Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

As I hurried through the grocery store in the early hours of Thanksgiving morning I accidentally grabbed a can of pumpkin pie mix instead of pumpkin puree. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with it, but I wanted to use it up before it got lost in the back of the cupboard. Obviously it was time for some wonderfully moist, tasty, muffins.

Perfect Bacon

What's that you say? Well, yes, bacon is perfect just because it's bacon, but let's not argue semantics. Cooking bacon is a pain, sometimes on the hands and arms, sometimes in the face. If you've got an alternative idea about proper kitchen attire the array of painful possibilities that could arise from cooking bacon are truly endless.  I'm here to help. I will admit that I stole this from my brilliant husband, but I'm owning it, and legally what's his is mine. So here you go. Perfect Bacon.

Turkey (or Chicken) Pot Pie

That's right. Throw on your cleanest wife-beater, hike up those Daisy Duke's and slip off your shoes, it's time to make a pot pie!

Coconut Pumpkin Tapioca

 

The pumpkin theme has been going strong around here lately and apparently it hasn't gone unnoticed. One of my super fun, food loving, coworkers sent me a request for this so of course I had to make it. Not being a big tapioca fan I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out, but it was actually quite good, I think the coconut milk really makes it. It can be served hot which gives it a delicious rice pudding feel or chilled for what I'm told is nearly perfect tapioca pudding.  I'll let you be the judge of that.

Pumpkin Bread

It's that time of year when everyone is dusting off their favorite sweaters and drinking their seasonal lattes to convince themselves they're really okay with the fact that summer is over. So what better way to use our freshly made pumpkin puree (or canned if you must)  than to make pumpkin bread?

Pumpkin Puree

Isn't Fall wonderful?  I love this time of year. The air is crisp and clean, the leaves are beautiful, and the stress of the holidays it at least a few weeks away. It also means it's time for one of my favorite rituals, the annual trip to the pumpkin patch where we will undoubtably buy more pumpkins than we have the energy to carve. This year we also picked up a few sugar pumpkins (aka pie pumpkins) so I could do a little bit of experimenting, which means I've also been doing a little bit of research. It turns out making your own pumpkin puree isn't difficult at all, it just requires a little bit of patience. I've done a lot of reading and a little bit of listening and I think I've found a process that solves the main complaints people seem to have about making their own puree.

Pumpkin Bran Muffins

Happy Halloween everybody!! With all the sugar floating around us this time of year I thought we could do with something that is healthy yet still delicious.  The pumpkin and spices give a nice seasonal flare to standard bran muffins so make a batch and enjoy!!

Crab Risotto

So what do you do when a super hot guy calls and says, "Hey, I'm coming over... and I've got crabs"? Well obviously you take the crab, clean it up, and take him out for a couple of beers to show your gratitude. If all goes well the risotto can be date number two. Or three. I'm just saying it's possible. It may have even happened to me.

End of Summer Salsa

 

Even though it means summer is coming to an end I do so love when everything has ripened and amazing fresh vegetables are everywhere. After overloading my basket at a local farm I had to figure out what to do with my loot. This is an easy to make salsa, it has great flavor and is good for everyone since it's not too spicy.

Killer Burgers

You can live believing that a burger is a burger, but it's only going to leave you sad and lonely. That's not a threat, it's a fact. But don't despair, I'm here to help. And as always, you'll be a hero with a minimal amount of work. Win.

White Bean Salad

Mmm.. beans.  I love beans, but I sometimes don't think to incorporate them into my meals like I should.  This is a simple marinated white bean salad.  When I say simple it's pretty much the understatement of the day, it practically makes itself. This salad is a summer standard, you've probably met before at a barbecue.  The beans are great as a stand alone side dish, but I love them even more on top of a green salad.  I wish there were leftovers right now....

Blueberry-Orange Freezer Jam

Ahhh summer.  I love any opportunity to go out to the U-Pick farms and load up on fruits and vegetables, and last week I did just that.  This was my first attempt at freezer jam and I can't believe how simple it is. I don't want to clog up my freezer with tons of jars of jam, but knowing how easy these are to make is going to be dangerous.