Pumpkin Bars

I stole this recipe from my coworker's blog. But, I'm going to retype it for you to translate the ingredients into "normal-people" ingredients.

3 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tbsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup oil
3 1/4 cups pure canned pumpkin
4 slightly beaten eggs

Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp oil
3/4 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all the bar ingredients in order. Beat until smooth. Pour into a 9x13 greased pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.

To make the frosting, blend all ingredients together. Let sit 5 minutes and blend again. Let cake cool before frosting.

When I made this, I also put the batter into 12 cupcakes; I had plenty of batter for the cupcakes and the bars. I also doubled the frosting recipe, because seriously, frosting is the best part of any cake/bar/cupcake. I had leftover frosting, so you really only need to 1.5 the frosting recipe if you do 12 cupcakes and 1 9x13 pan.

Classy Chicken

Shiro miso paste - 1 tbsp

Coconut Milk - 3/4 cup

Olive oil cooking spray

Boneless skinless chicken breast (1-inch cubed) - 1 lb. 2 oz.

Red pepper (large diced) - 1 cup

Onion (large diced) - 1 cup

Garlic (minced) - 1 tbsp

Curry Powder - 1 tbsp

Cumin - 1/2 tsp

Peach (small diced)- 1 cup

Broccoli florets - 1 cup

Asparagus (cut into 1-inch pieces) - 1 cup

Aged white cheddar (grated) - 1 1/2 cups

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Whisk miso and coconut milk together until miso is completely dissolved. Preheat a non-stick frying pan on medium heat and lightly coat with spray. Add the chicken (in batches if necessary) and saute until lightly browned on both sides. Transfer to a large casserole dish. Return pan to medium heat and re-spray pan if needed. Add the red pepper, onion, garlic, curry powder and cumin, and saute for 1 minute. Add miso mixture, peach, broccoli, asparagus and sauteed vegetables to casserole dish. Pour liquid mixture over ingredients and evenly top with grated cheese. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is lightly browned. (Serves 3 large or 6 small servings)

I couldn't find miso so I didn't use it. The sauce was a little on the thin side, so I assume it thickens it. This was so yummy!

5 Minute Chocolate Cake

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts or high.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

Lococo House II French Toast

When visiting my Aunt in Iowa she made this WONDERFUL baked french toast for breakfast one morning. She got it from a Bed & Breakfast recipe book...DELICIOUS!

3 eggs
1 C milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 T orange juice
¼ C sugar

Mix above ingredients together. Pour into a 9x11 glass dish or 9 in glass pie pan.

8 slices French bread
½ C coconut (optional)
¼ C brown sugar

Place bread slices in pan, sprinkle with coconut & brown sugar.

Bake 350 degrees for 30 min

YUMMY!

5 Can Soup

5 Can Soup

This soup is so easy, and so yummy! I always make it when I'm short on time or short on cash :)

1 can Chili (15 oz)

1 can Whole Kernal Corn (17 oz)

1 can French-style Green Beans (16 oz)

2 cans Italian-style Stewed Tomatoes (16 oz)

*Optional: 1/2 lb. Ground Beef

Open all cans and pour into a large saucepan, using all juices. Stir while bringing to a boil. Serve! If adding the ground beef, just add to the mix at the end. Yum!

Robyn

Baked Beans

4 cans pork and beans(15.5 oz)
1 cup Ketchup
1 TBSP dry mustard
1 cup brown sugar
1 lb bacon
1 medium onion, chopped

Dice and cook the bacon in a frying pan, then remove the bacon and saute the onion in bacon drippings.
Combine all the ingredients and bake, uncovered, for 2 hours at 300 degrees.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This one is great because you can just throw a bunch of stuff in the crock-pot and whatever you don't use store in a freezer baggie to use a month later.

3 lbs Pork Roast (at Costco this is about 12 dollars, which is a steal!)
5-6 cloves garlic (don't forget that when you smash them with a knife to pull the stem out so that you don't get bad breath-its attached to the root at the bottom)

1 yellow onion chopped small

1 TBSP dried rosemary
2 cups water

You can trim the fat off the roasts before or after you cook it. I prefer after because it gives it some good flavor. Place everything in the crock pot and cook 8-12 hours on low.

Pull the roasts out of the crock pot leaving the juices and cloves. Shred the pork and remove any fat. Pour Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce and a little A-1, salt and pepper to taste.

This is best on hard rolls with Baked Beans