Pecan Pie Mini Muffins

These little tasty bites will remind you of one of the best parts of Thanksgiving.....pecan pie!

Aren't they pretty?

Combine the ingredients.

Just use one bowl and a whisk.

Put 1 T into a sprayed mini muffin tin. You can also make regular size muffins.

Fill about 3/4 full.

Bake about 20 minutes.

Until slightly puffed and golden.

Perfect bite-sized muffins.

Enjoy while still warm with a good cup of coffee.

These babies are perfect to take to your next meeting, or to work, or to a neighbor, or to share with anyone you want to make happy.

Or, you can freeze the rest and keep them all to yourself!

(rewarm each frozen muffin for 30 seconds in the microwave, then let sit for 20 seconds.

Pecan Pie Mini Muffins

1 stick butter

3/4 C brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 t vanilla

3/4 C chopped pecans

1/2 C flour

1/2 t baking powder

Melt butter in a medium bowl in the microwave.

Stir in the brown sugar.

Mix in the eggs.

Mix in the vanilla and pecans.

Mix in the flour and BP

Use 1 T to fill sprayed mini muffin cups 3/4 full.

Bake at 350 for about 15-18 minutes, until puffed and golden.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bites

Something about the Fall always brings out my inner pumpkinaholic.

Mini pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Some topped with chopped pecans make them extra delicious. Have one of each!

This recipe came about because I had a half can of pumpkin leftover in the fridge from my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe. What to make? I basically used my Pumpkin Bars recipe and cut it in half. I also cut the cream cheese frosting recipe in half. It made 24 mini and 6 regular  cupcakes. You can make any size you want. I think the minis are cute!

To make it easy I used just one bowl. Start by whisking 2 eggs in a large bowl.

Whisk in 1/2 can pumpkin.

Whisk in the sugar.

Add oil.

 Add the flour, BP, BS, and cinnamon. Mix until well combined and smooth.

Spray a mini muffin pan and fill each well with about 1T batter.

  Bake minis about 12 minutes and regular cupcakes about 15 minutes.

Let cool 5 minutes in the pan then remove them and let cool completely.

 Frost with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle half the tops with chopped pecans. Arrange on a pretty platter alternating the toppings.

 All set for a coffee break.

 Very yummy!

Satisfy a pumpkin craving, anytime of year.

Pumpkin Bites
2 eggs
1/2 can pumpkin
3/4 C sugar
1/2 C oil
1 C  flour
1 t cinnamon
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda

Whisk the eggs in a large bowl; whisk in the pumpkin; whisk in the sugar, then the oil. Add the flour, cinnamon, BP and BS. Mix until combined. Spray a mini muffin tin and use a 1T measure to fill each well. Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting
2 oz cream cheese, room temperature
2 T butter, room temperature
1 C powdered sugar
1/2 t vanilla
1/3 C chopped pecans, for optional topping

Beat the cream cheese and butter until blended. Beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla.
Spread in the cupcakes. Sprinkle some of the cupcakes of the with the chopped pecans.

Cheers!

Links: Domestically Speaking

French Onion Soup

Everybody loves a crock of baked French onion 

soup, topped with gooey golden melted cheese.

It's one of our favorite soups. 

A great Fall/Winter soup.

 Just a few basic ingredients. You can make the 

soup ahead and reheat, broil later.

 Saute the onion in the butter and oil until soft. 

It will take about 30-40 minutes to get them golden 

and caramelized which gives the soup great flavor.

Stir in the flour and let it cook for about 2 minutes.

 Add all the liquids. Simmer at least 30 minutes.

 For a dinner size portion use a large soup bowl 

and two pieces of toasted French bread and

 lots of cheese. Broil until the cheese is 

bubbly and golden brown.

 Add a salad, and it's a great dinner. 

Serve the smaller crocks as a first course.

French Onion Soup  

5-6 large yellow onions,

sliced to make about 5 cups                  

1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 stick butter                                    
1 T oil
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 t sugar
1 t thyme
1 t paprika
2 T flour
3 cans condensed beef broth
2 cans water
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
1/2 C red wine or dry sherry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Melt butter and oil in a large soup pot.

 Add the sliced onions and garlic and toss to coat.

Saute on medium heat for 15 minutes,

stirring occasionally until soft. 

Stir in all the seasonings and

continue cooking another 15 minutes until

the onions are golden. Stir in the flour and

cook 2 minutes. Add the broth stirring up

any browned bits on the bottom; stir in the water.

 Add wine, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaf.

Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or longer.

For Serving

I loaf French Bread

Cheese slices, mozzarella, gruyere or Swiss

Parmesan cheese, grated

Paprika

Slice French bread into thick slices and

 toast both sides under the broiler.
Place one or two slices of toasted bread
in the bottom of an ovenproof bowl.

Ladle the soup over the bread and

 top with one or two slices of cheese, or
grated cheese and a sprinkle of parmesan.
Add a bit of paprika on top for color.

 Place bowls of soup on a cookie sheet

and broil until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

BON APPETIT!

Links: Facebook, My Romantic Home

Easiest Ever Crock Pot Roast

If you're going to be out all day, you'll want to walk in the door to this at the end of your day.

 Just a few simple ingredients

 Chuck roast, seasoned,

 Mix the onion soup, cream of mushroom soup and water.

 Pour over the meat.

 Cover and cook all day. easy!

You'll get lots of yummy gravy.

 Serve with mashed potatoes and a vegetable. Meat and potatoes, always a favorite.

Easiest Ever Crock Pot Roast


3-4 lbs chuck roast
House Seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder mix)
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup 
1 soup can water


Combine the soups and water in the crock pot. 
Top with meat and seasonings. Turn the meat to
cover both sides in the sauce. Cover and cook
for 9-10 hours on low, until very tender.


I love this with mashed potatoes, because it makes lots of great gravy and a vegetable. 

Enjoy!

House Seasoning  (Paula Dean)
1 C salt
1/4 C pepper
1/4 C garlic powder
Combine in an empty shaker (saved from  garlic salt, etc.)
Good on everything!


Links: Designs By Gullum

October's Muffins Of The Month

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Pumpkin, spice, and everything nice.

Mix ingredients;

Pumpkin, butter, flour, sugar, spices, chocolate chips, baking soda and powder, eggs,

fill a sprayed muffin pan and bake.

350 for about 20 minutes,

 Eat while warm and the chocolate chips are gooey!

 Serve in a pretty Fall basket.

Have afternoon coffee with warm muffins for a fall-icious treat. Great for that after school snack, your group meeting, a treat to share at work, to bring to a neighbor, Share!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
1-2/3 C flour
1 C sugar
1 T pumpkin spice
1 t baking soda
1/4 t baking powder
1 C chocolate chips, milk chocolate or semi sweet
1 stick butter, melted
1 C pumpkin
2 L eggs


Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Add chocolate chips, toss to coat.
Whisk last 3 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add to large bowl and stir together until well combined. 
Spray a 12 cup muffin pan and fill 3/4 full with batter.
Bake @350 for 20-25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, them remove from pan.
Enjoy now and freeze some for later. 


Rita

Taco Soup

Fall is the perfect time for making soup. This hearty soup is a meal in itself.

It's so easy to make. After you have browned the beef along with the onion, it's just a matter of dumping everything in and letting it simmer.

This makes a big pot of soup.

Larry always lifts the lid and asks,"Do you think you've made enough?" I usually freeze 2 containers, and keep some for lunch the next day. Great on a cool Fall day.

Taco Soup
2 lbs. ground beef
1 L onion, chopped
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2  4-oz cans chopped green chilies
1  15-oz can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
1  15-oz can tomato sauce
28-oz can diced tomatoes
2  15-oz cans pinto beans
1  15-oz can dark kidney beans
1 or 2  15-oz can corn
1 C water


Brown the ground beef along with the chopped onion in a large pot. Stir in the seasoning mixes, salt and pepper. Add all the canned vegetables with their liquid, chilies and water. Stir to combine well. Cover and let simmer about 45 minutes or longer, stirring occasionally.
Serve with corn bread or muffins, beer bread or tortilla chips.
Optional Garnishes; sour cream, chopped cilantro, shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese.


You can also put the browned beef, onion and remaining ingredients into a crock pot if you are going to be out for the day. 

Cover and let it slow cook until you are ready to eat, about 6-8 hours.


Links: Funky Junk Interiors