The Great Pumpkin Party!

Ron and i split a party last weekend, at Leslie's house!

We had way too much fun (meaning, too much spider cider!)

i brought the pumpkin pie angel food cake, topped with whipped cream!  i don't know which was more successful, the cake or the can of whipped cream?!! 

There was 

school recess,  

pumpkin carving, 

sittin' by the bonfire, eating goodies (including toasted pumpkin seeds ) and dancing to halloween favorites like 'the monster mash' ,  and my favorite, Ray Parker Jr.'s 'Ghostbusters'! 

Ron HAD to stop on our way there to get pumpkins for the carving contest, which he didn't even participate in!  

i did for fun, and WON the contest!!

This cute little spooky wallet was my prize!! 

Can't wait for next year Leslie, thank you!!

YO Adrian!! pt.1

I met up with Ron in Philadelphia, to extend his courier trip so we could SPLIT the

city together!!

Our First day in Philadelphia

Varga Bar for dinner!

      (Slyfox pils in a can, pot o pickled vegetables, Lump Crab Cheese Fries. 

                not pictured- sweet squash gnocchi with truffle oil)

Dessert at Max Brenner Chocolate by the Bald Man!

The Brown Heart- a warm chocolate cake filled with a double layer of pure chocolate and peanut butter. Served with crunchy wafer balls, a side of vanilla sauce, and vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate fondue!  (AMAZING!) 

We both enjoyed a double espresso in a Kangaroo cup served with a chocolate bar!

"Excuse me, you have a little something on your..."

Death to the Chocolate!!

After walking around to feel out the city,  Ron and i happened upon Continental. 

Head up to the rooftop where they have my favorite Bertoia wire chairs to sit in...

and relax by the waterfountain!                    

"Hey, this Continental Martinin isn't dirty enough!"

the Great Pompion!

as soon as October hits,  i get excited about everything pumpkin!!  who doesn't?

I had to look back at my sister, Beth's blog archives, to find this easy pumpkin treat!!

mix a box of angel food cake mix (single packet) with

one whole can of Libby's Easy pumpkin pie MIX.  (make sure it says MIX on the can).  

just these two items!!  no water!!! 

it will get foamy and really bulk up.  sprinkle with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.   spray the bundt pan.  pour into a baking pan.  bake at 350 for 30 min.   when cooled, add some whipped cream, powdered sugar, or icing to finish it off!!  

soo easy and soo good!!

The pumpkin treat that tops my list would have to be the Great Pumpkin from Ted Drewes!! 

 These people are genius by putting a whole slice of pumpkin pie in each concrete!!  Two weeks ago, Barb and Dave went along with Ron and I, as we split our first Great Pumpkin of the season!  it was a cold night, so the four of us sat in my car and ate our cold concretes! Delicious!

last week, when Ron and i were in Philadelphia,  we were reading the beer list at Brauhaus Schmitz,  a German Beirhall, and recieved a brief history on pumpkin beer.

 The old english called them pompions (a French term) and used them as a thickening agent when they ran out of other ingredients to make their ales.  

The description of the Elysian night owl pumkin ale was so good that we decided to order one, only to find out that there was no pumpkin ale on draft yet.   oh well,  we do have schlafly pumpkin ale to look forward to.   

talk about a whole slice of pumpkin pie, that's what this tastes like.  

all this excitement for pumpkins and i have to mention that my friend Leslie is having a party next weekend to celebrate Pumpkins.  my friend, Dan Zettwoch, Leslie's boyfriend and an amazing local comic artist, designed the invite!! 

head over to his site to see the rest of his drawings!  looks like he made a list of his favorite pumpkin items as well!! 

What are your favorite pumpkin treats??

Happy Halloween!!

split at birth/death?

i looked up photos of frances bean because mikey was talking about her being 17, then i saw this photo with kurt cobain,

 then i remember this photo of heath ledger. creepy, huh?

please don't stop the music...

but we did!

if you were one of the few that did enjoy the music while visiting our blog,  scroll down to the bottom of the right column and push play!!

thanks for stopping by and letting us share our life with you!!

-claire