Picking Our Perfect Pumpkin

From the day we began our lives together as a family, I knew exactly what I wanted: the vivid memories of my own childhood- going strawberry picking in farm fields, sledding down huge snow mountains, spending countless hours making sand castles at the beach, etc. I know Preston won't remember any of our family adventures at this age, but I find joy in building these traditions as a family. So, naturally, visiting a pumpkin patch was high on our to-do list this season.

The pumpkin patch we took him to was one called Tina's Pumpkin Patch in Sherman Oaks. One day, we'll get the purist experience of going out to a real farm pumpkin patch. For our first time, we really didn't mind that this was just a dirt lot off a busy intersection 

There were so many different pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, we had a hard time choosing THE one. Finally we went for the one that most resembled our sons head. Is this mean? Hahah. I think someone mentioned one time he looks like a little pumpkin, and I totally see it.

 

Instilled in my memory from this trip is Preston's look of bewilderment as he was examining this giant orange orb. In a short amount of time, he was decidedly dissatisfied with sitting next to a pumpkin and, in usual fashion, had to let his feelings be known with loud grunts. After much coaxing, dissatisfaction gradually ripened into tolerance and then fascination.

 

The day was so hot. We felt like eggs sizzling in a frying pan. Understandably, Preston looked like Mr. Grumps in 90% of the photos we took of him.

What I love about Preston at this age is how engaged he is with the world. His endless fascination with everything around him is amusing to both of us, but also a good reminder to not just look but try to really see and listen to the world in that untarnished way. 

Right now I am so smitten with the three of us. One day, probably in the near future, I know that I will want Preston to have other siblings to play with, but  at this instant, I'm smitten with our tiny little family. Pretty sure Preston relishes the attention too, hahah.  

A Secret Garden in Pasadena

After a crazy afternoon dealing with missing mail packages from USPS (don't even get me started...) and a nice family dinner, we came to Arlington Gardens in Pasadena. After doing my own little research, I came to found out this garden uses the same space as a demolished mansion called Durand House built in the 1900s. This was the largest home in Southern California at the time. (Isn't history neat?) After lying vacant for over 40 year, its been specially curated to be a quiet oasis for the public. And we Choi's are deeply grateful for this labor of love. Coming from the East Coast, pockets of greenery are a welcomed respite.

This is the kind of place most people probably drive by every day and never take notice of! It's such an ideal place to go if you want to sneak away on lunch break or just lounge in the shade on a hot afternoon. There's plenty of benches and tables for that.  We came on full stomachs, so we spent the hour meandering the pathways and enjoying the creative design landscape. We saw a few families having their own photoshoot,  so we joined in!

  

One of the sweetest moments... I was setting up our camera for a family shot and heard Preston's gurgly laughter behind me and started snapping just in time to capture this candid moment with his daddy.

So I know he's only 7 months old, but I swear he seems this close to walking. He hasn't even mastered crawling yet though.

  

We stayed until the sun was setting, and it was beautiful. I tell Danny the best time of day in LA is when the sun goes down. In the daytime, the sun is so glaringly bright that it blinds you from seeing anything. At night, the skyline isn't that impressive compared to some other cities. But when the sun sets, somehow the haze-filled sky produces brilliant twilight hues and LA looks perfect. So yeah, we ended the evening on a perfect note. 

Fall Bucket List

Pumpkin Bread Crumble Recipe

Nevermind that LA is still in 90 degree weather, I will not be deterred from fall baking! There's no fighting the pumpkin, and on one fateful afternoon after I opened this season's first can of pumpkin puree, a pumpkin bread was born (and all of the leftover puree was eagerly embraced by Preston, yay). Pumpkin bread is one of those warm, comforting treats that you need to balance with a cup of rich, black coffee on a fall morning, and your day will instantly be made better. Promise. 

Since the crumble is already so sweet and decadent, I didn't want the bread to be oversaturated with sweetness and went lightly on the sugar. It was still moist and flavorful as ever!

Yields: 6-8 thick slices

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Pumpkin Bread Ingredients

2 C. Flour 

1 tsp. Baking Soda 

1 tsp. Baking Powder 

1/2 tsp. Salt  

2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Ground Nutmeg

1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice 

1/2 C.  Brown Sugar, Packed

1 C. Pumpkin Puree 

1 Egg

1/4 C. Milk 

1/2 C. Coconut Oil 

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract 

Crumble Ingredients 

3 Tbsp. Flour

3 Tbsp. Granulated sugar

3 Tbsp. Brown sugar

1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 Tbsp. Butter

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a loaf pan and then set aside. 

2. In one bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients (flour, spices, sugar, baking powder, baking soda)

3. In another bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients (pumpkin puree, egg, milk, oil)

4. Add the wet ingredient bowl into the dry ingredient bowl and use a good ol' spatula to stir all of the ingredients together until moist (but do not overmix). 

5. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. 

6. Prepare the crumb topping by combining all of the crumb ingredients. Sprinkle over the bread and use your fingertips to disperse it evenly across the top. 

7. Bake for approximately half an hour (or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean). Let the bread cool completely out of the oven before cutting. If you can resist the tempting aroma, I think it only tastes more delicious with some time spent chilling in the refrigerator. Then, cut it into slices and enjoy!

Hello Fall

I hear today is the first day of fall. I knew it had to be coming. A few days ago, I even picked up bits and pieces anticipating the ushering of a new season. My pumpkin scented candle is aflame. Oversized sweaters will very soon be making appearances. But tonight... tonight I am sipping on my green tea latte (which should really be a pumpkin spice latte), hunkering into a good book, and slumbering into bed 'cause it's been a long, long day.