Yikes, I suck.

It’s been awhile!

I didn’t realize just how long it’s been either. A lot has happened in that time and I guess I just got caught up in life and forgot to post anything here. (Even though I know that no one reads this blog. Well, that’s not true because I think my Mom subscribes. Thanks, Mom).

I recently made some pumpkin pie bars for Thanksgiving (shortbread crust with pumpkin pie filling. So. good!) as well as some toasted pecan pumpkin biscuits (I even made my own vegan buttermilk [3/4 C. oat milk, couple {or three} teaspoons of lemon juice]). Those also turned out well, perfect for a cold winter morning’s breakfast. I will try to post more frequently here, I mean, I do pay for the hosting service, so, I should, eh?

Just a Note…

My Instagram feed is more up-to-date than the blog. I need to get better at writing posts. Though, I don’t think anyone actually follows or subscribes to this blog besides my Mom (thanks, Mom!). I’ll put up a post shortly for the Buttermilk Brown Sugar Walnut Pecan Scones that I just made….
You can also follow me on Instagram…just click that widget/button!

Spiced Pumpkin Pecan Biscuits, Take 3

pumpkin pecan biscuits

I think I fixed it!

Third time’s a charm, right? *shrugs* who knows. BUT, I do know that these were very tasty with my coffee this morning. And, your apartment will smell really good and all Christmas-y/Festivus-y while they’re baking.

Spiced Pumpkin Pecan Biscuits

  • 2 C. AP flour
  • 2 TB baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 6 TB chilled butter, cut into cubes
  • 3/4 C. canned pumpkin
  • 1/3 C. buttermilk
  • Dash of vanilla
  • 2 TB dark brown sugar, OR, 3TB of honey
  • 1/2 C. chopped, toasted pecans (in 2 TB of butter)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Chop and toast pecans in a skillet in two tablespoons of butter, set aside to cool. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl, cut in butter with a pastry cutter or, with hands, until butter is the size of peas or tiny pebbles, set aside (If you’ve handled it too much and the butter pieces are warm, chill the dry ingredients while you deal with the wet ingredients). In a medium sized bowl, whisk the buttermilk and brown sugar (or honey), add vanilla and pumpkin. Stir until combined. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir in toasted pecans. If you find that the dough is a little sticky, don’t worry, add a little flour and use your hands or a spoon to mix it. Turn out dough onto a well-floured surface and press into a rectangle until the dough is about 1 inch thick all around. Also, try not to overwork the dough, as the butter will warm up (which you don’t want). If the dough becomes too warm or sticky, pop it in the freezer for a few minutes. Press biscuit cutters into dough(don’t twist, or else the biscuits won’t have layers) and place onto the parchment-lined baking sheets. The dough makes about 12-16 biscuits. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or, until ever-so-slightly golden brown. You don’t want to over-bake them and dry them out. You’ll be able to tell when they’re done. Serve warm with some whipped honey, or, like I did, with butter. Store in air-tight container in the refrigerator or, wrap up in wax paper and foil in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer. You’ll thank me.

How to Make Non-Dairy Buttermilk

Sometimes you need buttermilk and you don’t have it on hand, or, perhaps you’ve got a dairy sensitivity or are vegan. Think you’re out of luck? No way! You can totally make buttermilk using almond milk, soy milk or even coconut milk and one TB of white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) or fresh lemon juice.

  • 1 Cup Almond milk
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice or vinegar

Let sit for about 10 minutes until it looks thicker or curdled. Voila! Use in cake, pancake, muffin or bread recipes.

Grandpa

Today would have been my Grandpa’s 87th birthday. He died last November a week before Thanksgiving from complications from congestive heart failure. He was WWII vet, former minor league baseball player for the Tigers (right field), active member of his local VFW, told the best stories, had a good sense of humor, strong work ethic, provided for his family and my Grandma and, he loved cookies, well, sweets in general. For his b-day and other times during the year my mom would bake him some sort of cookies and mail them to him. I also sent him some cookies from time to time. Sometimes he’d share them with Grandma, sometimes not. He was funny that way. She used to tell me that he’d go get the mail and then she’d ask him if there was anything special. He’d be evasive and eventually tell her that “Barb sent me some cookies.” She and I would have a good laugh about that. I always sent him funny birthday cards, which he always appreciated and saved. I wish mom and I could have baked him cookies one last time.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa.