Wishlist Wednesday September 2014

Is it fall yet? Can it be? Can we just say it's fall and cancel the hot weather and get back to comfy outdoor temperatures and sweaters and my cute fingerless gloves that I love so much?

I'm ready for fall and I think this month's Wishlist will prove it.

A Wish for Something Pumpkin:

Mini Pumpkin Sticky Buns from Iowa Girl Eats

It's been almost a year since I first saw this post on Kristin's blog and these sticky buns haven't left my mind since. These little delights are made with pumpkin butter and crescent rolls (well, the crescent sheets) making them super simple to make even at the last minute. I say that because I'm always remembering that we have nothing for dessert as I'm serving dinner. I promise you these are in my near future!

A Wish for More Delicious Sweet Potatoes:

Baked Black Bean and Sweet Potato Flautas from Peas and Crayons

I had honestly never thought of combining sweet potatoes and black beans until I saw this on Pinterest. I've been dying to try them but haven't had a chance yet. Sweet potatoes are quickly becoming one of my favorite ingredients to work with but she also has a suggestion at the bottom of the recipe to try using pumpkin instead! As you can see, I have a soft spot in my heart for pumpkin as well so I'll probably be trying both versions. And talk about packed with fiber and protein! These are super healthy, especially if you try the vegan version and nix the cheese. Oh man, I've only just begun typing and my mouth is already watering.

A Wish for Mexican Rice:

Mexican Restaurant-Style Rice from Something Edible

If you're going to have Mexican food you really need a good rice to go with it. I've always loved the rice at Mexican restaurants but I've never been able to make it at home. I'm not that great with rice anyway, if I'm being honest, but hopefully I can get this one right. Made with taco sauce instead of regular tomato sauce this rice is sure to be zippy (what a fun word to say, right?) and will go perfectly with those flautas.

A Wish for Something Supremely Chocolate:

Chewy, Fudgy Triple Chocolate Brownies from Annie's Eats

I have made these before and I can tell you they were the best homemade chocolate brownies I've ever had. The title really says it all. They are, in fact, chewy and fudgy. They have the perfect brownie texture, not crumbly or cake-like. With a combination of melted bittersweet and unsweetened chocolate and cocoa powder, chocolate just explodes from these brownies. It's been over two years since I made them and now I'm just craving them!

A Wish for a Functional and Adorable Knitting Accessory:

Yarn Bowl from JustMare on Etsy

How stunning is this? I want to roll all of my yarn into balls just so I can use one of these things! JustMare sells handmade pottery on Etsy, everything from bowls and mugs to ring holders. These yarn bowls are perfect for keeping tangles out of your yarn and keeping the balls from rolling away. This one is just the right size for a small project, maybe some warm socks or a scarf. I can't get over how beautiful it is! Nice work, JustMare!

A Wish for Cheap Kid's Clothes:

The Thrifty Kid Knit Dresses from My Poppet

What better way to repurpose all of those clothes that no longer fit me? I have a whole closet full of clothes from my pre-Bailey, work days. They're nice clothes, in good condition and still moderately stylish but I just don't fit in most of them anymore. These dresses are so cute and the instructions seem relatively simple. Plus, no need to buy fabric which is usually my main complaint about sewing, that I can't afford fabric.

A Wish for a Cold Weather Drink:

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Mix from Seeded at the Table

Salted caramel hot chocolate is one of my all-time favorite drinks. Way back in 2008 Starbucks had a salted caramel hot chocolate around Halloween and I probably spent a whole paycheck there before they took it off the menu. Something about salt, caramel, and chocolate just creates the perfect blend of flavors and this mix is made with a homemade caramel, ground to a fine powder, and then mixed with cocoa powder, sea salt, brown sugar, and dry milk powder. Finally to finish it off you add some bittersweet chocolate and grind it all up. I'm sure this would make a great gift for the holidays but I don't think I could part with it.

A Wish for a Good Laugh:

John Krasinski Making High Pitch Noises from The Office on YouTube

I felt the need to end with something funny this time. This is a compilation of some bloopers from The Office where John Krasinski (Jim Halpert) can't keep a straight face and rather than busting out with a booming laugh that you might expect from him he just makes a high pitch, squeaky noise. What is the word for this kind of laugh? I know there is one. My brother would know but I keep forgetting to ask him. Anyway, I couldn't help but crack up when I saw this and I hope it makes you laugh just as hard.

Again, this is my favorite feature to post and I would love to hear what you think of it. I would also like to offer the opportunity to help me find some more wishes. If you have a wish you're just dying to share you can leave it in the comments or email it to me at shynds8 at gmail dot com. Just put "wishlist" in the subject line and include a link to your wish.