Last weekend there was a block party one block away from our new place. How perfect! It was a great chance to check out the local businesses and what they offer. Especially the restaurants. I had a super tasty beet salad and a cucumber basil lemonade that was really good.
The block party was put on my the new apartment complex that is being built on the corner (which doesn’t make me so happy-I really dislike the new buildings going up) but regardless I was still curious about what they looked like and they were offering tours. We put on hardhats and took a look around. They aren’t bad but they aren’t my thing (also they are on the pricey side).
It was nice being so close to home because we were a little sleepy after the block party so we just lazied around at home for a little while and relaxed. I really like not having to go far from home to have a little fun.
Last weekend I hosted a somewhat impromptu pumpkin carving party at our new place in the backyard. Our friend who just moved here really wanted to visit the pumpkin patch which we did earlier in the day and then I said we could have a carving party at my place after. It was nice bringing together a few different groups of people we have come to know (which I always think will be awkward but it was totally fine). I also met a few new people that Walker invited from work.
^Lots of knives!
^We were all pretty focused on what to carve for a little while.
^Ick! Pumpkin gunck!
^The smallest, cutest jack-o-lantern of the night.
^We made mulled wine which was perfect for the activity but made the house smell like Christmas and it’s too soon for that.
^Pumpkin bread to go with the pumpkin carving.
^The smallest overall pumpkin which Walker turned into a mug.
^Still thinking about what to carve.
^This pumpkin and face together…pretty great.
After our carving was finished we warmed up inside with some soup and conversation. A few people trickled out and the remaining group played a game. To end the night we lit our pumpkins and then everyone headed home.
It was a pretty fun night and our very first get together in this new space went so well. I can’t wait to plan another party.
As soon as I see sugar pumpkins in the store I get excited to start baking with fresh pumpkin. And you know what? Using fresh pumpkin is actually a lot easier than you’d think.
To cook the pumpkin:
Cut the pumpkin in half from top to bottom and remove the stem. Scoop out all the insides. Place face down on a baking sheet with a 1/4″ of water and bake at 400 degrees for about 45 min to 1 hour-basically whenever you can easily put a fork through it. Let the pumpkin cool and remove the cooked pumpkin from the outer shell and put into a blender to puree. Now you’re ready to bake.
Pumpkin bread recipe (vegan and oil free) makes 1 loaf:
-2 1/2 cups of cooked pumpkin puree (see above)
-1 cup cane sugar
-1 TBSP of ground flax seed mixed with 3 TBSP of water-let sit until thickened
-1/2 cup almond milk
-1/2 teas vanilla extract
-2 cups of spelt flour
-1 1/2 teas baking soda
-1 1/2 teas baking powder
-1 1/2 teas cinnamon
-1/2 teas grated nutmeg
optional:-1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips, 1/2 cup of macadamia nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil 1 glass loaf pan (9 by 5).
Combine the pumpkin puree, sugar, flax seed mixture, almond milk, and vanilla in a medium bowl. In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and optional ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients until just combined.
Pour into loaf pan and top with chocolate chips, nuts, or I used pumpkin seeds. Bake for 45 min-1 hour. When top springs back when pressed it’s ready to come out. The toothpick in the loaf won’t really work because this recipe is super, super moist. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
Note: this recipe is super, super moist and sticky with so much pumpkin so you may think you should have cooked it longer but it’s fine and ready to eat.
