{Pumpkin Bread}

Pumpkin Bread


Ingredients:

1-3/4 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup pumpkin
3/4 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


Grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Combine flour, soda, salt and spices. In a sparate bowl, cream butter until fluffy. Gradually add sugar. Add 2 eggs. Mix until fluffy.

Add 1/3 of the flour mixture. Mix.

Add 1/2 of the pumpkin. Mix.

Add 1/3 of the flour mixture. Mix.

Add 1/2 of the pumpkin. Mix.

Add the rest of the flour mixture. Mix.

Add chocolate chips and half of the nuts. Pour in loaf pan. Sprinkle the remaining nuts on top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 65 to 75 minues, or until knife inserted into bread comes is dry.
Enjoy!

{Chocolate Cake Day}

Yesterday (January 27th) was Chocolate Cake Day!

(Need I say more?)

Chocolate Cake Day is a a chocolate lovers delight, and a day to eat cake. Why this a day to "bake your chocolate cake....and eat it, too!"

On this day, a white or yellow cake will not do. Nor, will part chocolate, part white suffice. It must be chocolate, all chocolate. You can make milk chocolate, dark chocolate, fudge, or any other type of chocolate cake.

There are three objectives of Chocolate Cake Day: To bake a chocolate cake. To decorate a chocolate cake. And, to eat a chocolate cake. Of course, if you are to busy to bake or decorate a cake, then just eating a chocolate cake will certainly do!

{ABC's of Pie}

Today (January 23rd) is National Pie Day!

(Mmm!...Pie)

What's a girl to do.  How do I choose?
There's so many to select, so here's what I'll do...

A is for Apple
B is for Banana
and C is for Chocolate!

(Mmm!...Chocolate!)

♥  ♥  ♥

Apple Crumble Pie

* 1 Basic 9" Pie Crust (unbaked)
* 5 cups apples (peeled, cored, and thinly sliced)
* 1/2 cup white sugar

For the topping:

* 3/4 tsp cinnamon
* 1/3 cup white sugar
* 3/4 cup flour
* 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp butter

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Arrange apples in unbaked crust
3. Mix 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples.
4. Mix 1/3 cup sugar with flour and cut in butter until crumbly. Spoon mixture over apples.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until apples are soft and top is lightly browned.

♥  ♥  ♥



Banana Cream Pie

* 1 graham cracker crust
* large box instant banana pudding (for a fuller pie, use 2)
* 2 1/2 cups milk
* whipped cream
* 1 or 2 ripe bananas

1. Mix pudding and milk. Slice banana(s) into 1/4" slices.
2. Line bottom of pie crust with banana slices.
3. Pour pudding into pie crust.
4. Top with whipped cream.
5. Gently lay banana slices on top in an appetizing pattern.

♥  ♥  ♥



Chocolate Cream Pie

* 1 large box instant chocolate pudding
* 2 1/2 cups milk
* 1 chocolate or graham cracker crust
* whipped cream
* chocolate chips or shavings (optional, but suggested)

1. Mix pudding and milk. Stir in chocolate chips.
2. Pour into pie crust.
3. Top with whipped cream.
4. Sprinkle with chocolate chips/shavings, or any other garnish you prefer.

(source: http://www.piemaven.com/)

{Lemon Cake}

Ingredients:

* 1 (18.25 ounce) package lemon cake mix
* 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant lemon pudding mix
* 1 3/4 cups water
* 3 egg whites
* 3/4 cup nonfat milk
* 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
* 1 (1 ounce) package instant sugar-free lemon pudding mix
* 1 (8 ounce) container frozen light whipped topping, thawed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 10x15 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, mix together cake mix and pudding mix. Pour in water and egg whites. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Increase speed to high and beat for 4 minutes. Pour batter into prepared 10x15 inch pan.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.

4. In a large bowl, combine milk, lemon extract and vanilla pudding mix. Beat on low for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cooled cake. Store cake in refrigerator.

{Baked Miniature Pumpkins}

* 1 small sugar pumpkin

* 1 tsp. brown sugar

* 1/2 tsp. butter

* 2 pinches ground cinnamon

Cut off the top of the pumpkin and scrape out all the seeds. Place the butter and the brown sugar inside the pumpkin & sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Put the pumpkin lid back on and place pumpkin on a baking pan with a little water in the bottom. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until tender.

Makes - 1 miniature pumpkin

{Cupcake Cookies}

Ingredients:

* 3 cups graham crackers, finely crushed (about 40 crackers)
* 1 cup whipping cream, unwhipped
* 2 cups miniature chocolate chips
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 lb butter, softened
* 1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped
* vanilla frosting or chocolate frosting

* candied sprinkles'

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix all ingredients together.

3. Fill small candy liners (smaller than the smallest cupcake liners) with dough.

4. Place side-by-side on cookie sheet.

5. Bake for 10 minutes.

6. Cool and frost with white or chocolate frosting.

7. Whatever you do...Don't forget the sprinkles!