Pumpkin Bread

Leftover pumpkin buttercream frosting counts as a snack, right?

Pumpkin Bread with Pumpkin Buttercream Frosting

Bread - 

Ingredients: 

1-3/4 cups flour

1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

2 eggs

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup canola oil

1-1/4 cups canned pure pumpkin puree

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray a 9" x 5" loaf pan with non-stick spray.  

2.  Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and allspice in a bowl.  Whisk until combined.

3.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat eggs on medium-high speed for 2 minutes.  Add the brown sugar and mix for 2 minutes.  Add the sugar and mix for another minute.  

4.  Add the oil with beater on medium-low.  Add the pumpkin puree and mix on low speed until combined.

5.  Add the dry ingredients in two additions.  Blend until just incorporated.  

6.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 10-15 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting -

Ingredients:

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 tablespoons canned pure pumpkin puree

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons half & half or milk

1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Directions:

1.  Cream the butter, pumpkin, cinnamon, and vanilla using an electric mixer.  Add powdered sugar gradually, blending well after each addition.  Add half & half or milk and blend well.  Add additional half & half or milk to achieve a thinner consistency, if desired.

2.  Spread frosting on cooled pumpkin bread and sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Source: Nancy Creative

Pumpkin Pie French Toast

A long time ago, I mentioned that my dad was always the fajita maker in our household because he was so great at it.  Same goes for french toast.  I'm pretty sure my dad is the only one who ever made it, and it always turned out perfectly.

Even though I haven't lived at home in awhile, I never even thought to try making french toast.  It's my dad's job, you know?  But then I found a recipe for pumpkin pie french toast.  PUMPKIN PIE FRENCH TOAST?!?!  Yes, please.  And I made it.  And I maybe ended up with a couple of pieces that were overdone (I'm not as skilled as my dad).  It was delicious anyway.

Pumpkin Pie French Toast

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons brown sugar

6-8 slices bread

Directions:

1.  Beat eggs and milk together.  Stir in pumpkin, brown sugar, and spices.  Make sure ingredients are well combined and no lumps of pumpkin remain.

2.  Spray griddle or skillet with non-stick spray.  Dip bread into egg mixture.  Allow excess egg mixture to drip back into bowl.  Cook over medium-low heat, about 2 minutes for each side.   

Source: Semi Homemade Mom

Honey Dijon Chicken

I absolutely love cooking for other people, and it's nice to use an easy recipe when I'm cooking for others.  It's especially nice to use a recipe that doesn't result in me making a giant mess in the kitchen.  I tend to do that.  A lot.

What's that saying?  If you didn't make a mess, you didn't cook?  Maybe I just made that up.  I'm going to go with it anyway.  Let's call it my cooking mantra.

P.S. - This is one dish that I did NOT create a mess with...so I made it twice.

Honey Dijon Chicken

Ingredients:

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

salt and pepper

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup dijon mustard

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.  Place in a 9" x 13" baking dish.

3.  Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl.  Pour 1/2 of mixture over the chicken and brush to cover the chicken.

4.  Bake chicken for 30 minutes.  Flip chicken and brush with remaining sauce mixture.  Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear.

Source: The Fresh Fridge