DIY: Bouquet in a Pumpkin

I knew for our Thanksgiving Celebration I wanted an original center piece. It is hard to find something very fall like still here in Amsterdam since most everything has crossed over to Christmas already with Sinterklaas having made his way through town and that feast coming up at the end of this week.

I found a number of ideas on pinterest so I had to narrow it down. I love this one in particular. So off I went to recreate.

I hunted down a flower stand I knew had pumpkins at one point and they still had two left! I was very excited. I then found the vase I wanted to use inside (I just recycled a two liter bottle). I placed the two liter bottle on top of the pumpkin and traced around it making a cutting line on the top of the pumpkin around the stem. Then, I went to work with a serrated knife and cut the top and scooped out all the seeds and other "guts". You can toss the top as you won't need it. Save the seeds though you can bake those. This is what I was left with:

Once the pumpkin was clean I put the two liter bottle in and traced around where I wanted to cut it off. I slightly tilted the marker upwards so the top would stick out just a tiny bit. I was worried it would tip over if it were too exact and I wanted it to be really stable. This is what it looks like:

Cut the top of the bottle off (be careful so you don't cut yourself the plastic can be sharp). Fill with water.

Fit into the top of the pumpkin.

...and push down so it is secure.

When picking the flowers I knew I wanted mums since it was November and they are big and fluffy, and I wanted roses that felt fall. I was ecstatic when I found the peach and red tipped roses.

I then measured the length I wanted the stems to be. I wanted the flowers to just poke over the top of the pumpkin.

I put all the roses in first, then put the four mums all around to fill in any gaps and really give the bouquet that full feeling.

I think it turned out quite beautifully. This is the first flower arrangement I've ever done so I was extremely excited. For the full centerpiece I added a sheet of wrapping paper I found at an end of the roll sale for two euro and made a "Give Thanks" bunting which I will share on Thursday!

If you want more ideas for next year make sure to follow my Thanksgiving Pinterest board!
Follow Kate's board Thanksgiving on Pinterest.

"Recipe" for a perfect fall weekend +menu plan monday #56

Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. I think it has something to do with growing up in Florida it was a season I didn't see much of. I had no idea what leaves changing really looked like, what it really meant to have that change in the weather, and how cozy fall fashion can be!

So, here is my "recipe" for the perfect fall weekend:

1 part quality time with he husband.

2 parts family time.

1 part sightseeing.

2 parts enjoying nature.

Plus a pinch of relaxing to rejuvenate the soul

Which is everything we did this weekend...

Started with an amazing breakfast of banana pancakes and healthy fried apples.

It was a gorgeous fall day so we took a friend on a bike ride through the countryside....

Everything is still so lush and green,,,we are loving it...it was super muddy though and very windy!

I love the directional signs!

We then biked downtown and enjoyed a drink on the patio...where service was even more horrendous than normal lol

We than had an impromptu picnic on the edge of a canal..nice oil slick, eh?

We then took a lovely canal cruise...

This is the Nemo Science and Technology Centre.....

This is the back of Nemo...it has seats so you can sit up there and enjoy a beverage or lunch...in the summer it has a water installation so the kids can play up there and stay cool! I also love the sailboats!

We then had a full day of cheerleading...

I loved this catch...it was so clean!

I took a walk to stretch my legs...this lake was beautiful...I love that fountain that is out there.

I love coming home on the train...that still has not gotten old. The quality time I get with the kiddo when we are waiting is priceless.

Ended the day with a homemade meal...end of season zucchini and onions, sweet potato fries, and a chicken breast on the foreman.

We had such a fabulous weekend...hard to believe it will be topped by a trip to Rome here shortly! If you follow me on Instagram you can see my Rome photos as the happen. ;)

Now...to get ready for the week ahead!

Breakfast 

Cream of Wheat, cereal, fruit bowl, eggs and veggies scramble

Lunch

Monday: Leftovers: chicken parm with zucchini

Tues: lunch out with a friend/ham and cheese sub

Wednesday: Leftovers or tuna salad

Thursday: Tuna salad/ham and cheese sub

Friday: pbj, apple, chips, soda as a treat ;)

Dinner

The time has come for the husband to crunch, so sadly the kiddo and I are on our own for dinner this week so it will be full of mostly meat free.

Monday: Whole wheat ravioli with onions, garlic, and cherry tomatoes

Tuesday: Open face caprese sandwiches with side salad and pumpkin

Wednesday: Thin crust pizza's with side salad

Thursday: Caprese quinoa bake (to use up the basil from earlier in the week & to freeze some)

Friday: Dinner in Rome! YAY!

Saturday: Dinner in Rome again! YAY!

Sunday: We will go to the Pure Markt once we are back from Rome and get some amazing for Amsterdam BBQ.

That sums it up for me this week. I can't wait to try the quinoa bake. My dirty little secret is that I am not a quinoa lover so I am hoping that will help me like it a bit more.

What are you cooking up this week?

Btw, I am linking up over at Org Junkie, come join the par-tay! :)

Fall Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Recipe

So, we love all things fall flavored. Shockingly the Europeans don't seem to have the same obsession with pumpkin everything that American's do! ha! But, have no fear, for we decided to start concocting our own amazing fall treats!

So, my first recipe that we have been enjoying since a warm front came in and we've been enjoying some 70 degree days is a cold brew coffee concentrate.

The idea came to me when I found this recipe on Pinterest (follow me!).

Of course I didn't have all the ingredients on hand, well, because I have no idea what Clove is in Dutch and the guy at the spice stand had no idea what I was saying and told me everything was in alphabetical order. I looked among all the C's as often times due to Greek and Latin roots the words are close, but saw nothing that looked or smelled like cloves...anywhere in the spice stand...so I had to concoct something else, this is what I came up with.

Fall Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate

5 Cups of filtered water (I honestly just use tap water lol)
1 cup of course ground coffee
2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 Teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 Teaspoon ground cardamom

Combine coffee grounds and spices in a large container with a lid and mix up a bit. Add 5 cups of water, give a little stir to make sure all grounds are nice and wet by the water, put the lid on and set in the fridge to steep over night or up to 24 hours. This is what it will look like:

What, this doesn't look appetizing to you?! Well, sometimes things need to get a little ugly before they get better...I promise the results are AMAZING!

The next day line a large bowl or pitcher with a cheese cloth and strain the coffee from the grounds. If you strained it into a bowl make sure you put it into a pitcher with a lid:

Don't judge...our kitchen isn't yet equipped with everything so I use the top of a coke bottle for a funnel #nowaste 

See, my funnel is awesome and it successfully got my cold brew from bowl to pitcher...

***that is a recycled juice bottle by the way. Being an expat and trying not to buy extras has made me quite creative!

Once you are done straining your concentrate store in the fridge and it is good for at least a week. This hasn't lasted longer than a week in our house so I can't vouch for it being good for much past that, but you could give it a go!

How we make ours

This is how we assemble our delicious cold brew. One should note, cold brew concentrate is very strong and high in caffeine, so a little goes a long way.

1/2 cup concentrate

1 cup unsweetened almond milk or regular milk

2 Tablespoons cinnamon brown sugar syrup

3-4 ice cubes (ours are quite large lol), or to taste

whipped cream

Put ice in your cup, add syrup, concentrate, and milk. Stir, top with whipped cream. Enjoy!

Are you a fan of "fall spiced" items? What is your favorite? Mine seriously is this coffee!

Menu Plan Monday #24

Autumn is in full swing here....we have changing leaves, the rain has started, and the temperatures are starting to get cooler. I am super excited, Autumn may not be my favourite season, but it sure is a close second. Living in a place that actually has dipping temperatures, a feature (like rain) that signals the season change, makes it all that much more magical. Here are some photos from last Autumn....

I'm not photographer and all of those were taken with my plain ol' iPhone camera, but those are a small selection of my favourites! Another favourite thing is planning my menu around amazing delicious fall squashes. I love, love, love sweet stuff so having the sweet squashes will be so tasty! We are also gearing up for October Unprocessed 2013! 

As a familial whole we are about 70% unprocessed, but for this month we will all go all in and do 100% unprocessed. Luckily I have a health conscious teenager so she is on board, the husband, well we'll see. I think if he can do at least 80% unprocessed I've made some progress! Anyway....on to what you came here for....

Org Junkie

These are the fruits and veggies I am working with this week from the Farmer's Market...

Breakfast

Monday: Leftover cream of rice cereal from last week sweetened with honey, pear slices

Prep: None, it was already done ;)

Tuesday: Hard boiled eggs, whole wheat toast, and pear slices with cinnamon protein peanut butter for dipping

Prep: Sunday hard boil 12 eggs, make protein peanut butter :

This is the base recipe, but here is how I make it exactly:

1/2 cup PB

3/4 cup almond milk

6 tablespoons Sunwarrior raw protein powder in Vanilla

1 tsp of cinnamon

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp raw, local honey (I am not vegan, and I reduce the sweetener because I used sweetened protein powder)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Store in nice jar in fridge. 

*For easy, grab & go prep store in individual mini-mason jars in the fridge.

Wednesday: Eggs, canadian bacon, toast

Prep: None, make fresh

Thursday: Same as Tuesday

Prep: None, will already be made

Friday: Big Ass Pancake

Prep: Make Sunday afternoon, doubling ingredients and store in fridge. Heat up either in pan, oven, or microwave and top with protein pb made earlier in the week.

Saturday: Paleo Pumpkin Muffins 

Prep: Double recipe and freeze for breakfasts another time and lunches

Sunday: Omelette, bacon, leftover muffins or toast

Prep: None, all will be fresh, or already made

Lunch

Monday: 

Kate: Tuna salad with Parmesan crisps

Teen: Chicken salad with walnuts

Tuesday: 

Kate: Leftovers

Teen: Leftovers in thermos

Wednesday:

Kate: Cucumber, egg white, cheddar stacks with leftover squash

Teen: Eat out

Thursday: 

Kate: Apple or pear 'which with a bowl of granola

Teen: Applewich with nuts, and cucumber slices

Friday: 

Squash soup with any leftover fruit/veggies from the week

Saturday: 

Most likely will eat out, we are going apple picking and will be an hour away from home. I will probably pack up some leftovers to snack on.

Sunday:

Grilled cheese sandwiches with homemade chicken noodle soup

Dinner

Monday: Baked potato bar with side salads

Prep: Make a large salad for the week and a side of cucumber relish so it's just grab and go.

Tuesday: Homemade hamburger helper with cucumber relish with corn

Prep: Pre-measure spices, cucumber relish will be made above

Wednesday: Bacon wrapped BBQ apple chicken in the crock pot with corn

Prep: None, slice everything fresh and put in crockpot

Thursday: Sweet & sour chicken with rice and corn/leftover salad

Prep: None, all will be made fresh

Friday: New Restaurant Friday: Nook 

Saturday: Fried steak pieces with baked bacon cheese fries and whatever fresh veggies I get from the market

Prep: None, all will be made fresh

Sunday: Sliders on a stick with roasted onions and whatever veggies I pick up from the farmer's market

Prep: None, all will be made fresh

That is my menu for the week...I remembered to take into account after school activities and use of our leftovers! :) 

I hope you all have a great week!!!

Sunday Social #7-All about fall!

1. What is your favorite fall activity?

Apple Picking and Pumpkin Picking! Last year was the first time we ever did apple picking and we had a great time. We time it at the beginning of October when we go and pick out our pumpkins for Halloween!

2. Do you follow a football team? If so, which one and why?

YES!!!

This is mine and hubby's Alma Mater. We love the knights and know that one of these days they will be a top contender football team! They are already so competitive in other sports, just need to boost that football team!

In our house we actually prefer NFL to College. We follow the Jags because they are our hometown team. We were both living in Jacksonville and in high school during the conception of the team, so they are near and dear to our hearts!

We follow these guys because my Dad went to college there and I grew up watching the Gators, the husband follows them because they are a great team and his Dad also follows them and is a huge fan.

3. What is something fun about fall in your area?

The changing of the leaves. 

Tree's by the local primary school

Orange, berry-like foliage on a hike along the sea wall.

Being able to go and hike and see all the beautiful foliage. There is also a lot of apple picking and pumpkin patches to be had if you aren't afraid of a little driving.

Trees, sun, and fog on a hike up the Grouse Grind the the Peak of Grouse Mountain.

Evergreen's at the top of Grouse. Normally you can see the whole of the city of Vancouver from here, but this is classic fall weather for Vancouver.

We love apple picking and going to the pumpkin patch at Willow View Farms. We think they have the best farm around and everyone is super friendly.

4. What are your favorite fall staple outfits?

These are my staples for fall. They can all be found on my Fall 2013 Trends board on Pinterest. 

5. What things are you looking forward to most about this coming fall season?

6. What is your favorite fall holiday? Tradition?

My favorite fall tradition is absolutely Halloween!! You can't beat getting to dress up and pretend to be your favorite character or a character from history for a night!!!
***get together a few pictures from halloween's past!

My favourite fall tradition is setting up our Christmas tree and decorating it the evening of American Thanksgiving. It is a lot of work, but is so worth it in the end!

So, that is what our fall will look like in a nutshell! This is such a fun time of year because even though the weather is changing, it is a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors and be grateful there is amazing produce to consume (and I mean real produce not that fake pumpkin crap Starbucks puts out). What are you most looking forward to this upcoming fall season?