Pumpkin Pie Squares

My mother-in-law emailed this recipe to me a couple of weeks ago and, loving pumpkin the way I do, Kari and I thought we'd try our hand at making them.  This recipe did not disappoint!  In fact, I loved them so much I'm pretty sure I ate half of the pan all by myself.  I had to give them away to my neighbors to keep from finishing the pan off!

So, if you'd like to gain 5 lbs in one week (and, really, who wouldn't?!), here is the recipe:

Bottom layer:

1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup margarine
1 egg

Mix together and reserve one cup. Press the rest into 9 x 13 pan(having greased bottom of pan only).

Filling:
3 cups pumpkin 2 tsp cinnamon
1+1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp ginger
2/3 cup milk 1/2 tsp cloves
2 eggs

Mix together and pour over bottom layer.

Topping:
1 cup reserve mix from bottom layer 1/4 cup cut up margarine
1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp cinnamon

Cut in together and plop on top of pumpkin mixture randomly.
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Homemade Playdoh

Today, it rained. Welcome Spring! Actually, it was great. Not only because everything is getting green, or that the air smells wonderful. But, it gave us a good chance to just take it easy! When the weather is beautiful (as it has been all week...and the weekend before that!), I can't stand to be inside. So, naturally we're all totally exhausted and needed a "day off" from nature!

I decided to make some homemade playdoh. It was a great success! The kids loved how soft it was (and how good it smelled--Kool-aid!). They also liked how much there was--a lot more to play with than what you get in the store-bought kind. Plus, it was super easy and fast to make.

Here you go:

1 c. flour

1/2 c. salt

3 T. vegetable oil

1 pkg Kool-aid

1 c. boiling water

Mix first four ingredients. Add water and knead (with a wooden spoon b/c it will be warm) into a soft dough. It takes about 2 mins to cool before the kids can play with it.

Kari also got in on some of the fun. She loved playing with all of the regular play-doh and cookie cutters.

Pumpkin Muffins

You have GOT to try this recipe. A gal from my church ward brought these to an activity last weekend and they are so yummy! And you want to hear the best part? It couldn't be easier! Here is the recipe she came up with:

Pumpkin Muffins

You'll need:

1 yellow cake mix

1 can of pumpkin

1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice

1/2 c. of milk

Mix these four ingredients together (I used a hand mixer), pour into greased muffin tin (for cupcakes) and then bake according to the instructions for cupcakes on the cake mix box.

These muffins come out incredibly creamy and delicious--my kids even like them! (I didn't tell them they were eating pumpkin, just "cupcakes"!) That's how good they taste! So, give them a try and see for yourself!

A Delightful Recipe!

This chicken recipe comes from my sister's close friend who passed away last year. It is simple and fantastic--I hope you'll try it!

You'll need:
1/2 c. 7-up
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1/4 tsp garlic powder (or fresh garlic clove, minced)
1/4 tsp horse radish (optional)
1-3 lbs chicken breasts (can slice thinly if you want the "full-effect" of the marinade)

What to do:
Combine all ingredients and marinate chicken overnight in an airtight container. Grill up the next day and enjoy!

Glazed Pork Chops

Here's yet another yummy (and incredibly simple) receipe from Taste of Home. I always like new pork chop recipes; something other than chicken is always a good thing. These get the thumbs up from Cubby and the kids (no easy feat!!).

Glazed Pork Chops

2/3 c. apricot preserves

1/2 c. Italian salad dressing

2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

4 boneless pork loin chops (1 inch thick and 6 oz. each)

In a small bowl, combine the preserves, dressing and mustard. Pour 3/4 cup marinade into a large resealable bag; add the pork. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 8 hrs or overnight. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade for basting.

Coat grill rack with cooking spray before starting the grill. Drain pork chops and discard marinade. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees, basting frequently w/reserved marinade.

Five Ingredients

Here are two recipes I tried on Wednesday that are absolutely soooo yummy! They are both from this month's Taste of Home Magazine. They both contain just five ingredients--my kind of recipe! (Sorry, no pictures this time, it was all eaten too quickly!)

Moist and Tender Turkey Breast:
1 bone-in turkey breast (5-7 lbs)
4 fresh rosemary sprigs (or dried, they're both yummy)
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp coarsely ground pepper
1/4 tsp salt (salt and pepper kind of count as one ingredient w/this one)

Place turkey in a 6 qt slow cooker. Place rosemary and garlic around turkey. Combine the brown sugar, pepper and salt, sprinkle over the turkey.

Cover and cooke on low for 4-6 hours or until turkey is tender.

Not only is the turkey SUPER moist, the gravy that you can make w/this tops all others!!!


Gooey Chocolate Cookies:
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pkg (18.25 oz) chocolate cake mix

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add cake mix and mix well (dough will be sticky!). Cover and refrigerate for 2 hrs.

Roll rounded tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. (Your hands will get messy!) Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 mins or until tops are cracked. Cool for 2 mins before removing from pans to wire racks.

Rain Delays

So, when it decides to rain (pour) right before our scheduled playgroup at the sprinkler park, one has to improvise quickly. Luckily, Emily and I had just the plan.

We had read the story, Apple Farmer Annie, by Monica Wellington. In the back of the book there are three simple apple recipes: Applesauce, Apple Muffins and Applesauce Cake. Now, even though this would be more appropriate for the fall after apples have been picked, we wanted to give the Applesauce Cake a dry run. Emily is becoming quite the good little baker and it was a lot of fun putting it all together. Too bad for her, though, that her mother forgot Baking 101 and tried to take the cake out of the pan before it had cooled. So, the cake broke and the frosting made a lame attempt at concealing Mother's mistake. However, it still tastes great--according to Mom. In true Emily style, she doesn't want to try the cake.

Applesauce Cake
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
1 c. applesauce
2/3 c. raisins (we didn't used them though)

Cream together butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs and beat well. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add to creamed mixture alternately with applesauce, beating after each addition and blending well. Stir in raisins. Pour batter into 9 inch greased tube pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 min or until browned. (Toothpick inserted into cake should come out clean.) Cool, then spread with Butter Frosting. (Oh, and another thing Mom "learned," don't frost on a cooling rack. It'll drip.)

Butter Frosting
2 T. softened butter
2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 T. milk

Cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add milk and stir well. The frosting should be smooth and easy to spread.

Also, while the cake was baking, my kids did come up with a good use for our living room rug. Maybe Pottery Barn could include this in their description for what their rugs can be used for: fun!

"Look, Mom! I'm a hotdog!"