Pumpkin Pancakes!

Holy universe!  Talk about coincidence...  I'm about to head over to my man's house to cook dinner and we were talking about what we might make, I suggested breakfast for dinner with waffles (I have a waffle maker - can't beat homemade waffles -yum!!), eggs and the works  - he immediately and anxiously agreed with a big MMMMMMM!  Breakfast is so darn cool that it's appropriate for any time of the day, am I right?

So as I am preparing to get my things and leave, I go to shut down my laptop and decide to check my blog... I see a comment from a reader on my Pinterest post from the other day requesting an invitation, so I head over to Pinterest to send out the invitation and, like food fate, I see this mouth watering photo of pancakes... but not just ANY pancakes - PUMPKIN PANCAKES!!  Be still my beating heart.  I never really thought of making pumpkin pancakes before, but they sound amazing.  We might just have to make these tonight!  I hope I have a can of pumpkin because it's pouring cats and dogs here and I don't want to stop at the store, arghhh!  It's beginning to sound more like food torture!  I want me some pumpkin pancakes with lots of butter and maple syrup... *droooooool*

Soooo, I had to do this spur of the moment post to share these pancakes with you...  Who else is having breakfast for dinner tonight?  Did anyone else learn this wonderful meal switcheroo from their mother??  Haha, from time to time growing up my mother would say "What should we have for dinner?"  And, after going through all of our meals options unsatisfied, sometimes she would say - how about pancakes and eggs?  ...And we would go nuts!  Yesireee, breakfast for dinner always feels special, like you're a kid again or something?  I don't know how to explain it, hopefully you get me... :)

Enough of my food and nostalgia riddled babbling, back to the pumpkin pancakes recipe!  Thankfully the image on Pinterest was still linked to the original recipe source, How To: Simplify - Tips, Tricks and Recipes to Simplify Life in the Kitchen.  What a great new blog to follow!  The author's name is Jen and she loves to bake, cook and share simple but delicious recipes.  You should definitely check out her blog, there are lots more recipes to explore on there, including the eye-bulging Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe - which my stomach is growling for right now! 

Check out How To: Simplify - Tips, Tricks and Recipes to Simplify Life in the Kitchen...  Thanks a bunch for sharing your recipes with us Jen!

If you happen to try these recipes I would love to hear how you like them!

Have a wonderful weekend!

How To: Simplify - Tips, Tricks and Recipes to Simplify Life in the Kitchen
Pumpkin Pancakes recipe
Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting


(Image in this post was sourced via Pinterest and belongs to Jen at How To: Simplify Tips, Tricks and Recipes to Simplify Life in the Kitchen)

Fall and Thanksgiving Wreaths

Oh yes, the day is creeping closer, mmmmm... My stomach is growling for my mother's amazing Sweet Potato Casserole, our Five Grain-Apple-Cranberry-Sausage Stuffing and of course, Pumpkin and Pecan Pie!!  As for turkey, yeah I love it too, but the side dishes hold the key to my heart stomach, hehe.

I'm contemplating a DIY Thanksgiving wreath remix using an organic twiggy one my mother has had for many years... Let's see what I can pull together, as soon as I get around to it I will definitely share.  In the meantime I've gathered some images, various types of fall and Thanksgiving wreaths to inspire us all and get our creative minds thinking!  ;)

Thanksgiving posts from 2011:
Thanksgiving Tablescapes, Pumpkins and Decor

Thanksgiving and Christmas posts from 2010:
Thanksgiving Tablescapes and Decor
Thanksgiving Family Recipes (recipe repeat)
Christmas and Holiday Decor Part I
Christmas and Holiday Decor Part II
Suzani Christmas Stockings
Christmas and Holiday Tablescapes Part I
Christmas and Holiday Tablescapes Part II
Holiday Chandeliers and Brancheliers
Holiday Wreaths: Paper
Holiday Wreaths: Peace Signs
Holiday Wreaths: Craft and Fabric
Holiday Wreaths: Food and Candy
Holiday Wreaths: Organic and Traditional
Fireplace Mantle Decor for the Holidays
Tabletop Christmas Trees
Not Your Average Christmas Tree
Traditional Christmas Trees

Thanksgiving and Christmas posts from 2009:
Thanksgiving Family Recipes
Pecan Pie Oh My! (recipe)
Thanksgiving Countdown Comedy
Happy Thanksgiving
Unique Christmas Decor
Christmas Cards and Treats
A Merry Rebel Christmas

Source for image above: sunset.com via froggymama on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: luxefinds.com via LuxeFinds.com on Pinterest

Source: womansday.com via Kara on Pinterest

Source: ladolfina.blogspot.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Joan on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via A Work of Heart SA on Pinterest

Source: littleloveliesbyallison.com via Claudia on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Julie L. Light on Pinterest

Source: littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

Source: littlebignest.com via Tierra on Pinterest

Source: luxefinds.com via LuxeFinds.com on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Briana on Pinterest

Source: luxefinds.com via LuxeFinds.com on Pinterest

Source: luxefinds.com via LuxeFinds.com on Pinterest

Source: Martha Stewart via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via froggymama on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

Source: None via Chantal on Pinterest

(All images in this post are individually cited and sourced via Pinterest, they are not my images.)

Pecan Pie, oh my!

Last night I made a Pecan Pie to take over to my mother's house today for Thanksgiving dessert. Yum! And no, I didn't pick at it, steal a spoonful or break a piece of pie crust off... I was a good girl! haha

Pecan Pie is my favorite (and Pumpkin too), and it also has to be one of the easiest pies to make - ever! Although I understand many people buy it in order to have one less thing to make, or because it's cheaper than buying all the ingredients (pecans are so pricey!) there's something about a home made Pecan Pie that you just can't get from a store bought one (or at least the majority of store bought ones)! So, like I said, making a Pecan Pie is easy easy easy (five minutes prep time people!!)... My mother has always used the recipe on the back of the Karo corn syrup bottle... and believe me, that's all there is to it for a sinfully rich Pecan Pie.... read on for the full recipe:

Pecan Pie
(recipe from Karo Corn Syrup)
"From scratch to your oven in 5 minutes."

Preheat: 350 degree oven
Prep time: 5 minutes
Bake time: 60-70 minutes
Serves: 8

1 cup Karo light/dark Corn Syrup
3 Eggs
1 cup Sugar (granulated)
2 tbsp. Butter, melted
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups Pecans (6 ounces)
1 unbaked 9-inch deep dish Pie Crust

(High altitude adjustments: reduce sugar to 2/3 cup and increase butter to 3 tbsp. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit)

Stir the first five ingredients thoroughly using a spoon. Mix in pecans. Pour into pie crust and bake on center rack (350 degrees) of oven for 60 to 70 minutes.

*Cool for 2 hours.

TIPS: Pie is done when center reaches 200 degree Fahrenheit. Tap center surface of pie lightly; it should spring back when done. For easy cleanup, spray pie pan with cooking spray. If pie crust over-browning, cover edges with foil.

*You can make this pie the night before (it's too late now - sorry) and then after letting it cool for 2 hours, store it (covered in foil) in the refrigerator and just warm up or let sit out for a bit before serving - whatever you prefer.

hurry, there's still time to make a Pecan Pie from scratch!!!!! ;)

~enjoy!~

(all images via Google image search on Pecan Pie or Flickr)

Happy Thanksgiving here are two AWESOME recipes!

The time is ever so near... the one day of the year when we feast on a unique array of delicious dishes all at once... Thanksgiving is next week and I can't wait!! Oh yes, I enjoy the day of preparation and chatter leading up to the meal, but of course, nothing is better than the meal itself!

Besides a slice of turkey or two, my focus is always on the side dishes and the desserts!! Here are the recipes for two of my favorite side dishes and some inspiring Thanksgiving themed images..............

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Stuffing

It took me nearly twenty-two years to finally shirk my aversion to stuffing, and all I can say is damn, was I foolish for missing out all those years! What a shame! There was something about soggy bread that always grossed me out and kept me from experiencing the heaven that is stuffing....

Sigh, anyway, I have a long road of making up for all that lost time, a long love affair with stuffing ahead of me... So, last year I decided to put my own spin on my mother's classic [and delicious] stuffing. I saw a few ideas on the Food Network and melded them with her recipe to create the following recipe for bliss: (try this recipe, you can't go wrong and you won't be sorry!) ;)

Five Grain-Apple-Cranberry and Sausage Stuffing

1 loaf 5-grain Italian bread (Publix Bakery)
2-3 stocks Celery
1 large Onion (or two small)
1 cup dried Cranberries (I use Ocean Spray's "Craisins")
1 cup chopped Walnuts
1-2 chopped green Apple (Granny Smith)
1-2 cups Chicken Broth (moisten to your taste)
(optional) 1 box Stove Top stuffing seasoning of your choice
1 pack Sausage (I use Jimmy Dean sausage w/ sage)
2 cloves fresh Garlic - or, to taste
*chopped Parsley - to taste
*chopped Sage - to taste
*Salt + Pepper to taste

Chop loaf of bread into small cubes and bake in 200 degree oven for 10-20 minutes until toasty and golden brown (the more dry the bread is the better, so as to absorb the most moisture).

Meanwhile, cook sausage and season - to taste. Chop celery, onions and garlic and saute 5 minutes with the sausage - add a little butter or olive oil.

Transfer the bread, sausage, celery and onions into a large bowl and combine thoroughly, adding the parsley, sage, chopped apples, walnuts and cranberries/"Craisins". Once everything is thoroughly combined slowly add the chicken broth and optional Stove Top seasoning packet (as per directions on the Stove Top box) until the bread absorbs all the liquid and develops a thicker consistency.

Then... stuff it in your turkey, spread it in a casserole dish or pack it into a muffin pan for some (as Rachel Ray calls them) "Stuffin' Muffins" and bake 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven!

*If you find that the stuffing is too dry after baking, moisten as desired with some chicken broth.

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Sweet Potato

Oh sweet potato, how well you go with butter, pecans and brown sugar.... None of that marshmallow topping nonsense here folks (leave the marshmallows for the hot chocolate!!), as I said, this is straight up brown sugar, pecans and butter!! It's baked to a delicious crisp over a bubbly sweet potato that will melt in your mouth!! Once you try this recipe, you'll most likely wish you hadn't missed out for so long, forget your sweet potato past and incorporate it into your menu... Well, at least that's how I feel, you be the judge.... Here is my mother's take on the dish, followed by the detailed recipe:

Sweet Potato Casserole
by Carolina Michelena

"Thanksgiving day is almost here and I want to share with you my most favorite dish for my most favorite holiday. This dish will knock your socks off - it is a terrific pot luck signature dish that will be requested for years to come by all who try it! That's why I call it my "tried and true". So try it and remember me! Love to all and have a Happy Blessed Thanksgiving." - Carol

Potatoes:
6-7 large Sweet Potatoes, peeled and boiled until tender (drain them well)
1 Egg
1/2 stick Butter
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1/2 cup granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon, Ginger or Nutmeg (optional)

Topping:
2 cups chopped Pecans
1/2 stick Butter, melted
1 cup dark Brown Sugar
2 tbsp. Flour

In a mixing bowl, add boiled and peeled potatoes, egg, butter, vanilla, sugar and any other flavors desired. Mix well with a hand mixer (until it looks like mashed potatoes). Pour mixture into a casserole dish.

In a separate bowl, mix the all of the ingredients for the topping until crumbly and spread evenly over sweet potato mixture in casserole dish.

Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes until bubbly.

**As a side note, you can definitely prepare and cook this the day before, let cool and then refrigerate overnight. Simply pop it in the oven [covered in foil] for a bit to warm up before the meal (my mom has done this once or twice to save time and it tastes all the same, trust me - I'm very finicky about leftovers, hehe)**

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Let me know what you think if you try either of these recipes!
I'm working on another Thanksgiving post with some additional recipes for side dishes and desserts... stay tuned!

~ enjoy!!! ~


(all images via Google image search on Thanksgiving, or WeHeartIt)