A Boy In His Green Sweater

Thanksgiving

This was the first year that we've hosted Thanksgiving at our house. Since we've been married we have either been with friends or family. Our friends Jono and Bonnie (who just moved to Maine) joined us to celebrate. All the the food turned out really yummy. My two favorites were the ribs and pumpkin bread pudding. I will be posting both recipes soon. Here are a few snapshots from Wednesday preparation and Thursday.

 George meeting Jono & Bonnie's sweet little Shelby

 I think they liked each other

 George was very excited about our meal of Sorghum Glazed Beef Ribs, Sweet Potato & Swiss Char Gratin, and Biscuits.

 Nathan and the babies

 Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Cranberry Caramel Sauce, Maple Whipped Cream and Maple Spiced Nuts.

Dumpling Update: 3 Months

 George is three months old today! I can't believe how much he's changed since I blogged about 2 months.

Weight: 13.3 (as of Monday)

Length: 24 inches

Recent Accomplishments/Changes:

• only getting up once at night
• holds his head up well enough to sit in the Bumbo
• can pull himself up to a sitting position from reclining
• loves laying on the floor kicking his legs
• loves to jump & stand up
• laughed out loud last week
• experienced his first earthquake, hurricane & snow in the last month
• just went 5 days without throwing up!!!

                                        One Month                                Two Months

                                                              Three Months

Nathan Turns 30

 Nathan turned 30 last Sunday and I had a party for him on Saturday night. It was a lot of fun and almost everyone showed up. We had bbq, slaw, baked beans and lots of local beer. Nathan picked coconut cake for his birthday cake and I also made a couple cherry tarts for those that don't like coconut. George did exceptionally well all night so that I could enjoy the party as well. 

We had the party at a friends house who is renovating one of his rental units. It's nice because it's completely empty so there is a lot of room.Thank you to everyone who made the night a fun celebration!

 David brought champagne to toast Nathans 30 years.

 This Honey Basil beer from Throwback brewery was excellent. I hope they make it next year during the summer so we can pare it with some yummy grilled food.

 I put tags on mason jars everyone could keep up with which one was theirs.

 Family picture with the birthday boy!

George's First Haircut

 George had his first haircut at 10 weeks! I didn't think that I would cut his hair this early but it was down past his ears and he had a mullet in the back. We decided to do it in the bathtub since he loves baths so much. He's a very wiggly kid so it was a little bit of a hack job but it does look better. The pictures are blurry due to poor bathroom lighting and George is never still.

Combing it out

 It looks like I'm doing surgery

 Post haircut photo shoot!

 C-ya!

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

I never make cupcakes because they're such a fad right now. Everyone has overdone it with the cupcake so I've been boycotting for a while. Last week I volunteered to make some sweets for a Halloween party and because there would be no forks or plates I chose cupcakes and cookies. The cake recipe came from joy of baking and I made up the frosting recipe. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Cake:

1 1/2 cups (195 grams) all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

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 

Frosting:

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 Tbsp. butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon   

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 powder, baking soda, ground spices, and salt. 

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat 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.  

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 cupcakes comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool.
In the mixer whip the cream cheese until soft; add butter and continue to whip until smooth. Add powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla and whip until soft enough to pipe onto cupcakes.