Good morning! 
I was working on a freelance article last night and, umm…ate the article. Hence no dinner to report! Ok, well, not the actual article, just the dishes I made to write about. They were super tasty and I’ll be sure to share the recipes when they’re published!
Updates:
Eat:
Today is the FINAL day to vote for my Homemade Pasta & Pasta allo Scoglio for Project Food Blog Challenge #2. I can still taste those scallops… Anyways, I accidently gave you the wrong link the other day so, here’s the correct one! Your support means the world to me. 
Pray:
It appears the praying mantis has setup permanent residence in our front yard. Every time I go out he’s in a new place, but I’ve yet to see him move an INCH! I’m sure he’s thinking…if I don’t move, then maybe they won’t see me…um, NO. I am this close to getting a broom and making the street in front of my house it’s new permanent residence. I’ll totally do it! Don’t test me mantis!
Although I will admit, it’s kind of fun to come out and play “where’s mantis?” 
![wheres-waldo1[1]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/whereswaldo11.jpg "wheres-waldo1[1]")
Love:
The winner of the oh-so-fabulous TofuXpress Tofu Press is…
Laura: definitely a current tofu lover. and with the onset of fall, i’ve already made my first batch of tofu chili…..SO DELICIOUS
Congrats Laura! Email me your mailing address @ iowagirleats@gmail.com!
In other news…
I had a CRAZY bad sweet tooth yesterday that seemingly could not be squashed (pun intended.) I had some leftover pumpkin in the fridge, so I whipped up a batch of Pumpkin Muffins last night to satisfy my cravings!
I followed Picky Cook’s recipe (GREAT site!) except I used no-sugar added, natural applesauce in place of the oil, and only 1 cup of sugar. I also nixed the cinnamon-sugar topping.
Ohhh, they are so good! Full of Autumn spice, crazy moist and super dense.
I had two muffins smeared with a little butter for breakfast. How good are buttered muffins, btw?!
Pumpkin Pie Pancakes on Monday, Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal on Tuesday, and now Pumpkin Muffins?! Who am I? Do you like pumpkin flavored foods?
I’ve got a massive Pizza Salad for lunch today.
In the mix:
- Mixed greens
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Celery
- Tomato
- Pepperoni
- Feta cheese
- Salad Supreme seasoning
Tastes just like a pizza from the salty pepperoni, zippy feta cheese and the zesty salad supreme seasoning. This seasoning blend has cheese, garlic powder, paprika, sesame seeds, etc. and makes everything in my salad pop!
It’s the same seasoning mix that I use to make Grandpa’s Pasta Salad, and you can find it right in the spice aisle.
Duh-duh-dum…I picked up a Sweet Tango Apple at the store last weekend, after it got such RAVE reviews from all of you last week, and I’m bringing it to crunch on this afternoon.
It’s smaller than a Honeycrisp but it looks just as crispy, which I like.
I’ll let you know how it tastes tonight!
Three Question Thursday
I remembered Three Question Thursday again today – whee! Here ya’ go!
1. What was the name of your first pet?
2. If you don’t know the number calling your cell phone, do you answer?
3. What’s your lucky number?
My answers:
1. Boomer. He was a HUGE golden retriever that my brothers and I used to ride like a horse when we were little! Sadly, he got too big for the house and yard, so he went to “live on a farm.” At least…that’s what my parents told us… 
2. No way!
3. 6
I voted! Good luck.
I tried my first honey crisp and I liked it! Not as much as my macs or Cortlands, though!!!!
1)First Pet: Buster. A St Bernard which I used to ride like a horse
2)I never answer the phone if I don’t know the number! I don’t know what people did before caller id.
3) I don’t know if it’s lucky, but my favorite # is 44. No coincidence I fell in love with Dallas Clark when he played at Iowa. I’m not sure if it was his #, or his sweet ‘tight end’.
im pretty sure my first ever pet was a fish named sebastian. my dad thought his tan needed some flair, so he scrubbed a cool rock with anti-bacterial soap and dropped it inside. not too much longer we were flushing sebastian down the porcelain throne…
i used to never answer (i think i’m afraid of being caught off guard!) but now i actually do!
lucky number is 8!!
eek. TANK** (not tan. fish don’t tan)
My brother works for the horticulture place on the U of MN campus and gave me the sweet tango apples last year when they first came out from the test fields. They were limited and haven’t found them since. So good, hope you like them and they as good as honeycrisp!
1) A rat terrier named Crystal that was the sweetest dog, I really miss her.
2) Never! I only answer numbers I know.
3) 8, for my birthday.
You need to try the Pumpkin Curry at Zuzap! It’s behind Granite City and is owned by the same people who own Cool Basil.
1) max… a kitty cat we got when i was 7.
2) nope, not usually.
3) i don’t really have one… but i do like 17, 23, and 27 because of birthdays & anniversaries.
My first pet as a child was Butterscotch, our golden retriever. However, we lived across the street from a dairy farm and he was constantly getting loose and chasing the cows. Sadly, mom and dad found a better home for him where he’d be less of a nuisance to our neighbors
My first pet of my own is Griffy, my lhasa apso… I’ve had him since he was 8 weeks old (he’s now 1.5 years!) He’s the love of my life
I NEVER answer if I don’t know the number. I figure if it’s important, they can leave me a voicemail!
And my lucky number is 2.
1. STUD! Seriously — he was a mutt and my cousin had brought him home to my aunt who said NO WAY… My parents decided that we could keep Stud with us as we lived on a farm… Memories!
2. Yes — OR, I call them back ASAP and ask who it is!
3. 2!
I voted too! Good luck!
1. Terry – she was a toy fox terrier and never weighed any more than 6 pounds. She was palm-sized when we got her.
2. Depends on where it looks like it’s coming from… if it’s a weird area code, no way.
3. 9, no real reason.. it just seems to pop up a lot.
1) My first family pet was a cat I named “Kitty” but I feel like my first pet was really the first animal my husband and I got together which was a gigantic bulldog we named Bucket who was like our “practice baby.”
2) Nope. My parents always do and I don’t understand it. They’re thinking is “what if it’s important/emergency” … then they had better call 911 and not me huh?
3) Don’t really have one, I’ll work on that.
1) Champ – our toy poodle growing up, he weighed a full 5 pounds haha
2) Only if they call more than once, such as the last call from an unknown I received – which I definitely was happy I answered!
3) 33
Love the idea of pumpkin muffins! might make those with your zucchini muffins for early morning tailgaiting sometime!
Good luck in your final competition day:)
2 question-
1. Friski – a schnoodle who lived to be 17 years old!!
2. yes-I’m curious about who would have my number
3. lucky number is 3!
whoops! 3 question!!!
I am not a huge pumpkin fan but I did try one recipe a while back that I loved. It was for pumpkin pudding made with pure pumpkin. Delicious! The house smelled amazing and the taste was incredible!
1. First pet’s name was Sarge, a german shepard mix.
2. No. I let them go to voice mail.
3. 7
I want to try pumpkin muffins! I love your zucchini ones & substitute zucchini for banana’s often! My fiance is a big health freak now & he just loves them & the ingredients.
1. Candy- She was a mut dog. I don’t remember much of her, I was pretty young when she died.
2. No! If its important they’ll leave a voicemail, but I do google the number to see if it has any hits (like a credit card company or bridal store)
3. My lucky number is 5.
Muffins look amazing! And I linked your Project Food Blog site on my Facebook, so hopefully at least a couple people will click and vote. How can they not, really!?
1. My first pet was named Rascal (cat)…and he was a little rascal!
2. I answer the number calling sometimes if I know it’s a town number. If it’s long distance it’s likely someone I don’t need to talk to, then I ignore it.
3. I don’t have a lucky number. It used to be four, but I have no idea why.
1. Mike the Dog (I’m pretty sure we always said, “the Dog” when talking about Mike)
2. Yes. Big Guy travels so I never know. And if I don’t answer and no message is left – I’m always left wondering, “who was that?”
3. 4 – not sure why; and in spin class it’s 13 – that’s the bike i try to get because it doesn’t make noise. hah.
FYI–just saw that Honey Crisp are on sale at our Hyvee for 1.98/lb this week!
1. What was the name of your first pet? Muffy… like the Muffin Man, how appropriate for today’s post
2. If you don’t know the number calling your cell phone, do you answer? Not usually, unless it’s a local number. Anyone else can leave a message!
3. What’s your lucky number? 13. I like to be different. Plus it’s my birthday.
Fun!
1. First pet- Chinese Sharpe (wrinkle dog), Kraemer! He was so cute!
2. I never answer the phone if I don’t know the number calling. I just don’t like surprises!
3. No lucky number. I know, I’m boring
1. First pet – Zimmer our dog. Although technically I had a pet snail for a few days in middle school. His name was Herbie.
2. YES. Omg it drives me crazy if I miss a call from someone I don’t know.
3. I don’t feel like I have a lucky number, but I”m always drawn to 7 and 15.
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1. First pet: Pete the parakeet. Now, we have Pete the dog, who is a 4 year old German Shorthair, and we love him like he’s our kid!!
2. Nope. I just hope they leave a voice mail, so then I know who it was!
3. Don’t really have a lucky number.
1. First pet: a French poodle named Charlie. I actually don’t remember him cuz I was too young. First pet I remember: an adorable chubby Basset Hound. Loved that dog. And I just have to include my current pet: a Cock-a-Poo named Gracie. BEST puppy EVER!!
2. Would never cross my mind to actually answer an unknown # on my cell or home phone.
3. 16
1) My first pet was a poodle named Mickey, but we had to give him away to my grandparents because my sister and I were too mean to him when we were kids.
2) NEVER answer. Let it ring.
3) Lucky number? Probably 3. It was my soccer jersey number all through high school.
P.S. those muffins look AWESOME. Thanks for sharing!
1. Abby
2. NO!
3. 7
1. Barbie the gold fish who lived 8 years!!!
2. I am very bad about actually having my phone one me, so most calls go unanswered…
3. 7
Thanks for all the great salad ideas!
Pumpkin oatmeal, bread, and muffins at our house this week
YUM!
1. GiGi, a French poodle. And was she snobby!!
2. Depends…if it is local, probably. Long distance..no thanks, telemarketer!
3. 2…no idea…but 22 is even better (two 2s!)
1. first pets we had, Beau and Brandy {cocker spaniels} first one that was “mine” Mittens {cat}
2. Heck no! And then I get all freaked out if they don’t leave a message.
3. 22…it’s a family thing.
1) Bogie and Becall…they were boy and girl finches. Totally the weird kid that had birds.
2) Never!
3) 6, as well
1. Rusty the dog. My babysitter left the gate open and he got run over. Sad
2. Never. I’m not a phone talker!
3. 10.
Aww, please don’t kill the mantis =(. I love those creepy little creatures.
Oh my gosh I’m drooling over that salad. And buttered muffins are the ONLY way to go.
Congratulations to Laura!
First pet (I can remember) was a rescue cat named Snuffy.
I don’t use a cell phone, and on my home phone I don’t have caller id. I do screen all my calls because I have a stalker.
I don’t consider myself lucky in the least, but I do like the number 13. I’m odd like that.
Haven’t found sweet tango apples up here yet.
1. First pet’s name was moon. She was the sweetest boxer on the entire planet. As a 1-year-old, I apparently used to boss her around, (“Moon – side” – me telling her to go outside) and my parents say she would just give them a look that said, “Oh please help me from this little girl,” but she loved me as much as I her!
2. I never pick up if I don’t recoginze the number! No way!!
3. 15 has always been my lucky number forever. It was my soccer jersey number, my birthdate in January and the due date of my daughter. Now it’s the first part of the address of the house my husband and I just purchased! If it has 15, I know it will be good!
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin! Good luck in advancing to the next round!
1- Thomasina…a fat orange at who was actually….a male.
2- rarely. I wait for a voicemail.
3- 8…6 is my 2nd most lucky!
1. Siamese named Tag – I was 4 and that must have been my fave game – who knows. She lived for 21 years I still miss her!
2. Answer the phone if I don’t know the number – no WAY, that is what Voice mail is for. If you don’t leave a message don’t expect me to call you back.
3. Lucky number 2, 5 or 7!
First Pet: a frog named Mr. Firebelly. Yes.
Calls: Not unless I’m expecting a call or have an idea about who it could be. Otherwise I wait and see if they leave a message:)
Lucky number: None really! I’ve been into even numbers lately like 4 and 6. I used to love 7, 3, and 21!
my first pet’s name was snowy – a rabbit.
i don’t answer calls if i don’t recognise the number. if they are serious in reaching me, they would send me a message or call again.
don’t really have a lucky no but fav no would be either 11 or 13 (:
i hope you get to advance to the next round too!! (:
1. Jasmine, a goldfish we won at a street fair…she lived for several years and had many tankmates named after Disney princesses.
2. Sometimes, even though I know I shouldn’t…
3. I don’t believe in luck, but my favorite number is 8!
1. I had two “first pets” because my family already had both by the time I was born. Firecracker – a big Great White Pyrenees (he was our sheep dog) that I used to ride around like a pony
, and Zachery, a Norwegian Elkhound. Zach used to walk my brother & me down the driveway to the bus and he would be waiting there for us when we got home. Two great dogs!
2. If I don’t know the number, I hope they’re smart enough to leave a message.
3. My lucky number is 13 because it’s my birthday!
I had to respond because for question 1 we had a black lag named Sparky & my parents also told me that he went to a farm after he chewed up the 10th Barbie! LOL
2) Sure don’t! That’s what voicemail is for!
3) the number 3
Oops, LAB
yum. Pumpkin Muffins look amaaaaazing!!!! I agree, there is nothing like Butter Spread on Muffins!
funnnnn
1) Kiwi. I was two years old and just picked her up at the neighbors. I was trying to say “kitty” when my mom asked me what I wanted to name her! It came out Kiwi and the name stuck!
I loved that cat. she lived a long happy life with us.
2) I think it depends what kind of mood I am in!
3) 8
My first pet was a golden retriever too – his name was Scamp because he was a little scrappy as a pup and my grandmother always referred to him as a scamp.
As far as calls, I only answer unknown if I’m expected to someone or have an upcoming appointment.
My lucky number is 9 because I’m the 9th child in my family.
First Pet: Tasha, followed by Snickers, and now Callie Jo!
Do I answer random phone calls? No…I let them leave a message. If they really need to get ahold of me, they will!
Lucky number: 3 as long as I can remember, and 42 – the speed I threw 3x in a row at the I-Cubs BB game when I was little. I won a helmet out of it!
My first pet was Copper, a cocker spaniel. Sadly, she was hit by a truck after she ran between my grandpa’s legs to get out of the yard while he was carrying in my BIRTHDAY cake!!! (How’s that for making that question depressing?) Needless to say, that was traumatizing for my grade school self.
I NEVER used to answer random phone calls but now my job requires me to use my cell, so I get calls from all sorts of numbers. So, to answer, I always answer them before 5:00 PM and almost NEVER after.
Lucky number? 6. I have no idea why.
Now that that’s all done and squared up, can I PLEEEEEASE have a pumpkin muffin? One of my favorite fall time dessert recipes is a chocolate pumpkin cake. Oh, so tasty! I think it’s time to break that out again for the year.
Don’t sweep the mantis! I have 27 preschoolers who would say you are lucky to have him.
1. scampy—he was my sister’s dog/family pet. he was a mix of a whole slew of breeds. my mom to this day claims he was the best and smartest dog she’s ever had.
2. NO WAY JOSE! caller id has been one of the best inventions ever!
3. no lucky numbers…
Do you use the same amount of applesauce as the original recipe called for oil (1/3 cup)? Also, how many muffins does this make? They look delicious!
1. Jasmine – she was a beta fish. My mom wouldn’t let me get a dog, so I got a fish instead. It was not the same.
2. Never!
3. I don’t have a lucky number