Lemon, Pumpkin Muffins

Some of you may be all pumpkined out.  But, for the die hard fans who are looking for a creative way to share pumpkin cheer throughout the remaining holiday gatherings this year, try this recipe for Lemon, Pumpkin Muffins.

When you take the first bite, you're mouth and nose are immediately filled with a zesty punch of lemon that's followed by a smooth, cinnamon, pumpkin finish.

Sprinkle your cooled muffins with cinnamon laced powered sugar and savor a lip lickin' good bite of this surprisingly sweet combo.

Shopping List:
2 c. whole wheat flour
2 c. granulated sugar
15 oz. can pumpkin
1 c. applesauce
1 c. powdered sugar
zest from one large lemon

From the Pantry:
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. pumpkin spice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. lemon extract
topping (about 1/2 c. powdered sugar + 1/2 Tlb. cinnamon)

Tools:
Mixing Bowls
Zester
Sifter
muffin pan

Preparation:  Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and salt in large mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine granulated sugar, powdered sugar, applesauce, pumpkin, lemon extract, and lemon zest.  Gradually stir wet ingredients into dry.  Pour into muffin tins and bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.  Once cooled, pour cinnamon/powdered sugar mixture into sifter then tap to sprinkle evenly over top of muffins.  Makes about 2 dozen muffins.

XO,
Rachel

Trip to Trax

The Pumpkin Party is no mere gathering.  It's an event that spans the better part of the afternoon and carries on well into the evening.  And it all starts with a trip to Trax.

Trax Farms is, as one of my friends described it, like, "the Farmer's Market and Disney World combined!"

There is literally TONS to see and do at Trax Farms.  All in all, Trax covers about 325 acres of land and boasts a sales space of about 85,000 square feet!  Under it's roof, the barn hosts a wine shop, antique loft, fresh produce, a deli, a bakery (which is always bursting with yummy delights), a HUGE gift shop with tons of wonderful seasonal flare, a greenhouse, a nursery, and a grocery section to boot!

Beautiful, purple pears

Perdy potatoes

In the grocery section, we admired the gigantic broccoli.  

It didn't take long before they became bouquets.

The grocery houses a variety of specialty coffee flavors such as "Cinna-bun" and "Pumpkin Spice," which are fun to sniff whether you're just passing through or buying some to enjoy with breakfast.  There's also a glass inclosed beehive where you can see the busy little black and yellows working away.  Their lovely, golden nectar is available for sale right there too.

This time of year, there are caramel and candy covered apples around every corner and the smell of freshly popped kettle corn, made right before your eyes in a huge drum, hits your nostrils before you make it two feet outside.

Kettle Corn:  before 

(look at the size of those bags!)

Kettle Corn:  middle

Kettle Corn:  after (Just look at em'.  They grow up so fast)

Once you cross the threshold to the outdoors, not only your sense of smell but also your site is mesmorizingly assaulted by the vision of every colored mum you could ever imagine and giant mounds of bright, orange pumpkins piled sky high with tons of kids scurrying and stumbling over their surface.

Many a family sat amongst the pumpkins posing for what would undoubtedly become a very festive, Fall card.  My friends and I were no exception.  Such ripe, picture taking opps cannot go un siezed…

Trax Farms is a wonderful way to spend a day whether you intended to do it up BIG and ride the hayride to the pumpkin patch before photos in the pumpkin piles, or just wander through with a group of friends, smelling and seeing, taking in all that Fall has to offer.

My girlfriends and I did just that.  Each woman took great care in selecting the perfect pumpkin.

The beautiful Emily with her pick.

Lucia with her lovely.

Amanda with her pumpkin that's practically as big as her.

We made our purchases (some ladies grabbed a bottle of wine, a specialty cheese, or a bag of flavored coffee) and headed back to my home for the remainder of the nights events.

All in all, Trax was the perfect destination to kick-off the Pumpkin Party.  Come back soon as, there is still tons more to share about the food and festivities of this funderful event.

Here's a few additional pics from our trip to Trax… 

because I want you to feel like you were there!

Warty pumpkins… strange… very strange

These were pretty crazy looking

Ummm… Butternut Squash!  You know I'm a fan!

The Pumpkin Party

The count down is officially set.  I'm officially excited.  The anticipation is officially mounting.  Every day we get one step closer to - The Pumpkin Party.

This  October will mark the second, now annual, Pumpkin Party.  Basically, this is a time for great friends to get together with pumpkin carving, seed toasting, and a little bit of over indulging in mind.

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Here's how the day goes:
First we meet up and head out to the Pumpkin Patch together.  The farm we're going to has tons of other things to see and do, smell and taste ( I can smell the kettle corn now) so, it's an all around great way to spend a brisk, fall Saturday.

There will undoubtedly be pictures taken amongst the gigantic mounds of pumpkins, a few samplings at the on-site wine tasting shop that features a bunch of local libations, and, by the time we visit, I've no doubt that the farm store will be stocked with tons of whimsical Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations to satisfy a variety of tastes and traditions.

The most important task at the pumpkin patch is to choose your pumpkin of course.

Afterwards, we'll all head back to my house with our orange babies in tow, and get ready for the food and festivities…

Throughout the rest of the month I'll be sharing a few recipes that I've been testing before their debut at the Pumpkin Party.

Presently, the Tentative Menu Includes:
- Kickin' Cayenne Black Bean Dip (with chips & veggies to dip)
- Brown Sugar Spiced Pulled Pork*
- Vegetable Chili
- Black Eyed Pea Corn Bread
- Apple Cider (with a "spiked" option available for those so inclined)
and The Treats...
- Chocolate dipped pretzel sticks
- Pumpkin Muffins (duh!)
- Caramel Corn
and…  we'll I haven't made up my mind just yet on everything that's going to be served but, suffice it to say, there will be many a tasty delight.

Okay, back to the day's schedule… So, we're back at my house, we all grub to gather our strength for the festivities ahead, and then, the carving begins.

Each party goer is responsible for two things:  one - bringing their own pumpkin, two - bringing their own pumpkin carving kit.  With a few large knives, a drop cloth on the floor (Yes.  Things can get that messy) we'll all begin carving up our pumpkins and roasting the seeds throughout the night.

Everyone goes home with a pumpkin to delight their neighbors and friends for the next couple of days, a goodie bag full of leftovers (cuz I don't need like, 24 pumpkin muffins sittin' around for me to gobble up) and a bag full of freshly toasted pumpkin seeds.
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I'm suh-sooooper pumped for this year's Pumpkin Party.  Worlds are going to collide (lots of different friends from different parts of my life), we have a warm place to gather, and it's just going to be a really relaxing, fun way to celebrate the bounty of the season (and get some delicious toasted pumpkin seeds out of the deal.  Oh yum.  I can't wait.)

So, check back soon to see pictures and get recipes for foods I'll be serving at the party and, check out my blog Becoming An Artist for decoration ideas I'll be sprinkling around my home leading up to the party.





*You may have noticed that the menu includes some non, whole foods, plant-based diet items.  With a gathering of nearly 20 people, I want to be sensitive to the fact that most people in fact do include meat and dairy in their everyday diet.  Many menu items, such as the Vegetable Chili and the Pumpkin Muffins, are still absolutely w.f.p.b. diet friendly.  My hope is simply to provide as much delicious and nutritious food as possible, that is palatable to all my guests and I'm so excited to hear what all they have to say.