Pumpkin 'n Spice is Oh So Nice

Kendall and Mommy (per Kendall's suggestion) were in the mood to bake a cake the other day.  And of course I keep ingredients on hand for when then the mood strikes.  This time we made a pumpkin spice cake Kendall style since she's allergic to eggs. I learned this recipe, which originated as a Weight Watchers recipe,  last year from my mom. Daddy and Kendall got to work right after dinner.

Here's Kendall's version:

First, mix spice cake mix really carefully.

Next, supervise Daddy adding a can of pumpkin and a can of water.

Then ask for Daddy's assistance with the mixer as you stir.

Delegate Daddy to pour the mix into a pan.

After that clean up all utensils.

Take a bath while cake is baking.  Enjoy the results when jammies are on and hair is dry.

And the inviting, fall-like aroma permeating through the house is even better than my new Glade Apple Cinnamon find. Mmmmm

The Proof is in the Salsa

I've read all the inconclusive research on whether or not what a pregnant woman eats has any effect on the baby's taste in food. Well, all those researchers who have lost hours of sleep on the topic can now rest easy...

...it does.

My pregnancy cravings for Mexican food live on well into Kendall's second year of life, so when asked where I wanted to eat for Mother's Day it was a no-brainer. (Gabe concludes that a secret to our happy marriage is making sure I get a Mex Fix every week or so.) And Kendall is carrying on the love affair. Mi amigos, she has discovered chips and salsa, and life will never be the same.

And notice she has her own little bowl to dunk her chips into. She was one happy little senorita as she threw quite a little fiesta over them. (She also polished off a plate a been burrito, rice and beans.) Yep, she might be looking a little more like her Daddy these days, but she is definitely like her Mama!

She loves it so much, she could drink the stuff. Ole!

Beater Lickin' Good!

Mmmm...Kendall's first time to lick the beater when Mommy made a cake! And, boy, was is good! It didn't take her long to get the hang of it.

Due to her food allergies, I've discovered other ways to cook. This cake recipe uses a box of cake mix and a can of Sprite. (I prefer Sprite Zero. Regular Sprite adds more sugar to a mix that already has some, making it too sweet for my tooth.) That's it! Mix it and bake it according to the directions. It tastes just as good as the traditional way with eggs and oil. Slap a little frosting on it and you're good to go. If you want to be even more health conscious, use a box of mix, a can of pumpkin and a can of water. Delicious! We might even keep this recipe around even after she outgrows her food allergies.

Puff Mama

What a difference a day makes. Kendall now LOVES puffs. She's eating them like they're going out of style. But lawyer Daddy investigated by reading the fine print and realized that it takes 90 puffs to equal 25 calories, so I'm not really worried about it.

And yesterday, Kendall also ate bread and a banana. (About a fifth of a banana to be more accurate.) We're rockin' and rollin' now. Tomorrow is Kendall's nine month check up at the pediatrician. Can't believe it. My baby is growing up.

Cereal Killer

Yum yum! Kendall had her first taste of cereal this past week. As expected she wasn't quite sure what to make of it. She took to it pretty well, though. It wasn't long and the bowl was empty! But we still love our bottles!