SpICy PUmpKin PanCAkes!

It is so the season for pumpkin, & what better way to start your day?

2 c. flour

1 Tbs. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ginger

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. salt

2 Tbs. brown sugar

1/2 c. pumpkin puree

1 3/4 c. milk

1 egg

2 Tbs. oil

Mix dry stuff.  Mix wet stuff.  Mix together.  Make pancakes.  Eat.

(Yep, those are the exact instructions in my cookbook!)
Michele

P.S.  Marie?  Tiffany?  It's been awhile!

Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups

This is before I started it. It will be darker when its finished.

Supplies:

Strawberries

Sugar

Applesauce

Blender

Food Dehydrator and liners

Cooking spray

Cut the tops off of the strawberries and wash them. Turn your blender on and drop the strawberries into the hole one at a time. Using the measuring cup on your blender, stop adding strawberries when you have 5 cups. Pour the blended strawberries into a big bowl. Add 1 cup of applesauce and 1 cup of sugar; stir. Spray your dehydrator liners with cooking spray and pour 1 cup of strawberry mixture onto each liner, shaking it to evenly distribute the fruit. Plug in the dehydrator and dehydrate for 8 hours.

*For every 5 cups of fruit, add 1 cup of applesauce and 1 cup of sugar. If you have multiple dehydrators, you can double accordingly. If you have a dehydrator that is different than mine, it may take less or more fruit per tray. I tear each layer in half and call that one fruit roll up, so this makes about 12 fruit roll ups. I used about 1 1/2 baskets of strawberries, or about 1 1/2 pounds. Wrap in plastic wrap to keep soft until needed. Enjoy.

Stephanie

Luscious Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake

Oh, it's almost the season for all the yummy pumpkin things!!  I just saw this recipe, and I wanted to save it because I want to make it sometime.  So, sorry I haven't actually made it yet, but when I do I will I'll let you know what we think of it.  Or if you beat me to it . . .!!!

Luxcious Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake

::Cherry-Chip Chocolate-Chip Cookies::

In highschool, these were a favorite for our friends.  They're super-easy and way yummy!

1 box Cherry-Chip Cake Mix

1/2 cup Oil

2 Eggs

1/2 bag of Chocolate Chips (mini are fun to use!)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix first three ingredients well.  Add choc. chips.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown on bottom.  See how easy those are?  Enjoy!

Michele

P.S.  You can use any kind of cake mix and different kinds of chips too.  Be creative!

Star-Spangled Fruit Tart

1 tube (18 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened (you can use homemade cookie dough, like I did, but why make it harder than it has to be?)
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh strawberries, halved
1 cup fresh raspberries (optional)

Press cookie dough onto an ungreased pizza pan or for a thicker crust use a pie pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes (until a golden brown.)  Let cool.

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, & vanilla until smooth.  Spread over cooled crust.  In center of tart, arrange berries in the shape of a star.  Add a berry border.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Yields: 16 servings.

Happy 4th!  Michele

::Summer Squash & Chicken::

Have TONS of squash & need a new recipe?  That's what this one's for! 
P.S.  I'm not a photographer, so just be grateful you have a picture & don't judge me! :)

2 Summer Squash, sliced

3 chicken breast, thinly sliced

1 Tbls. oil

1 can chopped tomatoes

oregano

cumin

salt

pepper

garlic powder

whatever other seasonings happen to be your favorite!

cheese

I made this up, so just season to taste.  The more the better, right? 

Saute chicken in oil until no longer pink.  Add canned tomatos, squash, and seasonings.  Simmer 10-15 minutes, until squash is tender.  Sprinkle top with cheese.  Serve over rice.  Pretty easy and pretty tasty!
Yields: 4 servings

Michele

{A twist on Mashed Potatos!}

So, let me just say that when I'm pregnant I come up with weird things that sound good to me!  But Andy has been complaining about my mashed potatos, saying they lack flavor.  So, last night I did it different!

3 potatos - peeled & sliced

2 carrots - peeled & sliced

1/3 onion - sliced

Boil those together until soft.  Drain the water and add:

1/2 cube butter

2 tsp. garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

Mix with beaters until all blended.  Serve!  Everyone liked them.  They weren't sure about the color from the carrots, but the onion gave them good flavor.  I think next time I may add a garlic clove too.  Hmmm . . . :)

Michele