November 23, 2022
And just like that, it is that time of year… the first frost, a final storing of the light jacket for more insulating outwear, kids with hat head at school, the sneaking melody of holly jolly subtly sandwiched in-between the in-between. And it is time to process Halloween’s pumpkins… because Read more…
December 3, 2021
It is crazy to think that this tradition is now 12 years old! Yes, the classroom pumpkin was once again transformed into my most favorite type of cupcakes: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip with cream cheese frosting. Though this batch was for my colleagues, without which I would most certainly not have Read more…
March 1, 2021
When I was told that school was closing and I’d be teaching remote back in November, I grabbed the essentials from the classroom–the classroom pumpkin and acorn squash that had the heart in it, part of the seasonal display table. I wasn’t going to let the pandemic mess with my Read more…
December 10, 2020
With a Christmas craft night planned, I decided to use a generous portion of my pumpkin puree. So a pumpkin chocolate chip loaf for the festive gathering! Every year I forget just how delicious VCTOTW‘s recipe is… While I was at it… and feeling fairly certain I’d see my students Read more…
November 25, 2019
A decade of teaching, a decade of turning the classroom pumpkin into cupcakes. These are my all-time favorite cupcakes to make. Maybe because my students are always skeptical about how the pumpkin on my desk can become a delicious cupcake. Maybe because most have learned of my being vegan by Read more…
November 20, 2018
This is my 9th year teaching… and my 9th year transforming the classroom pumpkins in Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes. I’m a creature of ritual. And this ritual starts with my enthusiasm for Autumn and… pumpkins. For home, for the classroom, for those worthy enough to give a pumpkin to. I’m Read more…
November 20, 2017
This is how I look when I wake up… next to a pretty large pumpkin I would go on to process. I used my head for scale, though I kind of have a big head. Processing pumpkin is one of my favorite seasonal rituals. The mind boggles with pumpkin opportunities… Read more…
November 22, 2015
Every year I take home the pumpkins in my classroom and turn them into cupcakes, highlighting the delicious circle of life. After baking the different pumpkin varieties until tender, I scoop out the flesh… …and blend away in the food processor. Ok, so I processed one of the pumpkins from the porch Read more…
November 20, 2014
Every year, my classroom blog becomes my food blog. They spent October and most of November on Hercules. Now it is time for the 4th annual Harvest Festival Pumpkin-Cupcake transformation. It is time they turned into cupcakes already! After some roasting and pureeing, they became cupcake batter along with a pile of Read more…
November 24, 2013
Processing my pumpkins marks the unofficial start of the holiday season! The first one to get roasted is my classroom pumpkin. I usually make cupcakes from the puree. The kids get excited about it… and I like showing them that vegan baked goods can knock their socks off. It’s a win-win. Read more…
December 22, 2012
I made beautiful pumpkin spiced cupcakes and a pastry bag of vanilla buttercream for my classroom party. Luckily I made enough to have a bunch to take back home. The kids didn’t know what to make of cupcakes that were not chocolate or vanilla. After a light sprinkling of Madecasse Read more…
November 21, 2011
Processing pumpkins is fool-proof. Make a sloppy cut around your pumpkin and scoop out its innards. What a delightfully slimy feel the pumpkin’s stringy fibers have. Overcook in an oven until tender flesh takes an easy puncture. Scoop to the back of the skin and puree and you’re done! I Read more…
November 22, 2010
Two little pumpkins have sat on my desk at work since I thought “Pumpkins! Already?!” Now Halloween is long gone and Thanksgiving is upon us. I brought those cute little pumpkins home today to help me bake up some seasonal cupcakes for my grade’s Thanksgiving Feast, the first of the Read more…
