Autumn Amelia

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend.

Erik and I sure did!

It was rather eventful.

Friday was full of celebrations.
It was February 1st which means it's officially my birthday month!

We also made it through January.

It was national bubblegum day.

National wear red day.

And it was FRIDAY!

Needless to say we celebrated.

Saturday was Groundhog Day.

That may not be cause for celebration for some but Erik and I are big fans of Groundhog Day.

We read up on the history several years ago and got the biggest kick out of it.

Did you know that Punxsutawney Phil has found the elixir of life?

That's why he has been around for 133 years!

Humans have tried to use it but it just turns them fat and bald. 😂
What a riot!
Also, watching grown men wear top hats and get a crowd excited about a groundhog that predicts the weather is quite a sight to be seen.

Erik and I usually watch the big reveal together and then watch Bill Murray's Groundhog Day later that evening.

This year Erik asked if he could make me a special breakfast for Groundhog Day and of course I said yes.

Here is the masterpiece he presented me with.

Punxsutawney pancakes!

That man makes my world such a happy place.

We ate these while getting the amazing news that spring is on it's way.

Needless to say the pancakes will be part of our Groundhog Day traditions from now on.

Then Sunday was the Super Bowl.

It was such a fun weekend.
I am grateful for a husband who will celebrate everyday with me.

How did you spend your weekend?

I'd love to hear!

All my love,

Autumn

Hello everyone!

Happy Super Bowl weekend.

Whether you are rooting for the Eagles or the Patriots I have some fun goodies that you can whip up for the big game.

When it comes to the the Super Bowl I am always team food...

Homemade Pretzels

You will need:

2 and 1/4 Teaspoon Active Dry Yeast (1 standard packet)

1 Cup of Warm Water

1 Tablespoon of Unsalted Butter, melted

1 Teaspoon of Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Salt

3 Cups of All Purpose Flour, more if needed

2 Cups of Water

4 Tablespoons of Baking Soda

1 Tablespoon of Coarse Salt, for topping

6 Tablespoons of Salted Butter, melted

Preheat oven to 475o.

Combine yeast, warm water and sugar in a stand mixer with a hook attachment until "frothy."

When the mixture is "frothy" the yeast is ready.

Stir in salt and unsalted butter. 

Add flour a cup at a time until a dough forms and is no longer sticky, you may need to add more or less flour depending on your mixture.

Knead dough for 5 minutes until the dough is smooth.

Form into a ball, place back in bowl and let rest for 15 minutes. 

While the dough is resting mix two cups of water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda together and bring to a boil.

Once the majority of the baking soda has been dissolved, remove the mixture from heat and let the mixture cool to a lukewarm temperature.

Pour the cooled mixture into a shallow dish and set aside.

Remove the rested dough from the bowl and slightly pat down with your hands.

Cut the dough into eight sections like a pizza.

Take each triangle section and roll into a 19-20 inch rope.

Fold dough into a pretzel shape and place into the baking soda mixture for two minutes.

After the pretzel has soaked, place onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Reshape the pretzel if needed.

Top the pretzel with coarse salt while wet, if desired.

Repeat until all eight pretzels are prepared.

Bake pretzels for 8-9 or until golden brown.

Remove from oven and immediately brush with 6 tablespoons of melted butter.

Enjoy warm!

This was the first time I made homemade pretzels.

They aren't difficult to make but are a little time consuming.

Totally worth it!

Team Color M&M Cookies

You will need:

2 and 1/4 Cups of Flour

1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon of Salt

1 Cup of Shortening

3/4 a Cup of Sugar

3/4 a Cup of Brown Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

2 Large Eggs

M&M's, sorted into team colors

Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.

Beat shortening, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in a large mixer bowl until creamy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Gradually mix in the dry mixture until well combined.

Place tablespoon sized balls of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. 

Remove cookies from oven and immediately press M&M's into warm cookies.

Let cool.

Enjoy!

My family is all about the chocolate chip cookie recipe on the back of the nestle chocolate chip bags.

I have come to find that it is the perfect base dough for other cookies as well.

Instead of chocolate chips I used M&M's in teams colors.

Also, we substitute shortening for butter in the Nestle recipe.

Football Treat Bags

You will need:

Paper Bags

Tape

Your favorite snacks to fill

Lay paper bag flat.

Using the tape of your choice cut a six inch strip and place vertically down the middle of the bag.

Cut four three inch strips and place horizontally on top of the strip down the middle to replicate the seams of a football.

One on the top, two evenly spaced in the middle and one on the bottom.

Fill the bags with your desired treats.
Enjoy!

This treat is super easy mode.

My bags turned out a little more glam than I had originally planned when I realized the only tape that fit the theme was my gold Washi tape.

I am not complaining!

I put a few crinkled up paper bags in the bottom to take up space and to help them stand up.

The bag can hold quite a few snacks and you don't want to give all of your chips to one person.

I will probably cut my bags down for the game on Sunday.

I also thought this would also be a great bag to give to the kids.

You can fill it with healthier snack options, plush footballs and activities to keep them occupied during the game.

Erik and I are excited to chow down on these snacks during the game.
And to eat them for emotional comfort during This Is Us...
What does your family make for the big game?