Sunday, October 17, 2010

On Pumpkins, Recipes and Volunteering

I rarely miss a day of blogging, but I have this week because I've been so busy.  This weekend, our Half Moon Bay community celebrated the annual Pumpkin Festival, an event that brings literally hundreds of thousands of people to our small community of twenty thousand people.  It's a huge money maker for all the local schools and nonprofits who set up all kinds of booths. I worked in the churro booth both days, DS Henry worked in the churro booth and pulled a clean up shift, DH Paul worked a clean up shift, DD Clara worked in the churo booth, and I coordinated about 20 work shifts for soccer players.  I'm tired, but it was really rewarding to help fundraise for the school. And it was doubly-rewarding to work with the soccer kids who were responsible and enthusiastic about earning team service credits towards a soccer jacket. I've also been perusing my recipe binders to find a good recipe for Amy's upcoming blog hop. In honor of the pumpkin festival, I thought I'd share a decorated recipe today with you for pumpkin chocolate chip muffins - really yummy! Tonight, I'll be watching the S.F. Giants play in the baseball playoffs and then catching the season finale of Mad Men. After that, it's back to creating. I promise.

13 comments:

Tammy Lee said...

oh, you got me at chocolate chip... :) Hope you had a great weekend! ♥ tlb

Amy said...

Well it sounds like you have all been very busy!
I love the decorated recipe, pumpkin is not used widely in sweet recipes here - I'd better give this one a try!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Mmmmm...I love a good pumpkin chocolate chip muffin! Will have to give yours a try.

Well done to you and your family for your hard work volunteering for a worthy cause. Did you get to eat all the churros you wanted? :o)

debs14 said...

Us Brits really need to get more into this whole pumpkin business! Over here they will really only be on sale for carving into laterns. I don't know of any pumpkin recipes and don't think I have ever bought a pumpkin for cooking! Unless butter nut squash is considered a pumpkin that is. Maybe I will have to buy one to cook this year!

scrappyjacky said...

Sounds like a great way to raise money....hard work, but very satisfying....and pretty successful from the amount of people who attend.

scrappyjacky said...

Sounds like a great way to raise money....hard work, but very satisfying....and pretty successful from the amount of people who attend.

Sian said...

I absolutely love the idea of your community all pulling together like this - it sounds like such fun. We have smallish PTA events here but nothing on this scale. It sounds amazing!

Pumpkins have really only started appearing in the shops here in recent years. Irish folk used to carve turnip lanterns.

JO SOWERBY said...

ah the sweet smell of cooking and the joy of fun volunteering for the kids. i am looking forward to seeing everyone's recipes next sunday, it'll be gr8 fun.
the only thing i know about pumpkins really is charlie brown and gr8 pumpkin,........i love that cartoon. ''the gr8 pumpkin will rise out of the pumpkin patch and deliver goodies to all the children...........oh brother''
Jo xxxx

laurie said...

i'm glad the festival and your booth were so successful. i worked at our school carnival friday night - fun but exhausting!
the muffins sound so yummy and i can just imagine how good the house will smell while they bake. i will have to make some this week.

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I love chocolate & pumpkin together!

nancy y said...

we make similar muffins here and they are a huge favorite, all year long!
I've often wondered what it must be like living where you do when the crowds decend upon your town! I'll bet the soccer kids had a great time.

Lauren said...

It sure sounds like you are busy!

Cute recipe card. When can I come over for tasting!? ;)

humel said...

Good for you :-)

I tried a pumpkin cupcake recipe last week - first time I ever tried baking with pumpkin! I can imagine chocolate chips working rather well in such a recipe, thanks for sharing xx