Canning is Cool

Growing up in the city, canning was not a regular activity.  I must admit that I used to think it was for those country bumpkins who live on the farm and run around bear foot all day. lol
Recently, I came across a recipe for Pumpkin Pecan Butter and decided to give it a try.  It was super easy and the result was delish so I decided to share.

Pumpkin Pecan Butter
(yields 6 8oz jars or 12 4oz jars)

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
• 1 cup toasted chopped pecans
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 4 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 box surejell fruit pectin
• 1/2 teaspoon margarine or 1/2 teaspoon butter

*I bought a large can of canned pumpkin with the pumpkin pie spice already mixed in to save time

Directions

1. Measure pumpkin, pecans and pumpkin pie spice into 6- or 8-quart sauce pan.
2. Prepare jars; keep lids hot until ready to fill jars.
3. Measure sugar into separate bowl.
4. Stir fruit pectin into pumpkin mixture.
5. Add butter.
6. Bring mixture to a rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly.
7. Quickly stir in sugar.
8. Return to rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly.
9. Remove from heat.
10. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
11. Ladle quickly into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops.
12. Wipe jar rims and threads; cover with two-piece lids.
13. Screw bands tightly; place jars in hot water.
14. Boil in water bath for 5 minutes for 8oz jars

I used 4oz jars because I think they are cuter and more practical.  This yummy butter can be spread on just about anything that you would normally put jelly on.  I baked some pumpkin bread to go along with the butter.

                                          

Frazzled Part 2

Soooo didn't think it was possible to be any more crazy appearing to the people at the Taekwondo studio, but man, was I ever wrong.
Rushed Andrew home to get him changed into his uniform and head to his class.  We get there and I am fumbling with his belt, trying to get his shoes and socks off, and get his attendence card, when I suddenly realize that the studo isn't as busy with little bodies like normal. I slink over to the schedule on the wall and all the color drained out of my face.....WRONG TIME, WRONG DAY. Oh my, really?!?  The only thing that came to mind was the line from "How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days", where Kate Hudson says or screams rather, "Do you think that I am some kind of mental person!?!" I think one of the instructors must have felt bad for me and made some kind of joke, to which I gave a half laugh and practically ran out of there. It wasn't until I was in church, that it hit me as to how funny and silly the whole ordeal was and I just cracked up telling the story to a lady in the nursery.
We will try again today and see if I can get it right.

                                                            

Proud and Frazzled Momma

Proud Momma:  I have to just spend a moment to brag a little. Andrew has been going to Taekwondo for almost 2 months now.  He is the youngest in his class and by far the most "wiggly" (the word his instructor used).  I have steadily seen improvement and he surprises me each week with a new skill.  Last night, he was awarded his white belt for all his hard work. Such big little triumph for him and I was very proud.  I am sure this will be one of many milestones for him as he is entering the world of sports, music, ect.

Frazzled Momma:  Titus on the other hand, cried the whole time and for no apparent reason.  I sat him on the bench and he cried. I put him and my lap and he cried. I put him on the floor and he cried. You get the point.  I was quit embarrassed because here I am trying to make this impossible baby happy and get a video of Andrew receiving his belt. Neither task was accomplished and by the end of class I was sweating more than anyone in that building! I was never so happy to see my hubby pulling in the parking lot and rescue me from my son. (LOL) Would you believe that seeing his daddy was all Titus needed to calm his little self down? I have long known that my boys are totally about their daddy, but that was the craziest thing.
I am hoping tonight's class will go much better!

I leave you with a few pictures that I took of my boys last week.  Have a great night!

New Kid on the Block

     It is with a good amount of trepidation that I enter the world of blogging. For my first post, I thought I would introduce myself and hope that I am at least interesting enough for you to keep reading. lol
I was born and raised in Louisana (Marrero to be exact).  I went to nursing school at Pensacola Christian College where I met my fabulous husband.  After our wedding, I transplanted to Misery.... Oops, I mean Missouri. Ok, it's not that bad, except for the food. I have two very energetic boys (ages 4 and 18months). I work full time as a Registered Nurse for an insurance company and as my blog title suggests, my husband is a police officer. 
Now that the formalities are over, I can get to the bloggy stuff......... I hope to share just a bit of life and make some friends along the way. 
I have been a police wife for six years now and one main trend that I have noticed is the rate of divorce among officers.  According to chacha.com,  Police divorce rate is 60-70% higher than the national average. I believe much of this is due to the nature of the job and the many hours that are dedicated to it while the spouse is left to deal with most of the daily rituals of family life.  Trust me!!! this does get really hard, but nothing worth having is easy.  So it is with much prayer, that I send my hubby out there to "battle" =) everyday and welcome him home each night at whatever time it maybe.  (I know what you are thinking right now and, no, I am by no means the perfect, happy, smiley wife all the time).  Much is made of the military wife (and rightly so) who sends her man off for months/years at a time, but I thought it might be interesting to put a perspective on the role of a police wife who sends her man out every day to serve and protect on the streets of your city.

Thanks for reading. Ya'll come back now, ya hear? =)