A Fun Fall

 Some of my favorite things happen in the fall.

One of the things is volleyball.It goes without saying how much i love the sport, but in with the games and practices comes the team and all the girls i get to see during it. I love being able to go places with my team or just hang out with them at tournaments. Along with volleyball season comes football season. Some of the best memories come from curling up with a blanket and hot chocolate and watching football with my family. Going to games are also fun and a usual family activity!

I also enjoy the weather. Many saturdays in the fall are spent at my house making home made apple cider from the apples on our tree, cooking up a storm, doing yard work or all kinds of things. Of course it has changed, being the only kid at home, but my family used to have so much fun together and even though it is vague, i still remember when everyone was home and doing activities together.

Even though it is somewhat far away, i love the anticipation of Christmas coming. The weather starts to get cooler, the first snow starts to fall, people get excited about staying home and cozy... all of it is so much fun for me.

There are many things i enjoy about the fall season, but one of the main things, i would have to say, is getting a little extra time to bake and try new things. One of my favorite things to experiment with is pumpkin, so i have included my most recent recipe. Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.
Enjoy! :)

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Place rack in the middle of the oven. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or spray each cup with a non stick vegetable spray. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, ground spices, and salt.  In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and pumpkin puree, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips.    Fill the muffin cups evenly with the batter using two spoons or an ice cream scoop. Place in the oven and bake for about 18 - 20 minutes, or until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center of one of the muffins comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool. Makes 12 regular-sized muffins. Note: The batter can be baked in a 9-inch (23 cm) loaf pan. Butter or spray the loaf pan with a non stick vegetable spray. Bake the loaf in a 350 degree F (177 degree C) oven for about 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins: 1 1/2 cups (195 grams) all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 3/4 cup (180 ml) solid packed, canned pumpkin puree 1 cup (175 grams) semisweet chocolatechips

Read more:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/muffins/PumpkinChocolateChipMuffins.html#ixzz2j2ZMIObo

A Surprise Homecoming

Thursday night as i was driving to Olsburg to visit a friend, i was thinking about how much i wished my sisters were home, especially for this week as it is my volleyball senior night and our last home game of the season. On my drive home, i decided to call up my sister, Anna, and chat a bit. We talked for awhile, mostly about what she had been up to and how busy she is being an RA and a senior in college in South Carolina. I missed her so much. Out of all my siblings, we are probably the closest in relationship and we are so much alike. Being 23 hours away makes things just a little difficult. We talked and talked and finally said goodbye. Little did i know that it wasn't goodbye for long! 

Friday morning i did my usual routine, but when i came home from workout, mom told me we were going to go to a pumpkin patch with my little nephews. It sounded like fun to me. I quickly took a shower and we left. After an hour or so of painting pumpkins and making crafts, we went to Panera to have some soup on that chilly day. I walked in to my dad and brother with their phones out taking a video of me. It was kind of strange. I didn't even know they were going to be there, but okay! Looked like fun! They were acting pretty strange, and told me to look under the umbrella in the corner because my little nephew was hiding from me. I picked up the umbrella and out jumped Clark....and...ANNA! I was so shocked, i didn't know what to say! I almost dropped my little niece i was holding. After many questions and hugs it became real.. she was actually there! Now it all made sense why everyone had their phones out taking a video. :) My whole family had known about it for a few weeks but she wanted to surprise me and come up this week for my senior night, my dad's birthday, my niece's birthday, and an alumni volleyball game she got to play in. It worked out well and i loved the surprise! She doesn't fly out until Wednesday, so it gives us plenty of time to catch up. :) I was so thankful for the time i have gotten to spend with her so far, and i look forward to more time. Overall, it was a great weekend and i could not have asked for a better surprise! 

Flavors of Fall

One of my favorite fall activities is getting to bake all kinds of goodies in the kitchen. I have been wanting to try pumpkin doughnuts for a long time and i finally found a good recipe. I have made other kinds of doughnuts before but had never made pumpkin. What better time than in October?! :)

First you make the sugar to go on top, mixing together:

• 1 cup sugar

• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

For the actual doughnuts, the ingredients include:

• 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

• 4 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1 cup sugar

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 large egg

• 2 large egg yolks

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk

• 1 cup canned pure pumpkin

• Canola oil (for deep-frying)

And then for the powdered sugar glaze: 

• 2 cups powdered sugar

• Whipping cream

To prepare:

Whisk all ingredients in medium bowl to blend.
Whisk first 8 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until blended (mixture will be grainy). Beat in egg, then yolks and vanilla. Gradually beat in buttermilk; beat in pumpkin in 4 additions. Using rubber spatula, fold in dry ingredients in 4 additions, blending gently after each addition. Cover with plastic; chill 3 hours.
Whisk powdered sugar and 4 tablespoons whipping cream to blend. Whisk in additional cream, 1 teaspoon at a time, to form medium thick glaze. Can be made up to 3 hours ahead. Add doughnut holes to bowl of spiced sugar and toss to coat. Spread doughnuts on 1 side with Powdered Sugar Glaze. Arrange doughnuts, glazed side up, on racks. Let stand until glaze sets, at least 30 minutes.

Sprinkle 2 rimmed baking sheets lightly with flour. Press out 1/3 of dough on floured surface to 1/2- to 2/3-inch thickness. Using 2 1/2-inch-diameter round cutter, cut out dough rounds. Arrange on sheets. Repeat with remaining dough in 2 more batches. Gather dough scraps. Press out dough and cut out more dough rounds until all dough is used.

Using 1-inch-diameter round cutter, cut out center of each dough round to make doughnuts and doughnut holes.

Line 2 baking sheets with several layers of paper towels. Pour oil into large deep skillet to depth of 1 1/2 inches. Attach deep-fry thermometer and heat oil to 365°F to 370°F. Fry doughnut holes in 2 batches until golden brown, turning occasionally, about 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Fry doughnuts, 3 or 4 at a time, until golden brown, adjusting heat to maintain temperature, about 1 minute per side. Using slotted spoon, transfer doughnuts to paper towels to drain. Cool completely.

These are great to serve to guests or just to make for your family for fun! 

My favorite way to enjoy doughnuts is with a cup of coffee and sitting on my back porch in the beautiful fall weather. Enjoy! :) 

Hyllningsfest

Not many people have heard of Hyllningsfest, but to Swedes, it is a huge holiday! Every other year, there is a weekend in October that everyone goes back to Lindsborg for Hyllningsfest. Usually, the day will start out with a parade. The parade has the typical marching bands, old cars, dignitaries, and such, but what is special about this parade is all Swedish traditions played out, like the Tompte (kind of like the Swedish Santa Clause) comes and walks the parade. All day, the whole park is filled with crafts, demonstrations, games, talks, and all sorts of fun activities. Another fun part of it is that everyone dresses up! Swedish clothes tend to be very colorful and busy. Everyone has a Swedish costume, usually for the girls, it is a long skirt with a colored, patterned apron worn on top with a white blouse and a scarf. 

 One of my favorite memories of Hyllningsfest was getting to dress up in my favorite Swedish costume, and playing around the park with my cousins and friends. I also enjoy getting to see all my family. No matter how far away they live or what is going on, everyone tries to make it back for Hyllningsfest every time- including my extended family! 

Hyllningsfest is taking place this weekend in Lindsborg, and my brother and his wife and kids are coming from Chicago, my other sister from KC and her little guy, and the rest of my family in town are all going. Sadly, since i have a volleyball tournament, i won't make it, but i have enjoyed growing up with the tradition and will always try to make it back in years to come. 

One of the many reasons i love being Swedish and in this family is because family is a huge thing in our lives. No matter what is going on, we always do our best to have a fun family get-together every year.