Recipe:: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

LD found me a few cans of Pumpkin over the holiday's and I've been saving them to make something good. When Sebastian and I woke this morning it was snowing! I was just dying for a nice warm muffin. What better than Pumpkin Chocolate Chip?!?!

Sebastian literally shoved them in his mouth. I admit, so did I!

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Oven Temp:: 400 degrees
Bake time:: 16-20 min

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 {16 oz} can pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil {yes, that much!}

3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking power
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips {I prefer the mini ones!}

Directions::

01. In a large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla and oil until smooth.

02. Mix dry ingredients together and mix into pumpkin mixture. Fold in chocolate chips.

03. Fill greased or paper lined cups 3.4 full.

04. Bake at 400 F for 16-20 min

Christmas at George Square

It just isn't Christmas until we've been to George Square I tell you. So we went. And it was glorious!

There was an international market this year with food and crafts from all around the world. It smelled amazing. We had a hard time choosing what to eat! I ate the best German Sausage on sourdough bread I've ever had in my life. LD had a chorizo sausage on french bread. We grabbed an assortment of Italian cannoli and a cone of churros drizzled in nutella and off we went to see the big tree. 

The temperature wasn't bad {about 41 degree's} and it wasn't raining. It was the perfect time to go! The streets were a mass of people. It was crazy how many were out shopping. We couldn't go a few steps without seeing some street performers. All ages and different kinds of acts. It was totally festive. 

Once we got to George Square Sebastian wanted out of his stroller. I don't blame him! there were lights and rides! Ice skaters and a giant Christmas Tree! They even had a kids Christmas train giving free rides! Sebastian was too small to ride himself and they wouldn't let an adult ride with him. He was heart broken. The tears were epic. I felt for him. He should have been allowed to go. The other parents even wanted him to go. Poor thing. 

It feels like Christmas now. We had a great day and George Square has always been our Christmas kickoff. 

Our Christmas Tree

{I need to do something with my mantle}

We have a special story about our tiny Christmas tree that we got our first year of marriage. We've retired the tree sadly. Only because the legs got lost in our last move. It was a sad day. I might try to fix it up into a pot or something next year. I miss it!

So, we needed a new tree. We are now the proud owners of a space saver tree. It is...thinner. We love it! It is exactly my height {5 ft 7 in} and Sebastian loves to take the ornaments off to inspect them. I don't mind. We usually play with a few of them before he tries to put them back on by throwing the ornament at the branch he wants it to go on. This of course doesn't work. So I help him put it back on. I think he has a collection of ornaments somewhere because I'm missing a few. I'm sure they are with his pacifiers and all the batteries from the remotes, and his first pair of shoes. I've yet to find this "secret spot" but I'm on the hunt.

My Mom sends a new ornament every year {since we got married}. Now she sends one for Sebastian too. This way when he graduates from college or gets married he has his very own stash of ornaments for his family tree. This year she sent us a little Scottish girl ornament and Sebastian got a Police Car that says "Hey sneeky McPeeky Pants! Back away from the presents" when he gets too close to the tree. He loves it and plays with it every day. I'm glad there is an off switch. But, it sure is cute!

My Mom also made our stockings, tree skirt, and table runner for my Christmas gift this year! She did a great job and it really makes everything feel more festive. My step grandmother Joan gave my Mom a table cloth and place mats of her mother's when she passed away. My Mom put them in the wash and shrank them by accident. She's kept them all these years because she couldn't part with such a beautiful heirloom even though they would never fit a table. She made my table runner out of it! I'm so glad it is getting used and I have a piece of family with me during the holiday's.

I love Christmas tree's! What does your tree look like? Put a link in the comments, email me, or tweet me {@SweetBookshelf} a picture! 

Life Without a Car

Just before Sebastian was born we got rid of our car. I hadn't been driving it regularly. I worked in a bakery prior to Seb's birth and had to pay for parking. So I used to walk the 30 min to work or take the bus instead. I did that for a year until my maternity leave started and we moved. My driver's license had expired anyway. Why pay for a car I wasn't using? So we sold it.

I now don't have a driver's license. At all. It expired over 2 years ago. I know, crazy right?! This is pretty common around here. I only have a couple of friends who actually have a license. Most families are a 1 car family here in Scotland. Public transportation is easily accessible and getting a British license is pretty expensive. So...I don't have one. Maybe someday I will but not right now.

LD has a company car and we use that for whatever we need. But, I don't have a car during the day. Ever. I'm fine with this. Sebastian and I take our trusty stroller out to the park, library, pool, Doctor's, play date's, lunches in town, etc.This is my normal. I use my two feet to get me places. The train station is just down the street and the bus station is around the corner from me. Makes it easy!

When it rains {which let's face it is a lot} I just try to be prepared for if/when the rain stops or slows down. Or I just grab my boots and we head on out in the rain to where ever we are going. It is rare, but sometimes I do wish for a car. I could run on over to friends houses on a whim or I could go someplace without having to pack for every situation possible.

This is some of what life is like with a toddler in Scotland! No car and it's no problem!

Recipe:: Banana Apple Bread

see? i always have over ripe banana's.

Recently we had a weather advisory here in Scotland. There were strong gale force winds and heavy rain. We'd planned on going swimming but we decided to do a little baking instead. I always have bad banana's in my house. Always. I also always say I'm going to make banana bread with them and I never do. But not today! Sebastian and I got to work in the kitchen and had a great time. He loved it! He couldn't eat it fast enough. It's safe to say I'll be trying hard to not let the banana's go to waste any longer. It was a perfect snack for a cold and rainy Scottish day.

Now I can't stop making Banana Apple Bread. The sun is shining but Sebastian and I tucked in to make some this after noon. We are sitting on the couch watching Cars and eating warm Banana Apple Bread. Bliss!

Banana Apple Bread

Makes: 1 Loaf
Prep Time: 20 min
Bake Time: 1 hr
Oven: 350 degrees

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Shortening
1 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 cup Peeled, Finely Chopped Apple
1 cup Mashed Banana
1 1/2 cup Flour
1 TSP Baking Soda
1/2 TSP Salt

Directions:

1. Cream shortening; gradually add sugar, beat well
2. Add eggs, beat well
3. Stir in apple and banana
4. Combine flour, soda, salt. Add to mixture, stirring just until blended
5. Spoon batter into greased and floured loaf pan
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hr or until wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 min; remove from pan and cool on wire rack
7. Serve with cream cheese or peanut butter. Plain is good too!

Enjoy!

Wemyss Bay

LD was on call this weekend so when he got a call Saturday morning to go to Wemyss Bay we decided we'd go with him. Wemyss Bay is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde. There is a ferry there and that is where LD needed to go. He takes care of the computers in the office as well as on the ferry. It is uber cool the contracts that LD gets to do!

Every single time we go out this way I can't stop remarking how we should move out here. I mean, it's by the ocean people!!! I'd love me a sea view. We drove along the coast the whole way. It was gorgeous. It was overcast and grey {which was hard to get a good picture} but no rain and that is a plus. The sailboats were out and we had glimpses of a bright sun over all those clouds. Sebastian and I waved at the ferry as it left and enjoyed a walk along the sea front--while LD was working. We stopped at a used book store and I picked me up North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. We enjoyed a day driving along the coast and enjoying the fresh salty air. I really wouldn't mind living here!