Pumpkin Scones with Spiced Glaze

 I buy the big cans of pumpkin, I don't know why, probably because my mother did. They are usually a better value but sometimes it's a challenge to use the pumpkin up in a timely manner. I found the perfect recipe to use up that last bit of pumpkin. It was a top 10 Pumpkin Recipe on Brown Eyed Bakers Blog, I trust this gal. She has yet to lead me astray!
I think if all mornings started off with a scone we would only have great days! This scone it a perfect way to start a holiday morning. I love scones because the dough freezes so well. Just cut the scones, quick freeze them and store them in a Ziploc freezer baggie. Be sure and write baking instructions on the bag and date the bag. They are best baked within 2 months. Which is not hard to do at my house. I bake half the dough and freeze half. Perfect for holiday company. They awake to the yummy smell of pumpkin and spices. They think you have been slaving in the kitchen for hours. At this point you may or may not want to tell them your secret! Enough jabber, basic scone recipe. I made a few modifications in the shaping and cutting. The delicious recipe was left intact.

Pumpkin Scones with Spiced Glaze
2 cups flour
7 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoons cloves
1/4 teaspoons ginger
6 Tablespoons cold butter
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3 Tablespoons half and half
1 large egg

Spiced Glaze
11/4 cup powdered sugar
2-3 Tablespoons half and half (more or less as needed)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 pinch each ginger and cloves

Preheat oven to 425 degrees, line a stoneware baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper. Set aside
Combine first eight dry ingredients in a large bowl. Use a pastry blender to cut in butter, or use my favorite method; freeze the butter and grate on a large hole grater, perfect size butter. It mixes in quickly.
In a smaller bowl whisk together the pumpkin, half an half and egg. Pour the wet ingredients in the dry ingredients. Mix oh so gently. On a lightly floured surface form the dough in two balls. Flatten gently to about 1 inch thick. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to make 6 wedges in each circle. Place wedges on baking sheet and bake at 425 for 14 minutes, do not over bake. I just like a very light color. Over baking will dry them out and then they won't be as yummy. We have made it this far so no over baking!
Cool scones and drizzle with Spiced Glaze (simply make glaze by mixing all ingredients together to get the consistency you want). Enjoy! Next time I make these yummy scones I will add 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Because I can and I think they would add to the flavor and nuts always add a fun textural intrest.

Quick Taco Soup

 I can't believe I haven't blogged about a favorite family meal. I've had this recipe for years and have no clue where it came from. If you gave it to me please let me know. I liked this recipe because it does NOT use a packet of taco seasoning. I prefer not to use these little packets, I read the ingredients list and knew I could do better.
This simple soup is a 30-minute meal, it feeds a crowd of hungry kids. It is easy to adapt to personal tastes.

QUICK TACO SOUP

In a large saucepan combine:

1 pound of cooked ground beef with onion (cook two pounds of ground beef with onion, use half and freeze half. Put it in a freezer bag and label it. Use it within 2 months for the best flavor.)

1 cup petite frozen or canned corn

1 can drained and rinsed black beans (red or pinto beans work fine)

28 ounces crushed tomatoes in puree

½ can EL PATO sauce (Mexican hot tomato sauce)

2 cups water

Simmer about 20 minutes
I'm sure that after browning the ground beef and onion you could put everything in a Crock Pot and cook on low for 4 hours.

Serve in bowls topped with tortilla chips, grated cheese, sliced olives, and sour cream.  This is an easy recipe to double—then you have leftovers for another busy day.  My boys like this recipe without the added water. It is thicker, almost like a dip, you can scoop it with a chip—it’s a boy thing. 

When your tired of turkey and need a quick meal this is it. This is also a pantry meal. Most of the items to make this soup are easily stored in your pantry. You probably have ground beef in the freezer. Cheese and sour cream are staples in my refrigerator and I always have a bag or two of corn chips in my pantry. Good for Nachos, dips etc.

SRC Brown Butter Pumpkin Bread

The Secret Recipe Club is a fun group of bloggers who are assigned a blog. We stalk the assigned blog for a few weeks and then choose something wonderful to bake from their blog. Reveal day is exciting; it is fun to see what the other 150 bloggers made. It is always fun to see what the blogger that received your blog made. And why, out of 250 recipes would they choose the recipe they did!

So today is reveal day for group C, Angela is our awesome leader. She kindly and quickly answers all my questions that I'm sure I asked last month. Thanks Angela. I was lucky enough to spend time reading and rereading Julia's blog, Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body. I really wanted to make all 30+ recipes in the Fall Favorites category. Julia loves salads and there were some yummy looking creations there. Oh, the cakes, I wish I had an event to bake for but hubby and I would have way too much temptation laying around!
Since it is fall and I have yet to make pumpkin bread I was drawn to Julia's recipe for Brown Butter Pumpkin Bread. I do love the smell of brown butter. Does it come in a perfume?

This recipe did not disappoint, it was moist and full of warm fall spices. It is a 5 star recipe for sure.
I baked 3 small loaves, one plain, one topped with pecans and one topped with a streusel. All delicious.
Thanks Julia, this is my new favorite pumpkin bread and it doesn't even need chocolate. That's impressive.

Brown Butter Pumpkin Bread
1 stick butter--4 ounces, melt in saucepan over high heat, lower heat and 'swirl' butter a bit, cook till it turns brown, watch closely as it goes from brown to black in an instant, allow to cool slightly
2 cups flour (recipe called for 1 cup of white and 1cup of wheat, I used all white as I was too lazy to get my wheat grinder out)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cloves
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
15 ounce can pumpkin
Whisk together flour, sugar and seasonings. Whisk eggs, vanilla, pumpkin and brown butter. Gently mix together liquid and dry ingredients. Pour in greased loaf pans, I used 3 small pans. Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. Bread is done when a thin knife inserted in center of loaf comes out clean. Cool in pans for 15 minutes and remove to a cooling rack.

Pumpkin Cheescake with Sour Cream Topping

I know I already have one Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe, and it it's very good. So why another? Because this Pumpkin Cheesecake has a wonderful sour cream topping. It is smooth and delicious. A perfect compliment to the spicy pumpkin cheesecake. It also has some ginger cookies mixed with the graham crackers for a delicious ginger spiced crust. So now you have two choices. Both are delicious! Please see Joy of Baking for the complete recipe. I turn to Joy of baking often, they have great recipes and many have video tutorials. I do like watching a pro cook. I always learn something new.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Muffins with White Chocolate Chips

 

 

I found the blog Sugared Whisk several months ago. I knew I wanted a blog makeover but didn't know where to go, I really didn't know what I wanted. I knew I just wanted something different. As I came upon Sugared Whisk, I loved it! She had great recipes but she had a design that spoke to me. Long story short, I contacted Rebaka at Monkeys Love Donuts. She redesigned my blog, I love it. So take a trip over to Sugared Whisk, you'll see why I fell in love with it!

A great fall recipe, yummy Pumpkin Muffins with White Chocolate chips. I think you will like them too. If you need a blog makeover. Check my side bar, you'll see Monkeys Love Donuts. A great blog designer! 

  Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Muffins 

Ingredients
1/2 cup of walnuts
1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin
4 oz (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
6 oz white chocolate chips
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
3. In another bowl, mix together the eggs, pumpkin, and unsalted butter. Add in the chocolate chips and nuts.
4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix until the dry ingredients are moistened. Do not over mix.
5. Scoop batter into greased or paper cup lined muffin cups. Bake for about 20 minutes or until puffed and springy to the touch. Cool then remove from cups.
-makes approximately 12  muffins-

Coconut Curry Soup

I do love it when my girls come to visit, they are great cooks. Candise offered to make dinner, I quickly brought up a recipe I've had pinned for ages. It was the perfect day for Coconut Curry Soup, a 30 minute meal that was delicious. It comes together quickly and will no doubt disappear quickly too. Don't be afraid of the fish sauce, it is readily available in the Asian section of the any grocery store. It keeps in the fridge for ages and is a must for many Asian dishes. Trust me on this one.
This soup was also great for lunch the next day. Actually hubby and I were fighting over the leftovers. This will be in the dinner rotation often this winter. Thank you Candise!

Coconut Curry Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken tenders, cut in 1 inch pieces, seasoned with salt and pepper
1/2 cup diced onion
1 red pepper, large dice
1 can chicken broth (2 cups)
1 can (14 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Heat olive oil in pan till shimmering, add chicken and cook for 2 minutes. Add onion and pepper stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, coconut milk, fish sauce, cayenne pepper, brown sugar and curry powder. Simmer gently for 10-15 minutes. Stir in lime juice and cilantro.
Serve a ladle or two over a scoop of hot rice. Garnish with more cilantro.
I think next time I might add some sliced carrots or bamboo shoots. Many possibilities.
This is another great recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Pumpkin Bars

I like pumpkin, in most any dish. So it really is no surprise that these Pumpkin Bars were served twice in one week. My sweet mother in law made a birthday dinner for me a few weeks ago. I offered to make dessert. I found this delicious recipe on Joy of Baking. It was a hit at the dinner, my mother then asked me to make them for Thanksgiving instead of pumpkin pie. So I will make them again next week.

This yummy dessert has a shortbread crust made with hazelnuts. The shortbread is slightly sweet, the hazelnuts give the crust a great texture. The baked pumpkin filling is simple to make. This dessert makes a 9x13 pan so it feeds a crowd. It also keeps for a day or two, that's if you have leftovers. The dessert is delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream. Mix up Thanksgiving desserts this year and serve Pumpkin Bars.

The complete recipe can be found on Joy of Baking, a site full of delicious recipes.

http://www.joyofbaking.com/barsandsquares/PumpkinBars.html

What a Great Week!

We have had the pleasure of spending time with our daughter Amber, hubby Tadd and their sweet family. We were able to meet Miss Amelia and attend her blessing. I might add that she has the most beautiful red hair! Big sis Maya was baptized, what a wonderful day. Full of family, friends and blessings. How could one family be so lucky?

Crock Pot Potato Cheese Soup

 I have been on a personal quest to find more recipes that are cooked in the Crock Pot. My first Crock Pot, a wedding gift in the mid 70's had an on/off switch and a non removable stoneware liner, the color was Avocado Green. It was not fun to clean! It was not my cooking vehicle of choice. I tried a few recipes over the years, they all taste pretty much the same, not terrible, just the same.
I'm happy to say Crock Pots have come along way. There are sizes to fit every family and any number of features. I have a 6 quart slow cooker, it's great when the family is here but much too large for my everyday use. I now have a 31/2 quart slow cooker, perfect for empty nesters. Your slow cooker should be a least 1/2 full for best performance.
This is probably too much info but I do have a great recipe for the slow cooker. This potato soup was delicious. I'm sure I will make it often this winter.

Crock Pot Potato Cheese Soup
6 slices bacon
1 1/2 cups diced onions
5 cups peeled diced russet potatoes
3/4 cup diced celery
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup half and half
2 cups shredded cheese--I cleaned out my cheese drawer and used several kinds
Fry bacon in skillet till crisp, remove from pan and drain. Crumble bacon and refrigerate. In the same skillet saute onions for 3 or 4 minutes. Put onions, celery and potatoes in slow cooker, add chicken broth, salt and pepper. Cook on low heat for 6-7 hours. In a small bowl stir together flour and half and half, mix well with wire whip. Add mixture to soup, increase slow cooker to high and cook for 30 minutes until thick. Add cheese and stir until melted. Top soup with cooked bacon.
This recipe comes from Real Mom Kitchen

Traditions and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Many years ago when our home was full of small children we tried to make holidays fun. Halloween deco consisted of a not so scary 'witch on a broom' and a smiling ghost trimmed in white lace. We made ghost suckers, pumpkin shaped sandwiches, jack-o-lantern cupcakes with candy corn faces. Simple yes, little ones are easy to please.
The Monday before Halloween was designated as a Family Home Evening Pumpkin Carving Activity. Just imagine 6 kids under 12 with butter knives trying to make the perfect jack-o-lantern. Greg and I were certainly out numbered but managed to keep it together long enough to have 6 smiling/scary/silly jack-o-lanterns. Candles were carefully placed in the pumpkins, the lights were turned off and the children giggled at the silly shapes on the wall.

I'm sure the next tradition was started by Greg, the fun parent. Lite Jack-o-lanterns were then placed in the children's bedroom. They watched the spooky shapes dance on the walls as they drifted off to sleep. Somehow we did this for many years without burning down the house. The kids loved it.

Halloween would not be complete without roasted pumpkin seeds. For some reason digging thru pumpkin 'guts' looking for seeds was fun. I roasted the seeds while the little ones slept (how many activities can you pack in one evening)?  They were excited to have a small baggie with roasted pumpkin seeds in their lunch the following day.
23 year old Max insisted on having a pumpkin carving, seed roasting activity. We played along, because traditions are important!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
2 cups pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon salt
Rinse pumpkins seeds until pulp and strings are washed off. Boil seeds in salt water for 10 minutes. Dry seeds on a  paper towel
In medium bowl combine Worcestershire sauce, melted butter and salt. Add seeds, stir until coated with mixture. Spread on a baking sheet. Bake at 225 degrees for 2 hours. Stir often, seeds should be crisp.

TWD Ginger Jazzed Brownies

I joined TWD about half way thru the book, I have blogged about 53 recipes. 53 successful recipes that were delicious. Many recipes have become family favorites. But, I'm sorry to say I finally struck out. I was excited to make this recipe, I love brownies and I like ginger. Other bloggers said the ginger was too mild. Maybe my ginger was too potent, I grated my ginger instead of chopping it, maybe that made a difference. Whatever I did proved to make these brownies inedible. One bite was all it took--these brownies just screamed GINGER! I even drizzled a brown butter glaze over them. Didn't work, no one would eat them. They were beautiful but after sitting out for 3 days I finally trashed them. It was a sad day in my kitchen.
But one failure out of 53 recipes is great odds. Buy the book, Baking from My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan. It is one awesome cookbook!

Secret Recipe Club Brownies

I was lucky enough to have two secret blogs this month. The Secret Recipe Club is a great way to meet new bloggers and try new recipes.  Wow! Can I just say I'm impressed. Danielle blogs at A Day In The Life. Her blogs is full of food, family and life. She has two darling little guys, I love her Wordless Wednesday posts. Nothing quite as cute as a toddler living life!
 Danielle is concerned about nutrition but admits to having a sweet tooth. I have several recipes bookmarked for future use such as potato soup in the crock pot, ham and cheese Sammie's and some yummy Asian dishes. Danielle's favorite dessert is cake. She has several cakes that would make a birthday person happy.
So what recipe did I choose? My blog title might give it away, 'getting thru life one brownie recipe at a time'.
Yes, I had to make brownies. Danielle recipe was Marion Cunningham's 'Parker Brownies. This brownie is everything I like in a brownie. Fudgy but not gooey, simple to make, only dirties one bowl and delicious. Hubby just said it is his new favorite brownie! I make a lot of brownies so this is quite a compliment. Thanks Danielle, we have a new favorite brownie!

Parker Brownie, or Danielle's Brownie (I always name recipes after the person I got it from)
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, I used a Guittard baking bar
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Butter an 8 inch square baking pan. Gently melt chopped chocolate and butter in microwave. My new microwave has a setting for melting butter and chocolate. I love it! Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add egg, stir till shiny, add salt. Gently stir in flour and nuts. Batter will be stiff, spread in pan. I used an offset spatula for easy spreading. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 30 minutes. Brownies are thin, perfect for tucking in a lunch sack. Dress the brownies up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a little hot fudge. Be ready for a new favorite treat.

Secret Recipe Club-- Date Nut Loaf

 The Secret Recipe Club comes around every month. We are assigned a blog to get to know and then create a yummy dish from their blog.
 I was assigned an amazing blog called Feast on the Cheap. This delightful blog is written by a mother daughter team. Mary Ann is a caterer and Mariel is a 'fledgling foodie'. I would say they both are amazing. You will find a wide variety of dishes on this blog. Something for everyone I'm sure. Some gourmet, others family fare. I was intrigued by many, I bought the ingredients for the French Onion Soup, I'll make it later this week.

 In my fridge I happen to have a 2 pound container of fresh dates. So when I saw a recipe for Nana's Date Nut Bread that has been in the family for years I had to try it. It was a simple recipe, ingredients you would have in your pantry. I chose to make some mini loaves and a small size bundt. I went to photograph the bundt and it looked naked so I had to drizzle a little browned butter glaze over it. This was one yummy addition. It takes a plain date loaf to an elegant dessert.

Feast on the Cheap is now on my reader, there are many dishes I need to try. The reason it is called Feast on the Cheap is that the cost per serving is given on every dish. That is assuming you have a well stocked pantry. And they will teach you just what is in a well stocked pantry. Yes, a very helpful blog. Thanks Mary Ann and Mariel.

Twice Baked Potatoes

Max's birthday dinner had to include Twice Baked Potatoes. Actually these potatoes are included in many family gatherings. You can easily make these a day in advance, perfect for busy cooks. 

Pioneer Woman's recipe is perfect. Use nice big russets, number ones and make a full batch. Leftovers make a great lunch. I always send leftovers home with the Grandmas. They are happy, you just don't make Twice Baked Potatoes for one!

This delicious dish is quite rich, make it for special occasions. Your guests will thank you. Here is the link to Pioneer Woman's Twice Baked Potatoes. Enjoy!

Blog Award

I have never been honored with a blog award! My blog started mostly as a place where I could catalog my recipes so my daughter would have easy access to them. But because of the wonderful web I have blogging friends all over. They cook, craft, sew, quilt raise cute kids, etc. This award was graciously given to me by Anita at Aunt Nubby's Kitchen. A blog where you always feel at home and there is plenty of wonderful food.

 

The rules for the Versatile Blogger Award are:

1.  Thank the blogger who awarded you and link back to them.
2.  Share 7 things about yourself
3.  Pass the award along to 5 other newly discovered blogs.

So here are the 7 things you may not know about me:
1.  I don't watch TV at all.
2.  I have 5 brothers and no sisters
3.  I think one can never have too many shoes or purses.
4.  I don't drink, not even a cup of coffee, I do like a Diet Coke with Fresh Lime--made at a local drive-in
      called the Purple Turtle.   
5. The only fast food I really enjoy is Chick-fil-a
6.  I have had 7 back/neck surgeries
7.  I cook because I can't afford to eat where I want to!

And the best part - 5 blogs to honor with the Versatile Blogger Award:

Baking and Boy

Cactus Needle Quilts 
Our Life Uncommon
Such is Life
Grandma's Kitchen Table