Pumpkin Spice Donuts

Since today is the last day of November I figured it's probably nearly time to say farewell to pumpkin until next year.  There are too many delicious Christmas flavors to be wallowing in pumpkin.  These babies are the perfect farewell. Plus your kids will think you're magical because you can make donuts.  Who does that, anyway?

These are baked in a donut pan so they come out perfectly every time and you don't have to worry about disfiguring your hands with boiling oil and ending up in the emergency room.  Great right?  To make them healthier, you can roll them in the cinnamon sugar coating while still warm, but I highly recommend dipping them in butter first like the recipe states.  It truly does something magical.
(I am a closet-butter-hater, so this is serious business.)

My hubby is participating in a Biggest Loser competition at work (Really, I have no idea where that need came from... We basically just eat vegetables at our house all the time), and this is one of the treats I am going to go back and make just for him when it's over.  I realize that sounds completely backwards, but these are yummy enough that it's just on the must-list. 

Happy Last Day of November!!

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Hot Cinnamon Caramel Apple Cider

Is anyone else feeling the sting of holiday craziness yet? I know it's only mid-November but my to-do list is a mile long. 

I mean that literally.

Like, I have to fold it into fiftuplets to fit it in my purse.

Like, people probably think I'm Santa Clause cause I have a list cascading out the back side of my purse when I go out.   Which I obviously scribble on MEANINGFULLY whenever kids crash into me wearing those skate shoes and then don't apologize. 

I'm sure they know I'm Santa cause I look like him and everything.

And yes, fiftuplets is a real measurement.

The good news is that I am not a procrastinator- so even though this month is going to be INSANE- by December I should have all my presents bought/made and wrapped, treats baked, packing lists made, and decorations up, so I can sit on my butt and stare at the Christmas tree and eat baked goods for the entire month of December. 

I highly recommend this method. 

I can't wait for Thanksgiving to be over so I can share lots of Christmas treats with you!

Also- This cider is about 500 times yummier than it appears.

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Pumpkin Pie Cream Cheese Spread

This spread tastes like pumpkin pie and you can eat it for breakfast.  That's all you really need to know.  It's perfect on a cinnamon crunch bagel!

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Caramel Apple Oatmeal Crisp

This is one of those desserts that I make every single year.  It just wouldn't be Fall without some caramel apple crisp.  I highly recommend topping with vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce.

Pull out your stretchy pants.  Skinny jeans will be "out" in a few years anyways.

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Hot Orange Cinnamon Cider

Thought I'd share our favorite cider with you.  It's the perfect drink for a rainy Fall day and it's a snap to make!

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Spiced Apple Cider Streusel Muffins

It's officially Fall.  I know because I caught my first nasty illness of the season.  I'm not sure if it's strep or just a monster sore throat but it's preventing me from eating and that just makes me grumpy.  Boo.  My secret cure to a sore throat is that Alpine sugar-free hot spiced cider that comes in little packets.  Seriously nothing cures a sore throat better than that.  Try it out! 

Turns out cider is also great in muffin form.

My secret to this recipe is to condense the apple cider nearly in  half to give it a distinguishable cider flavor.  Be sure not to mix the batter more than necessary or the muffins will be dry and dense.  These aren't super sweet so if you go slightly heavy on the sugar I won't snitch.  ;)

Happy Fall!!

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Frozen Hot Chocolate

Summer.

I'm over it.

Does that make me a bad person?

Is it sacrilege to say I'm counting down the days to boots and leaves and Fall treats and baking with pumpkin?

Is it weird that I bought Christmas presents yesterday?

{These questions are all rhetorical.  Unless you happen to agree with me, I mean.}


Today I was so bummed to find no apple cider at the store and no Halloween M&Ms at Target.  I had to step back a little and re-evaluate my life a little and pull out my calendar book to check which month it was.

I went home and decided to compromise with this recipe. It's frozen so it's obviously summery.  But it's also hot chocolate which is a Fall/Winter treat.  Best of both worlds.  (Sing Hannah Montana here.)

Also, it's delicious.

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Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

You know how in those teen movies from the early 2000's there was always an "ugly, dorky girl" who got a makeover and magically when they took her glasses off and gave her a red dress suddenly she was super hot and dateable?  These cupcakes are like that girl.  They might not look like much, but they are just waiting for Freddie Prinze Jr. to come along and show everyone what is underneath those glasses. Seriously, these are unbelievable (And since I'm a girl, and don't date cupcakes, I can't really help which is totally unfortunate.)

But what I can say, is these are my favorite cupcakes ever.  And I consume a lot of cupcakes.

The cupcake itself isn't all that sweet, and may or may not have passed for a muffin on certain mornings at our house. (Frostingless of course.  What kind of mother do you think I am?)

Just kidding, we eat candy for breakfast all the time.

You should probably bookmark these for next fall.  Or you could just make the frosting to eat with a spoon tonight.  You won't have leftovers.

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Fancy Caramel Apples

If you have been annoyed that this picture on my sidebar has no post to it, great news... now it does!  I have been meaning to blog these  For.ev.er.  (Say this in a Sandlot voice)

Mostly I was stalled because I wanted to give you some pictures to go along with this post.  Well, hard to believe, but it's kind of hard to take a picture AND dip a caramel apple at the same time.  So I waited for a day when my hubs was home and could take some pictures while I dipped.

Speaking of the hubs, these apples were inspired by the ones at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.  Men- you should know- there is nothing you can't be forgiven for if one of those apples is included in the apology.  Seriously.  

Reese's is my favorite.  Oreo and Butterfinger are fun, but I always go back to Reeses.  This is a great way to use up leftover Halloween candy at your house (and add more sugary sweets to your household). 

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Julia's Pumpkin Pie (The best pumpkin pie!)

Vegetables and I are not friends.  When I was a kid I used to sit across the dinner table from my little brother.  I didn't get dessert unless I ate all my vegetables, so, naturally, I used to sneak them down to my lap and throw them under the table to land under his chair.  My parents thought he was a REALLY messy eater.  (Don't worry. He was kinda spoiled so he probably still got dessert anyways.)

I think the only vegetables I ever consumed as a child were in the form of pumpkin pie.  My favorite thing about Thanksgiving was that my mom ALWAYS let me have pumpkin pie for breakfast in the days that followed. I could have easily consumed a whole pie if she had let me. The thought of eating it warm or at room temperature completely grosses me out, but an ice cold slice of pie with whipped cream and milk? Mmhmm.  Best breakfast of the year.

This pie is based off of the Libby's label.  If you like that, you will love this.  If you don't like pumpkin pie at all you probably won't like this either.  We can still be friends.  I'd be happy to have your piece.  My mom has been making this recipe for years.  Doubling the spices really gives it great flavor!

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving this week. 

Safe Travels!

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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

So my husband teaches sunday school to the 12 year olds at our church.  I was so excited when they asked him to do it because my first thought was "Yayyyy.  Little children to bake for!"  (Not to be the weird witch from Hansel & Gretel or anything.)

I made these for his kiddos a few weeks ago and they were well-received.  (Except for the kid who hates cheesecake which I can completely relate to at the uncultured age of 12.  He will learn.)  We took the leftovers to a neighborhood chili cookoff and when one of his kids spotted them she walked off with an armful of bars.  Compliment received! 

These are a perfect fall bar.  I recommend you make some now, but this recipe make a LOT, so find some random children to fatten up if you need to.

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Apple Pie Granita

I kid you not this tastes exactly like apple pie.  Minus the crust part.  AWESOME.  I had no idea I would love this as much as I do. It's not even that bad for you! Plus. It's call granita.  How fancy does that sound?

Enjoy.

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Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread

Ok, can I just tell you guys, I love when you leave me comments? I love ALL comments, but I especially love the ones where you ask a question and you sign them "Anonymous". So then I get to write, "Dear Anonymous".  It makes me feel like a spy, or Ann Landers or something.  I'm a fan.

Anyways, since I've made this bread every year of my existence (not really), I probably need to share the recipe with you.  It's so moist and perfectly spiced.  I can't live through the Fall without baking some of this up.  I like to use a heavy hand on some of the spices (just be careful with the cloves), and if you're feeling crazy you can add some mini chocolate chips. 

Update 8/24/12:  I tried this recipe substituting half the pumpkin for shredded zucchini (excess from the garden!) and it turned out great! I put my first 4 ingredients in the blender, including the shredded zucchini, to avoid stringiness that you sometimes get from using zucchini.  I also made them into muffins instead of bread.  Instructions below. 

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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins with Pecan Streusel

To every 10 year old child within a 40-mile radius of my house,

I know you think those rolling skatey shoes are super cool.  It's probably kind of like taking the moving sidewalk (also known as a travelator, but I'm guessing that wasn't on your 5th grade vocab list) at the airport when everyone else has to walk.  If I were you I would probably think they were "the bomb" as well.  I mean, I like to take pictures of my friends crashing into displays at Target and post them on the internet too. However, no offense, but you look kinda dumb.  Also you're not making a great case for lowering the driving age to eleven.  And plus, since I write my local governor daily urging him to pass a law outlawing these maniacal shoes, that have almost claimed my life twice, I'm pretty sure they will soon be illegal as well.  I sympathize with you.  Really I do.  But cut your losses and scrap the shoes immediately.  Maybe your mom will buy you some super awesome toning shoes instead.

Thanks.
Katie

PS- Have a muffin

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Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Cider Syrup

 

Just indulge me for a few days here and embrace my abundance of Fall recipes. I have a little bit of an obsession with the season and since everyone and their chia pet is having a "Christmas in July" sale, I'm pretty sure I can have a letspretenditsfallandnot5000degreesoutside post. Am I right?  Thank you very much.

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Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

I saw this recipe on Pinterest the other day.  That website seriously gets me in so much trouble.  I omitted the currants because, well, for one thing I haven't the slightest idea where one even goes to buy currants, and for another, I didn't feel like having strange pieces of random fruit in my cookies.  But do whatever you want.  Word on the street (and by street, I mean MarthaStewart.com) is that you can replace the currants with raisins.  Your call.  Martha's frosting was.... less than desireable.  I don't know if it was the lemon juice or what the heck was wrong but it was a big fail.  It tasted salty and sour and weird.  Maybe she got the recipe in jail.  I don't know.

Anyways, I replaced it with some of my own cream cheese frosting and suddenly everything was right in the world.  These are AWE. SOME.  Put them in your tummy now.  You can also make the cookies a day in advance and store them in a Ziploc.  It makes these super fast to assemble and eat. The cookies are chewier than I expected and taste a bit like a gingersnap/carrot cake cross, but they are still amazing.  If you are afraid of grating carrots, you need to invest in one of these. Seriously.  I'm pretty sure that's the best five dollars you will ever spend.

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