A Place Like This

How to Lasso a pumpkin

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by

Valarie Budayr
in

Absolutly, that was a good idea and I still think it is a good possibility for the company. But I think we have to focus on that project. Di_3021

The lead story on the evening news was" No canned pumpkin on store shelves in Knoxville". So this is where I left you yesterday ……..Looking For Pumpkins,real ones.

Pumpkins_2301

We conquered and divided, that girlfriend Ruth and I. She was going out to the green grocers and pumpkin farms to see what she could find. While I left her heading towards a pumpkin farm for the tractor ride of her life, I headed towards our local grocery store.

Now when one is on such a mission you have to have a plan. I casually got a large shopping cart to reinforce my positive thinking. I headed straight for the pumpkin and Thanksgiving display. There wasn't any pumpkin. So much so that they took the display down. I, on the other hand was sensing pumpkin. So I asked myself,"Self,if you were a pumpkin where would you be?" The answer came with the soft voice in my head,"pie filling shelf." So I rolled over in that direction. 

There they were, every pie filling known to man and an empty bottom shelf which said pumpkin.

Pumpkin pie can 

Pumpkin pie can 1

 

Desperate times require desperate measures. What happened next is only heard of in the annals of Thanksgiving desperation. I got face down on the floor, snapped by head to the left, in the direction of the cans on the shelf, and there they were  4 cans of pumpkin. With a quick left hook I snagged all 4 of them. Yea!!!! I hollered.

After my purchase I made a quick call to Ruth to get her off the tractor and cut short her visit to the pumpkin farm.

Last evening I preceded to make many little pumpkin muffins for the Mission Smile fund raiser tonight. It's a local children's charity started by two of my favorite high school students Nell and Cody. Since many of you won't be able to be there tonight, I'm leaving you with the recipe so you make yourself some of these lovable little bites.

And that friends is how you lasso some pumpkin. Next year I will be growing my own and canning them. Live n' learn, live n' learn.

Absolutly, that was a good idea and I still think it is a good possibility for the company. But I think we have to focus on that project. Di_3017

Pumpkin Muffins

3 1/3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
3 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Mix dry ingredients and add:

1 c. oil
4 eggs
2/3 c. water
2 c. pumpkin

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Prepare muffin tins by greasing with vegetable oil or butter and sprinkling lightly with flour. Shake out excess.

Fill muffin tins three-quarters full and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Comments

10 responses to “How to Lasso a pumpkin”

  1. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    OK, that is hilarious. What luck to have found them! Those muffins look wonderful, thank you for sharing the recipe

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  2. Kate England | Marmalade Moon Avatar
    Kate England | Marmalade Moon

    Hurrah, victory!!!! I laughed with your story, so well written!
    On a side note, how does “real” pumpkin compare to canned? If I wanted to try your pumpkin muffins but only can get hold of natural pumpkins, is there anything special I should think about, or do I simply use the same amounts?
    Love your blog and am very thankful for having met you in the fishbowl! 🙂
    Happy, happy Thanksgiving!

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  3. Jacqueline Avatar
    Jacqueline

    Yipee and hooray! Your story really made me laugh and makes me feel happy! It’s soo very well written! These pumpkin muffins looks really yummie!! I wonder if they sell pumpkin in cans here…will need to look around!
    Have a lovely merry happy day and a wonderful thanksgiving! Thank you so much for being such an inspiration, loving and supportive friend! Love to you!

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  4. Mousy Brown Avatar
    Mousy Brown

    Well done Valarie, so glad you found what you needed. The muffins do look fab, hope your fund raiser is a success! x

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  5. Michele Avatar
    Michele

    Yay, you found some! I grew up eating all things pumpkin from a can…I think the only fresh pumpkin we ever used was for the jack-o-lantern. But after moving abroad and discovering that pumpkin doesn’t grow in cans (the horror!), I’m now used to getting the real thing and breaking it down myself. I think it’s worth the effort. Look forward to reading about your canning adventures next year–great idea!

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  6. Michele Avatar
    Michele

    Kate, you can replace regular old pumpkin with canned pumpkin in the same amounts. I think the easiest way to process it (that tastes best too!) is to cut the pumpkin in half, and bake the two halves face down on a baking sheet.
    That recipe sounds delicious!!

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  7. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    Hi Kate,
    I’m in the throws of cooking Thanksgiving dinner. I second Michele completely. You just use the same amount. The real fresh vegetable always taste better than canned.good luck.

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  8. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    Hi jacqueline,
    I hope they have pumpkin over there. Let me know if you get to try these muffins. Have a great day.

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  9. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    It was a wonderful success and so many children will be helped. Take care.

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  10. Valarie Budayr Avatar
    Valarie Budayr

    My family always used the real pumpkin and then when I moved abroad people use to look at me weird because I would buy a pumpkin and make “tarte” out of it. The Swiss would just use them for decoration. Eating corn also brought the “weird” label upon me. Oh well,…..I’ve never canned pumpkin so that will be an adventure.;)

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