GG didn’t take pie down to the Fawnskin Post Office this week.

Nope.

Instead I made a yummy Pumpkin Chocolate Pecan Cake!

Yum.

My secret strategy is to cook or bake yummy things, have a serving, helping, or piece of the concoction and then share it with neighbors or visitors.

Works well and keeps the temptation out of the house.

Since I am going to be taking some time off next week to work on 2012 editorial calendars and such, I thought I would take some time to share this recipe with you.

It is a cheating type of recipe…

GG’s Pumpkin Chocolate Pecan Cake

• 1 9oz package of yellow cake mix or muffin mix (I used Debbie Field’s)
• 8.5 ounces or so of pumpkin puree
• 1/8 C water
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spices
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 C semisweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 C chopped pecans
• 1/2 tbsp powdered sugar (to sprinkle on top later)

Just be sure to oil and dust the pan with flour to prevent sticking since this is moist and can be very crumbly.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine mix, pumpkin, water, eggs in a large mixing bowl.

Begin to blend and while mixing, add pumpkin pie spice and baking soda.

While things are mixing, combine chocolate chips and pecans and toss so they are equally distributed.

Add to mixture until they are well dispersed.

Bake for 45-50 minutes and check with a tooth pick to see if it is done.

The top should be lightly browned and spring back if you press on the top lightly.

Set on a rack to cool and then after 20-30 minutes, loosen the sides by inserting a long knife between the cake and sides of the pan and slide completely around so it releases.

Invert or slide the cake onto a platter and dust with powdered sugar.

Yum!

This recipe was shared with me by a neighbor and, as usual, I played with it.

Then, I discovered it is an adaption from the Cake Mix Doctor(R).

You can find some of Anne’s yummy holiday recipes or buy the chocolate book.

If you have dietary restrictions try the gluten free book.

Enjoy and I will be back with you in 2012!

For those of you sticking around town for the holiday, Moose Lodge 2085 & WOTM 359 are holding their annual Christmas dinner on Saturday, December 24th. No time was shared but usually things happen between 3:00pm-5:00pm.

This dinner is provided at no charge to Fawnskin residents and Moose Lodge members.

GG’s holiday hideout is on the hill away from it all.

Even so, some things motivate me to get out and mingle here in Fawnskin.

Yesterday that meant joining neighbors for “pie day” down at the Fawnskin Post Office.

Art was seriously working to convince everyone that we need to install a pot belly stove and some chairs so people can continue the mingling down there.

At one time, locals used to gather at a few of the local restaurants for a chat over coffee.

I got 86′d from my former hang out but a few still gather there.

Down the street, other neighbors tend to have coffee and a meal too.

However, town has been really quiet–and I usually head over to the South Shore these days.

This week a vacationer stopped me on the highway to ask if there was any place to eat or spend money in our town!

The only places open?

Fawnskin Market and the Fawnskin Post Office!

Seems strange when people are up for the holidaze and local businesses stay closed–but what do I know.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the slideshow from “pie day.”

The big news? All the goods were gone by 3:00pm!

PS Just got a note that the annual Christmas Caroling is tonight. Be at Moose Lodge 2085 at 5:00pm and if you are hungry–burgers and beef dip night is tonight!