autumn simple pleasures

The view from the sunroom windows recently::the colorful leaves

were all ablaze from the light of the setting sun.

The farmer's field corn has turned a pale tan, and we wonder when he will

be back to harvest it.

The woodstove is put back into use as our days turn

cooler, cloudier, and rainier than they've been in a long while.

The scrabble game has been dusted off and we have gathered

around the warm fire to play.

The knitting needles are busy again, working on Christmas gifts.

And in the kitchen,

I am happily cooking with one of my most favorite ingredients,

Pumpkin!

Thanks to a wonderful recipe found HERE,

we are now enjoying some pumpkin with breakfast...

This is my variation on the Simple Bites recipe ~it's so delicious,

I decided to double the recipe,

and I cut back the sugar to suit my not-so-sweet sweet tooth,

and pecans are a must, so I did throw some in:

Pumpkin Spice Granola

4 tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp allspice

1 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup maple syrup

2/3 cup pumpkin puree

4 cups old fashioned oats

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup pecans

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. 
• Combine the oil, salt, spices, maple syrup, and pumpkin puree.
• Stir in the oats, pumpkin seeds and pecans until blended.
• Spread on parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Edited 10/30~Bake 45 to 60 minutes {mine took a bit more time as the recipe is doubled}, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Allow granola to cool before storing in an airtight container.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I'm making beeswax candles, filling up the kerosene lamps,

and keeping a cozy fire in the woodstove...the wind and rain

are hitting the windows, and word has it that Sandy

is heading our way....

Deb