Fall Fun with Pumpkins and Mason Jars

Hello! Long time, no blog! :) But that's just the way it goes, I guess. In case you haven't noticed, I have thrown all notions of becoming a "regular blogger" out the door! I've decided to stop stressing over not posting once a week, and it feels great!

Anyway...today is one of those days I just felt like posting. (Well, actually, I felt like it about 5 days ago, but it's taken me this long to actually sit down and do it.) Lol!

Lately, I have been experimenting with pumpkin-themed recipes. There are so many good ones out there on Pinterest and my favorite blogs! I also had a little craft workshop with some friends a few weeks ago where we got creative with mason jars. And since I knew I'd never get around to writing TWO posts, I decided to combine my efforts. 

Here are some of the great pumpkin/Halloween/fall things I've made during the last month:

From the top left corner going clockwise (are you with me?), here's a run-down of what we have:

1) Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

2) Coffee bean mason jar candle holder

3) Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

4) Pumpkin scones

5) Halloween mason jar candle holders

I have to say, my favorite of the mason jars is the "BOO" with the old style witch. It reminds me of the wicked witch from the Wizard of Oz. My favorite recipe so far has to be the pumpkin scones (oh, by the way, I also made plain pumpkin muffins, which did not last long enough for a photo shoot) . I have never made scones before, and always thought they would be hard. They just sound so sophisticated! I made these for a breakfast my husband had last week, and I'm glad I was wrong! They were super easy & very delicious! I'm sorry to say, I can't remember where I found the recipe (I looked it up late at night, wrote it down and then made them...forgot to save the website!) I do remember that they are a Starbucks "knock-off" so if you like their pumpkin scones, this is the recipe for you!!  Here it is:

PUMPKIN SCONES 

2 cups flour

7 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

6 Tbsp. cold butter

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

3 Tbsp. half & half

1 egg

1) Preheat oven to 425 & lightly spray baking sheet or line with parchment paper

2) Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt & spices in a large bowl.  Using pastry knife, fork or food processor, cut butter into the dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly & no chunks of butter are obvious.  Set aside.

3) In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, half & half, and egg.  Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. 

4) Form the dough into a ball. Pat out dough onto lightly floured surface & form into a 1" thick rectangle. (About 9" long x 3" wide). Use knife or pizza cutter to slice dough twice thru the width, making 3 equal portions. Cut those 3 slices diagonally so you have 6 triangular slices of dough. 

5) Place onto cookie sheet & bake 14-16 minutes. Scones should turn light brown. Cool on wire rack.

Now here is the glaze recipe (which is VERY IMPORTANT...and tasty!)

1 cup + 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 pinch ginger
1 pinch ground cloves

Combine ingredients & drizzle over scones.  Allow to dry before serving (approximately 1 hour)

The scones were a big hit. I actually made a double recipe, and they were gone in no time. I'm looking for another excuse to make some more sometime soon!

So far that's about it for my fall craftiness. I'm still hoping to come up with a fabulous Halloween costume, get some freezer meals ready to go, and clean off my dining room table (yet again!) in the next week. Stay tuned!