More Pumpkin Recipes

I don't know if all new moms feel like they are going to lose their minds but I certainly feel that way these days. My son is continually demanding to be held and that makes it very hard to get anything done - especially cooking! If anyone has some tips about how to cook and keep a baby happy, please feel free to comment.

The kid that makes it hard to cook!

This is my last big push towards Halloween recipes. If you want a yummy pumpkin dessert for a party or just reward yourself for surviving another day, check out these recipes at Family Circle.

Food.com's 5 Smashing Pumpkin's recipes

I'm running behind on everything these days - cooking, laundry and cleaning. I didn't realize it would be so hard to keep up with a full time job and an infant. I feel like I'm juggling six balls and only catching two or three. (If you can relate, please comment!)

In the meantime, check out these recipes as we get near Halloween. Food.com

Pumpkin Spiced Cookies from Nestle

These cookies turned out light and fluffy and weren't too sweet. I highly recommend this recipe especially with Halloween coming.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips


Preparations:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. 
3. Beat in pumpkin, eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Nestle's Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Halloween isn't too far off so why not get ready with plenty of pumpkin recipes? These cookies are very yummy!!! (I ate three. :) I used pumpkin pie mix instead of canned pumpkin. It worked just as well.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup Pure Pumpkin
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 3/4 cup raisins

 Preparations:

1. Mix flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy. 
2. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract; mix well. Add flour mixture; mix well. Stir in nuts and raisins. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets. 
3. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned and set in centers. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Pumpkin-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

The original recipe called for 2 cups of flour but if you're at high altitude, it really should be 2 1/2 cups.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margaine, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup of canned Libby's easy Pumpkin mix
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preparations:

1. Combine egg, sugars, vanilla, butter and pumpkin mix.
2. Separately, combine salt, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and oatmeal. Add chocolate chips and walnuts.
3. Mix both sets of ingredients together.
4. Drop batter into balls on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for approximately 10 minutes.

Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

This recipe comes with a story. It's a story of how even though it was late, I still got my butt to the gym only to return home to find that my husband did not take the brownies out of the oven as directed. As a result, they were in for AN HOUR past the correct time. So, no picture of my yummy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip BRICKS. :)

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Preparations:

Mix the wet stuff - pumpkin puree, sugar, vanilla, egg, butter. Separately mix flour, pumpkin-pie spice, salt and baking soda. Mix well. Combine both sets of ingredients and add chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes (AND NOT AN HOUR AND 35 MINUTES -not that I'm bitter or anything. :)

Pumpkin Pie

This is another recipe from Better Homes and Garden. I have made pie crust from scratch one time and it convinced me that it wasn't worth the time or effort that went into making it. So if you buy a pie crust pre-made, you can make this pie in about ten minutes. My husband must have thought it was really good as he ate the entire thing. :)

Ingredients:

1 graham cracker crust
15 ounces of pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 slightly beaten eggs
3/4 cup half-and-half

Preparations:

Mix pumpkin, sugar, and eggs. Then add cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and half-and-half. Beat really well (on high if you have a mixer). Pour mixture into pie crust.

Bake at 375 for 50 minutes. Buy this cookbook from Amazon.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

'Tis the season for pumpkin y'all!

Okay, that's about as much enthusiasm as you'll ever see me muster for the holidays. When it comes to a holiday that requires decorating, I'm totally the Scrooge-ette of my block. Chalk it up to childhood trauma and you've got one gal who hates crafts and never decorates the Christmas tree. (I hand Ken the box and say - Have at it, pal)

But alas, times are changing and I'm trying to be less "Scroogy" about Halloween and Christmas. In an effort to be more festive, here's my first recipe of the pumpkin season. I took the recipe for pumpkin bread from Better Homes and Garden and added a bag of Nestle chocolate chips.

Ingredients:

3 cups sugar

1 cup cooking oil

4 eggs

3 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2/cup water

15 ounces of canned pumpkin

Preparations:

Combine oil, sugar, eggs, water and pumpkin. Mix well. Separately, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix well. Combine both sets of ingredients and mix thoroughly. Add chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes.

Servings: 3 loaves