As usual, after spending some time on Pinterest, I was inspired to bake. Don’t you love Pinterest for that (mine)? So for the fourth time that week (I’ll explain later), I ran to the grocery store to get ingredients for Pumpkin Pie Coffee Cake with Crumbled Pecan Topping. Doesn’t that sound like the best thing ever? I gathered what I needed but couldn’t find the pumpkin for the life of me. I soon discovered that CANNED PUMPKIN IS NOT SOLD IN THE UK. Or at least not at the three different stores where I then proceeded to look. Talk about heartbreak, I was depressed for a good two hours.
Can you imagine Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie? Neither can I. I found online stores that sell Libby's Canned Pumpkin but they're all a bit spendy. Have any suggestions? Or know of a recipe for making pumpkin puree from scratch (I might just be that daring). And in the meantime, I’d love if you made the Pumpkin Pie Coffee Cake and let me know how it is. The recipe's here.
As for frequent grocery runs, that’s just the way it goes around there. We quickly discovered that Morrison’s was going to be our second home when considering that food is sold more fresh here, we have a dorm room sized fridge and carrying two bags of groceries up 4 flights of stairs is enough for our poor American bodies.
We've decided to attend Queens Road Church, and we're pretty excited about it :-). I love how integrated it is, young and old, obviously from all walks of life. People seem really down to earth and have been really welcoming. We've already gone to a Life Group that they have during the week and on Sunday we went to the park with a group of 10 or so to eat lunch. Good community was one things at the top of our list when looking and it definitely seems we'll find it there. Oh, and it's a three minute walk from our flat, nice bonus. :-)
In other news, you guys should really consider going without internet at your house for a week so. It's been quite great. You'll find more time to enjoy reading, talk to your spouse (haha), play board games (Rivals for Catan is really fun), go for walks, and just reflect. :-) Although we'll probably have internet by the end of the week, I'm going to try and spend less time online knowing how it benefitted me the last 3 weeks.
Michaela Rae
Oh, sadness about the pumpkin! Do you think you can find fresh pumpkins? If so, you can make the puree like this: http://www.aliciashomemaking.com/2010/11/try-new-adventures-thursday-cooking-my_04.html
ReplyDeleteWhat is Kurt's schedule like again? Are you feeling lonely? I want to hear more about the touring and the multiple grocery trips...
Finally visiting your blog! It's good to hear what you've been up to. Wish I could sit down with you and enjoy some of that yummy looking coffee cake. What, are you and Alicia competing?? Love you bunches,Mom
ReplyDeleteYay!! I'm glad y'all found a good church you like! :) If I baked, I would totally make that... it looks delish!
ReplyDeleteAlicia, Kurt has class only twice a week; it's great. I haven't been lonely much. And hopefully have a job (I got one at Starbucks) & making friends at church will help too. :-)
ReplyDeleteRachel, you should really consider baking. Haha
Wow, a job at Starbucks! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteMom, what would Michaela and I be competing about? You're funny...:)
"My blogs better than your blog, na na da boo boo"?....haha.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing the sibling "rivalry" in the comments. Hahaha! :)
ReplyDeleteWe have a good friend from Holland who chose his current apartment based on it's proximity to the grocery store {he lives above it}.