The Great Pumpkin

Happy Halloween!!!

...Smalls doesn't like "dressing up" but after a while, he started to like his pumpkin outfit..I think it's because it kept him warm....

...he's gonna drive me crazy tonight (barking every time the doorbell rings).

Do you dress up your pet, too? Halloween or just any other day??

On a different note, I thought I'd show you what we had for dinner last night.

Mustard-Herbed Baked Salmon w/ Baked cauliflowers on the side (it was yummy...and I didn't think I liked cauliflowers)

Today, I decided to bake a Chocolate Pumpkin Coffee Cake

For the Topping

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)

1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cloves

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the Cake

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)

3/4 cup organic sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 can of pumpkin (15 oz)

1. For the topping, combine flour, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until crumbly. Add the chocolate chips and toss together. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 375F. Grease and flour a 13x9 in. baking pan. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a small bowl. Beat 1/2 cup of butter in a large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add the sugars beating until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Add vanilla extract and stir in entire can of pumpkin. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients and stir until just blended. 

3. Spread half of the batter into the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle half of the topping mixture. Add remaining batter on top then the leftover topping evenly over batter. Bake until toothpick into center comes out clean and topping is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Cool cake. Serve room temperature.

...and a project on the side...I made hubby a "personalized" travel coffee mug. His "old" one was getting grungy. It was a collage of pictures of his BFF (Smalls, of course).

 ....Have a great Halloween....Mwaa--ha-ha-ha-ha!!!! and Take Care!