Halloween Rice Crispy Treats

I had leftover candy corn and reece's piece's from making my Monster Munch and had my 6 year old wanting to help make a treat for FHE. I wondered if I could throw it all into a rice crispy treat. After a search on Pinterest I saw many different recipe's that had done something similar, but with M&M's instead of Reese's Piece's. I came up with my own recipe and we all loved it!The combined flavor of it all was amazing. We think it might win over our favorite Monster Munch!

Halloween Rice Crispy Treats
submitted by Michelle

3 tablespoons butter
4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups Crispy Rice Cereal
1 cup Reece's Piece's
3/4 - 1 cup Candy Corn
extra 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows

Melt the butter in a medium pan on medium heat. Add mini marshmallows, stir until they are completely melted. Turn off the heat. Add the Crispy Rice Cereal and mix until the cereal is completely coated with the marshmallow mixture. Then add Reece's Piece's, Candy Corn, and extra mini marshmallow's and mix until combined. Spoon into a 9×11″ shallow pan. Press down into the pan. Allow to cool. Cut into squares and serve.

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

This soup was so delicious! The tortellini helped make it filling for my bunch of boys, and the sun-dried tomatoes gave it such a deep and delicious flavor. I have had it for lunch the past 2 days and still love it!

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
submitted by Michelle
(from Recipe Swagger)


2 Tbl Olive Oil
2 tsp Minced Garlic
2 Tbl Sun Dried Tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 Tbl Italian Seasoning
2 (10 3/4 oz) Cans of Condensed Tomato Soup
2 cups Half-and-half
2 cups Chicken Stock
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1 (9 oz) bag Of Cheese Filled Tortellini Directions

Saute garlic with the olive oil and sun dried tomatoes, onion powder, and Italian seasoning in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add tomato soup, half and half, and chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, drop tortellini into the soup. Cook according to the package directions.

Pumpkin Lust Cake

I made this dessert for my birthday treat the other day. Yeah, I make my own birthday treats. I really do love to make treats the most, and when it is a new recipe I am kinda OCD and want to try it out myself and I have to admit I want to do it my way as well. :) 

I love Pumpkin and the this recipe has rave reviews. While I did love it, it wasn't as awesome as I thought it might be. It was so much better the next day though. So maybe let it set up in your fridge for quite some time before digging in. Also, the only place I could find the Jello Instant Pumpkin Spice Pudding was at Walmart. It is a seasonal item.

Pumpkin Lust Cake
(from Sweet Treats & More)
submitted by Michelle


1 stick butter, melted
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tbs sugar
1 (8oz) package of cream chees, soft
1 cup powdered sugar
2 (8 oz) containers cool whip (or one 16 ozz container)
2 small packages (3.4oz) of Jello Instant Pumpkin Spice Pudding
3 cup cold milk
Nutmeg for sprinkling

For the crust Combine butter, flour, chopped pecans and sugar and press into a 9 x 13 in baking dish. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes. Let cool completely.

For the Cream Cheese Layer Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 1/2 cups cool whip until smooth. Spread over crust.
For the Pumpkin Layer Mix pudding mixes with cold milk, whisking for several minutes. Set it in the fridge for 5-10 minutes to let it thicken. Spread over the cream cheese layer. Top with remaining container of cool whip. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Cut into squares and serve. Keep refrigerated.

Lion House Pumpkin Bread

Oh my, wow! If you are looking for a very moist, very dense, cake-like and by far the YUMMIEST pumpkin bread EVER....look no further!!!! This bread was so yummy. It made two large loaves, and it is so filling too. Two of my nieces were selling their ward's (church congregation) cookbook as a fundraiser for their Girl's Camp a few months ago, and I bought one. I have been having too much fun going through it and tabbing all of the recipes I want to try. There are SO many good ones!!! Enjoy this pumpkin bread recipe I found in it!!!

Lion House Pumpkin Bread
submitted by Camille
from Bon Appetit Winchester/Santa Rosa Ward Cookbook

1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
5 eggs
1 (16oz) can pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
2 (3-4 oz) pkg vanilla pudding mix (regular or instant okay)

Preheat oven to 350 degree's. Mix oil, eggs, and pumpkin in a mixing bowl and beat well. Sift together flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda. Add to pumpkin mixture and mix until blended. Stir in pudding mix. Pour into 2 large, greased loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour. Makes 2 loaves.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

This cake was super moist and and quite light for a pumpkin cake. The glaze did not turn out like I thought it would, a lot more creamy when I thought it would more of a crumble, but still very tasty. The whole family gave it two thumbs up. 

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze
submitted by Michelle
(from Six Sister's Stuff)

Ingredients: 1/3 cup water
1 (15 ounce) can pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
4 tablespoons butter, melted

 Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix water, pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix in cake mix (just the dry mix, not the ingredients listed on the box) and baking soda and mix until combined. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 baking pan. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour and melted butter. Sprinkle over the top of the cake. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Serve your cake when warm or cooled to room temperature.

Pumpkin Better than... Cake

I am not a huge fan of cake. In fact, I don't really like it at all. But I do love Pumpkin, and this recipe had rave review's, so I was willing to give a shot. Oh man, I am so glad I did! It was so delicious and moist and addicting! I sent some over to my sister and to my in-laws just so I wouldn't eat the whole 9x13 pan myself.

This would make a great dessert to bring to Thanksgiving dinner or even Christmas dinner.

Pumpkin Better than... Cake
submitted by Michelle
(from Something Swanky)


Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix
1 small can pumpkin puree
1 - 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 - 8 oz. tub cool whip
1/2 bag Heath Bits
Caramel Sundae Sauce

Instructions
Mix together the cake mix and the pumpkin puree (DO NOT add the other ingredients on the cake mix box).
 Pour batter into a well greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 350º according to the directions for a 9x13 cake on the cake mix box.
Let cool for about 10 minutes after baking. Using the bottom of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the top of the cake.
Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the cake, filling the holes. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Spread the cool whip over top of cake. Sprinkle on the heath bits, and drizzle caramel over top (just to your liking). Refrigerate for 3-4 hours, or overnight (best).

Notes
DO NOT USE PUMPKIN PIE FILLING. YOU MUST USE PUMPKIN PUREE IF YOU WANT THE CAKE TO BAKE CORRECTLY. The cake mix + pumpkin puree version of pumpkin cake may not be for everyone. I like it just fine, especially when it's soaked in SCM and caramel. But if you're not sure about it, feel free to substitute your own pumpkin cake recipe as the cake base. DO NOT mix together the pumpkin, cake mix, and the other ingredients on the back of the cake mix box!!!! ONLY mix the cake mix and the pumpkin puree. You must let the sweetened condensed milk soak in all the way. Letting it sit overnight will yield best results. Use the bottom of a wooden mixing spoon to poke the holes in the cake-- it's just the right size.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes

Don't you love pumpkin?! I sure do!!! I found these delightful pancakes over on a blog I frequent, and just had to make them!!! They were delicious!! You don't have to make alot, though. They are VERY filling!! Happy Fall!!!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes
submitted by Camille
(from Two Pea's and their Pod )

For the cinnamon streusel:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks

To make the pancakes:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 large egg
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
 1. First, make the cinnamon streusel. In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Mix together with your hands or a fork, until you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flours, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, egg, pumpkin, canola oil, and vanilla extract. Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture and whisk until combined.
4. Heat a griddle or pan to medium low. Coat with cooking spray. Drop 1/3 cup of batter onto heated skillet. Add 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon streusel. Cook on the first side until bubbles begin to form, about 2-3 minutes. Carefully flip pancake over and cover very generously with cinnamon streusel. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Continue this process to make the rest of the pancakes.
5. Serve pancakes warm with maple syrup and butter.

Spiderweb Munch

I made this for FHE treat last week with the help of my boys. When they weren't looking I added the spider on top, which they loved! 

Make sure to only do a small snip in your bagging when adding the peanut butter. Mine was a tad big and my swirls didn't come out as good looking as the original.

Spiderweb Munch
submitted by Michelle
(from Sugar Tot Design)

2 cups (12 ounce package) Semi sweet Chocolate morsels
1 cup creamy Peanut Butter, divided
1/3 cup powdered Sugar
3 cups Toasted Rice cereal

Heat Morsels and 3/4 cup Peanut Butter in small saucepan over low heat stirring constantly until smooth: remove from heat. Add sugar; stir vigorously until smooth.
Place cereal in large bowl. Add 1 cup chocolate mixture: stir until mixed well.
Place un-greased baking sheet.  Shape into 10 inch circle with slightly raised 1 inch wide border.
Pour remaining chocolate mixture in center of circle; spread to border.

For Spiderweb: place remaining Peanut Butter in plastic baggie. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles on top of chocolate.
Using wooden toothpick or tip of sharp knife, pull tip through Peanut Butter from center to border. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Cut into wedges.

Apple Crisp Pizza

I love fall. I love apple crisp. Apple Crisp just SCREAMS fall to me!!! Well, that and anything pumpkin :) Here is a DELICIOUS take on Apple Crisp. It was very easy. My 11 year old, and 8 year old daughters helped me make it. My 8 year old folded the edges of the pie crust to raise it up a bit. Didn't she do such a good job? Oh yeah, and apple crisp is always best with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side :) Enjoy!!!

Apple Crisp Pizza
submitted by Camille
(from The Girl Who Ate Everything )

Ingredients:
Pastry for single-crust pie (9 inches)
2/3 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
4 medium apples (like Gala, Fiji, Braeburn, Empire) peeled and diced into 1/4 inch pieces

TOPPING:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup salted butter, softened (see Note)

1/2 cup caramel topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll pastry to fit a 12 inch pizza pan; fold under edges to give the pizza a bit of a raised crust. Combine sugar, flour and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add peeled, diced apples and toss. Arrange the apples in a single layer over the pie crust to completely cover it. I didn't use all of my apples because I had really big apples.

For the topping: Combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, and butter in a bowl. Mix well. I like to use my clean hands to get in there and mush it together until it's the texture of wet sand. Sprinkle  topping evenly over the apples.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until apples are tender. Remove from oven and immediately drizzle with caramel topping. Cut into pizza slices and serve warm with ice cream. Makes 12 servings.

Halloween Pretzel Bites

During my kids Fall Break we made these fun Pretzel Bites over on Sisters Cafe. I am not a fan of Candy Corn at all, so I used M&M's in fall colors instead. I discovered my oven was broken when I went to use it to melt them, so we did it in our Toaster oven instead. Took a bit longer, but the kids and I still had fun.

HALLOWEEN PRETZEL BITES
(submitted by Michelle)
from Sisters Cafe

Small Pretzels (Snyder’s Snaps work best)
1 bag Hershey’s Hugs
Candy Corn or M&M's
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place small pretzels on a cookie sheet (line with silpat or parchment paper for easy clean up). Top each pretzel with a Hershey’s Hug candy. Place in the oven for 3-4 minutes. The Hugs will look shiny but will still hold their shape. Remove from oven and push a Candy Corn/M&M on top of each one. Let firm up for 30 minutes (longer if kitchen is warm).

Crockpot Lasagna

My sister had found this amazing recipe on Pinterest. She brought it to a family gathering, and I didn't get to even try a bite since it was gobbled up THAT fast (I was upstairs nursing my baby!!! The nerve not to save me any!! Haha!!). So, I knew I just had to try it myself. I changed it up just a little bit, and it was a hit!!! I love lasagna, and I love crockpot meals!!!! This is definitely going to be a keeper around here!!

 Crockpot Lasagna
submitted by Camille
(adapted from Creating Through Life )

1 lb ground beef
29oz can tomato sauce
8oz pkg lasagna noodles
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups cottage cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp leave oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp thyme

1. Spray the inside of the crockpot with cooking spray
2. Brown the ground beef
3. Stir the tomato sauce and seasonings into the ground beef
4. Spread 1/4 of the ground meat sauce into the bottom of the crockpot
5. Arrange 1/3 of uncooked noodles over the sauce (you can break up the noodles a bit to get them to fit better!)
6. Combine the cheeses in a bowl. Spread 1/3 of the cheese mixture over the noodles.
7. Repeat these layers twice
8. Top with remaining sauce
9. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
10. Let the lasagna stand in the crockpot for at least 10 minutes.

Roasted Acorn Squash, Quinoa, and Feta Salad

With the New Year, I am trying harder to not only have healthier meals, but a different variety of healthy meals. And also to try new foods. I have never cooked with Acorn Squash before, and have wanted to try it, but didn't know what to do with it!!! So, when I saw this recipe, I had to try it! It was really good, and the Acorn Squash was the BOMB!!!!!! I could've just eaten the Squash and been happy!!!! I will definitely make this one again, and will also just bake up some Acorn Squash to have for a side dish with our meals!! Yummy!!


Roasted Acorn Squash, Quinoa, and Feta Salad
submitted by Camille
(adapted from A Couple Cooks)

2 acorn squash
2 cups cooked Quinoa
1 bunch of lettuce greens
One orange (for 2 teaspoons fresh squeezed juice and zest)
Feta cheese
1/2 cup walnuts (we don't like walnuts, so I used 1/2 cup chopped Almonds)
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 teaspoon honey
Kosher salt
Pepper
Parchment paper

What To Do

1 Roast the squash: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cut the acorn squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut into 1/4 inch slices. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and toss the squash slices with 2 tablespoons olive oil, several pinches kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper. Roast until tender, about 30 to 40 minutes.

2 Toast the walnuts: (Once again, I used Almonds, not walnuts, but then toasted them the same way) Crush or chop the walnuts (you can place them in a handkerchief or plastic bag and pound with a rolling pin or other heavy item). In a small skillet, toast the nuts over medium to low heat, stirring occasionally, until they are brown and fragrant, taking care that they don’t burn.

3 Make the dressing: In a small canning jar, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons ground mustard, 1 teaspoon honey, and 2 teaspoons fresh squeezed orange juice. Shake vigorously to combine (alternatively, whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl). Season with a pinch of kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Taste, and adjust seasonings if needed.

5 Assemble the salad: On each plate or bowl, pile a bunch of greens. Top with roasted squash, warm Quinoa, feta crumbles and toasted walnuts. Drizzle with some dressing and garnish with a bit of orange zest and fresh ground pepper.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

I found these over on Pinterest, and have been wanting to make them. Fall is all about baking with Apples and Pumpkins!!!! YUM!!! Now, while I found THIS particular recipe over on Pinterest,I have seen it since on other blogs. All the recipes are pretty much the same, but I followed this one, and then tweaked it a little to make it to my liking, and what I had on hand. They were delicious!!!!




Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
submitted by Camille
(adapted from Dreamy Desserts)

3 cups Flour
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 - 15 oz. can of pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat together brown sugar, white sugar, oil and pumpkin. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition, followed by the vanilla. In a separate bowl, shift together the dry ingredients. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Place by the spoonful on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 11 minutes, and then cool on wire rack.

Cream Cheese Filling
1 - 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 - 16 oz. package of powdered sugar
about a capful of vanilla extract
a pinch of cinnamon (to taste)

Beat together cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Frost flat side of half the pies and top with another piece.

Enjoy right away or chill a few hours or overnight.

Apple Crisp

One of my ALL TIME favorite desserts is Apple Crisp!!!!! Love it. I am so glad fall is here so that I can make yummy fall desserts!!! I can't wait to start making things with pumpkin!! Don't you just love fall? It is my favorite time of year. This Apple Crisp recipe is by far the best one I have ever tried. And since Apple Crisp is one of my favorite desserts...I have tried quite a few of these recipes : ) Oh yeah, and it says that the vanilla ice cream is "optional"...that is never the case with me and Apple Crisp...it is one of the main ingredients in IMHO!!! Happy Fall everyone!!!



Apple Crisp
submitted by Camille
(from Taste of Home)

* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup rolled oats
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 4 cups chopped peeled apples
* 1 cup sugar
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1 cup water
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Vanilla ice cream, optional (not optional to me : )

* In a large bowl, combine first four ingredients. Cut in butter until crumbly. Press half into a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish or a 9-in. square baking pan. Cover with apples.
* In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, water and vanilla. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick and clear. Pour over apples. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
* Bake at 350° for about 1 hour or until apples are tender. Serve warm, with ice cream if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars w/ Streusel Topping

Oh wow...what do I say?! This was Seriously. So. Good. I am someone who loves trying different recipes. I don't like having the same thing over and over. But, I would change for this. I could eat this every night....if my waistline would let me!!!!! OH MY...SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!! I think I have found my new favorite dessert of ALL TIME!!!!



Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars w/ Streusel Topping
submitted by Camille
(from My Kitchen Cafe)

Base:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

Cream Cheese Layer:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Apples:
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 cup caramel sauce (homemade recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, two tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine all the streusel topping ingredients and mix until crumbly. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two forks until mixture is crumbly but combined. Press evenly into a 9X13-inch baking pan lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

While the crust is baking, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Then add eggs, one at a time and then the vanilla. Mix well. Pour over the warm crust.

Spoon the apple mixture evenly over the cheesecake layer. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the apples. Bake for 30 minutes until the filling is set.

Cool the bars to room temperature. Drizzle with the caramel topping (or plate individual slices and drizzle with topping one by one).

Caramel Sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
½ cups half-and-half or cream
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon vanilla

Mix butter, brown sugar, half-and-half or cream, and salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook while whisking gently for 5 to 7 minutes, until thickened slightly. Add the vanilla and cook another minute to thicken further. Turn off the heat and pour the sauce into a jar. Refrigerate until cold. If the caramel sauce has cooled in the fridge long enough to harden, warm slightly before drizzling on bars.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

I found a new recipe blog last fall and quickly got sucked in a read almost every single one of her recipes. I wanted to make them all! After seeing this recipe for Broccoli Cheddar soup I quickly bookmarked it to make for an upcoming meal. It did not disappoint! I am not a huge broccoli fan, and my Hubs is even less of one so he was pretty sceptical, but LOVED this soup. The key was blending it all together in a blender at the end. Most definitley a keeper!

Broccoli Cheddar Soup
(submitted by Michelle)
recipe from Annies Eats

Ingredients:
6 tbsp. butter, divided
¾ cup onion, chopped
1 cup carrot, chopped or shredded
4 cups small broccoli florets
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
½ tsp. onion salt
½ tsp. garlic powder
4 tbsp. flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.  Add the onion to the pan and sauté until tender, about 5-7 minutes.  Add the carrots to the pan and cook a couple minutes more.  Stir in the broccoli, chicken broth, onion salt and garlic powder.  Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
In a medium saucepan, melt remaining butter.  Add the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until golden brown, whisking constantly.  Whisk in the milk and cook until the mixture thickens and bubbles, about 5 minutes.  Once the mixture has thickened, whisk in the cheese until completely melted.  Remove from the heat and add the cheese sauce to the soup pot.  Allow to simmer until warmed through and broccoli is tender.  Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.  If desired, puree the soup with an immersion blender for a smooth texture.

Pumpkin Waffles and Buttermilk Syrup

I love waffles!! I am not a big breakfast eater, but waffles are one of my FAVES!! And this buttermilk syrup?! Well, it was just to DIE FOR!!!! Oh so yummy!! This would make a great Christmas morning breakfast, I think! Enjoy!!



Pumpkin Waffles
submitted by Camille
(from Today's Mama, Portland Mama)

2 C flour
2 Tbsp baking powder
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt

Mix ingredients together, then add:

4 egg yolks (save egg whites)
1 C pumpkin
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 1/2 C milk
3/4 C melted butter

Beat 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold them into batter.
Cook in waffle iron

Buttermilk Syrup

1 cube butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. corn syrup
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Bring first five ingredients to a boil. Add baking soda. Boil 10 seconds and remove from heat immediately to avoid boil over. (I just stood by it and kept stirring it and let it boil about 5 minutes. It made the flavors REALLY blend together!!!!!)

Glazed Mini Meatloaves

I am not a meatloaf fan. And my hubby is not one even more so than me. So he was definitely hesitant when he came home to find me making Meatloaf for dinner. But Mel over at My Kitchen Cafe hasn't disappointed me yet, so I knew I had to try it. And besides, she has 4 boys that all seemed to love it, so I was sure my own 3 boys (well 4 if you count the Hubs!) would at least try it.  And they did. And they LOVED IT. The whole fam agreed it was most definitely a keeper. Well, Savannah didn't understand, but I guessed from her empty dinner plate that she loved it, too. :)


Glazed Mini Meatloaves
submitted by Michelle
(from My Kitchen Cafe)

Makes 4-5 mini meatloaves.

Meatloaves:
17-20 saltine crackers, crushed fine (about 2/3 cup)
1/4 cup whole milk
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground meat
2 teaspoons oil

Glaze:
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
4 teaspoons cider vinegar

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 425 degrees. Stir cracker crumbs, milk, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, egg, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl. Add ground meat and combine until uniform. Shape mixture into oval loaves
Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until the oil is rippling. Add meatloaves (without letting them touch sides) and brown well on one side, 3-5 minutes. Carefully flip loaves over and tidy up edges using a spatula . Brown on this side for another 2-3 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix glaze ingredients together until smooth. Transfer mini meatloaves to a foil-lined baking pan and spoon the glaze over the top of each meatloaf. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the center of the loaf registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer (or do like Mel does and cut one of the little babies open and if it looks done – pull ‘em out of the oven!).
Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cream Cupcakes

These cupcakes were so very moist, and yummy!!! I had fun making them with my 3 1/2 year old little guy this week! Brought to a "Recipe Night" I had, and everyone loved them!!! Enjoy!!!



Pumpkin Cream Cupcakes
submitted by Camille
(from kraftfoods.com)


1 pkg.(2-layer size) spice cake mix
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 pkg.(8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg

Heat oven to 350ºF.

Prepare cake batter as directed on package. Add dry pudding mix and pumpkin; mix well. Spoon into 24 paper-lined muffin cup.

Beat cream cheese with mixer until creamy. Blend in sugar and egg; spoon over batter. Swirl gently with small spoon.

Bake 18 to 21 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool 5 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

Creamy White Chili

This Chili is so yummy!!! I found it over at My Kitchen Cafe. It is not too hot, yet it still has a good kick to it....my kind of Chili!!!! I have made this a few times now for some of our family gatherings and had gotten requests for the recipe. Here it is...once again, My Kitchen Cafe did not disappoint ; ) Thanks Melanie!!!




Creamy White Chili
submitted by Camille
(from My Kitchen Cafe)

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon oil
2 cans (15 1/2 ounces each) Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) chicken broth
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies (if you like less kick, add just one can)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream

In a large saucepan, saute chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and cream. Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve immediately. This is especially good served with tortilla chips. Makes about 6 servings.