A Very Pumpkin Thank You

For the second straight summer, and against my better judgment, I agreed to lead the most insane three month process that ever was (at least at my officina). Last year I did it out of naivety, but this year I knew full well what I was getting myself into and not only did I agree to go down this crazy path again, but I lobbied for it. Damn my competitive drive, quest for power, and workaholic tendencies. They will be the death of me, I'm almost certain.

Similar to last year, this process brought lots of long days and sleepless nights. Despite my shortened temper, I managed to only become frustrated and short with a few colleagues (which trust me, they deserved) and it could've been a lot worse. In the end, I used my convincing tone to get them to help my slightly depraved cause and when I finally got to come up for air, I felt a thank you in the form of baked goods was owed.

My office loves my baked goods. Because our team is quite large, I can always find someone to pawn my creations off on with minimal resistance. A couple weeks ago at a staff meeting we had to go around the room and say what our favorite dessert was. As you might expect, I was all over that one. I think I went with homemade ice cream because it was hot that day and my throat hurt (side note, but throat hurts about 85% of the time...usually from being tired, allergies, or screaming... so that wasn't really that rare). Nonetheless, no less than 3 people said that their favorite dessert was either anything I made (ever) or one specific thing I'd made. It was both humbling and wonderful. I promised them that I'd bring break goods back into their lives once things finally calmed down and I wasn't so cranky.

It's been a solid month, perhaps more, since then and even though things have yet to truly calm down (I've resigned myself to the fact that my office just doesn't roll that way) I did take a day off last week to "sleep and collect myself." I was that tired. It was a nice day and when I returned to the office I came bearing a much better attitude and my first fall creation of the season. 

Bax loves when I bake. She alternates between laying under-foot in the kitchen and watching me from the couch. She also tends to beckon me with her eyes to bring her samples. I usually cave because I can't resist her stare.

Fluffy Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

Cookies

Courtesy of Creme de la Crumb

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup canned pumpkin puree 
• 1 cup sugar
• ⅔ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tsps pumpkin pie spice

Frosting

Courtesy of Sally's Baking Addiction

•  8 ounces cream cheese, softened 
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened 
• 2-2 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsps heavy cream 
• 2 tsps vanilla extract

Preparation

1. In a large bowl mix together butter, pumpkin, sugar, powdered sugar, vanilla, and eggs until smooth.

2. In another bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. I accidentally doubled the baking soda in the original recipe and it yielded a more pillow like cookie. I found this to be a fun surprise, but if you want a flatter cookie cut the baking soda amount listed above in half.  

3. Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until incorporated. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.

5. Roll dough into 2-inch balls and place on baking sheet. Bake for 13-15 minutes until cookies start to look "dry". Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes on the baking sheet.

6. While cookies are cooling, make frosting preparations. Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until soft, creamy, and combined thoroughly. 

7. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat until thick and combined.

8. Add heavy cream and vanilla extract. 

9. Beat on medium speed for 2 more minutes. Add more powdered sugar until desired thickness is reached.

Bax's paws slay me. We shared a freshly baked cookie, but she wanted more and was certain that could be achieved by sitting proper on the couch. 

Unrelated to this recipe, but in the spirit of all things fall, Bax and I enjoyed lovely Sunday afternoon in the park watching the Blue Angels perform as part of the Star Spangled Spectacular. So much love for Baltimore.

Bringing the Blog Back to Kick off Fall

Hellloooo! So it's been a while, but I'm giving this blog thing yet another go round. I've made it through another hellish summer at work and with the impending fall season, I plan on spending much more of my free time baking rather than working.

I'm a little ashamed that my last post was in March, just after starting my 29th year. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't insanely pleased with how my last year in my 20s is going. There have been a ton of life changes, but it's made for a very exciting year. Before diving back into the recipe business, here's short photo recap, and a couple recipe links to hold you over a little longer, of all that's gone on since March. Hold onto your hat, it's going to be a wild ride:

 

I chopped my hair off [and donated it]

Hosted a birthday dinner at my new abode and Bax learned to make new friends

Welcomed the return of O's baseball and enjoyed being able to walk to games

Discovered one of the best hidden gems of Fed Hill (Spencer the Magician)

You should go immediately: http://illusionsmagicbar.com/

Made this Death by Chocolate cake for Mother's Day

Expanded my food repertoire by cooking with fennel

 

Memorial Day was celebrated by introducing my favorite summertime cookies to some new palettes

Culminated my return to meat with a return to the thing I missed most during my time as a vegetarian: smoked beef. It was so good I almost cried

Finally had a burger from Five Guys. It did not disappoint either

 

I made the prettiest homemade cupcakes using my favorite cake recipe

 

I made and gifted these little bunches of cake batter goodness 

Spent lots of time running around my beloved city thanks to the unusually mild summer temps

Took the plunge and signed up for my first marathon

[it was my goal to do one before turning 30]

Took a mini-weekend trip to upstate NY and secretly wished I attended the Culinary Institute

We celebrated Papa's birthday at Camden Yards

I spent lots of times eating crabs this summer and loved every minute of it

 

Worked every weekend in August and it was awful. Baxter stayed by my side for moral support. She's an amazing friend.

To relax, I finally finished paintings for my entry hall

 

So, that was the last six months in an instagram-fueled nutshell. Despite all the long hours the last couple months, I didn't let September arrive without breaking out my first pumpkin recipe of the season. It was an oldie but goodie that I blogged about here, but made for my new favorite taste tester for the first time. I think it's a toss up who's going to enjoy the next three months more. I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to finally be dating a pumpkin lover. It's going to be a great fall.