Photo #280: Dry Pumpkins

I have already posted several photos of pumpkins, but I really like the way they look. I like the color, the shape, the texture. Some of my other pictures were taken in the rain, so the wet pumpkins look shiny. These were taken on a beautiful dry day.

Photo #279: Pansy

I was running into Staples to buy index cards, when I noticed these flowers next door in the Lowe's garden center. I think it's an odd time of year to be selling pansies, but they are beautiful. I love the colors, especially the shot of yellow at the center..

Photo #278: Colorful Indian Corn

This colorful Indian corn was another thing I saw at the Iowa Orchards. I just love the variety of colors and textures of these beautiful ears of corn.

Photo #277: Pumpkin Ghosts

The Iowa Orchards don't just have apples. They have pumpkins, lots and lots of pumpkins. All you have to do is walk around and find the one you like, provided you're not afraid of ghosts.

Photo #276: Apples

It has been a beautiful weekend with crisp fall temperatures. It put me in the mood to visit an apple orchard and make some apple crisp. I took a short drive to the Iowa Orchards and picked up some apples. It was very crowded and smelled of cinnamon and fresh baked apple pie, which I did not sample. I'll be carrying apples in my lunch all week. I haven't made the apple crisp yet.

Photo #275: Saturday Night Pizza

I made homemade pizza for dinner tonight. I'm always looking for a good recipe for pizza dough. I think I found it with this recipe from Angela. It was posted on the Overland Park Baking Examiner blog back in January.

I, being a fairly lazy cook, didn't quite follow directions, however. I threw all the ingredients for the dough into my bread machine, and set it on the dough cycle. It came out good. Next time, I'm going to load it up with more sausage and pepperoni.

Homemade Pizza Dough
From Angela Pritchett

Pizza dough
• 1/4 oz. package yeast
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water, 100 -110° degrees, + another 1/2 cup tap water ( you can slowly run the tap water into the container you used to proof the yeast so this additional water helps you get all the yeast into your dough)
• 2 1/2 – 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tblsps. olive oil
1. Stir the sugar and yeast into 1/2 cup warm water. Let the yeast mixture stand for 10 minutes to proof.
2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour and the salt in a mixing bowl. Once the yeast has proofed add it to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Add another cup of flour to the dough, alternating with the additional 1/2 cup water and the olive oil. The olive oil will help get any remaining flour mixed into your dough.
3. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead while you add up to 1/2 cup flour to keep the dough from sticking.
4. Oil a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl, turning it over to oil it completely. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled. Your dough is now ready to pat into a pizza pan, top with sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings, and bake.

Photo #274: A Bird's Abode

This birdhouse is another piece of yard art that I noticed on my neighborhood walk. It looks like it's vacant, if you know of any birds that need a home. It's a good picture for today, because I am so glad to be home for the weekend.