Easy as Pie (Mix)

So I'll admit straight out that this recipe for amazingly delicious brownies was created by accident. But it was one of those good mistakes where the outcome is better than the original plan! I started making the Hungry Girl brownie mix variation in which the mix is combined with 1 cup canned solid pack pumpkin instead of the oil, water, and eggs. This method is obviously healthier with the pumpkin delivering added fiber, calcium, potassium, and several other vitamins and minerals without adding fat, and using a dairy-free mix like Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge (my favorite mix of all time), it's also an easy vegan recipe.

Today, though, my lack of sleep must have gotten to me and somehow I misread the label on the pumpkin can. Instead of using solid pack pumpkin, I used pumpkin pie mix. Of course, I didn't think anything of it when the pumpkin was softer than it usually is. I just added it anyway. When the brownies came out of the oven, they smelled heavenly... and bit spicy. That was when I finally checked the can. I tried one, and it was delicious! The spices add a complexity to the brownies that takes them above and beyond the run of the mill. I seriously plan to do this again, adding cayenne pepper next time, too. In case you like the recipe format:

So-Easy-It's-Like-Cheating Mexican Brownies

1 box brownie mix

1 generous cup pumpkin pie mix

Mix and cook according to package directions. It's that easy! And so extremely delicious...

I made mini cupcakes with the brownie batter (15 minutes at 350), but the batter also cooks well in larger pans following the regular cooking directions on the box. My mini cupcakes will be topped with Pillsbury Easy Frost Velvety Cream Cheese No-Fuss Frosting, the kind in the can that looks like Cheez Whiz. It's also vegan, and a huge time saver. Plus, I can put down the can at any point to feed or change or cuddle with Tye. She has been watching me, listening to my play-by-play cooking monologue, which eventually put her to sleep in her vibrating rocker.

Mmm... Brunch!

Today was Tye's first trip to our favorite brunch spot, Handlebar! She slept straight through brunch, but that's okay- there will be many more trips in the future.

And here's the adorable outfit under all those layers in the car seat.

Merry Christmas 2009!

We decided putting up and taking down a tree was too much this year, so we put our gifts under a miniature tree. That green box with the red bow is Tyler's gift from me (a scarf I knit for him while on bed rest!). The other two are gifts for Tye, wrapped beautifully by Tyler. Tye's Christmas Eve outfit! Another Christmas outfit... Look at that face! This is the closest we've come to capturing Tye's smile in a photo!!!

We had an amazing Christmas. Lots of time with family, full of laughter, generosity, perfectly personalized gifts, and of course, lots of attention focused on Tye! Just holding her is the best gift I could ever imagine.

Merry Christmas!

Over the river and through the woods...

Mico sitting shotgun, Tye sqeezed between gifts as we travel to my
parents' house and then Tyler's... Once again, thinking perhaps we
should look into an SUV.

Just Look...

I never get tired of looking at them together like this.

Christmas Shopping

Today, Tyler, Tye and I went to Old Orchard mall to do some (last-minute) Christmas shopping. We found everything on our list and then some (a nice sweater for Tyler!). Mostly, though, it was a great chance for us to get out of the house and do something seasonal. Since we had no time constraints, we weren't scared off by the mile long backup on the Edens at the Old Orchard exit, and the crowds were simply good people watching. We ate lunch at Frontera Fresca, the Macy's Rick Bayless restaurant (even Tye ate there, from the safe haven of her sling under a blanket). Most of the time, Tye was in the sling on Tyler's chest and everywhere we went, people oohed and aahed over Tye and commented on how comfortable she looked in her sling. She slept the entire time, only waking to eat at lunch. Our family trip was so much fun! Next up, gift wrapping...

Christmas pictures

We took some pictures this weekend while at my parents' home. They aren't the most flattering photos- not quite the Christmas card photo we were hoping for- but perhaps they show us as we are! I don't mind Tyler's beard, but I think we'll wait for him to shave it before we take real family photos. It looks much better in person. I hope the sweater I was wearing looks better in person, too.

It looks like I have a little Tyler on my lap- in a dress!