we had our cute little politically incorrect thanksgiving feast at the kids school today. they all made macaroni necklaces and pilgrim and indian hats. they ate a turkey feast, and chased each other around the playground. we dodged the rain - whew! here are a couple of pics of the kids in their finery. :)
next year, they both get to be pilgrims - they are very excited! :)
i took my pumpkin crunch cake to the feast that we prepared for the teachers and staff. they got "real" food. i don't know how "thankful" we would appear if we made them eat that school food. **shudder** everyone loved the cake and wanted the recipe, so i thought i'd share it here. it's not my recipe - i'm not even sure where i got it, but dang, it *is* good!
Pumpkin Crunch Cake
1 can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) -- (29 oz.)
1 can evaporated milk -- (12 oz.)
1 C. sugar
3 eggs
1/4 tsp. cinnamon (i use a little cinnamon and a little allspice)
1 box yellow cake mix
1 C. chopped nuts (i use pecans)
1 cup butter -- melted and cooled
Frosting:
1 pkg. cream cheese -- (8 oz.)
3/4 C. Cool Whip
1/2 C. powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9" x 13" pan with waxed paper. Mix pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon together and pour into pan. Sprinkle yellow cake mix (dry) over pumpkin mixture and pat nuts on cake mix. Spoon melted butter over nuts evenly. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, then carefully invert and peel off waxed paper. Let cool for about 30 minutes. Mix frosting ingredients together, frost cake and refrigerate.
BEWARE!!!! this dessert is terrible for you, but you won't be able to stop eating it, and anytime you take it to a gathering, people will want you to bring it forever and ever and they'll also want the recipe! ;) it's sooooo good!
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to my so cal readers, here is something you might want to look into for some serious christmas fun. the fillmore and western railway up in fillmore, CA (west of valencia and magic mountain) offers a christmas tree train. you and your family take an old-fashioned train ride to a local christmas tree farm to pick a fresh christmas tree. your tree is cut down and loaded on to a train flatbed for your trip back to their vintage train depot. they also offer a north pole express train and dinner with santa. fillmore isn't exactly close to orange county... but we don't have too many options for fun things like this locally. they have pictures on their website. i don't know if i am going to make it up there this year, but i would love to hear about it if anyone does. we have gone up there for the thomas and friends days, and it is a great daytrip for something really unique. :) and with gas prices way down, this might be a fun way to spend a day!
i hope that everyone has a wonderful thanksgiving full of family, food, love, and lots to be thankful for. we will be spending the day with family tomorrow, and i just feel with all of the uncertainty in the world right now, it is important to remember how much we DO have to be thankful for. it's easy to forget when we hear so much doom and gloom in the news. i know that for me - we have our children and everyone is happy and healthy. seriously, what more could i ask for? yep. lots to be thankful for in my neck of the woods. (((((hugs))))) to all my friends out there. i am also so thankful for YOU! :) happy thanksgiving!
you are so right..so much to be thankful for despite the hard times.
Did you hear about the school in Claremont re: kindergarten thanksgiving play? Hilarious! Was on KFI and everything.
Wishing you a happy turkey day--I am grateful for your friendship!!
XOXOXO
Posted by: ktnryansmom | November 27, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Happy Thanksgiving to you too Laura!
Posted by: Fern | November 27, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Happy Thanksgiving! So glad you're back blogging. Thanks for the tip about the tree--your linkie no workie. But I Googled!
Suz *)
Posted by: Suz broughton | November 27, 2008 at 11:28 PM
i fixed the link - thanks suzanne! ;)
Posted by: laura | November 28, 2008 at 01:21 AM
Happy Thanksgiving! And welcome back! ;)
Posted by: Beth | November 28, 2008 at 09:51 PM
That recipe sounds delicious! And I love the pics! Brings back memories :)
Posted by: KKT | November 29, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Happy Thanksgiving.......that train outing sounds so fun.....I will have to click on the link and check that out! Thanks for the info.....the kids look cute!
Posted by: annie | November 29, 2008 at 08:06 PM
i need to make that. i love all things pumpkin!
Posted by: lisa | November 30, 2008 at 07:57 AM
btw.......I tagged you for a little holiday fun!
Posted by: annie | December 01, 2008 at 08:37 AM