Remember the Perknitious knitting pattern give-away I told you about earlier this week? Well, I actually won that giveaway. Ha! It's the first blog giveaway I've ever won, and it's given me new resolve to enter as many giveaways as I can. I'll be sure to share more with you in the future so you can enter them too!

Using my friend's pattern, I knit the fabulous Laura Cowl this weekend and wanted to show you some pictures of it. 
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I think it turned out great! It is so warm and makes you feel glamorous! You can buy the pattern for $2 at the Perknitious etsy store. While you're there, check out some of her other goods, too! Like these arm warmers for instance, which I particularly like. She is a grad student so don't be afraid to fork over the cash! Know that your purchase will help fund much needed coffee and tea runs, the acquirement of expensive scholarly books and other noble pursuits.
 
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image from Perknitious
A pattern for this lovely "Laura Cowl" is being given away to the lucky viewer of my friend's blog, Perknitious. Go visit her and and leave a comment by noon (central standard time) this Friday to win the pattern!
 
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Apple Butter is new to me, I don't think I ever saw it before in Texas. But, up here it's a big deal! There is no butter in it, it is like concentrated apple sauce. It is great for spreading on toast or for use in recipes, like this one! Adding it to pumpkin pie really gives the pie a lighter, custard-ier texture. The apples also add a slight tanginess to the richness of the pumpkin filling. It is very subtle; honestly I bet most people wouldn't notice the difference unless you told them there was apple butter in it. But it can be your little secret!
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Here is what you'll need in clockwise order: 9 inch pie crust, 3 eggs, 1 cup evaporated milk, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 cup pumpkin puree, 1 cup apple butter, 3/4 tsp of ground nutmeg, 3/4 tsp of ground cinnamon, a pinch of ground ginger, and 1/2 tsp of salt. Get a load of that pie crust! Not bad for my first homemade pie crust, eh? Just kidding, it's not my first. Just kidding again, it's not homemade. I bought one of those pie crusts you can roll out into your pan. Plus it's really quite delicious!
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Combine apple butter, pumpkin, brown sugar, and spices in a bowl.
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After you beat the eggs in a separate bowl, mix them into the pumpkin mixture.
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Gradually add the evaporated milk and mix until incorporated. By the way, this picture perfectly documents the Coanda effect.
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Pour the mixture into your pie crust. Using a coanda-proof bowl if possible.
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You might as well cover the crust with aluminum foil now, because it will be harder to do after the pie pan is hot. The aluminum foil prevents your crust from burning in the oven. Then, put it in your 425 degree oven for 40 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean.
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Ta-Da! Why wait till Thanksgiving to enjoy Pumpkin Pie?
 
 
Look at this gorgeous pumpkin! I love it. Don't you?
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Fall is definitely here. It's too hot for Fall you say? Well, tell that to the bright orange tree outside our window, the huge, beautiful pumpkin ready to be carved, and the two field mice that have sought shelter in our apartment. Is the latter occurrence really a sign of Fall? When I saw the cute little mouse, whom we named Charlie, running up to sniff the pumpkin, it certainly felt like a very autumnal moment to me. And even though I screamed unabashedly and jumped up and down in disgust, I still thought it was the cutest thing I've seen in a while. I even wish I had a picture of it!