Pinch me.

You guys....

I'm. in. a. magazine.  Like, for realsies.  I can't believe it.

They told me it would be out in December and I was going to throw a big release party!  Then I got this e-mail this morning...I'm still sitting at my computer in my undies with my empty breakfast smoothie beside me.  I haven't left my office for like 6 hours, except once to pee.  I just keep reading the article and then getting up and dancing to my Dance Around Naked mix on my iPod.  Perhaps I should get naked, just to really drive it home.   That will be my own release party.

So, my article is called Fulfillment in Fondant.  It's about how cake decorating has helped me deal with some of the challenges in my life.  I'm so happy with how it turned out!  The Cake Central team was amaze to work with...sooooo nice!  I don't know why, but I wasn't expecting a nice editor!

I have been a regular follower of their website for years, and months ago, I applied to be featured and sent in a sample article from a blog post, (which has since been deleted due to my contract), and I got it!  ME!!  Little ole me!!!  If it has success, I might get to be a regular writer.  Like the Carrie Bradshaw of cake!!!  Maybe I'll even buy myself a pair of Manolo Blahniks someday to celebrate.

If you'd like to read it, here's how to buy.  It's $8.99.  It's a digital magazine so you can download a pdf and print it, or download it to your iPad or other tablet. 

Follow this link to buy Volume 4, issue 11, NOT THE WEDDING ISSUE: http://shop.cakecentralmagazine.com/

Click here for instructions to get it on your iPad: http://shop.cakecentralmagazine.com/blogs/help/6215830-how-do-i-get-cake-central-magazine-onto-my-ipad#single

To put it on your kindle, download the PDF then e-mail the file to your kindle e-mail address. You can also just download the pdf and print it. I am on page 6 and 22!  Thank you for all of your love and support!

Day 31: Pumpkin Creme Brulee

I wanted to go out with a bang and saved this recipe for last.  It was pretty easy to make and the presentation was awesome.  I'd love to have a harvest dinner party and serve the pinwheels, the pasta, and these for dessert.  Spencer hollowed out the pumpkins for me and we cooked them while we handed out candy and watched Poltergiest III.  We turned it off because I am afraid of mirrors anyway, and the whole thing is about freaky reflections!!  Anyway, the recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens.  We could be better at crystallizing the sugar, but it was fun.

So, I bet you're wondering, would I do it again?  No.  It was exhausting.  I'd totally do it again for like a week.  There are still some recipes I want to try, like Chocolate Drizzled Pumpkin Profiteroles, Pumpkin Cornbread, Pumpkin Magic Bars, and Pumpkin Macaroons.  Plus recipes I so want to make again, like the chilli, the doughnut holes, and the whoopies.  That's a week right there!  I'm all set for next year.

What were our favorites?  I'd say the top five are the doughnut holes, whoopies, chili, pasta, and dump cake.

How did I do it?  I cut all of these recipes in half, or even fourths, like I do almost everything, and most everything turned out great.  My neighbors and family got a lot of treats.  My trusty Kitchenaid got A LOT of use, as did my dishwasher and measuring cups.  I went through two bags of sugar, two bags of flour, three cartons of eggs, and four packages of butter.  I'd say I used about 25 cans of pumpkin.  I'm pretty sure I gained some weight too, but I haven't checked.  ;)  I'm glad I did it.  It was really fun, even when I had to start baking at 11 at night. And we have a whoooole lot of yummy pumpkin recipes in our cookbook!

Day 30: Pumpkin Emphanadas

I looove bavarian cream emphanadas from Taco Time.  Sue me.  Last year they had a pumpkin one and I was so excited for it.  It was so gross.  This recipe, however, was a total winner!  In fact, I want one of these right now too.  I'm going to have to flip a coin.  I'm going to make bavarian cream ones and taco cups one night with all the left over phyllo dough.  The recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens and they don't call them emphandas but they so are.

Day 29: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Um...woah.  I know it might be blasphemous to say this...but these might, might replace the pumpkin roll.  Although the roll is easier to make...less time consuming.  But these are so fun!  And so delicious!  I got the recipe from my sister, who got it from here.  Don't worry sis, this picture, it's totally a plate for you.  I gave some to my daddy too and he was excited about them.  Crap.  We only have two left and I totally want one now.

Day 28: Pumpkin Roll

Always a classic and always yum-o.  I always use the recipe from Libby's.   I took some to our neighbors because I always cut mine in half.  They make great neighbor gifts.  Last year my grandma and I made like 60 for our neighbors after my pee-in-a-cup debacle.  Good times.  We're planning another insane day of baking with my mom and new sis.

Day 27: Pumpkin Pasta

This was a total winner.  Super yummy, easy, and cheap!  Home run.  I'm adding this to my regular dinner repertoire.  The recipe was from Italian Cooking Made Easy and is reminiscent of a Williams  Sonoma recipe, apparently.  I only had half a can of pumpkin and didn't want to go to the store, so I chanced it.   I think it was the perfect amount!  A full can would've been overpowering.  It was really good with our leftover pumpkin wheels.  And yes, if you're thinking that we eat on the couch a lot, we do.  We'll eat at the table when we have kids.

Day 26: Pumpkin Quesadillas

Spence made these too, cause he's a quesadilla master.  Seriously.  He wasn't sure about these at first, but then he changed his mind.  We were both fans.  The hesitation was that they were a little mushy.  They could've used some crunch.  How to achieve that, I don't know...perhaps nachos?  But like I said, we were both fans.  He said they were even better the next day for lunch.  The recipe came from Closet Cooking.