Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I'm a little excited mainly due to the fact that I get to legally cook with pumpkin. I love this pumpkin bar recipe. It isn't overly sweet but it has great mixture of spices. I found the little pumpkin on top in the cake decorating aisle of my grocery store. Or, sprinkle the top with cinnamon or cupcake sprinkles. It makes a ton so invite your friends over for a "calm before the holiday storm" party. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs
1-2/3 cup sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups pumpkin
Mix together until fluffy, then add:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 tsp nutmeg
Mix well
Pour in greased jelly roll pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

When cool frost bars with butter cream frosting.
Frosting:
3 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Mix together well and spread on bars when cooled. Printable recipe

My kids love chicken fingers, chicken tenders, chicken strips or whatever you call them. Basically they are chicken tenders breaded and deep fried. They are hot and delicious but I have not been very impressed with the chicken strips I buy in the frozen aisle at my grocery store. They are more soggy than crispy after I nuke them in the microwave. When I came across this recipe I was a little apprehensive. But Pioneer Woman has never steered my wrong. I tried making these homemade chicken strips and we loved them! Try them for yourself. If you make these, your kids will do the dishes for a week.

Are you craving something gooey, something chocolaty and creamy? This is the dessert for you. It reminds me of my first year of college when my roommates and I made this dessert before a girls-choice dance. In retrospect I think I liked the dessert more than my date.


Mud Pie
*Ashli D.

Brownie Layer:
1 cup butter
1/3 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, beaten well
1-1/2 cup flour
2 tsp vanilla

White Layer:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 pkg cream cheese

1 pkg (6 oz) chocolate instant pudding
make according to box

1 tub cool whip
or 2 cups whipped cream, whipped and sweetened

Nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brownie layer: Mix butter, cocoa, and sugar together. Add beaten eggs and mix well. Spread brownie layer in 9X13 pan and bake for 25 minutes.

White layer: Cream together powdered sugar and cream cheese.

When brownie is cool top with white mixture, then layer the pudding on top and finish off with whipping cream and nuts if desired. Refrigerate. Printable recipe

This is one of those recipes that is tried and true. When we have company over, or when a friend has a baby and I take her a meal, this is the recipe I make.
#1. It is delicious and not overly tomatoe-y.
#2. Everyone seems to like it. It is easy to make and serves lots of people.

I found the recipe in a magazine about 12 years ago. I hope you like it.

Baked Spaghetti

1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper (optional)
1 Tbsp butter
1 can (28 ounces) tomatoes with liquid, cut up
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
2 tsp dried oregano
1 pound ground beef, browned and drained, optional
12 ounces spaghetti, cooked and drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, saute onion and green pepper in butter until tender. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, olives and oregano. Add ground beef if desired. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Place half of the spaghetti in a greased 13x9 inch baking dish. Top with half of the vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Repeat layers. Mix the soup and water until smooth; pour over the casserole. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Printable recipe