Pizza Pumpkin Seeds

Happy Halloween Everyone!  Just made these pumpkin seeds last night.

After carving and pulling out the guts of our pumpkin, I separated the guts from the seeds in a colander (this took a little bit of time, but a lot of water and elbow grease does the trick). 

After, removing the seeds form the guts I placed the seeds in a bowl.  In a smaller separate bowl, place seasonings and mix.

Ingredients
1/2 t. oregano
1/4 t. basil 
1/4 t. crushed rosemary
1/4 t. parmesan grated cheese
1/4 t. sea salt
1/8 t. pepper 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Add the mixed seasonings onto the pumpkin seeds and give a good toss.  On a large baking sheet (spray with a little cooking spray so the seeds are easily removed) spread out your seeds evenly.  Cook in the oven for around 15 minutes.  Snack and enjoy!

Quick Pick: Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Ingredients2 cans of cream of potato
2 Russet potatoes
1 cup of cheddar cheese
1 cup of heavy whipping cream
4 oz. of pancetta
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
2.5 oz of water
1 green onion, diced (optional)

This is simple, and yes I know I cheated by using a cream of potato soup as a base, but if you are looking to make potato soup and don't have much time it's a good way to start.  

Dump the two cans of cream of potato into the crock pot.  

Peel and dice two Russet potatoes into 1/4 inch cubes (they cook more evenly and are more tender if cut small).  Dump the potatoes into the crock pot.

Add in cheddar cheese, whipping cream, pancetta, salt, pepper and water into the crock pot and give it a good stir.    

I usually set this up before going to work and keep my crock pot on low.  Cook for a good 6+ hours or until the potatoes are tender. 

Sprinkle the green onion on top as a garnish if you choose.

Cinnamon Sugar Personal Apple Pies

My secret ingredient...a little pumpkin butter.  You can check out my recipe on my blog for the "how to" on easy pumpkin butter, but if you are in a time crunch you could always substitute store bought apple butter in a pinch.  This makes six individual servings.

 

Ingredients

1 package of frozen puff pastry dough (comes in 2 sheets)

1/4 cup of pumpkin butter

1 T cinnamon

2 T sugar

1 large green apple (can use a red apple if you want)

First, let your puff pastry dough thaw for about 30-40 minutes.  You still want it to be cold so you can work with it, so if it gets to room temperature you need to put it back into the fridge. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  While you are waiting for your oven to heat up, combine cinnamon and sugar together and mix.

Unfold the puff pastry dough and flatten it.  With a knife, cut into thirds and then cut each third into half.  Take a fork and "dock" the dough.  This is important so your dough cooks evenly and doesn't puff too high during the cooking process.

Spread about a tablespoon of pumpkin butter on each puff pastry rectangle. The pumpkin butter should be a thin layer, so don't make it too thick. Foodie Tip:  Don't go to the edge of the pastry, so that you have room to crimp the pie together!

Slice up the apple into 1/8 inch (or thereabouts) slices.  You'll place about 3 to 4 slices of apple on each pie.   Sprinkle about 1/8 of a teaspoon of cinnamon sugar on top of the apples (add more if you feel like it).  

Now take out the second sheet of puff pastry and cut it into six pieces (as you did earlier) and place a piece on top of your individual pies.  With a fork crimp the sides (you can also do this with your fingers too).  Take a knife and cut a small "x" in the top of your dough to let air escape while cooking.  Sprinkle a layer of cinnamon sugar on the top, and place in the oven.

The pies are done in about 20 minutes.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Bread

Check out this awesome bread.   Sweet, with pumpkin and fall spices, and a little chocolate too.   Had one piece, and then went back for another!

Ingredients

1 box of Duncan Hines spice cake
1 can of pumpkin
3/4 cup of milk chocolate chips
3 eggs
1 cup of water 
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
1 t. nutmeg
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. cloves

Preheat your oven to 350. 

Add the cake mix to a bowl.  Add in your eggs, water, vegetable oil, canned pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. 

Beat with a mixer for around 2 minutes or until the ingredients are all incorporated.  

Toss in the milk chocolate chips and fold into the mixture with a spatula.  If you don't want the extra calories you can always opt out of the chips, but if you really love chocolate then add more :)  

Spray two bread pans and pour half of the mixture into each.  This cooks for around 40 minutes, depending on your oven.  Insert a toothpick, if it comes out clean then the bread is done.  If not, leave it in a little longer.  Let the bread cool in the pan before cutting and serving.

Mexican Corn

This is a simple side dish that feeds 4+.  

Ingredients
2.5 cups of corn
1/2 orange pepper diced
1/4 queso fresco cheese
1/4 cup of cilantro, chopped
1 t. cumin
1 t. basil
1 t. oregano
1/2 t. sea salt
1/2 lime, juiced


You can choose to use either fresh grilled corn and shave it off the cob, or use 2 10 oz. bags of frozen corn that you've heated up in the microwave.  It seriously tastes great either way, and if you are looking for a shortcut than go with the microwave.  Roast/grill the orange pepper until softened, then dice into cubes and add to the corn.  Add cumin, basil, oregano, and salt to the mixture next.  Add in your cilantro.  I tend to love cilantro, so I always add a lot, but if you are cilantro hater than you don't have to add it.  Crumble up the queso fresco.  You can chop it, but it's easier to just shred with your fingers.  Add in lime juice and give a toss.  

Salsa Cruda

This salsa is so amazing you could eat it with a spoon!

Ingredients
8 roma tomatoes, diced into cubes
1 C of cucumber, diced 
1/2 C of red onion diced
1/2 C of cilantro, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, de-seeded and diced (you can leave in the seeds to make it hotter!)
2 limes, juiced
2 T balsamic vinegar
2 T oregano
2 t of sea salt
1 t of basil (I usually don't use fresh basil for this, but you could if you have it around)
A dusting of black pepper


Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and stir.  This salsa is great right away, or let it sit in its' juices and marinate.   Either way, this makes enough to can and save for later or serve at a party.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

Who doesn't love pumpkin and cheesecake?  These mini cheesecakes are awesome if you want to eat a little treat, or if you are having a party and inviting over friends.  The recipe makes 12. 

Ingredients

1 cup of graham cracker crumbs

1 T of sugar

3 T of melted butter

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese softened

1/4 cup of sugar

1/4 t of vanilla

1 egg

1/4 cup of canned pumpkin

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Mix graham cracker crumbs, 1 T of sugar, and butter and press into muffin cups. Beat cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, vanilla, egg, and pumpkin until smooth.  Pour over graham cracker crusts.  Cook for 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cheesecake comes out clean.  Let cheesecakes coo.  Once at room temperature, put them in the refrigerator to chill.   

Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes

This is by far my favorite potato recipe of all time.  It's rich, cheesy, and oh so unhealthy, but if you can spare the extra calories it's well worth it.  This was handed down to me by my mom and grandma and is such a hit at parties.  I've been asked about this recipe more than any other. 

Ingredients

1 two lb. package of hashbrown potatoes partially thawed

1 can cream of potato soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 c. sour cream

10 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

2 T of onion, chopped

1 t. parsley

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

Paprika (to sprinkle on top)

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl except for the paprika.  Lightly butter a 13x9 inch baking dish, and put ingredient mixture into the dish.  Sprinkle paprika on top of the dish.  Bake uncovered for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  

Feeling Crafty?

Who doesn't love fall...football, cool air, leaves and pumpkin. Some of my favorite things...

I bought these letters from my local Hobby Lobby for about a dollar and change.  

I used twine, ribbon, craft paint and the embellishments for under $10 (also a Hobby Lobby steal) and used my trusty glue gun to help attach everything. 

Helpful Tip:  Straight or more linear letters are easier to wrap.  

I wrapped one L in twine and the other with my craft ribbon.  I found that the F and A letters were a lot harder to wrap so I decided to do a base coat of pearl and gold paint.  Then I wrapped the sides.  I added the leaf and pumpkin embellishments (it also allows you to cover your imperfections!).  TA DA....I think I'm going to try a little "NOEL" sign for Christmas...