Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Pumpkin

It's FALL...my favorite season! And, I LOVE pumpkin flavored stuff...here's what I've done with pumpkin so far this fall.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip (Oatmeal) Pancakes
So, I used my oatmeal pancake recipe and instead of adding banana, I added some canned pumpkin. I really like them...I've had it a few times this fall. Here's some pictures of my creation. (Can you tell I'm a bit obsessive with freshness? I love having things in baggies. I am always checking expiration dates, too!)



Pumpkin Smoothie
I will NOT be repeating this smoothie anytime soon...or anytime ever really. It was weird kinda...very pumpkin-y. It was mostly just pumpkin, milk, ice, and some spices. Maybe it would have been better with whip cream on top? Or actually, I thought about mixing it with vanilla ice cream to make a pumpkin shake! THAT would be good!

Pumpkin Muffins
Mmmm, mmm! They were quite tasty I thought. I gave most of them to my CAs and desk staff. They were very moist and delicious.

Cookies (sorta) - This isn't really pumpkin at all...but I made Josh some chocolate chip cookies with pumpkin (and ghost) candies. I'll be honest, these are not homemade. They are the Nestle Tollhouse refridgerated dough that you break apart and bake...totally cheating...and probably not worthy of the blog. But, they look cute. :)

What's next with pumpkin? Well, I'm considering making a pumpkin sauce pasta dish I saw on Rachael Ray...we'll see...I'll definitely post if I do!

Magic Bullet...My New BFF!

I asked for the Magic Bullet for my birthday...back in May...and wah-lah, Josh came through and I became the proud new owner of a Magic Bullet. Well...that was May 12th. I didn't even officially use it until Memorial Day weekend...I made smoothies with Josh and our friend, Troy. They turned out ok in my opinion...not great...they were a packaged smoothie mix from Target. Anyways, ater that, the Magic Bullet went back into "hibernation" until...well, September 30th. So yeah...it sat lonely on my counter for 4 solid months.

Then for whatever unknown reason, I decided to use it to make my own smoothies for breakfast. Yes, I created my own recipe. Well, I mean, it's not like it's hard...but you know. AND...let me tell you...I make a mean smoothie that's mmmm mmmm mmmm! Look at the Magic Bullet in action!

Frozen fruit, yogurt, banana, and OJ is all you need!

This is the BEST smoothie ever if I do say so myself! I also add some Kashi cereal to the top of it as well so I don't feel like I'm just drinking my breakfast...yummy, yummy! I've been enjoying my smoothies a few times a week ever since! Smoothies and my pancakes are my current obsessions for breakfast. I love breakfast!

I made Josh one once...he told me it was good...but he hasn't asked for another since...hmmmm?! (That's ok though...that leaves more for me! Haha!)

Mmmmm....Apple Crisp!

Time for another "blast from the past!" So, we went to an apple orchard about a month ago with two other couples. It was quite fun, and I was SO excited to pick my own apples from a tree for the first time. Of course...we came home with apples...lots of apples. So, I decided to try and make my first apple crisp/dessert. My friend Rachel (she and her husband invited us to go to the orchards) sent me a recipe she had used before...and away I went. I started it Friday evening, as I wanted to have it ready for Josh to try with me once he arrived home from working out of town all week.

I first made the crumbly oatmeal topping. Then, I went to work on peeling, coring, and slicing the apples. That.Took.Forever. The apples we had picked at the orchard were quite small (I thought I was going to snack on them), so, by the time I peeled them and cored them, it seemed like there was hardly any apple left! Geesh! Of course I got frustrated about half way through and was sick of all the peeling and coring, and slicing (no, I didn't think to use my cool peeler (as Josh asked me about it later)...I just used a paring knife) and wanted to quit. And, of course, I sliced my thumb in the process. Don't worry...a band-aid made it all better. I FINALLY made it through the apples...and I thought..."Damn, this apple crisp better be FABULOUS after all this work!"

After I put it all together in the pan, I realized I should have cut more apples. But by this time...I was over it and thought...well, if there's a next time...I'll use more apples. Off to the oven to bake. It smelled delicious as it baked, and my frustrations passed as I thought about eating my lovely apple crisp with some vanilla ice-cream. It finished baking and I got it out to cool....and to patiently await Josh's arrival so we could try the apple crisp together. All in all...it was delicious (but could have used more apples). Josh really liked it. I think I liked the crumbly topping almost more than the apples! I actually did make a second batch the next day as we were having company. Once again...preparing the apples...was not fun. I didn't use the peeler again...can't remember why...I probably just didn't want to take Josh's sugestion. Haha! But, I was glad we used up the apples from the orchard.

Would I make this dessert a third time? Honestly...if I had bigger apples, yes. If I had to use small apples again...NO. :-)

Chicken Jambalaya

I tried a new recipe for us tonight!

Previously, I've only used my crockpot about...well...I think 4 times. Two times I made BBQ ribs (the 2nd time I burned the ribs...yes, I even burn stuff in a crockpot) and two times I made a potroast (I may post the pictures from that some other time). I am pretty sure the last time I used by crockpot was January of this year. So...yeah...it's been awhile.

Here's a picture of the mixture at the beginning...you basically add everything (frozen onions & green peppers, chicken, turkey sausage, can of tomatoes with chiles and, water) except for the rice. I LOVE those crockpot bags...makes for such easy clean-up!

Anyways, it was quite easy (as crockpot recipes usually are) and the final product got a thumbs up from both Josh and me. :-) Our only disagreement was that I thought it was a bit too spicy and Josh said it wasn't spicy at all! So, clearly we have different tolerances for spicy-ness! Haha! Here's a picture of the finished product all dished up. No fanciness tonight for presentation. Just plopped it in a bowl.

Overall though, it was pretty tasty. The only change I would make is that next time I will add more chicken than what the recipe called for. Yay for a success!

Breakfast Oops!

So, here's another "blast from the past." During our first year in Mpls, we got into the habit of going to brunch at Baker's Square Sunday mornings 1 or twice a month. We then decided that wasn't the best use of our money...so I thought I'd try making Josh breakfast...just like Baker's Square. This is experience was from January of 2006. So, I called my Dad to get advice on cooking the eggs they way Josh likes them...over medium...then I went to work. The food was fine overall (at least that's what Josh said)...I mean, besides the eggs, all I did was warm the frozen sausage patties and make some toast...definitely not rocket science...although this was the first time I made eggs like this.

So, where's the oops you wonder...? Well, as I was buttering the toast, I made the mistake of setting the butter lid down...on top of the previously used burner. Yeah, it melted as you can see. After it cooled, I had to scrape it all off. Josh thought it was hilarious. I was mad that I just ruined my lid for the barely used butter...

So, have I made Josh this breakfast since January of 2006? YES I have...it was actually earlier this fall....and the butter lid survived this time. :-)

Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pancake

So, I found a recipe for a healthier version of a pancake. There is a base recipe and then you can add your own flavors. For my first one, I added mashed banana and dark chocolate chips to the batter. Yes, a healthier pancake...so what do I do? Add chocolate of course! :) After adding it to the skillet...I quickly realized that maybe I should have split the batter and made two smaller pancakes. Oh well. Doesn't it look huge!?!



The flip...well, luckily it landed back in the skillet. Just a bit off center. Once again...two smaller ones would have been more managable...I will remember that for next time. I was also thinking of adding bluberries to the banana batter...

I "fancied" it up before eating and placed sliced banana and syrup on top. Presentation is important...right! Anyways, it was quite yummy and definitely repeatable. Josh didn't want to try one. Boo on him.

Let me know if you want the recipe!

Turkey Chili (take 2)

So, here is something a bit more current...to prove that I am actually cooking (not just baking) in my kitchen! :) My latest "project" has been turkey chili. I made a batch a few weeks ago (sorry no pictures as the blog wasn't thought of then) and decided to try again. I used a similar recipe but this time added green peppers and corn. I was really excited because this is the first time that I bought fresh garlic and minced it just like I've seen Rachael Ray and Giada do hundreds of times on FoodNetwork! Also, chopping vegetables is a lot more difficult than I thought it'd be. They sure make it look easy on TV!

To be honest...this isn't a recipe that I'm ready to share and make for others...yet. Both times it's been a bit bland...edible and I do eat it all...just bland. I need to spice it and flavor it a bit more. I haven't given up, and will likely keep trying throughout this fall/winter.

Both times I have portioned out and froze the leftovers for later. That's right, Dad...I'm eating leftovers! Aren't you proud?

Ginger Snaps

So, our first New Year's in Mpls, Josh had to work all day. I stayed home and made him gingersnap cookies from scratch as a surprise since he always talked about eating gingersnaps with his grandmother as a boy.

I remember having to buy molasses for the first time. It was so dark and gooey. And, I think the bottle is still in my cupboard (probably expired by now).

The recipe I used called for half of the cookie to be dipped in melted white chocolate chips. I thought they looked really cute, but Josh didn't care for the white chocolate as much. They were kind of hard, too...but I think gingersnaps are not a soft cookie...I don't know...

I thought they tasted ok, but...yes, here's to another recipe that hasn't been duplicated since. Are you noticing a pattern here...?

The picture is me with the cookies and our sparkling apple juice that we toasted to welcome in 2006. (Neither of us like champagne!)

Candy Cane Cookies!

So, let's take some time to explore my past experiences and time spent in the kitchen...before I decided to start this blog...

As a child, my mom always made these candy cane cookies around Christmas time. I just remembered how fun it was crushing the candy topping. I made these in December of 2005. They were a lot of work to be honest! I definitely remember getting frustrated rolling out the dough and my perfectionism wouldn't allow any mis-shaped candy canes...but, I suppose they were worth the work.

They did taste pretty good (they are flavored with almond extract)...however...I haven't made them since. Maybe I'll try round 2 this Christmas?!

Stay tuned for more "blasts from the past" later this week...