PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

it's that time of year again where i love everything pumpkin.

pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin soup, pumpkin carving,

and how could i forget:

PUMPKIN COOKIES

(recipe will make approximately 2 dozen cookies)

what you will need:

-1 cup of pumpkin puree

-1 cup brown sugar

-0.5 cup vegetable oil

-1 egg

-1 tbs vanilla extract

-2 cups of all-purpose flour

-2 tsp baking powder

-1 tsp baking soda

-0.5 tsp salt

-2 tsp cinnamon 

-1.5 cups semisweet chocolate chips

-0.5 cup dried oats

-0.5 cup crushed pecans or walnuts

the how to's:

1. preheat oven to 350 F or 175 C.

2. in one bowl combine the pumpkin, sugar, oil, and egg, and vanilla.

3. in a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

4. slowly add in the dry ingredients into the liquid mixture and mix thoroughly.

5. line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or grease cookie sheet. 

6. drop tbs sized balls onto cookie sheet.

7. cook for 12-15 minutes.

8. make sure they are fully cooked through or otherwise your cookies will have a strange doughy texture.

9. EAT!

perfect with tea on a chilly autumn day

enjoy

:)

JAPAN PART 2 - SWEET COURTESY

it is a japanese tradition to bring gifts to the house you are visiting.

therefore, since my mum and i were visiting my grandparents house we decided to pick up a few gifts!

the white box was senbei for my grandpa. senbei is the japanese name for rice cracker! japan has some of the best senbei, so if you're into rice crackers, go all out in japan!

 the tokyo banana is a soft cake filled with a banana custard. people all over go crazy for this treat! this treat was flying off the shelves at narita airport. 

be sure to get you hand on these bad boyz when you be hittin up tokyo.

my fav treat however, was the strawberry cake from ginza.

this cake is filled with custard and strawberry cream. the cake is very fluffy and it works perfectly with the custard+creme (melts in yo mouth). it has an itsybitsy strawberry imprinted onto the cake like seen in the fifth picture above!

give these treats a try, they were delicious!

-happy gift giving

:)

NEW CAMERA LENS?

my dad got this "camera lens" mug as a gift. 

i thought it was super neat so i couldn't resist not taking a picture with it.

our house gets stocked up with chocolate from december through to february, so it makes for some yummy hot chocolate!

all you gotta do is heat up a cup of milk in a saucer and then add around half a cup of chocolate

(milk or dark, which ever you prefer).

realistically you can use less chocolate, but why not go all out right? 

and there you have it, 

a delicious cup of hot chocolate!

and it's even better served inside a cool mug

:)

COMFORT

step brothers and he's just not the into you are some of my all-time favorites.

they just move you in ways that make you wanna wear unicorn shirts and find a boyfee like ben affleck.

it doesn't get much better than some sweet and salty popcorn and vitamin water to accompany these brilliant movies.

so if you feel glum, and that the world isn't on your side, this combination of awesomeness might make your day a tad brighter.

p.s. comfy blankets and pillows also add a pinch of joy.

:)