solid pack pumpkin

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (or nuts, raisins, etc)

Preheat over to 350F.  Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.  Cream butter; gradually add sugars, beating until light and fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla; mix well.  Alternate additions of dry ingredients and pumpkin, mixing well after each addition.  Stir in morsels.  For each cookies, drop 1/4 cup dough balls onto lightly greased cooked sheet; spread into pumpkin shape.  Bake 20-25 minutes.  Yields 19-20 cookies.  

 Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Lemon Icing / Pumpkin Nut Bread

These cookies with the lemon icing sounds interesting!  If anyone tries them, I'd love to know how they turn out!

Have you entered the giveaway for $25 to Livin' Vintage Shop?  Check out this post to find out more!

Pumpkin Pickin'

70s Dress: Regeneration / Boots: Target / 40s Bracelet: eBay

This past weekend, the boyfriend, my brother, and I ventured out to the pumpkin patch to select some pumpkins.  One of the perks of living in the Midwest is plenty of orchards that allow you to pick your own berries, apples, and pumpkins.  I try to check out a different orchard each year, however, I was very pleased with the one we went to this year and might have to patron it again. 

The orchard provided wagons to cart around your selections.  This was especially nice since it was top priority to find a pumpkin large enough to do this:

Pumpkin in a pumpkin!  I've been pining to do this since we named our puppy Pumpkin.  Well it only took nearly four years to do so, but I am glad that I finally did it.  I am biased, but I think it came out pretty cute!

My Little Snow Baby

The past three days have brought LOTS of snow to my parts of Michigan, making driving and dressing nicely a pain. One of the only things I enjoy about the snow is watching my doggie run around in it. She just loves being outside; it would figure that I would get an outdoorsy dog when I am not a huge fan....

I love it when she comes in and has snow all over her face!

Emily

No Photos Please

Today, while sorting through some of my weekend finds, Pumpkin decided to stick her nose in my new hot pink hat. She kept sitting and looking up at it, sniffing. So, I gently placed it on her head and to my great surprise, she proceeded to sit still with the hat atop her head. I got out my camera and snapped a few quick shots before she put her head down and placed her arm over her eyes, as if to say, "no more photos please."

Emily

Morning Surprises

This morning I awoke to a snow storm, one I had no clue that was coming. While I know it's going to be a mess later, it was quite beautiful to see snow coming down and blowing in the wind. Maybe being snowed in will give me a chance to finish tackling my mending pile. Yesterday I managed to put a pretty big dent into it!

Pumpkin had a little too much fun playing outside. Sometimes I think she thinks she is a bunny because that is what she looks like, hopping around in the snow. She loves being outside; it doesn't matter what it's like out -- she loves it no matter what. Today it was hard to get her to come back in. Thankfully, when she goes outside she is on a lead, unless I am there to supervise her. When Pumpkin was just a little puppy, she figured out how to get out of our fenced in yard. She gave her mama quite the heart-attack!! After that, all outside time must be supervised.

I do enjoy watching her play in the snow. She looks so adorable prancing around! I hope everyone is warm and cozy!!

Emily

My Funny Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!! This year, since I don't have a beau, my valentine is Pumpkin. She does make for an adorable valentine...doesn't she? Today we will be spending the day at my favorite year around flea market, hopefully finding some special goodies. I hope everyone has a sweet day with their valentine....whoever it may be!

While I was looking online for a vintage valentine of a girl and a puppy, I came across this valentine, pictured above. It totally reminded me of the Merrie Melodies "Pettin' in the Park." There is a scene in that little short that looks identical to the valentine I found. The song, Pettin' in the Park is most famous for appearing in Gold Digger's of 1933, a spectacular Busby Berkeley film. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it! The Berkeley numbers are, in my opinion, among his best and the film also features some great '30s sports wear.

I will leave you with both the Merrie Melodies and a clip of the song from the film. Have a wonderful day!!

Emily

The Real Me

A while back, Miss Cherry Bubbles tagged me to post a picture of the "real me." I was racking my brain, thinking of what kind of a picture would embody the real me. I finally decided on taking a picture with my sweet little doggie, Pumpkin. Ever since I knew what a dog was, I wanted one. After living twenty-one years without a puppy (I am living at home while attending college), my parents finally caved in and got me one. She is the best little doggie in the whole world!! :) In a way, I am sort of glad my parents had me wait because I really do appreciate her whereas I think if I were younger the novelty would have certainly worn off by now.

Other than my love for my little puppy, here are some other things that make up the "real me." I am always late or running late. I have a very hard time getting places on time, but I have been getting better. I spend way too much money and am addicted to online shopping, primarily eBay. Who doesn't love getting packages in the mail?? And, lastly, I am completely obsessed with movies, mostly Classical Hollywood. I pretty much watch a movie a day, whether it is for school or for enjoyment...sometimes both!

Instead of tagging people, I will open this tag up to any of my readers that feel inclined to do a post on the real me.

I also want to put the word out to all my fellow Michiganders that Saturday, March 20th there will be a jewelry and vintage apparel show in Bloomfield Hills at the Birmingham Unitarian Church. It's only $5 to get in and the one day show is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check out the website for more information. I can't wait!!!!!

Emily

1st Birthday!!

Yesterday was Pumpkin's first birthday!! I can't believe how fast time has passed. Last Thursday, my mom and I took her to the vet for her "big girl" check up. She now weighs a little more than 10lbs and is in great health!! The vet gave the go ahead to start her on dog food rather than puppy food. I started the dog food yesterday, on her birthday. She loved the new food and picked out all those pieces and left the puppy food in the bowl (we mixed the food so she wouldn't get sick).

This picture was taken last week when she was cuddling with my mom on the couch. How cute!! :)

Emily

Puppy Love

It's been a little while since I have posted Pumpkin pictures, so I felt an update was in order. About a month ago, Pumpkin got her spay surgery and she also had a due claw removed. Because of the added leg surgery, Pumpkin had to wear a cone for part of her recovery time. I thought she looked sooooo cute in it!!! She was such a good sport about it, as she is with everything. The other pictures are from a few days ago. I just love it when she looks up at you with those puppy dog eyes!

Yesterday, my mom and I joined in on a garage sale. I was able to clear out a lot of stuff and made a little bit of money, which I am saving for a flea market trip my mom and I are planning. We went last year and I got some really great deals. I am hoping for the same this year.

After the garage sale, I headed over to Mother Fletchers, my absolute favorite local vintage clothing store, and used the rest of my store credit. They were also having a half off sale, so I picked up two extra dresses, a blouse, and a pin. I will post pictures soon, as they will be part of my up coming outfits. I cannot wait to wear them!! They were fresh to the floor and are super cute!!

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend!

Emily

Great Weekend!!

Before I share my awesome finds from this weekend, I must give an update on my Pumpkin girl!! My little Pumpkin is a late bloomer and we have to hold off on getting her fixed because she has yet to loose all her baby teeth, or at least enough to get the surgery. Since taking her to the vet a few weeks ago, I have noticed that a lot of her little teeth are gone!!! They must have all fallen out while she chewed up mama's antique desk. :(

But with a face like that how can you be mad?? And no one looks at the bottom of furniture anyways, right...?

Now on to this weekend!! As I mentioned in my last post, my mom and I went to our church's rummage sale. We each found some really cute stuff. I got a few things for my etsy (which will be listed by the end of the week) and a few things for me. One of the things I am planning on keeping is this adorable little girl's robe. Based on the label inside, I am guessing its from the late 40's early 50's. I can't wait to have a little girl someday to wear it!!

After the sale, we decided to try a few garage sales. Not much luck, except for one that had a whole bunch of vintage stuff at it and it was all half off. I found this basket and got it for 50 cents!! I knew it would work to hold my fabric stash.

I got a few other things there, but the basket was pretty much the highlight of the garage sales. Today, last minute, I decided to check out an estate sale close to home. Being the last day I was hoping to score some low prices. I wasn't extremely impressed, but still managed to get some good deals.

The lady used this bull as a pin cushion, but after doing some research on the info from the tag, it turns out to be a toy. I guess it could work for either.

If you like this little guy, look for him in the etsy in the next week or so! Or you can always email me to!

These two items were the big ticket items today! I have been looking for a vintage bun warmer for a LONG time!! I couldn't find one anywhere. This one is exactly like the one my my has that is from her mother who get it from her mother! I brought this one home with me for only 80 cents!!! The metal picnic basket is etsy bound since I already have one.

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!!

Emily

A Pumpkin Update

Since Pumpkin has been with us for over a month now, I thought I'd share some of the MANY pictures we have been taking. It seems that every day she does something new that's cute. In just a little more than a months time, a lot has happened with Pumpkin. We have made about 3-4 trips to the vet, she has gained two pounds, is pretty much fully house broken, and knows the commands: sit, stay, and lay down. I am so proud of my little Pumpkin!!This is from a few days after we got her. She fell asleep with one of her favorite toys: mom's slipper!
This is from a few days ago. When Pumpkin isn't in her new bed, she is hiding out under the couch.

******

Last weekend, we took a trip over to Grandma's to do some laundry. Pumpkin did really well, no accidents, which I was shocked being in a completely new place!!

My mom has a few pictures of Pumpkin up on her blog: Home Acre

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!!

Emily

A New Addition!!!

For as long as I can remember I have ALWAYS wanted a dog. Well, after a long time waiting and deciding what kind of dog would be good for my family (my brother has allergies), I FINALLY got my puppy.

PUMPKIN

I named her Pumpkin because of her color. My mom thought of the name and I just loved it!! She is a Bichon Poo. She'll be three months on March 13th.

Emily