Saturday, November 28, 2015

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

A visit to Colorado and the meeting of one of my new biggest role models. Jen has a love and a joy for Jesus that is contagious. She opened up her home and shared her life and family with us for two days, while piling my new cooking life skill inventory with so many amazing recipes.

By far one of my favorites was her Pumpkin Crumb Cake. Waking up in the morning with this amazingly dreamy pumpkin smell coming from the kitchen made me instantly fall in love with this amazing cake. The steps are easy to follow and the first chance I had, I put all my learning to the test and decided to try this recipe. I was extremely surprised and somewhat impressed when I took it out of the oven and it filled the house with that same familiar smell...and even more so when I cut into it and impressed everyone who tried the first bite.

This cooking life skill has nothing on me...Pumpkin Crumb Cake -- check, and forever in my recipe box. :)

This is sweet Jen...she not only has amazing recipes, but a heart for Jesus that inspires and encourages those around her. 
"Jesus gets sweeter the longer you walk with Him." - Jen


Pumpkin Crumb Cake

Cake Batter
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon basking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups sugar 
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pureed pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk 
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Topping 
2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons rolled oats 
1/2 cup all-purpose flour 
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 
6 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Grease 9x13 baking pan (or smaller loaf pans for bread)
  • To make the topping, combine 2/3 cup oats, flour, sugar, and cinnamon in processor. Add butter and cut in until crumbly. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons oats. Set to one side. 
  • Sift the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. 
  • In a separate bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually beat the sugar and 1 egg at a time. 
  • Add the pumpkin and vanilla extract to the wet batter mix. 
  • Gradually beat the dry ingredients into the batter. Slowly add the milk and stir in the walnuts (optional). Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread with the topping. 
  • Bake the loaf cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40-50 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes (if you can make it that long after you smell the delicious pumpkin aroma).
  • Turn the cake out onto a rack and cool completely. (I served it directly in the glass dish, but if you are making smaller loaves or want to serve it sliced or give it as a gift, this would be a great step.)
  • ENJOY! :) 



Thursday, November 12, 2015

Autumn Tea Parites

There are not many things better than an autumn tea party and brunch with 14 of your best girlfriends. 

I love the simple decorations and details that made this afternoon such a treat and one of my favorites...happened to fall on my half birthday, which was the best way to celebrate November 12th and 22 1/2 years of life. #takealittletimefortea




Community

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” 
- Psalm 133:1



Life with 14 girls...so much fun, laughter, tears, honesty, truth, and hot tea. I am learning what it looks like to live with in Christian community and to spur each other on, coming to one another as bringers of salvation.

An Anvil


An anvil...

It has never been an image that I have thought much about until being in the Forge. For almost three months now, I have been learning what it looks like to have a Blacksmith mold and refine you until you are the piece that He intended you to be. Through the joys and trials, I am seeing how faithful the Lord has been in me taking eight months to slow down, learn more about who He is and in that process learn more about who He has created me to be and how I can walk in that to glorify and serve him the rest of my life.