Pumpkin Cookies with cream cheese frosting

Its almost fall....
Like I need another reason to make something pumpkin. I think, no, I KNOW Bryan is getting tired of it. He HATES fall only because he knows everything I bake has pumpkin in it and he is not a fan of pumpkin.

But I am. And the kids are.

So, I found a recipe for pumpkin cookies a little while back. Tweaked it and perfected it, made it a little easier, and here we go!



Pumpkin Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar and pumpkin. Add egg.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Add flour mix to pumpkin mix.
Here is where I like to add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Everything is better with chocolate.
Drop spoonful on to greased cookie sheet. They don't rise much or change shape, so if you are concerned how they look, fix them before you cook them.
Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Let cool before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lb powdered sugar
1 stick butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
Beat all ingredients together until creamy. Frost cooled cookies.

Smores bars

Growing up, my mom always made the best treats. We always had friends over and she was always on top of things making the latest recipe. When she found this one, we constantly asked for it. I remember one friend in particular, Jenna, and I could eat an entire pan of these. We never waited for them to cool. I dont think we even let them make it into a pan! 

These are super easy, super good, and a definite crowd, or kid, pleaser.

1 bag miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
5 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 box Golden Grahams (8 cups)

1. Grease 13x9-inch pan with butter. Reserve 1 cup of the marshmallows. In 3-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup and remaining 4 1/2 cups marshmallowsover low heat, stirring occasionally, until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2. Pour cereal into large bowl. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal; stir until evenly coated. Stir in remaining 1 cup marshmallows.

3.With buttered back of spoon, press mixture in pan. Cool at least 1 hour or until firm. Or, do as I do and eat them warm!!!

Fruity Oat Bars

I am always looking for healthy, yet fun, snacks for the girls for when they come home from school. They always come home "so hungry", even if they just had a snack at school. And, of course, they rush for candy or fruit snacks. Which, of course, will make them crash and burn during homework time. These bars are perfect. They give them that boost of energy they need, plus, they have the little bit of sweet that they crave, and they are good for them. Bonus...they are easy.

Ingredients:

1 cup dried apricots (or 1 cup sugar-free preserves)

1/4 cup water

2 1/3 whole wheat flour

1 cup oats

1/2 tsp salt

1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp light corn syrup

Preheat oven to 400F. Grease and line bottom of square cake pan with parchment paper. Add apricots and water to blender. (If using preserves, do not add water) Process the apricots until they are smooth (add more or less water, depending on the consistancy you like). Put the flour, oats, and salt in a mixing bowl and stir until combined. Melt the butter, sugar, and syrup in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until butter has completely melted. Pour the butter mixture into the mixing bowl with the oats and flour. Stir until everything is combined. Press half of the mixture into cake pan and smooth it to make an even layer. Spread apricots (or preserves) over oat layer. Press the rest of the oat mixture on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the oats on top are golden. Let cool for 5 minutes. Divide the bars into squares and leave them to cool completely in the pan before removing.

Sweet Coleslaw

I know, this is more of a summer dish and I should have posted it ages ago. Sorry. It still is summer here in Florida.
I never was a big coleslaw person. This recipe has taken me a while to perfect to make it the right consistency and the right amount of sweet. Perfect for any cookout or party!

1 16oz bag coleslaw mix
2/3 cup mayo (Duke's is always the best)
-note, if you like it a little more tangy, I sometimes do 1/3 cup mayo 1/3 cup miracle whip, but using all Miracle whip makes it way too sweet, in my opinion
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
optional- 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

Mix all ingredients in large bowl, cover, refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Apple Dumplings

This is seriously the best thing that has ever happened to apples. Ever. If you are a health nut, please stop reading this now. I know a lot of people who take recipes and try to make them healthy by cutting stuff out of it. PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT HERE! This recipe will never be the same if you cut back. Just skip it. But I suggest you at least try it before you banish it.

The ingredients:
2 granny smith apples, peeled
2 cans crescent rolls
2 sticks of butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon
1 can MOUNTAIN DEW not diet!!!!

thats right, I said it, Mountain Dew. Who would have thought???

First, cut each apple into 8 slices (that makes 16)
Roll each slice in a crescent roll
Place in a greased 9x13 pan

In a small sauce pan, melt butter.
Add vanilla
Stir in sugar, no need to dissolve, just stir it in quickly
Pour this majically calorie free mixture over the apples
Now pour the DEW all around the sides and in between the apples. It will look like a lot of liquid, but it all soaks up, leaving a little sauce after it cooks.
Sprinkle cinnamon on top
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes
Divine if served with vanilla ice cream

Now, go step on your treadmill for a few hours.

Mississippi Mud Cookies

I am in need of a real camera intervention. Seems like every time I bake or cook and then post about it, I have forgotten to take a picture. And what fun is it to get a recipe with no picture? I apologize. For real. But, you have to believe me on this one....this cookie is a must.

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chocolate chips
miniature marshmallows

In a bowl, melt the 1 cup chocolate chips in microwave for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, or until melted. Set aside.
Beat butter and sugar till creamy with an electric mixer.
Add eggs, one at a time.
Beat in vanilla and melted chocolate.
Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; gradually add to chocolate mixture till well blended. Add pecans and chocolate chips.
Drop spoonfulls of batter on a cookie sheet. Place 3 marshmallows on top of batter.
Bake at 350 for 9 minutes, or until set.
Let cool on wire rack.

Blueberry French Toast Bake

Years ago my father gave me a recipe book that I love. This recipe in particular he had highlighted as one that we may like to try. And, it took me this long to finally get around to it. I wish I had not waited so long. I am not a blueberry person, but this is delish. I cut a few things out of the recipe, like the 16oz of cream cheese. We have made a french toast bake before, but never with blueberries. And, I am sure you can add whatever berries you want to it. But, I have to say, the syrup is what makes it. The best part, if you have leftover syrup, it goes wonderfully on ice cream....so I've heard.

Blueberry French Toast
1 large french baguette
1 cup blueberries
12 eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 cups milk

Cut bread into cubes and arrange in greased 9x13 pan. Pour blueberries on top. Beat eggs, add maple syrup and milk. Pour over bread and cover tightly with foil. Refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours. To bake, preheat oven to 350. Bake for 30 minutes covered, uncover and bake for and additional 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Blueberry Syrup
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp corn starch
1 cup water
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup blueberries

Stir sugar, corn starch, and water over high heat in a saucepan. Add butter and blueberries and cook until the blueberries pop. Serve warm over french toast. (or ice cream!)