Pumpkin Log - Day 4

Welcome!

Welcome to Melva Loves Scraps. 

Welcome to Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 16 Block Tour Road Rally.
If this is your first visit to my blog, allow me to introduce myself to you over at the "About Me" page...

And welcome to my "Pumpkin Patch".  Today I am not only sharing some tips and hints about my Pumpkin Log Block, but I am sharing with you some of my favorite Pumpkin recipes.

First off, let's take a look at my block...

The idea for this block came to me several years ago... actually around the same time as I created "Pieces of My Heart" - in 2012..

As I developed the idea for this block I was sipping on a cup of chai tea with some homemade pumpkin spiced creamer.  So many of the prepared creamers include ingredients that are hard to pronounce and who really knows what they are???

So, here is a really simple AND yummy recipe to make at home - where you can control the ingredients... 😉

Pumpkin Spice Creamer 

Ingredients
•1 can sweetened condensed milk
•1-1/2 cups skim milk, milk, half and half, or cream (you choose based on the fat content you prefer!)
•3 tablespoons canned pumpkin
•1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
•1/2 – 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, to taste

Instructions:
1.Combine ingredients in a container with a cover. Shake until combined, or use an immersion blender or traditional blender and blend until smooth.
2.Store, covered, in the fridge and shake/stir before using.


While the basics of my block are a log cabin, I used the stitch and flip method on the corners to offer a roundness to the pumpkin... You can see in some of my first pumpkin log blocks that they really needed the roundness added - note the lower block with the square top... not quite right.

And note that on the upper pumpkin the stem looks a little lost being in the orange of the pumpkin, not on top of the the pumpkin, like the lower one...

But this is how we learn, right?  Trial and error are the best teachers!

But of course, all that trial and error made me hungry!  It was time to stop for a break so I pulled out the recipe for some yummy Pumpkin Bars...  This recipe made its way to me via a friend of my sister-in-law Sharon, Denise... Thanks Denise and Sharon 😍

Once I had refueled from all the trial and error stuff and I was satisfied with the final outcome of the pumpkins with the "rounded" corners and the stem on top of the pumpkin, I grew the pumpkin logs into a table runner... just perfect for a fall table.

One other tip... for the final "round" of the pumpkin I cut the strips a 1/4" wider than indicated in the pattern, to allow for a few "imperfect 1/4" seams".  We may try to be precise all of the time, but in reality, while we may try, a little extra allowance is sometimes needed.  When the entire block is pieced, trim to 12-1/2"

More recently, I was playing with some "wanky" pumpkins with some of my scraps.  I mean, not all pumpkins are perfect!

For this table runner that I was recently commissioned to make I played with some "bent" stems and am pleased with the result.

Now with all the pumpkins growing in the pumpkin patch I need one more recipe... And since I am on a restricted diet and am no longer allowed gluten products, among many other things, here is one that falls into my limitations AND still tastes good.  My husband even likes them!

It is from Elana's Pantry...

Nut-Free Pumpkin Crumb Muffins

Serves:8Muffins

Ingredients

• Muffins
• 5 large eggs
• ⅓ cup canned pumpkin puree
• ⅓ cup coconut sugar
• ¼ cup coconut flour
• ⅛ teaspoon celtic sea salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
•  
• Topping
• ⅓ cup palm shortening
• ⅓ cup coconut sugar
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a food processor, combine eggs, pumpkin, and coconut sugar
2. Pulse in coconut flour, salt, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined
3. Divide batter between 8 paper lined muffin cups
4. Rinse out food processor
5. In a food processor, combine shortening and coconut sugar
6. Pulse in coconut flour and cinnamon
7. Sprinkle topping over cupcake batter
8. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes
9. Cool 1 hour
10. Serve

Recently, our grand-children enjoyed a trip to the local pumpkin patch...

The kiddos may be perfect, but just look at that "Wanky Pumpkin" on the right!

I hope that you have enjoyed your visit to my Scrappy Pumpkin Patch and that you will stop by again soon.  You can subscribe, or follow me on Bloglovin', but either way... Do stop by again.  You can also catch me on instagram @MelvaLovesScraps or on Facebook, again, Melva Loves Scraps. 

There are two opportunities to win a copy of Volume 16.  To be entered follow my blog, instagram or fb, and let me know which recipe you might try.

Be sure to stop by Quiltmaker too!  There are daily prizes to be won!  You don't want to miss out!

Happy quilting,

Melva

Here are the rest of the featured designers... 

Block #1559
Designed by: Cynthia Brunz, Cynthia Designs

Block #1560
Designed by: Kate Colleran, Seams Like a Dream

Block #1561
Designed by: Melissa Corry, Happy Quilting

Block #1530
Designed by: Abigail Dolinger

Block #1566
Designed by: Yvonne Fuchs, Quilting Jetgirl

Block #1567
Designed by: Leila Gardunia

Block #1597
Designed by: Anne Wiens, Sweetgrass Creative Designs