Life in Lape Haven

Tag - Grandpa

Old Fashioned Pumpkin Cookies

October 4, 2016
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About six or seven years ago, I finally got brave enough to try making my own pumpkin puree. Once I did it, I realized it wasn’t very intimidating or difficult at all, plus it’s absolutely delicious. (It also freezes well). Of course with lots of fresh pumpkin on-hand, I had to find new recipes to use it in, besides just pumpkin pie.  

Thankfully, the internet loves pumpkin recipes in the fall, so my options were nearly limitless. We’ve had everything from pumpkin ice cream and cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds to pumpkin cornbread and pumpkin soup, with all kinds of goodies in between. However, of all the recipes I’ve tried, only one has become our must-have fall pumpkin tradition: Old Fashioned Pumpkin Cookies.

Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday: Old Fashioned Pumpkin Cookies. This fall must-bake is a simple recipe for yummy, super soft pumpkin cookies drizzled with glaze. One of our family's autumn baked goods favorites.

Old Fashioned Pumpkin Cookies

The first time I made them, our family fell in love with these yummy, super soft cookies, so I made more to share with Brad’s family. The cookies were a big hit with them, too, especially with Brad’s grandpa, who wasn’t in the best of health and living with Brad’s parents at the time. He was a very picky eater, so when he talked about how much he liked those cookies, I took it as a big compliment and determined to make them for him as often as I could.

 

Later, during one of his short stays in a nursing home, Brad and I visited Grandpa, taking along pumpkin cookies for him to enjoy. While we were there, the nurse brought in Grandpa’s medicine for him to take, and I watched with a great deal of amusement (and a bit of admiration) as he took his sweet time eating just one cookie – like, 15 minutes, at least – just to avoid taking his pills. (Even the nurse was amused, albeit a little frustrated with him). I have no doubt that the other cookies were eaten much quicker when the nurse wasn’t around. 🙂

Because of Grandpa, who passed away several years ago, these cookies have become a special tradition for more than just how delicious they are. To this day, I can’t think of pumpkin cookies without thinking about him. Each time I make these pumpkin cookies, I smile at the memory of how Brad’s grandpa always smiled when I brought them to him and how thoroughly he managed to enjoy one cookie in particular.

By the way, this is a really easy recipe to make, and while I prefer to use fresh pumpkin puree, you can use canned pumpkin. (If you’d like to try making pumpkin puree, this post from Somewhat Simple, Homemade Pumpkin Puree, explains it fairly well. This is pretty close to how I make my puree, with the only difference being that I put some aluminum foil over the top of the pan to keep the heat in, so it usually only takes about an hour to cook. You definitely want the smaller SUGAR PIE PUMPKINS, not the big jack-o-lantern kind.)

My recipe is adapted from Libby’s Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies. I use less sugar than the original recipe because they are sweet enough, especially when you add the icing. (I also make and use less icing.)

So, here’s a new pumpkin cookie tradition for you to add to your fall must-makes:
This fall must-bake is a simple recipe for yummy, super soft pumpkin cookies drizzled with glaze. One of our family's autumn baked goods favorites.

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The Legacy in an Apple Pie Recipe

 

 

 

The Unique Game My Family Has Played for 5 Generations

January 14, 2016
1 Comment
Life in Lape Haven: The Unique Game My Family Has Played for 5 Generations. Carrom is a board game over 100 years old, and it's one we've been playing it in my family for nearly as long.

Around here, winter is our favorite time for board games, card games, and puzzles. While the boys are always up for Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, or Go Fish, they get really excited when we ask them if they want to play Carrom.

(This post contains affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small commission if you use the links.)

In case you’ve never heard of Carrom, it is a tabletop game that is similar to pool. You play on a square Carrom board that has a pocket on each corner, and instead of using a cue stick to hit billiard balls, you use your fingers to flick a “striker” ring into other rings, attempting to send your rings in to one of four corner pockets. You can play one-on-one or as two teams of two.

For me, this game always means family, laughter, and occasionally, a sore finger. (Flicking wooden or plastic rings can really sting sometimes.)

I was introduced to Carrom when I was little, and for the most part, it’s a game that I’ve always played at my maternal grandparents’ house. My great-grandparents, John and Leora, taught it to my grandpa, who shared it with my grandmother, and later they played the game with their children. My grandparents have taught all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren as we got old enough to learn. It’s a family tradition.

Whenever we visit them during the winter months, their board is usually already set out on a card table with four chairs around it, rings on the board, ready to go.

Life in Lape Haven: The Unique Game My Family Has Played for 5 Generations. Carrom is a board game over 100 years old, and it's one we've been playing it in my family for nearly as long.

Having played pretty much all his life, Grandpa is really, really good at Carrom, and Grandma’s not too bad herself. Sometimes I like to play just so I can watch them work their magic. Being truly great grandparents, they don’t show much mercy during a game, especially now that we’re older, although they take it a little easier on the great-grandchildren. 🙂

Of course, as we play, we have plenty of time to talk and share, which is really what makes the time special.

My mom and I have both found Carrom boards for just a few dollars at the thrift store and then ordered the rings online so we each have our own to practice on and teach my boys and their cousins. You can order entire game board sets online, too – Carrom Board Game

This year Josiah was old enough to begin learning how to play, and so on New Year’s Day we set up the board, and Elijah, Josiah, and their cousin Christian all had fun flicking the rings around the board. It was hilarious watching Josiah try to shoot because he had to make this “Popeye” face every time he shot. Meanwhile, Elijah has gotten better and better each year, and it’s impressive to watch him plan out his turn and actually be able to do it the way that he saw it.

Life in Lape Haven: The Unique Game My Family Has Played for 5 Generations. Carrom is a board game over 100 years old, and it's one we've been playing it in my family for nearly as long.

I think we played at least three times while Christian was here and another three or four once Brad got home.

The boys can’t wait to visit their great-grandparents soon so they can play with them. They are at least the fifth generation in my family to enjoy this game, and I’m so glad that we get to carry on this fun family tradition.

To learn more about Carrom, you can check out Wikipedia, Carrom.org, and Masters Games.

You may also like these other memories I’ve shared about my grandparents and my Great-Grandma Leora:

The Legacy in an Apple Pie Recipe

Great-Grandma’s Rainbow

Making Grandma’s Lime Pickles

Get more ideas & encouragement from this real-life mom as I experience God’s faithfulness through the joy and chaos of motherhood.

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