Pumpkin Biscuits

October offers warm thoughts of autumn, cooler days, comfort food and family and friends getting together and making memories.   I love breads for on the weekends for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee.  I created this recipe this morning, enjoy and have some fun, have more fun and add some Kahlua to your coffee, weekends of course.  The main thing, just have fun!

Preheat oven 400 degrees
Place in a mixing bowl
2 cups of flour
¼ cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon all spice
½ teaspoon clove
Mix well to incorporate all dry ingredients

Cut in 1 stick of cold butter cubed

Add gently by hand

1/3 cup of whole milk with 1 teaspoon of vanilla
½ can of Libby’s canned pumpkin
½ cup dried cranberry’s

Mix gently, dough will be soft.  Turn onto a floured surface, knead slightly.  I used a round biscuit cutter.

You may need to use a spatula to move from floured surface to baking sheet

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet – 400 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. 

Let the biscuits cool a bit before serving.  Wonderful with honey!  Bacon would be a nice addition as well.  The salty and sweet would be comforting and tasty.  Do not forget that cup of coffee with cream and Kahlua or a Mimosa!  Enjoy and have fun!  Please drink responsibly!

Vanilla Cupcakes

Vanilla Cupcakes

1 Duncan Hines yellow cake mix

1 package (3.4 ounce) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon butter flavored extract

Place in mixing bowl cake mix, instant pudding, milk, oil, eggs and extracts.  Mix with an electric mixer for 1 minute on low speed.  Scrape down the sides and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Place baking cups in muffin tin, scooping cake mix into baking cups filling 1/3 cup of cake mix batter.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes and please do not over bake.

Cool completely and frost with the following icing;

Butter Cream Frosting

1 stick of salted butter – room temperature

3 cups of sifted confectioner’s sugar
3 t 4 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon butter extract
Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until icing is well incorporated, light and fluffy.

These cupcakes are moist and delicious!  You are going to love them!  Enjoy with a glass of wine and please Let’s Have Some Fun!

Cinnamon Apple Pear Preserve Pancake

This is a  recipe that has a touch of cinnamon added to the pancakes along with Apple Pear Preserves.  Oh this is delicious!  I used pears which were over ripe and added a Granny Smith Apple.  Follow these recipes to enjoy a great start in the morning!

Pancakes

1 ½ cups of flour
3 teaspoons of baking powder
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
¾ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
1 beaten egg
1 cup of milk
4 tablespoons of melted butter
2 teaspoons of vanilla

I measure and place all dry ingredients into a bowl.  Measure milk and vanilla adding to dry ingredients along with melted butter and the adding the egg.  Mix until well incorporated, do not over mix.

Spray with Pam a non stick skillet  and place over heat until skillet is warm.  Pour 2 large scoops of the pancake mix and cook until edges become a little dry, turn over and cook until done.

Serve with the Apple Pear Preserves!  Enjoy with a Mimosa!  You are going to have some fun!

Apple Pear Preserves

4 overripe pears – peeled, seeded and chopped

1 large granny smith apple – peeled, seeded and chopped
Place in a small quart pot along with ½ cup of sugar

Cover and cook over medium heat, check frequently until sugar is dissolved and stir adding 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and a juice of 1 lime.

Cook over medium heat uncovered for 30 minutes until fruit becomes thickened.

Top with cinnamon pancakes, and syrup of you wish!

I promise you, you are going to have some fun!

Santa Fe Vegetarian Salad

1/2 head cabbage - chopped

1/2 romaine lettuce – chopped
1 bundle of kale – chopped
1 can of corn – well drained
1 can of kidney beans – rinsed in strainer and well drained
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 package of taco seasoning mix
¼ cup of rice wine vinegar
½ cup of mayonnaise
¾ cup of sour cream
Mix all of the ingredients  above, chill and serve.  You can also add shrimp, crab meat, or fajita chicken.

The main rule of thumb, chop, mix, and enjoy, let’s have some fun!

Add a glass of chardonnay!  Do not drink and drive!