Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Yes, I'm still obsessed with pumpkin. And it won't be ending soon. I haven't even made pumpkin pie yet!!

I found this recipe on Bake at 350, such a cute blog, and thought I'd share it with you. It's SO delicious and is the closest thing to pumpkin cheesecake that I'll ever make. My husband even went to Panera and bought some fancy bagels for the pumpkin cream cheese. So delicious. Enjoy!!!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese
(from Bake at 350)

8 oz cream cheese, softened (1/3 less fat, ok)
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
4 tbsp brown sugar

Beat all ingredients together until smooth. Refrigerate.


Yumm-O!!

Pumpkin Pancakes with Nutmeg Whipped Cream

I'm in that fall mood. Plus, I needed to use up the other half of the can of pumpkin I opened for the pumpkin muffins. ;) This recipe for Pumpkin Pancakes was so delicious!! I think it's a wonderful recipe to use when you have guests for breakfast/brunch and it's more filling than regular pancakes.


Pumpkin Pancakes
From: Rucifey @ All Recipes
Serves: 4

2 1/3 cups pancake mix (such as Bisquick)
2 1/2 tbsp sugar
1/3 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
1/3 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Nutmeg Whipped Cream
1 cup whipping cream
2 tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1. Whisk together the pancake mix, white sugar, cinnamon, the 1/3 tsp nutmeg, and ginger; set aside. (You can have this mixed ahead of time and add the wet ingredients right before making.) Beat together the eggs, milk, pumpkin, and vegetable oil. Combine the two mixtures, stirring until all ingredients are moistened.
2. Heat a lightly oiled (I used Pam) griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Bubbles will start to form in the pancakes. Cook until the edges of the pancakes start to look dry, and a bubble popped near the edge holds its shape. Flip the pancakes over, and continue cooking until the other side is golden brown. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more oil to the griddle if necessary. For larger batches, keep pancakes warm in a single layer on a cooling rack posistioned over a baking sheet in a 300 degree oven.
3. Place whipping cream in a small, deep, chilled bowl. Add the 2 tbsp sugar, vanilla, and nutmeg; beat using a mixer with chilled beaters on medium-high speed until soft peaks form.

So delicious and so "fall." Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

This is a recipe I've been wanting to try for a long time now. It's a recipe from my husband's aunt. It's delicious and I hope you give it a try!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 can (16 oz) pumpkin
1 1/2 cups oil
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

In large bowl beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil until smooth. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 16-20 minutes until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Makes 36 muffins.

**Tip: if you want to cut the oil in the recipe:
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce


The batter is fairly thick, so don't be surprised. I used a zip-top bag to fill the muffin cups to make it an easier clean-up. Just make sure you cut the hole big enough for the chocolate chips to come through. To serve as cupcakes, frost with cream cheese frosting. Enjoy!!

Easy Garlic Bread

There's nothing like having garlic bread with your pasta and salad. This has become our favorite quick and easy garlic bread because it takes no time and it's inexpensive.

Easy Garlic Bread

hot dog buns, frozen
butter or margarine
garlic powder
garlic salt
Parmesan cheese
mozzarella cheese (for cheese bread)

Line a baking pan with aluminum foil. Cut hot dog buns in half and spread with butter. Sprinkle garlic salt, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes (may have to broil to get edges crispy).

I usually stock up on hot dog buns when they're on sale and keep them in the freezer. This is a great way to make garlic bread because you can make just a few or a bunch. It's a great quick fix!!

Gramma's Homemade Buns

My husband's Gramma is a wonderful cook! I'm going to treat you with her recipe for "homemade" buns using a bread machine.

Gramma's Homemade Buns

1 cup warm water
1/4 cup sugar, divided
2 tsp yeast (regular or bread machine yeast)
2 tbsp softened butter or margarine
3/4 tsp salt
3 cups bread flour

Heat the cup of cold water in the microwave on high for 13 seconds. Pour into the bread machine pan and add 2 tsp of the sugar and the yeast and let it activate. Then add flour, sugar, butter and salt. Gramma's machine has a feature of "First Rise" in which the machine mixes and rises only once (takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes). Take bread dough out of machine and form into buns and let rise until double. If using a convection oven: bake at 350 degrees for 13 minutes. If using a traditional oven: bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Gramma's notes:
Most bread machine recipes have you put the yeast in without letting it activate in sugar and warm water but I found that the yeast did not always dissolve and you get a better rise doing it the "old fashioned" way. It is important that the salt does not get into contact with the yeast. That's why I add the salt last or between cups of flour. The first loaf I made with my machine was only 4 inches high, after that i never followed the book instructions!! Sound like a Gramma thing?

You can make them small to serve with a meal or you can make them a little larger to use for sandwiches. They're really great because they're crusty on the outside and chewy in the middle. I was skeptical of activating the yeast because I'm a rule-follower, but it worked well and the buns are delicious.