Pumpkin Bars

Ok, so I feel like I'm cheating a little bit because the photos for this post are actually from last fall.…However, these were the best pumpkin bars I have ever had so I felt it was only right to share!  I stumbled upon the recipe for these delicious bars on the Food Network site (hehe).  They come from the dessert queen, Miss Paula Deen (I think it's obvious now why they're sooo good!).  She also includes a recipe for cream cheese frosting (which you can find on their website, here)…I don't particularly care for cream cheese so I opted not to make it, but the choice is yours.  They certainly don't need it by any means, they're perfect as is!  I highly recommend making these little treats this season, you won't be disappointed!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 15 ounce can pureed pumpkin
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Grease a 13"x10" baking pan with non stick spray
• With a stand or hand mixer, combine eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy.
• In a separate bowl, stir together remaining ingredients 
• then add to the pumpkin mixture until combined and batter is smooth.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for about 30 mins (until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean)
• Let cool before cutting into bars.  Continue with frosting recipe if desired.
• Enjoy!!!

Whole Wheat Banana Bread

Banana Bread is one of my all time favorites!  This is something I grew up with thanks to my mom and Na-na!  Wayyy back in the day, they each had this board hanging on the wall in their kitchens with a Bermuda Banana Bread recipe on it which they always followed.  The first few times I made Banana Bread, I too followed their recipe.  Over the years, I have been taking that recipe and changing a few things.  I prefer the bread plain but this time, for my boyfriend, I added in dark chocolate chips and walnuts.  I also used a combination of whole wheat and white flour.  Hope you enjoy!!

The original ingredient list in the picture below!   My ingredient list is a modified version of this.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup melted butter

3/4 cup sugar 

2 beaten eggs

3 smashed bananas

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda 

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1/4 cup chopped walnuts.  

Directions:

The original directs you to mix ingredients in the order listed and bake in a moderate oven for 40 mins.  I did exactly that and heated the oven to 350 degrees.  40 mins was the perfect time too.  

Pumpkin Pancakes

During this time of year, I will make anything I can with pumpkin!  Pumpkin pancakes are super easy to make and can be whipped up in no time!  Just add 1/3 cup pumpkin puree to your regular pancake recipe,  it's that easy!  I also like to throw in some pumpkin pie spice too.   If you enjoy all things pumpkin like I do, then you will love these easy pancakes!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsps baking powder

2 tbps sugar

2 tsps cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

3 tbps canola oil or melted butter 

1 1/4 cups milk

1 egg

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

Directions:

• Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls
• Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into the middle.
• Slowly incorporate all of the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.  A few lumps are okay.
• Spray a griddle or pan with non stick spray and allow to heat. 
• Pour batter 1/4 cup at a time, flip when batter begins to bubble on one side, then cook 1-2 mins more.
• Continue this way with the rest of the batter…this will make approx. 12 pancakes
• Enjoy!!

Club: Baked- Sawdust Pie

Sawdust Pie was the chosen recipe for Club: Baked this time around.  I found it to be very similar in taste to Pecan Pie but also included graham cracker crumbs, shredded coconut and white chocolate in the ingredients.  I was glad that I was able to mix everything in only one bowl then spread it over the yummy, buttery pie crust.  The suggested serving included sliced bananas, (which I omitted) and freshly made whipped cream.  I didn't initially make the whipped cream but decided to the following day, and was glad I did.  I thought that the whipped cream really brought the flavors of the pie together.  I've read the recipes in the Baked cookbook numerous times over and never did Sawdust Pie seem appealing to me….I guess it's just the name, sawdust...haha.  I'm glad the recipe was chosen though, I definitely think it was a great fall pie and would  be pretty good on the Thanksgiving table too!  Tessa of the Cookin Chemist chose our recipe this time so be sure to check out her blog for the recipe and the Club: Baked blog for all of the other delicious posts!  Enjoy!

Club: Baked- Pumpkin Cheddar Muffins

The recipe selection for Club: Baked this time was Pumpkin Cheddar Muffins.  This recipe was chosen by Billie of Chocolate & Chakra so be sure to check out her blog for the recipe!

I moved from Long Island, New York to South Florida earlier this year and although it doesn't feel like fall here, it won't stop me from making fall dishes!  When I first read over this recipe, I was excited because the combination of pumpkin and cheddar sounded delicious to me and perfect for fall.  I love cheese and I love pumpkin, so I thought this savory muffin would be a winner for sure.  Unfortunately, I didn't like them very much.  It's just my opinion, but I strongly disliked the pumpkin cheddar pairing and you do taste both flavors when you eat one.  I also tasted a hint of pepper at the end, which I did actually like.  The best way to eat these muffins is hot, so I had one fresh out of the oven then ended up reheating the rest in the oven later as the book suggests.  I did have a reheated one for dinner on the side of some butternut squash soup and If you ask me, dipping the muffin in the soup is the best (and perhaps the only) way to eat these!  Sadly, they looked better than they tasted and I will not be making these again!  Hope everyone else enjoyed these more than me!