Pumpkin Pie Cake

Camille had her pumpkin party last night and it was so fun! There was pumpkin macaroni and cheese, pumpkin ginger snap dip (coolwhip, small can of pumpkin, small box of vanilla pudding, pumpkin pie spice = SO GOOD), pumpkin cheese cake, pumpkin bars and cookies, pumpkin soup, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin egg nog and I made this pumpkin pie cake.  It turned out great. I changed it a little from the original but mostly I just added some extra spices.

Pumpkin Pie Cake 

Adapted from: http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com/2012/09/21/pumpkin-pie-cake/
Makes : 13x 9 in pan

1 (18 oz) yellow cake mix
1 egg
1/2 C butter, melted
1 (29 oz) canned mashed pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 C white sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2/3 C evaporated milk
1/4 C butter
1 C brown sugar
1/2 C pecan pieces, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cooking spray and flour a 9×13 baking pan.  Reserve 1 C of cake mix from package. In a mixing bowl combine remaining cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg.  Press mixture in the bottom of pan and up the sides to form a crust.  In a large mixing bowl combine pumpkin, eggs, white sugar, cinnamon, and evaporated milk.  Mix well.  Pour over crust. Combine brown sugar and remaining cake mix.  Cut in butter using two knives or a pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle over the filling.  Top with pecans if desired.  Bake 50 minutes. (I had to cook an extra 15 minutes...)  Cool on a rack.  Refrigerate until serving.

Apple Chips

There was an apple party so I decided to google apple recipes. I found one for apple chips on food gawker and they just look so good I couldn't help myself! Not to mention they seem somewhat healthy. I am super excited to try this new snack! Apples are one of my favorite snacks. I eat it for breakfast with a slice of cinnamon and sugar toast, I have it for lunch with a peanut butter and honey sandwich or just for a snack. So who wouldn't love dried apples! They were even a big hit at the party, I used granny smith so they had a nice tart flavor, slight crisp and chewy texture.

Apple Chips
Source: http://umaskitchenexperiments.blogspot.com/2011/09/apple-chips.html

Apples - 2 nos, gala, granny smith or any firm variety
Cinnamon powder - 1/2 teaspoon

1) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
2) Wash and slice the apples perpendicular to the core in small slices. (as this as you can)
3) Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and Bake for 2-3 hours
4) Allow to cool (will become more crispy) and then sprinkle with cinnamon.

Chicken Fajita Pizza

In a fix for something quick? This day I was... and this turned out delicious and fast!


Chicken Fajita Pizza
Makes: 1 pizza
Source: http://saramcgee.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/chicken-fajita-pizza/

Ingredients
1 pre-made pizza roll (found near the crescent rolls in my grocery store)
3/4 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 of a onion, chopped
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 cup of salsa
1 bag of Mexican shredded cheese

Directions
Roll out pizza dough on a greased pan. Layer on salsa- smooth out with a spoon. Grill or pan fry chicken- let it cool- and chop up into bite size pieces. Saute peppers and onions with butter or oil in a pan. Sprinkle with salt to ensure that they come together. Layer chicken, peppers and onions onto the salsa dough. Cover with cheese. Follow directions on pizza dough container about how to cook- but keep an eye out to prevent burning!

Cake Mix Fudge Crinkles

I went to make cookies on a Sunday and sadly I didn't have flour! Being Sunday I wasn't able to run to the store so I was in a panick. Then I remembered that I could use a cake mix to make cookies. As I searched nothing really interested me until I ran into these delicious Fudge Crinkles.

I was amazed at how moist they were, reminded me a lot of a brownie. Even when the outside felt a little tough the inside was moist and soft and a rich chocolate flavor.

Cake Mix Fudge Crinkles
Makes: about 30 cookies
Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/fudge-crinkles-a-great-4-ingredient-cake-mix-cookie-32614

1 (18 1/4 ounce) box devil's food cake mix (Betty Crocker Super Moist suggested)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
powdered sugar


Preheat oven to 350
Stir dry cake mix, oil and eggs together till combined. 
Roll into walnut sized balls then roll in powdered sugar. Don't dust off the powdered sugar (otherwise the powdered sugar will all dissolve in the oven.) Place on a greased cookie sheet. 
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes (or until just set) 
Take them off the pan and let them cool.

White Bean Chili

This morning I woke up and my face was frozen! Remember all those wonderful times of camping and you wake up and half your face thats sticking out of the sleeping bag is so cold but everything else is warm and toasty. Well, that is how it felt this morning, only I was inside. So as we can imagine the weather is like on this beautiful January day, all I felt like was warm yummy food.

I decided to make chili and cornbread and found this delicious recipe. At first I was very skeptical at the refried beans in the sauce but it was a great thickener! Who would have thought! I used my buttermilk cornbread recipe only I used white flour instead of wheat and added a little less milk. And sadly I didn't have enough great northern beans so I ended up doing 1 can of black to replace and it was delicious. Part of me likes having more variety in my beans anyway. 

White Bean Chili

Source: http://burnmenot.blogspot.com/2011/01/white-bean-chili.html
Makes: 8 servings (feeds about 5?)

1 (12 oz) package reduced fat sausage
1 lb ground turkey
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 (1.25 oz) package taco seasoning mix (1 used half original and half mild - not too spicy)
2 (15.8 oz) cans great northern beans (undrained) 
1 (14 oz) can low sodium chicken broth
1 (4.5 oz) can chopped green chiles
1 (16 oz) can green chile and lime refried beans

Preheat large saucepan on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add sausage and ground turkey. Let cook a little and drain some of the fat with a spoon. Then add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook total of 10-12 minutes or until meat is browned and no pink remains; stir frequently and break meat up as it cooks. Stir in taco seasoning; cover and cook for 1 minute.

In a large stock pot, combine beans (including liquids), chicken broth, green chiles, and refried beans over medium-high heat. Stir in meat mixture; cover and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Serve.