Pumpkin Bars-MMMmmm Monday

Ingredients

Bars:

o    4 eggs

o    1 2/3 cups granulated sugar

o    1 cup vegetable oil

o    1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin

o    2 cups all-purpose flour

o    2 teaspoons baking powder

o    2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

o    2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

o    1 teaspoon salt

o    1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting:

o    1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

o    1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

o    2 cups powdered sugar

o    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1.    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.    Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth.

3.    For a thick cake-like bar: Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Test the center with a toothpick to check for doneness. For a thinner bar: Spread batter into a greased jelly roll pan and bake for 18-20 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick.

4.    Let cool completely before frosting.

5.    To make the frosting: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. You may need to add a little milk to make it spreadable if your butter wasn't soft enough. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars and cut into squares or cut bars first and frost individually.  Original recipe found here.

     These were so delicious that I decided to share.

Trick or Treat, Something Sweet-MMMmmm Monday

It's not October yet but I'm thinking Halloween.  Maybe it's because every time I turn around I see a ghoul or a goblin ready for purchase.  There are plenty of fun tricks and treats to buy but what could be better than good old fashioned, homemade cookie-in-a-jar.  

I found the jars at Taipan for $3.00.  They are just right for the average 2 inch scoop cookie.

This cookie (see recipe below) is great for freezing.  When I need a quick "Hey I'm thinking about you" treat for a friend or neighbor, I'm able to pull out the already baked cookies from the freezer. 

Stack them in a cute jar.

Add a fun tag.

And have a SPOOKtacular giftie.

Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Chips

1 cup margarine (2 cubes)

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Cream together in large bowl.

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix together and add to creamed mixture.

Add 12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips (or fall M&Ms).  Bake at 375 degrees for 10-13 min.

Conference Quiche

In a couple of weeks we will be participating in our semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We are invited to the Conference Center to listen (if local and have tickets), or we can participate by live broadcast via radio, television, and satellite.  

Often times my family looks forward to listening {watching} in our home, still in pajamas with the traditional pancake breakfast and fixins.  

I'm not a huge pancake fan but love the fixins.  This conference quiche is a must have in my {recipe} book!  

Conference Quiche

1 unbaked 9” pastry shell               2 whole eggs

8 strips bacon                                   ½ cup heavy cream

1 chopped onion                               ½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. bacon fat                                 ¼ tsp. nutmeg

Pinch of salt                                      dash of cayenne

2 egg yolks                                         ½ cups grated Swiss cheese

Fry bacon until crisp.  Saving 1 tsp. bacon fat, drain off remainder.  Crumple bacon.  Set aside.  Sauté onion in bacon fat with salt until golden.  Remove.  Drain on paper towels.  Beat egg yolks, whole eggs, cream, salt, nutmeg, and cayenne.  In unbaked pastry shell, layer cheese, bacon and onion.  Pour egg mixture on top.  Bake at 375 deg. For 35 to 40 min (until set).  Cut into narrow wedges.  Serve hot or cold.  Can be made ahead of time and frozen.  Defrost before baking.

Original recipe came from our good friend Abby H.  

Scotcheroos or Scotcharoos-MMMmmm Monday

This is one of my favorite go-to recipes when I need a quick bar cookie.  It's been around for years and has proven to be a definite crowd pleaser.  Left-overs=Nope!

  

Scotcharoos/Scotcheroos

Ingredients

¼ cup butter

½ cup peanut butter

4 cups mini marshmallows

1 tsp. vanilla

6 cups Rice Krispies

1-11oz bag butterscotch chips (Guittard)

1-11oz bag milk chocolate chips (Guittard)

Directions 

Melt butter in microwave.  Mix in peanut butter and microwave for 20 seconds.  Add marshmallows and coat with butter/p-nut butter mixture.  Microwave mixture for 30 seconds.  Mix until smooth.  Add Rice Krispies, stir gently until coated.  Lightly press into a buttered 13 X 9 inch pan and let cool.

Once cool melt both bags of chips together.  Evenly spread onto bars.  Cool.  Cut into squares when set.