Week #7 Easy Pumpkin Dip

I can't believe it's Week #7 of Pumpkin Fall Fridays!! 

This little series has seriously been so fun. 

You'd think I would be tired of pumpkin by now, 

but I ASSURE you.  

I AM NOT!  

In fact, here is the next of our pumpkin recipes... 

This Pumpkin Dip is unreal! 

I took some to a Young Life committee meeting recently, 

and it was gone almost instantly.  

It is S-U-P-E-R easy to make! 

Like 5 mins max. 

And you can serve it with anything you want. 

I used Nilla Wafers and sliced Granny Smith apples, 

but really... the possibilities are endless. 

Annnndd... 

Because you can use lite and sugar free ingredients, 

it really isn't too too bad for you. 

Serve it up with some fruit and you have a delicious, 

semi-healthful dip to take to your next Fall party or gathering. 

Yummy. Yummy. Yummy.

Easy Pumpkin Dip

Shopping List:

3/4 can of Pumpkin

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 small box of Instant Vanilla Pudding mix

(I used sugar free).

1 container Lite Cool Whip

Your favorite snacks to serve with

(I used Nilla Wafers and sliced granny smith apples).

Method:

1. Mix ingredients together.

2. Chill for 30 mins before serving.

That's it!

See you Sunday for some delicious Chicken Gyros!!

Crescent Pizza Rolls

I saw this recipe on Pinterest by The Girl Who Ate Everything 

and knew immediately, that it looked like the perfect little snack or quick dinner. 

However, I was able to simplify the recipe even more!

And last Thursday night, I had my first night off in several weeks. 

The last thing I felt like doing was cooking dinner. 

As soon as I remembered these puppies, I knew what I was having for dinner! 

We had a college friend, Nick over and he and I had them gone in no time! 

I'm thinking all keep this 3 ingredient recipe in the fridge at all times, 

so I always have a quick snack on hand!

Crescent Pizza Rolls

Shopping List:

1 pkg Refrigerated Crescent Dough

(I used Pillsbury Garlic Butter).

1 pkg Pepperoni

1 pkg String Cheese

(I used Sargento Light String Cheese).

Marinara Sauce

(Optional).

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375. Unroll crescent rolls on an ungreased baking sheet.

2. On the big end of the crescent triangle, place 6-8 pepperonis and 3/4 of a cheese stick.

3. Roll up. Repeat with all 8 triangles in the package.

4. Bake 11-13 mins. Serve hot with marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Applesauce

Last weekend, as I was shopping at our local farmer's market 

and seeing the bushels and bushels of apples, 

it donned on me that I have never made applesauce before! 

I also have seen on Pinterest how 

you can make applesauce in a slow cooker! 

Good thing, because I don't think I have the patience to do it the hard way. 

This recipe ended up being a huge hit! 

In fact Matt had it completely gone before I even got to take a picture of it!! 

Super easy, very yummy! Oh and by the way, 

it makes your house smell WONDERFUL while it's cooking!

Slow Cooker Apple Sauce

Shopping List:

17 Medium Apples

(You can chose any kind you like. 

I used Golden Delicious. 

You can even mix and match if you want!)

Lemon Juice

4 Tbsp Brown Sugar

Cinnamon

Method:

1. Peel, core, and dice apples. Add to slow cooker.

2. As I was adding the apples to the slow cooker, spritz with lemon juice to keep apples from turning brown.

3. Add brown sugar. I added some cinnamon hear as well, some people might want to wait and add to the top of the applesauce as they serve it.

4. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low 6-8 hours stirring periodically.

5. A few recipes I read suggested running it through a blender at the end, but Matt likes his applesauce on the chunkier side, and I didn't mind the texture.  It's really up to your preference. Enjoy!

PS I hope you all watched Penn State beat Michigan in 

QUADRUPLE overtime last night!! It was an AWESOME game!

Week #6 Pumpkin Spice Latte Bars and Fall House Tour

Week #6! Week #6!

I tried one other recipe in preparation 

for this week that bombed, but then... 

Magic happened. 

It literally felt like all of the amazing deliciousness 

that is a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte 

morphed into bar form. 

I mean... YUM!  

I know I say this every week, but this literally is the best. 

Go get yourself a Venti PSL, whip up some of these babies, 

sit back and taste the Fall!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Bars

Shopping List:

1 pkg Betty Crocker Pumpkin Bar Mix

1 pkg Pumpkin Spice Pudding Mix

2 Eggs

1/2 C (one stick) of Butter, melted

1/4 C Boiling Water

1 Tbsp Instant Coffee

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp All Spice

1 can Cream Cheese Frosting

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.

2. Dissolve instant coffee in the boiling water.

3. Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer), mix together, pumpkin bar mix, jello mix, eggs, melted butter, boiling water/coffee mix, cinnamon and all spice until smooth.

4. Pour into baking dish and bake for 25-30 mins or until toothpick comes out clean.

5. Allow to cool completely. Frost with cream cheese frosting. (I decorated with some cute fall leaf sprinkles I had left over from some caramel apples we made this week!) Enjoy!

I finally finished decorating my house for fall. 

My annual decorations have been up since the first weekend of September. 

But I finally picked up my pumpkins, straw bales, and mums.  

Here's a little 'pin-spiration' for you! 

And thanks to everyone who has shared in Pinterest to inspire me!

Here is the front door...

The door was white with a storm door on it when we moved in, 

but I just repainted it black about 2 weeks ago. 

I absolutely love it now! 

I also have 2 black shutters to put up on either side of their door, 

but they are still being painted. 

I'll post un updated photo when they are finished.

By the mail slot and screened in porch...

The back door...

The fall mantel!! This is the one I love the most!!

Decorations are from Target and Hobby Lobby!

Pumpkins and straw bales are from an awesome farm 

in Ashland, OH called Honey Haven.

Thanks for touring!

Have a great weekend!

Usually I don't post over the weekend, 

but I am excited to share a 

wonderful slow cooker applesauce recipe with you Sunday. 

See you then!

Slow Cooker Cola Pulled Pork Sandwiches

In this household, we LOVE pulled pork!

Like absolutely love it! It's so simple to make, 

and tastes so so yummy!

In this household, we also love Diet Coke. 

Drink it by the case. 

I know, I know it's not healthful. 

But confession: we are suckers for an ice cold Diet Coke.

I'm always looking for new pulled pork recipes to try, 

so when I came across Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork by Six Sisters Stuff, 

I knew I had to come up with my own variation.

And then I thought...

Cola Pulled Pork! 

Yessss!!

But wait, there's more!

The recipe calls for one bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce.

Well in this household, there's only one kind of BBQ Sauce...

Sweet Baby Ray's.

So I was perusing the grocery store shelves for the perfect bottle of 

Sweet Baby Ray's and I spotted this!

That's right. Sweet Baby Ray's Cola-Q.

I mean honestly. Does a recipe come together any better than that?!

Cola Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Shopping List:

3-4 lb Pork Roast

1 can Cola

(You can really use any kind of soda you want. 

Regular is better than diet in this case, though).

1 bottle Sweet Baby Ray's Cola-Q Sauce

(You may want extra on hand for the sandwiches).

8 Multigrain Sandwich Thins by Arnold.

Method:

1. Place meat in slow cooker. Pour cola and Sweet Baby Ray's over meet.

2. Cook 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.

3. Serve on Sandwich Thins and top with extra BBQ sauce if desired. Enjoy!

Week #5 Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow

Happy October!!

What a glorious month! I just love Fall 

and everything that comes with it.

And I REALLY love Pumpkin Fall Fridays! 

This recipe was a mega-hit! 

In fact I made one batch to share on this blog, 

and before I got a chance to photograph it, 

it was gone and I had to make a second!

I mean puppy chow in and of it self is amazing! 

But to make it pumpkin spice?! Wow. 

Eat just one handful. 

I dare you.

 No seriously. 

Good luck with that. 

You might just want to double this recipe...

Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow

Shopping List:

1 C White Chocolate Chips

1/4 C (half stick) Butter

1/2 C Almond Butter

(I saw another recipe that used peanut butter, 

but I think PB is a powerful taste 

and I didn't want it to compete with 

the pumpkin spice taste. 

Almond butter is a bit more bland).

2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

2 tbsp Pumpkin Puree

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

9 C Rice Chex cereal

(You could also use Corn Chex).

2-3 C Powdered Sugar

Method:

1. Using a double boiler or in the microwave, melt butter, then add white chocolate chips and melt.

2. Add almond butter, pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. Stir until creamy.

3. Pour over chex and toss until evenly coated.

4. Add powdered sugar a little at a time and toss until chex are completely coated.

5. I enjoy eating mine chilled in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Makes an excellent after school snack, 

or pack it up and take it to the big game this weekend!

Have a great weekend! Stop back Monday
for another great Slow Cooker Recipe!

Avocado Chicken Salad

Well, I said Wednesday and now its Thursday...

Sorry about that! Got a little behind.

On Monday I shared my quick and yummy

  breakfast recipe for Egg Breakfast Cups.

Here is my easy, healthful lunch recipe 

for Avocado Chicken Salad. I make a batch the beginning of the week, 

and then have easy access to it throughout the week 

when I need to grab something on-the-go.

You'll love this yummy sandwich!

Avocado Chicken Salad

Shopping List:

2 C Canned Shredded Chicken

1 Avocado, mashed

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

2 tsp Lime Juice

1 tsp Lemon Juice

1/4 C Green Onions, diced

1/4 C Mayo

(I use mayo made with olive oil).

1/4 C Plain Greek Yogurt

1/2 C Red Grapes, halved

1/4 C Almonds, sliced and toasted

Salt & Pepper to taste

Method:

Combine all ingredients. Serve on sandwich bread, 

or I like mine on Multigrain Sandwich Thins by Arnold.

Enjoy!