Printers and Pumpkins

I’ve just spent about 45 minutes installing my new all-in-one printer. It’s an HP 6310. After reading some of the reviews, I was ready for a lot of frustration. Some made it sound like I would have time to read 3 novels while this thing installed itself. Ummm…..what’s wrong with people?  Is everyone so impatient now that 45 minutes is an eternity?I understand that most things are plug and play now, but when I first started using computers I was loading Pac Man knock-offs from a cassette tape drive. Now THAT was painful. But 35 or 45 minutes to fully install a machine that will fax, print, scan and photocopy is pretty good in my book. And it’s on the network to boot, so I or Kelly (or anyone on the network) can print wireless from anywhere in the house.   And the best part, it actually works. No issues at all. Unpack, plug in, load paper and cartridges, connect network cable, load software, feed Owie some pine nuts and banana, scratch him behind the ears, and presto, it works. I’m pretty geeked about it.

Another thing I am pleased with is a recipe I tried on the weekend. I made pumpkin bars. I had never made these before and they turned out to be very good. I’m sure they are about a gazillion calories even for a small piece. But wow are they good.

This is not my creation, I got it from a co-worker and for all I know it’s off the net somewhere, but if you are interested, here it is:

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Pumpkin Bars

Bars
2 cups pumpkin (14 oz. can)    2 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups white sugar                    2 tsp. baking powder
3 eggs                                          1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup oil                                      1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. all spice                             2 cups flour

Icing
4 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese
1/4 cup margarine
2 cups icing sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. (approx.) milk

Bars
Mix pumpkin, sugar, eggs and oil. Mix spices in flour, then add to pumpkin and mix well. Bake 25 minutes (approx) at 350 degrees in greased and floured 10″ x 15″ pan

Icing
Cream margarine and cheese. Add vanilla and milk, mix. Add icing sugar. Mix well. Spread on bars and chill.

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It’s a large recipe, so try it when you are having people over, or bring some to the office and share!!

Tips from the amateur: I had to bake it almost 30 minutes, but that could be due to the oven, and also I think I put in too much milk in the icing at first and I had to add more icing sugar to thicken it up again.

Enjoy!!