I am so enamored with the beauty of Fall. I have taken to bringing my camera with me whenever I go out, because I often see something I want to photograph. Especially the changing of the leaves during this wonderful season. My favorite are the bright, fiery orange leaves. They are breathtaking. I haven't been able to get up close to them, and photograph them yet, but soon...very soon. I know I will enjoy it immensely.
We have been learning from the book of Genesis during the Sunday School hour and considering God's awesome creative power. I can't help but think of him when I gaze on the intricate details of a leaf. And so many different shapes, sizes and colors. We have several varieties in our backyard alone!
The girls and I had a fun time baking in the kitchen this weekend. We tried a new recipe for "mini pumpkin whoopie pies" and we were very pleased with the results.
During the baking process a certain little boy got very hungry and had a quick lunch with daddy.
Everyone else was too busy with other pursuits to worry about eating.
Amera finally snagged some time to sit down and draw.
Oh, the joys of creative expression!
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Later, at the Fall Church Picnic...
These are the only pictures I took at the picnic. It was cold and quite windy. I pulled out my camera to snap a few pictures of the kids when suddenly a gust of wind came and blew a plate of food over. I decided my little "photo session" would have to conclude at this point! It was good to get out and fellowship for a bit. The kids enjoyed a "pumpkin sack race" and an "apple toss" game, amongst other things. All things considered though, we decided to leave a little early. There were baths to take and a pregnant mommy who really needed some rest after a very busy day.
This is the recipe for the yummy treats we baked.
Our whole family loved these things!
The cake-like cookies are delicious with the fluffy cream cheese filling sandwiched in between them!
I also like the fact that they are "mini" sized.
I don't know about you, but I like to sample more than one thing from a table full of goodies.
You don't feel so bad grabbing more than one if they're small!
Just a little helpful tip: Pull out your butter, cream cheese, and eggs first thing.
You will need the butter softened and the cream cheese and eggs at room temperature.
Mini Pumpkin "Whoopie" Pies
Ingredients...
For the cookies:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup 100% pure pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the filling:
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Directions...
For the cookies:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease your cookie sheets. We used shortening.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt in medium bowl.
Beat butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl on medium speed for 2 minutes.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add pumpkin and vanilla extract, beat until smooth.
Stir in flour mixture until combined.
Drop by heaping teaspoons onto baking sheets. (I found that using 2 small sized rubber spatulas worked very well for this, once you have an idea of about how much dough to use. Measuring it out with a teaspoon helps to give you an idea. The dough is sticky and the rubber spatulas made it easier to manipulate.)
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until springy to the touch. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
For the filling:
Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract in small mixing bowl on medium speed until fluffy.
Gradually beat in powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
Spread about a teaspoon of filling onto the flat side of one cookie and top it with the flat side of another cookie to make a sandwich. Voila! You've got yourself something scrumptious!
Recipe makes 36 mini pies
Here's an interesting history factoid about whoopie pies from "Wikipedia"
While considered a New England phenomenon and a Pennsylvania Amish tradition, they are increasingly sold throughout the United States. According to food historians, Amish women would bake these desserts (known as hucklebucks at the time) and put them in farmers' or lunch boxes. When farmers would find the treats in their lunch, they would shout "Whoopie!" It is thought that the original Whoopie pies may have been made from cake batter leftovers.
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