Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Big bugs, babies, and yummy treats!!

So, a couple of weeks ago, Kyle noticed Kiko playing with something and says "hey, what's Kiko got?" I look across the room and notice that even from a distance it looks kind of big and I say to myself, "Please let it be some scrap fabric that she found and not a bug!" We go over to investigate and this is what we find.... *Not for the faint of heart!!*










The thing was as big as my thumb!!!!! Jacquelyn informed me that it is a Jerusalem Beetle. Apparently they like to burrow in sand and such. We live on a second floor apartment, I want to know how the heck it got in!!! I promptly went around and closed every window, checked every door and possible entry way to make sure there wasn't a hole where more could get in! blech!!! I hate big bugs!!!



This is Amelia, I nanny her and her brother 4 mornings a week. They are cute!! no picture of Ethan yet. I swear, I started this job at the wrong time.... She is teething and he is potty training... I am sending my kids away to be potty trained!! :0)




I made pumpkin scones for snacks for our growth group tonight. They are tasty!!! I am having to restrain myself from eating them all before we go! If you want to try them, they are really simple. Here's the recipe....

Pumpkin Scones
2 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup pumpkin (if canned, be sure there are no spices or sugar added)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix together flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Cut butter into small pieces and cut into flour. Mixture should look like coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl mix together the pumpkin, buttermilk and vanilla. Add to flour mixture and mix until the dough comes together (don't over-mix).

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead gently 3-4 times, and then shape/pat dough into a circle about 1 1/2 inches thick. Slice in half, and then cut each half into 3 equal pie-shaped wedges. Brush with egg glaze (1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp milk), and sprinkle with Turbinado sugar.

Bake on a cookie sheet for @ 375° for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes 6 scones.

Optional: Add white chocolate chips and/or chopped pecans.

They are a little bland, I think I will double the spices next time....

Happy munching!! These would go great with coffee or tea, or even a glass of milk!

5 comments:

Jeannett said...

Yummy looking scones!!! I love all the pumpkin food this time of year...although not so good for the diet...sigh...

Jacquelyn said...

Stupid me. I just googled it, they are Jerusalem crickets (also known as potato bugs). They go well with tea and coffee also.

jenny said...

Gross bug! Ewww... aren't you glad you have a cat though? Hazel always spies all the bugs first and then alerts us when they're half dead so we can finish them off. That bug is really grossing me out!

Carrie Haughey said...

Jeannett- I love fall and pumpkins!! Fall is my favorite season, the weather is just right, the smells are delish, life is good in fall!

Jacquelyn- cricket, beetle, whatever, I just don't want another one in my house! :0)

Jenny- yup, Kiko stalks, attacks, plays with and then eats all kinds of bugs. Sometimes I wonder if they might be bad for her and I contemplate taking them away, but then it is so fascinating to watch her hunt, and she is having sooo much fun....

Kristen Borland said...

okay, i want to try these scones. but first, i have to get that image of the bug out of my head.