Preparing for a Pumpkin Party

      I have 3 daughters, all of them born in October.  The oldest, Lindsey, and the youngest, Madalynn, have birthdays on the 29th and the 30th respectively.  Alicia's is on the 10th and my daughter-in-law joins the mix with a birthday on the 18th.  It kind of made sense as my girls were growing up that many times their parties took on a Halloweenish flair.  Especially Maddy's!  When Lindsey was in college, she began hosting a Pumpkin Party to celebrate her birthday because she loves all things pumpkin (thus the pumpkin cinnamon rolls) and so it seemed appropriate.  She would invite everyone, even if they couldn't be at the party, to enjoy pumpkin food and fun wherever they were in the world.  I feel like she was doing pumpkin before pumpkin was cool! I mean, I can't believe how the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice flavor trend has caught on! Little did you know that it was my daughter who started it.  

       Lindsey is the one who got married in August.  She asked me if she could host her Annual Pumpkin Party at my house this year because she and her husband live on the East side of the valley and she doesn't know as many people there yet.  This is giving me a good opportunity to decorate and bake in Lindsey's favorite way....PUMPKINY!

       First of all, I found this delicious recipe for pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon buttercream frosting.  I made them for our church choir to test out the recipe.  I could hardly stop eating them.  They are so good and super easy to make because you dress up a cake mix to make them.  This recipe was adapted from Love From the Oven.

Pumpkin Cupcakes, cinnamon frosting

       A local store had pumpkins on sale for one day only 7 lbs. for 98 cents! I picked up a few and you will have to see what I do with those! 
         Lindsey says she found a recipe for pumpkin apple cider, so I am anxious to try that.  There are more tricks up our sleeves, so check back for pictures of the party.

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Pumpkin Pies Spice Bombs seem appropriate right now.

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