SRC: Pumpkin Pie Yogurt Parfaits

I've got something delicious and nutritious for this month's Secret Recipe Club!  I was assigned Serena and Deanna's blog, Teaspoon of Spice.  They are both registered dietitians so I was excited to see what healthy yet tasty recipes they had on their blog.  The pictures made everything look so delicious!  In fact, though I had not visited their blog before my assignment I realized I had seen some of these pictures on pinterest and even re-pinned them myself.  That's how you know you've made it big in the blog world is when people find your photos to be so beautiful that they must collect them.  Speaking of pinning recipes, did you know you can now hover over my pictures to pin them?  So easy!

It didn't take me long to decide on a recipe since I'm still working through my 16 cups of pumpkin puree and this one was staring at me on the homepage.  However, I'm not much of a gingersnap fan and wanted to keep this really light and fluffy.  Easy enough because I used graham crackers instead of gingersnaps and just sprayed some whip cream in place of the cheesecake layers.  If you'd rather use the cheesecake layer (which I'll admit, does sound wonderful!), checkout the original recipe linked below in the source.

It has all the flavor of a pumpkin pie with a light, silky texture making it the perfect easy, no-bake dessert to impress your Thanksgiving guests.  Heck, I would even eat this one for breakfast if I added some crumbled granola or maybe some nuts.  Since it's made with 0% fat Greek yogurt, it's practically sinless!

One Year Ago: Savory BBQ Pulled Pork Cinnamon Roll and Taco Dip
Two Years Ago: Roast Beef with Onion Gravy
Three Years Ago: Peanut Butter Fudge Cheesecake
Four Years Ago: Sweet Potato Souffle and Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Pumpkin Pie Yogurt Parfaits

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 15 oz fresh or canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) 
• 1/2 cup brown sugar 
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger 
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 
• 2 cups nonfat Greek yogurt
• whipped cream or Cool Whip
• 6 graham crackers

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together pumpkin puree, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and yogurt.
2. Place cookies in a ziplock bag.  Crush with a rolling pin until you have crumbles.
3. Starting with the yogurt on the bottom, divide pumpkin yogurt, whipped cream, and graham cracker crumbs into six tall serving glasses making however may layers you want.  Refrigerate until serving.

Source: Modified from Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD of Teaspoon of Spice

Apple, Brie, and Sausage Pizza on a Pumpkin Crust

Have you ever had a moment where you looked at a recipe and thought "hmmm...this is interesting...different and could it *really* work?".  This was one of those recipes to me when I was searching for a way to use some of my 16 cups of pumpkin puree.  Yes...you read that correctly.  16 cups.  That's enough for EIGHT pumpkin pies and I wasn't about to do that!

When you get over the fact that this is a non-traditional pizza without any sauce and instead think about the ingredients it does have, it starts to make a lot of sense.  Brie and apples aren't anything out of the ordinary.  Sausage is always delicious.  And pumpkin pizza crust?  Just a small departure from pumpkin bread.  Starting to warm up to the concept already, aren't ya? :)

I have to say that I truly fell in love with this pizza.  It has a subtle pumpkin flavor but you can tell it's there by the fun slightly orange color of the dough.  I'm actually starting to formulate a dessert pizza in my head using this crust...

Melty brie.  Need I say more?

Sweet apples and salty sausage meld together to form this unique glaze-like "sauce" on the crust.  And then to finish, instead of arugula I added some fresh sage which left me wanting more with every bite.

It was really quite a delicious Fall treat!  This pizza could make a great Thanksgiving appetizer (cut into smaller rectangular pieces a la Donatos pizza style) or dinner entree.  Please give this one a try.  You won't regret it!

One Year Ago: Spicy Garlic and Ginger Chicken with Green Beans and Smoked Macaroni and Cheese
Two Years Ago: Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes
Four Years Ago: Spinach, Sausage and Cheese Manicotti

Apple, Brie, and Sausage Pizza on a Pumpkin Crust

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Pizza Dough

• 1 1/2 tsp yeast 
• 3/4 cups warm water (~110 F), divided 
• 5 TBSP + 1 tsp brown sugar 
• 1 TBSP unsalted butter 
• 1 tsp salt 
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cups pumpkin puree

For the Pizza

• Corn meal
• 4 baking apples such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith
• 4 oz brie 
• 2 spicy Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed 
• 4-6 fresh sage leaves, rubbed and chopped chiffonade

Directions

1. In a small bowl, proof the yeast by combining it with 3/8 cup warm water and brown sugar.  Let sit for about five minutes or until it starts foaming. 
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine butter, salt, and the remaining 3/8 cup water. Heat until the butter melts. Let it cool until warm, but not hot. 
3. Pour butter mixture into the yeast mixture and then into the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix the pumpkin puree into the yeast and butter mixtures. Then mix in the bread flour. Using the bread hook attachment, mix the dough on speed 2 for 10 minutes. Cover the bowl with a damp kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise in a warm place until doubled, about one hour. 
4. Preheat oven to 500. Sprinkle some corn meal onto pizza pan.
5. After dough has risen, flour it and shape into a ball.  Stretch into desired size and shape. Place on prepared pizza pan. Bake for 3-4 minutes and remove from the oven. 
6. Meanwhile, cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat, crumbling it up using a spatula. Cut apples into thin slices. Layer onto pizza. Next layer slices of brie onto the pizza. Sprinkle with turkey sausage. 
7. Bake assembled pizza for 10-12 minutes or until bottom of dough is starting to get brown.  
8. Garnish with fresh sage and serve.

Source: Modified from Eats Well with Others as seen on PreventionRD

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

In honor of the US Elections on Tuesday I offered my facebook fans the option of voting on the recipe that I would share on Wednesday.  The results were unanimous.  As I'm typing this blog post, I'm watching the results of the election come in.  No matter what side you're on, I think we can all agree that this recipe is delicious.  And that's something we can all unite around :).

I apologize in advance for the less than stellar photo.  I brought this dish to Thanksgiving themed Dinner Club as a last minute dessert when Emily and Scott could no longer make it.  You see, they were in charge of our only planned dessert for the evening and also our regular "event" photographers.  But they had a great excuse for missing their first dinner club since we started about 3 years ago.  Emily and Scott are the proud new parents of twin girls - Paige and Claire!  They came much earlier than expected but everyone's healthy and well.

As for the cake?  It was amazing!  Moist and full of Fall flavors.  But the best part has to be the fact that it's just dressed up boxed cake mix.  You heard me!  And Shhhh!  Don't give away this little secret because no one would suspect ;).

PS: Have you shared my Macaroni and Cheese Mondays post yet and left a comment letting me know you've shared?  Nobody has yet which makes me really sad.  Remember, prizes are at stake here!  And while I wouldn't mind keeping one of these great cookbooks for myself, they're really meant for one of my wonderful readers!

One Year Ago: Strip House Potatoes Romanoff and Chicken and Roasted Root Vegetable Pot Pie
Three Years Ago: Pumpkin Pie Fudge and Marinara Magnifica

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

Ingredients

For the cake

• 1/3 cup water
• 1 can (15 oz) pureed pumpkin
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 box (18 oz) yellow cake mix
• 1 tsp baking soda

For the topping

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
• 4 Tbsp butter, melted

For the glaze

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the water, pumpkin, eggs, 1 tablespoon vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined.  Add the cake mix and baking soda and mix until just combined.
3. Grease a 9x13 pan with butter and pour the batter into the pan.
4. In a small bowl, mix together ingredients for the topping.  Sprinkle over the top of the cake using your fingers.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
5. Combine the glaze ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.  Remove from heat and continue to stir until all the sugar dissolves.
6. When the cake is finished baking, poke holes over the entire cake surface using a fork or a skewer.  Pour the glaze all over the cake.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Source: Heather's Dish as seen on Pretty. Good. Food.

Recipe Swap: Cinnamon Sugar Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts

Who likes pumpkin?  I'm pretty sure it's everyone's favorite Fall treat!  And though Spring is my personal favorite season, there's something very charming about Fall as well.  Pumpkin, Apples, Spices, and Cider are just a few of my favorite flavors from this season.

For this edition of Blogger's Choice What's Cooking Recipe Swap, I received the blog So Tasty, So Yummy again!  Last time I got Katie's blog, I made Oven Baked Sriracha Chicken.  This time, I went seasonal and sweet...but still quite healthy!

I've only used my doughnut pan a few times and I'm realizing just now that this is actually the first baked doughnut that has made it to my blog.  Baked doughnuts rock because they're a real treat without much real guilt.  Sure they're not *exactly* the same as their fried counterpart but flavor for your calories is a nice balance.  These doughnuts were quite moist (love how pumpkin has that effect on baked goods!) and deliciously spiced.  While I enjoy cinnamon sugar dusted doughnuts, I hate the mess they make.  I always find myself eating them while standing over a sink or trash can to catch my mess!  Anyone else do this??  After I made them, I thought how wonderful they'd also be with something like a maple icing glaze or frosting.  Oh my!

One Year Ago: Coconut Basil Curry with Basil and Pecans
Three Years Ago: Christine's Fried Rice

Cinnamon Sugar Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts

Yields: 2 dozen mini- or 1 dozen full-sized doughnuts

Ingredients

For the Doughnuts

• 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 6 Tbsp milk
• 1/2 cup fresh or canned pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups flour

For Finishing

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease two mini doughnut pans or two regular sized doughnut pans using cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, milk, pumpkin, sugar, applesauce, brown sugar (sift if clumpy), and melted butter.  Sift in the dry ingredients (baking powder, baking soda, spices, salt, and flours).  Mix until just combined.
3. Spoon batter into a plastic bag and snip off the corner then pipe into the wells of the prepared doughnut pan.  Alternatively, spoon batter directly into the pan, about half full.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they gently spring back when touched.  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully using a butter knife to remove doughnuts from the pan.
5. Combine the powdered sugar and cinnamon in a ziplock bag.  Seal and toss to coat.  
6. Transfer several cooled doughnuts at a time into the bag with the cinnamon sugar and shake until thoroughly coated.  Repeat with remaining doughnuts.

Source: So Tasty, So Yummy

Banana Pumpkin Nutella Bread

Hi everyone! I'm back!

Well.  Not really.  But, back long enough to write my own recipe post anyway.  I won't be home for good until early October but at least now it's a short trip for pleasure rather than business.

Before I jump into today's recipe, how about those fantastic guest posters of mine these past few weeks?  Which blogger's recipe was your favorite?  Serious big kudos to each of the wonderful bloggers that shared yummy recipes here on my page:

• Angelina at Whisks & Ruffles with her Beef with Black Pepper Sauce (yah for written down Asian recipes!)
• Jenna at Jenna's Cooking Journey with her Oatmeal Caramelitas (mmm caramel...)
• Caroline at The Barbee Housewife with her Bacon Ranch Chicken Taquitos (hello game day!)
• Jennifer at Mother Thyme with her Cream Cheese Coffee Cake (so scrumptious looking and easy to see why this was the fan favorite!)
• Angie at Coffee and Cannolis with her Mini Frittatas (freezer friendly and fillings are 100% adaptable!)
• Desi at Steak N Potatoes Kinda Gurl with her Grilled Fillet with Bourbon Butter (omg drool!)

The weather really changed dramatically since I came back to The States.  Sure, the fact that I came from the tropical weather of the Equator makes it feel even cooler but there are definitive signs of Fall in the air.  The mornings are cool and require jacket...and sometimes even heat in the car.  The leaves on the trees are starting to display beautiful Fall colors.  And, I'm feeling like making warm, comforting foods again.

In my book, nothing says fall more than pumpkin.  Hence, I'm sharing this recipe with you today.  It was just one of many recipes that I made with my homemade Nutella.  The bananas and pumpkin made it super moist and the Nutella gave it a great look and just enough chocolate boost.  Lovely to welcome Fall!

One Year Ago: French Onion Soup
Three Years Ago: Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

Banana Pumpkin Nutella Bread

Photo Credit: Emily H.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 bananas (preferably overly ripe), mashed
• 1 cup canned or freshly pureed pumpkin
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 4 Tbsp Nutella, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare a 9x5 loaf pan by spraying with cooking spray.
2. Add sugar and butter to a mixing bowl and cream together until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing well until combined.  Then add the mashed bananas and pumpkin.  Again mixing until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, add flour, salt, and baking soda.  Whisk together to combine.  Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.  The batter will be thick.
4. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and dollop Nutella on top.  Using a toothpick, swirl the Nutella through the batter.  Bake for about an hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. 

Source: As seen on The World in my Kitchen and adapted by Mom's Crazy Cooking from Babble - The Family Kitchen

Product Review and Giveaway: Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese

Well it has certainly been awhile since I've had a giveaway, huh?  The last one I did was an autographed copy of Pioneer Woman Cooks and that was paid for out of my own pocket because I love my readers.

Imagine my excitement when I received my first sponsored giveaway offer!  It sure does make me feel like a more special blog in this big worldwide web.  Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese found me through FoodBuzz and offered to send me a sample pack (six packages total - two of each flavor, 15 biscuits per pack) of their gourmet biscuits in exchange for a review of their products.  But it gets even better, they also offered to mail one of my lucky readers the same box of deliciousness!  The cherry on top is that they are locally based Cincinnati company - my beloved hometown!  Of course I had to say yes!

About the Product

They say that you eat with your eyes and these Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese are certainly a visual treat with their large chunks of fruit and nuts in every bite!  Totally amazing and not sure I can go back to plain old crackers again.  Photo Credit: Emily H.

Here's a bit more about their company, in their own words:

Daelia’s Biscuits for Cheese were created to enhance the cheese eating experience, whether the cheese is made locally or imported from around the world. Launched in 2009 at the American Cheese Society Conference in Austin, Daelia’s Biscuits for Cheese is still a new company. We currently offer three biscuits – Almond Raisin, Hazelnut Fig, and Pumpkin Seed Rye. All biscuits are twice baked and made in small batches to guarantee the perfect texture.  They also contain carefully selected fruits, seeds, and nuts, and pair well with a variety of specialty cheeses. Our biscuits are all natural, high in fiber, low in sodium and crunchy – the perfect addition to any cheese plate.

Our biscuits are available in Whole Foods nationwide and various independent cheese shops. They can also be purchased online at www.igourmet.com.

 

Putting the Product to the Test 

I served my Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese at a spa and chick flick girls night.  My girlfriends and I had a blast and you really can't go wrong getting pampered with a mani while you have biscuits, cheese, and let's not forget the wine in hand!  

Based on suggestions from Daelia's, I provided 4 different cheeses: Baby Brie, Sharp Cheddar, Blue Cheese, and Parmesan Crusted Goat Cheese with Basil Oil (stay tuned for the recipe!) to pair with the biscuits.  I had originally wanted to do all different types of cheese balls (including Blue Cheese and Caramelized Balsamic Onions as well as Cheddar with Pecans and Bourbon) but decided to keep it mostly classic for this tasting...perhaps next time!  It's a good thing I kept the Goat Cheese ball in the mix though because it quickly became the favorite, almost stealing the show!

Gotta know the recommended pairings!  Photo Credit: Emily H.

Mmmm say "cheese" (and wine!...served in hot pink glasses!)!  Photo Credit: Emily H.

The now famous Parmesan Crusted Goat Cheese with Basil Oil AKA Goat Cheese Ball.  Seriously, come back soon to get the recipe because you'll be kicking yourself otherwise!  Paired well with...well, everything!  Photo Credit: Emily H.

So What'd We Think?

The crowd favorite seemed to be the Almond Raisin biscuits (by a hair!) and while those were pretty darn delicious, I actually found myself having a slight preference for the Hazelnut Fig.  Of course, all three were pretty darn delicious!  Here's what my girls and I had to say:

"I loved the sweetness and chewy texture of the fruit contrasting with the crunch of the nuts, seeds, and biscuit itself.  Eaten alone (and it's definitely worthy of that!) it's much like a biscotti.  When you pair it with cheese a symphony of flavors and textures come together in your mouth making it very very happy.  I mean really, if you think about it, these biscuits are quite genius.  Fruits and nuts are already typical cheeseboard accompaniments and Daelia's has taken the liberty to combine them into a single sturdy biscuit DESIGNED to complement all kinds of cheese!  These aren't going to break from the weight of the cheese or knife like a regular cracker sometimes does (I hate that!).   My favorite was the Hazelnut Fig paired with Blue Cheese (I LOVE a pungent blue!).  Almond Raisin was a close second and I did appreciate how versatile that particular biscuit flavor was (by the way, was I the only one that detected a slight hint of cracked pepper in it??).  Speaking of versatility...and shameless plug...but that Parmesan Crusted Goat Cheese Ball worked on everything, too!!  Last but not least, Pumpkin Seed with Rye had a more subtle flavor than the others and no sweetness...which I missed after tasting the other two but you really can't go wrong with any of the three flavors.  Overall I recommend Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese and am not sure I can go back to regular crackers after tasting these!" -Christine

"The biscuits were a great twist on boring crackers. I love cheese and crackers, but the cracker is usually just a way to deliver the cheese to my mouth. These biscuits changed things. The biscuits pair perfectly with the cheeses suggested - especially the Almond Raisin with Christine's goat cheese ball (Christine you should post that recipe too)!"  -Vanessa

"My favorite was the Almond Raisin with the cheddar. The Salty cheese and sweets cracker is a good contrast.  I think they were complimentary to the cheese but not overwhelming. The cheese is definitely still the main star of the show when they are paired together." -Tinlee

"I guess my favorite was the Almond Raisin -- It was delicious with all of the cheeses ;).  For me, I just like the cheeses in general -- the delivery device is more or less irrelevant. Lol. Overall, however, I don't think I'd ever buy these -- we discussed that they were reminiscent of biscotti, and quite frankly, I just like biscotti better." -Anonymous

"I thought the biscuits paired beautifully with the cheese.  Each biscuit had a very distinct flavor and you could definitely taste the ingredients.  My favorite was the Hazelnut Fig. The biscuits reminded me very much of thinly sliced biscotti. They are definitely a classier upgrade to traditional crackers :)" -Jackie

Is your mouth watering yet?  Because it should be.  Now, time to learn how to WIN some biscuits of your own!  (That is why you're here after all, right?)

How to Enter

To enter to win a set of six (6) packages of Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese (two of each flavor: Almond Raisin, Hazelnut Fig, and Pumpkin Seed with Rye; Retail Value approximately $36):

MANDATORY: Follow them on twitter @DaeliasBiscuits and leave a comment here on my blog letting me know that you did.

You can receive UP TO THREE ADDITIONAL ENTRIES to win by doing any or all of the following:

1. Follow me on Twitter @ChrissesKitchen.  Come back to let me know you've followed me in an additional comment to score an extra entry.  (The additional comment part is really important!).  If you're already following me, let me know too so my loyal readers get credit!
2. Tweet the following about the giveaway: “RT @ChrissesKitchen @DaeliasBiscuits: #Win Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese #giveaway: http://tinyurl.com/72yyyvj #biscuitsforcheese #noms”.  Come back and let me know you've shared in an additional comment.
3. Tell me which Daelia's Biscuit you look forward to trying the most and what type of cheese you'd pair it with.  Leave me an additional comment for another entry.

Last but not least, Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese and I would love if you'd follow us on Facebook too but we can't give you a credit for entry for that because it's now against their terms and conditions.  So, you'd follow us out of the kindness of your heart ;).  Follow Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese.  Follow Christine's Kitchen Chronicles (I just passed over 100 fans - THANK YOU!).

Deadline: Friday, July 13, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.

Eligibility and Winner: Sorry, this contest is only open to those in the Contiguous 48 United States and Canada.  The winner will be chosen at random using random.org and announced in a blog post by 12:00PM (noon) EST on Saturday, July 14, 2012.  To claim the prize, the winner must email me at christineskitchenchronicles@gmail.com.  If the winner does not respond within 48 hours of being announced, another winner will be selected.

Thanks for reading (and tell all your friends)!
Christine

Disclosure - This blog is a personal blog written and edited by Christine @ Christine's Kitchen Chronicles. The owner(s) of this blog was compensated with free products to provide an opinion on the products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

Recipe Swap: Pumpkin Pecan Loaf

It's been awhile since I participated in a swap (did you notice?) but I was excited to jump back in after being absent with vacations and general business.  This week's Recipe Swap theme was Pumpkin/Apple to savor the flavor of Fall.  I received this classic pumpkin loaf recipe from Fried Ice and Donut Holes and Joelen from What's Cookin' Chicago received my Turkey Bean Pumpkin Chili.

When I was putting together the ingredients I was a bit surprised by the amount of ginger in it but it actually worked out fine and gave it a nice warmth.  I added cinnamon to the topping and resisted the urge to use butter and flour in the topping (which is what I'd do with my typical crumble toppings) in order to stay true to the original recipe.  I ended up taking it to work as a brainstorming session treat and it was well received.  People told me it was the moistest bread they've ever eaten and kept coming back for more :).

See the full round-up of recipes at A Taste of Home Cooking

Need more Fall flavor and looking for more pumpkin treats on my blog?  Try Turkey Bean Pumpkin Chili, Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, Pumpkin Pie Fudge, Pumpkin Fluff Dip, Amazingly Creamy Pumpkin Penne, Turkey Pumpkin Meatloaf with Cranberry Glaze

How about Apple (the other swap theme ingredient for the week)?  Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie, Asian Lettuce Wraps, or see my whole Dinner Club's Apple Themed Spread


Pumpkin Pecan Loaf

Ingredients

For the Bread:

• 1/2 cup Canola or Vegetable Oil
• 1 1/2 cup Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1 cup Pumpkin
• 1/3 cup Milk
• 1 1/2 cup Flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Ginger
• 1/2 cup Pecans (omitted)

For the Topping:

• 1/2 cup Pecan Pieces
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Oil
• Couple good shakes of Cinnamon

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 9x5 loaf pan with non-stick spray.
2. In a bowl, stir oil and sugar together with a spoon.  Stir in eggs until blended.  Add the pumpkin and the milk.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.  Add to the pumpkin mixture and stir well until combined.  Stir in the pecans if using.  Pour batter into the prepared pan.
4. In another small bowl, combine the topping ingredients until mixed and crumbly.  Sprinkle the topping over the batter.  
5. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to cool completely.  Slice and serve.

Source: Barely adapted from Fried Ice and Donut Holes

Turkey Pumpkin Meatloaf Muffins with Cranberry Glaze

After much anticipation, here is the other recipe that I made with my coveted can of pumpkin puree.  This recipe was healthy which is a plus and decent in flavor.  Where it threw me off was in the texture, which was a little mushy.  Too soft and it fell apart as I was removing it from the tin.  I like my meatloaf to be more...meaty.  So, in the future I'd decrease the amount pumpkin used in the recipe and/or add more ground turkey.

By the way, this is the second recipe in a couple weeks (see Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Parmesan Muffins) that has called something savory and baked in a muffin tin a "muffin" versus a "biscuit".  I guess it's more common than I thought!  I think if I were to name this particular recipe though I'd call it a mini-meatloaf...I still resist on the muffin naming convention!

Turkey Pumpkin Meatloaf Muffins with Cranberry Glaze
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Yields: 12 meatloaf muffins

Ingredients

For the meatloaf

• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 8oz package mushrooms, chopped finely
• 3 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 lb 93% lean ground turkey breast
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 egg white
• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp each minced fresh thyme and rosemary
• Freshly ground salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

For the cranberry glaze*

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water

*Note: I couldn't find any fresh cranberries on my grocery trip so I bought a can of whole berry cranberry sauce and used that in place of the glaze.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the onions until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes more, until vegetables are tender. Add to a bowl with the turkey, pumpkin, egg white, oats, sage, salt & pepper. Toss gently to combine. Divide the mixture evenly among the muffin tin. Place in the oven, bake for 20 minutes.
3. Combine cranberries, sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10-15 minutes. Spoon onto the meatloaf muffins, and bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Source: As adapated by and seen on Cara's Cravings from Ashlee's Pumpkin Meatloaf with Cranberry Topping

Amazingly Creamy Pumpkin Penne

As you may have heard around Thanksgiving 2009 there was a shortage of canned pumpkin due to moldy crop loss.  I didn't really think it was a big deal and found pumpkin when I needed it for my dishes...except for the one week where I SPECIFICALLY planned TWO meals that needed it.  Chris and I searched high and we searched low on the shelves of our local Kroger but there was absolutely NO PUMPKIN to be found!  I considered making my own pumpkin puree from a whole pumpkin but alas, there was no real pumpkin in January, either.

My Nest Message Board ladies suggested various places where I could look.  Some of them even offered to let me have a can from their stockpile (they were smart and stocked up!)...bless them and their kind hearts!  But it was the week of the dreaded snow storm and I did not want to deal with the crazies at the groceries and I didn't really want to take a can from someone unless I really needed to.  So, the pumpkin recipes were put on hold.

Thankfully the following week I found canned pumpkin...at the same Kroger that during the previous week had none.  I bought myself a couple cans...just in case.  I must say that it really is still hit or miss with the pumpkin at that store because when I went out today there was none...again.  So, if you haven't already and you want to use pumpkin for the rest of the year, you may just want to stock up when you can find some!

Anyway, I had this recipe bookmarked forever and it kept showing up in lots of blogs that I follow.  I used shrimp instead of sausage because that's what I had onhand.  The use of cottage cheese is clever and I like the creaminess it lends while still being low fat.  I just might need to try using it in other cream sauces.  The flavor of the sauce itself was not bad, but just not really Chris and my taste.  It's healthy, for sure...so if you think it might be your thing, definitely give it a try as most people give it rave reviews.

Look for the other pumpkin recipe, coming soon!

Amazingly Creamy Pumpkin Penne
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Ingredients

• 4 oz penne pasta (used rotini)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• about 2T chopped fresh sage
• 2 links cooked chicken sausage, sliced (used shrimp cocktail with tails removed)
• 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup milk
• pinch of nutmeg
• 5oz torn spinach, thick stems removed (used some frozen spinach)
• grated parmesan or pecorino romano cheese, optional

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook gently for about 10-15minutes, until softened and beginning to caramelize. Add garlic, sage, and chicken sausage; continue to saute.
2. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions.
3. In a blender, combine combine pumpkin, cottage cheese, and milk. Blend until no lumps are present. Add to sausage mixture in skillet and continue to cook over low heat. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
4. Drain pasta and return to pot over low heat. Add sausage mixture and baby spinach, and toss together. Cover for a few minutes to let the spinach wilt. Serve with parmesan cheese, if desired.

Note: Since I used shrimp instead of sausage, I added the shrimp at the very end since it was already fully cooked.  I just wanted to heat it and avoid overcooking.


Source: Cara's Cravings

Pumpkin Fluff Dip

In addition to my Mac and Cheese potluck contribution for Thanksgiving I always try to bring either an appetizer or a dessert.  My family's Thanksgiving celebration is never in short supply of food and we graze all day so these types of dishes work well.  I chose this dip because of its ease of preparation and the fact that it would be a relatively light dish compared to everything else we'd be eating all day.  According to the directions, this is best prepared the night before because it helps the flavors to meld and yields a smoother texture (allows the pudding granules to fully dissolve).  It turned out well and was well received!  I think if I make it again, I might try cheesecake flavored pudding to give it a slight twist.  Yum!

Pumpkin Fluff Dip
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Prep Time: 5 Min
Ready In: 5 Min
Yields: 32 Servings

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) container whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together instant vanilla pudding mix, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.
2. Fold in the whipped topping.
3. Chill in the refrigerator until serving.  Overnight is best to let flavor and textures meld, if you have time.  Serve with (cinnamon) graham cracker sticks and sliced green apples.

Source: All recipes

Pumpkin Pie Fudge

Well...there's always a first for everything and this is the recipe that I tried to make but it went all wrong.  I've never made fudge before and now have a deeper respect for those that do...it was surprisingly challenging and takes a lot of muscle for all that stirring!  My fudge wouldn't set...despite making a 2nd  heating attempt (a no-no!) to try to salvage it.  The first time I heated it the color looked about right but after letting it  try to set I realized it just wasn't going to do that for me...it had the consistency of marshmallow fluff..probably because that was a prime ingredient.  So after reading about  how to save fudge that didn't set correctly, I threw everything back into the pan and tried to reheat it so that it would evaporate off more water and hopefully set properly upon cooling.  It ended up turning a caramel color and well, still didn't set. 

The problem was that I didn't have a candy thermometer and so I tried to use the cold water test to determine when the mixture was at the proper temperature.  Apparently what I thought was a "soft ball" was not quite there yet because my fudge ended up being more like a soft sticky taffy.  Chris says I should just make his Grandma's peanut butter fudge, instead.  I looked at that recipe and it looks more promising to me...no target temperatures needed hehe :).  Perhaps that will be my next fudge making adventure.

It's sad because I have to throw away all those ingredients.  Good thing I had everything on hand except for the condensed milk (which I got for $0.50 after the Kroger megasale) and the marshmallow fluff.  I also got to use my free butter (again from  Kroger megasale).

Anayway, at least we have Annie's pretty pictures to look at what could have been and drool over...and maybe one day I'll get the courage to try to make this again.  If you have better luck, let me know your tricks of the trade!  Even though it didn't set properly, it was still very tasty :).

PS:  Sorry MK but no fudge for work this time.  No worries, I'll bring some other treats sometime!

Pumpkin Pie Fudge

 Photo Credit: Annie's Eats





Ingredients:

• 3 cups sugar
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 2 tbsp. corn syrup
• 2 ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 9 oz. white chocolate, chopped
• 7 oz. jar marshmallow crème
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted (optional)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Stir together first six ingredients in a 3 ½ – quart saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer registers 234° (soft-ball stage).
2. Remove pan from heat; stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. Pour into a greased aluminum foil-lined 8-inch square pan. Let stand 2 hours or until completely cool; cut fudge into squares.

Source: Annie's Eats

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

In keeping with my pumpkin theme for the week, I decided to make these sweet little hand held treats.  Not quite a cupcake, not quite a cookie, and not at all really a pie...but oh so delicious!  I follow many cooking blogs and whoopie pies of various varieties seemed to keep coming up.  I had to try my hand at them and they are yummy!

The legend is that the Amish women used to bake them and put them in their husband's lunch boxes.  When the men broke for lunch after a hard day of farming and opened their lunch box to find these treats, they were rumored to have yelled "whoopie!" out of excitement.  After eating these sweet little babies, I can see why!

On a separate note, I had posted about being excited about making "whoopie pies tonight" and apparently Billy's head was in the gutter :P.  For the record, these are whoopie PIES, not whoopie :).  Totally family friendly!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies 
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Photo Credit: Erin's Food Files

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cloves
• 2 cups firmly packed dark-brown sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cups pumpkin puree, chilled
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Make the cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, a nonstick baking mat, or grease well with butter; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves; set aside. In another large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and oil until well combined. Add pumpkin puree and whisk until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk until well combined. Sprinkle flour mixture over pumpkin mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
3. Using a small ice cream scoop with a release mechanism, drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Transfer to oven and bake until cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of each cookie comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on pan.

Maple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting 
As seen on Erin's Food Files, originally adapted from Baked

Ingredients

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 3 TBSP maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground cinnamon

Directions

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter until smooth with no visible lumps. Add the cream cheese an beat until combined.
2. Add the powdered sugar, maple syrup and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add cinnamon. Be careful no to overbeat the filling, or it will lose structure.

To assemble: Turn half the cooled cookies upside down. Pipe filling (about a TBSP) onto that half. Place another cookie, flat side down, on top of the filling. Press down slightly so that the filling spread to the edges of the cookie. Repeat until all the cookies are used. Put the whoppie pies in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm before serving.

Source: From Baked, as seen on Martha Stewart

Turkey Bean Pumpkin Chili

I know what you're thinking...pumpkin in chili?!  I know, those were my exact thoughts, too.  But I saw this recipe in a blog that I follow and out of intrigue I bookmarked it.  In honor of Halloween, I decided now was the perfect time to give this one a shot and I'm glad that I did.  You can barely detect the pumpkin...I feel like it contributes a velvety texture and a boost of nutritition but under the radar!  Who doesn't like recipes with extra hidden veggies?!  Not to mention turkey chili has to be healthier than the typical beef versions...

I was hestitant at first to add the cinnamon but then I figured Skyline Chili is rumored to have cinnamon (and chocolate!) in it and I LOVE it so maybe it'd be good in this type of chili too (and makes sense with pumpkins, in my mind).  When I first did and tasted it I freaked out because it tasted so prominent and weird and I thought I had ruined my chili.  But by the end of the simmering time the spice flavor had mellowed and it added a nice note of complexity to the chili.  Delicious!

Turkey Bean Pumpkin Chili
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Photo Credit: Erin's Food Files





Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground turkey
2 14.5oz can diced tomatoes with jalepenos
1 14.5oz can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 14.5oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup frozen corn
2 cups (1 14.5 ounce can) pumpkin puree
1 12oz can tomato juice OR 1 14.5oz can tomato sauce (optional)
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 tablespoon cumin
cayenne pepper to taste
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
dash of cinnamon (optional)
fresh cilantro (optional)
shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
2. Saute the onion, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, jalapeno, and garlic until tender, about 10 minutes. Make room in the center of the skillet, add turkey, and brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, beans, pumpkin, corn. Season with chili powder, cumin, pepper, salt, and cayenne.  If preferred, thin the chili with tomato juice or sauce and add a dash of cinnamon.
3. Reduce heat and simmer at least 20 minutes. If preferred, stir in fresh cilantro and serve topped with Cheddar cheese and sour cream.

Source: Adapted from Erin's Food Files