Pumpkin Oatmeal Creme Pies with Pumpkin Buttercream

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Guess what special ingredient these delicious cookies have?  Pumpkin, of course. It's Fall! Everything has to have pumpkin right? lol.  Well, they have another cool ingredient!!  Pumpkin Spice Pudding Mix!!

I have had chocolate chip pudding cookies before and I fell in love.  The pudding makes the cookies softer than usual and adds a great flavor.  When I saw the Pumpkin Spice Pudding Mix at the grocery store, I knew I had to use it for pumpkin cookies!

I had so many ideas for pumpkin cookies.  I had one cookie that I just couldn't get off of my mind though.  Our local bakery, Hall's, has a pumpkin creme pie cookie during the fall.  They gave one to me for free when I was pregnant a few years ago, and now I stop to get them every chance I get!! They are so addictive!!

I decided to add oats to my recipe.  I also made a Pumpkin Buttercream to fill the middle.  They were such a good fall treat. I loved experimenting with the pudding and the buttercream.

I have another box of Pumpkin Spice Pudding.  I have a million ideas for cookies and pies!  What would you make with the Jell-O Pumpkin Spice Instant Pudding ?

Pumpkin Oatmeal Creme Pies with Pumpkin Buttercream

By: Crystal Barrett

Makes about 12 creme pies                                  (Click Here to Print)

Cookie Ingredients 

1/2 c softened butter
3/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c sugar
1 box  Jell-O Pumpkin Spice Instant Pudding Mix
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
2 c flour
1 c oats
1/4 c pumpkin puree

Pumpkin Buttercream Ingredients
1 c softened unsalted butter (2 sticks)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
3 c powdered sugar
4 tbs pumpkin puree
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (OR save some of the pudding mix and use here)

Directions for Cookies:

-  Cream the butter, brown sugar, and sugar on medium setting in the mixer.

-  Add pudding mix and beat until incorporated.

-  Add eggs, vanilla, and puree and beat another minute.

-  Add the flour and baking soda and beat until well blended.

- Fold in oats.

-  Roll the cookies into small balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.

-  Bake on 350 for 9-12 minutes.

*Notes: It is ok to take the cookies out of the oven when they are still a little gooey.  They     will harden as they cool and you will be left with a soft cookie.

-  After they have cooled coat one bottom side of a cookie with the finished buttercream.        Find a like sized cookie and place on top, making a sandwich.

Directions for Buttercream

-  Beat the butter in a mixer until it is soft and fluffy.

-  Add cinnamon, vanilla, spice (or pudding mix), and pumpkin puree.  Beat until all the          ingredients are blended.

-  Add the powdered sugar to the mixer one cup at a time.  Beat 2 minutes.

-  Add to the cookies to make creme pies.

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Blackberry Dumplings

When I was a little girl I remember my mom going to pick blackberries.  She loved stopping on the side of the road just to pick them.  I never really got into it as much as she did.  However, this summer has been bringing back those memories.  I see blackberries and bushes everywhere I go it seems like.

Recently, I remembered my mom making blackberry dumplings with berries we had hand picked one evening. This memory made me crave them.  I couldn't find any bushes around my yard so I had to settle with ones already picked from the grocery store.  No worries!  They turned out DELICIOUS!!

I wasn't for sure how she made them before and she couldn't remember either so I made two different recipes!  Same ingredients... but one was in a skillet and turned out more soft and gooey and flavorful.  The other recipe I baked came out crispy and just as delicious.  I ended up eating two of each in a thirty minute period! That's how scrumptious they were!  For now, I am sharing both on this post and you can choose your favorite.

Blackberry Dumplings

By: Crystal Barrett

8 dumplings                                                        (Click Here to Print)              

Ingredients 

12 oz fresh blackberries

1/2 c sugar

1/4 c water

2 tbsp cinnamon

1 can crescent rolls

2 eggs

1 tbsp milk

Directions 

In a small bowl mixed 6 oz blackberries, sugar, water, and 1 tbsp cinnamon.  Mash the blackberries in well.

Heat the blackberry mixture in a small or medium sized skillet over medium heat.

While waiting for the blackberry mixture to sizzle.... In another small bowl beat eggs and stir in 1 tbsp cinnamon and the milk.

Roll out the crescent dough into their triangle shape.  Brush egg mixture onto the dough. Place three blackberries in the center and roll the dough into a ball covering the berries. Brush more of the egg mixture on the outside of the ball.

Once the blackberry mixture in the skillet has begun to bubble add the dough balls.  Cover and let sizzle for 10 minutes.  

Flip the dumplings over and let sizzle another 5-10 minutes.

Remove from heat and serve with vanilla bean ice cream or cool whip.

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Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

I always buy too many bananas.  I eventually forget that I even have them and they just sit on the counter screaming "Please use me!"

Days later my girl's finally see them and start screaming for bananas.  I pull them out of the bag the grocer packaged them up in and TADA!...they have black polka dots, are extremely squishy, and I have to somehow think of a way to destract the kids with some other type of snack.

This bribing doesn't work for them.  They don't forget anything and they aren't going to just let me get away with this. I tell the husband to occupy them for a little bit and I make something they will agree with.

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread!!!

Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have a winner ladies and gentlemen!!

The bread wasn't even out of the oven yet before everyone started shouting and jumping up and down in anticipation.  I had to fight my husband off quite a few times just so I could take a picture!  My own piece of bread?....HAHAHA yea right! Mom's don't get anything "food related" to their own.  Especially when it is filled with bananas and warm melted chocolate chips!

They keep calling it cake.  Which I can't totally disagree with.  It was pretty delicious and super moist!  They have had 3 pieces this morning and are currently jumping up on the table telling me.... "Mommy! More cake!!"

I don't know what excuse I am going to use when it's all gone! HELP! 

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Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

By: Crystal Barrett

Makes 1 bread loaf                                     (Click Here to Print)                               

Ingredients 

3 old very ripe bananas

1 tsp lemon juice

2 c all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

8 tbsp softened butter

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c sugar

1 c chocolate chips

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 c sour cream

Directions 

Preheat oven to 325 F

Grease and flour bread pan.

In a medium bowl mash he bananas until they are creamy.  Stir in lemon juice and set to the side.

In a seperate medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

In a large bowl cream the butter with the eggs, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.

Fold in bananas.

Add vanilla and sour cream.

Mix well.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Add dry ingredients and fold very gently.

Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes or until you can stick a toothpick in the center an it comes out clean.

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Butterfinger Poke Cake

Summertime is my favorite season of all!  Other than the heat....and having to wear bathing suits, it always makes me so happy.  There is just so much to do when it is warm and beautiful outside. 
We have been going to the pool with friends, fishing in our pond, meeting friends at the lake, and don't even get me started on the cookouts people have.

When it comes to cookouts I always want to make an AMAZING JAW DROPPING dish. I mean, I want people to know I can cook! I love it when others ask me for recipes, especially friends and family.  It makes me feel all gooey inside knowing others love my cooking :) So feel free to drop some lovely comments on by ;)

I am making dinner for my family tonight and I wanted something easy but delicious for desert.  I have been craving peanut butter and chocolate and thought back to this Butterfinger Poke Cake.  It has been probably 2 years since I have made it.  I sent my sweet husband to the grocery store and got busy as soon as I had time last night.

I usually make this cake with yellow cake mix, but I was craving chocolate and thought I would try it.  I tried to look up recipes on Pinterest to help me remember how to make mine since it had been so long.  However, I had no luck with the links downloading so I winged it.

Angie from Big Bears Wife was over when I putting this cake together.  It looked and smelled so good we had to taste test.  Ooops! Didn't even wait for it to cool!  Is it bad that we tore up the cake before I even had the guests over to try it?  Oh well.... it was worth it!  My husband even ate it which tells me it must have been AMAZINGLY JAW DROPPING !!  YES!  Score for me! I guess for dinner tonight I'll go ahead and place them on plates so no one knows our little secret ;)


Angie urged to me to post this to share with the world....so here it is :)
I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did! 

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Butterfinger Poke Cake

By: Crystal Barrett

Makes 9x13 dish                                          (Click Here to Print)                           

Ingredients 

1 box of devils food cake mix or yellow

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 jar caramel sauce

4 full sized Butterfinger candy bars

1 big container of cool whip

chocolate syrup

Directions 

1)  Mix cake mix as bake as said on the back of the box in 8 by 13 glass dish.  It will bake        about 30 minutes on 350.

2)  Let cool and poke several holes in the cake.  I use a straw but you can also use a fork.

3)  In a medium sized bowl mix the sweetened condensed milk with about 3/4 of the jar of        caramel sauce.

4) Pour over the cake and let sit for about 5-10 minutes to let the cake absorb the sauce.

5) Spoon the cool whip evenly over the cake.

6)  Crush the Butterfinger bars and spread over the cool whip.

7) Drip the leftover caramel and a bit of chocolate syrup over the layer of Butterfingers.

    Make sure to keep refrigerated while the cake isn't being served.

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Gluten Free Dairy Free Apple Cake with Honey Glaze

Apple Cake is one of my favorite desserts! The first time I had it was Christmas Eve and I was only 9 years old!  Unfortunately, it took until now for me to find a recipe to try it again.  Yes, it has been 15 years since I have had it; and guess what? ... It is still my favorite!! 

This Apple Cake tastes just like a cinnamon roll.  Better yet.... one of those cinnamon raisin biscuits from Hardee's. It can be eaten for dessert.... or breakfast ;) and I always pretend it's healthy for me because of the apples.  I can pretend right?

Recently my husband and I have built a new home together.  With a new home there comes a lot of new visitors and entertaining.  Visitors and entertaining is fine by me because I love an excuse to cook!  However, my husbands family has started a gluten free-dairy free diet.  When knowing they are coming for dinner I admit I panic a little.  Thinking of gluten free-dairy free recipes may not seem difficult, but at the moment everything we can think of includes some type of noodle or cheese.  I settle with the easy baked chicken and vegetables.  But what about dessert?  I'm known as the dessert queen so it has to be a killer gluten free dessert!  I automatically wanted to try my apple cake.  This cake has been made completely gluten and dairy free and it is just as scrumptious as before!

I have made this cake 5 times in the last two months!  I'm guessing it's everyone else's favorite now too :)

If you make this Apple Cake, please feel free to come back and leave me a comment telling me what you think!  If you have any suggestions please feel free to share! 

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  Gluten Free Dairy Free Apple Cake with Honey Glaze

By: Crystal Barrett

Makes 1 Bundt Pan. About 15 servings.

                                 (Click Here to Print)

                                                                                                    

Ingredients 

Glaze: 

2 cup powdered sugar

4 tbsp. honey

4 tbsp. soy milk

Cake:

3 peeled and diced granny apples

1 cup chopped toasted walnuts (or 1/4 cup Earth's Balance and 1 cup regular chopped walnuts)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. cinnamon

3 cup gluten free all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 cup sugar

1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

You will need 3 large bowls, a small bowl, a mixer, and a bundt pan.

Directions 

1-  Heat oven to 350 and lightly grease bundt pan

2- In a small bowl melt walnuts and 1/2 a stick of unsalted butter in the microwave for             about 2 minutes.  Stir every 30 seconds.

3- In a large bowl mix the diced apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and vanilla.  Set aside.

4- In a separate large bowl mix the flour, baking soda, and salt.  Set this aside as well.

5-  In another large bowl beat the sugar, oil, and eggs for about 2-3 minutes. Add the flour        mix and beat until well combined.  Fold in the apple mixture.

6-  Scrape batter into the bundt pan and bake in the over for 1 hour 30 min or until done. 

7-  Allow to cool for about an hour before dumping the cake onto a plate.

8-  When you have turned the cake out, in a small bowl, mix the

     powdered sugar with the soy milk.  Mix really good with a spoon making sure to                  dissolve all sugar clumps.  Add the honey and stir very well.  Drizzle the glaze over the        Apple Cake.

9- Enjoy!!!

** If you don't want this to be gluten or dairy free:

     Use regular all purpose flour in place of the gluten free

     Use regular milk in place of the soy milk.

     If using Earth's Balance to toast your walnuts, use 1/2 a stick of unsalted butter.

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Watergate Salad #SundaySupper

This Sunday Supper is all about Spring!  I love spring!  It is my favorite season!  Out with the cold weather and in with the warm!

When I think of spring I think of flowers, baby birds, Easter, trees full of green again, and of course St. Patrick's day!  I do not really know much about St. Patrick's Day other than everything is supposed to be green.  It was always fun growing up trying to plan my outfits to make sure I was to never be pinched!  Now that I am a housewife with nowhere to go, my food has to be the same way.  I want green, delicious, and creative ideas for St. Patrick's day dinner.

When I was trying to come up with green food ideas the first thought I had was Watergate Salad.  "Green Stuff".  I was introduced to this a few years ago and LOVED it!  It a sweet chilled dessert, perfect for cookouts, and SUPER easy to make.  Plus it has my favorite ingredients...marshmallows and cool whip! MMMM!


This "green stuff" is delicious!  I have been trying to get my husband to try it but since it has pineapple he refuses :( I froze it and made it into ice cream (his favorite thing) so maybe now I have a chance ! I'll let you know how it goes! 

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Watergate Salad

By: Crystal Barrett

                                                               

Ingredients 

1 - 3.4 oz package of JELLO Pistachio Pudding mix

1 - 8 oz package of Cool Whip

1 cup nuts.  I used walnuts.

1 can of crushed pineapple.  Do not drain!

1 cup of coconut

1/2 of a bag of mini marshmallows

Directions 

Mix the pudding mix very well with the package of Cool Whip.

Add pineapples, nuts, coconut, and marshmallows.

Refrigerate for at least an hour.  

*If you want the salad in ice cream form just freeze in the freezer for a few hours.

Enjoy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

#SundaySupper Spring Recipes

Published March 14, 2013 | By mamapoole

The warm weather is creeping in (did you smile, I sure did!) and our first day of Spring, March 20th, is right around the corner! Let’s warm up around the table with our friends from our #SundaySupper team and share delicious spring time recipes! Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day green, green food or spring inspired, our group sure has a menu to please your taste buds!
Green and Spring Dishes Menu Includes:
Breakfast

• Baked Eggs with Shaved Asparagus and Proscuitto by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Shrimp and Leek Quiche by  Gourmet Drizzles
• Spinach and Cheddar Quiche for St. Patrick’s Day Brunch by Supper For A Steal
• Asparagus and Spring Onion Frittatta by Country Girl in the Village
• Savory Crepes with Prawns, Broccoli and Hollandaise Sauce by Masala Herb
• Egg Bake with Spring Onions, Asparagus and Artichokes by The Wimpy Vegetarian

Apps, Bread, Salads, Soups and Dressings:

• Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread by The Meltaways
• Strawberry, Avocado, Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette by Daily Dish Recipes
• Asparagus Gazpacho by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
• Spinach Bacon Salad by In The Kitchen with Audrey
• Anchovy and Egg Salad by Pescetarian Journal
• Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup by Fast Food to Fresh Food
• Asparagus Red Pepper Salad by No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
• White Asparagus & Salmon Spring Salad by Family Foodie
• Chicken-Strawberry Field Green Salad w/Strawberry Balsamic Dressing by The Weekend Gourmet
• Bacon & Egg Spring Salad by Daddy Knows Less
• Green Garbanzo Hummus by Soni’s Food

Main and Sides:

• Pea Shoot Risotto by Small Wallet, Big Appetite
• Creamy Meyer Lemon Pasta by Juanita’s Cocina
• Sweet Ginger Scallion Noodles by What Smells So Good?
• Asparagus Pesto w/Heirloom Fingerlings and Orecchiette by Webicurean
• Coddle for St. Patrick’s Day by Noshing With The Nolands
• Corned Beef Cabbage Rolls by Curious Cuisiniere
• Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts with Gruyère and Hazelnuts by Hip Foodie Mom
• Raw Cucumber Sandwich with Avocado and Spinach Sauce by Mama’s Blissful Bites
• Berry Tacos by Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Asparagus and Prosciutto Bundles by Diabetic Foodie
• Caramelized Grapes and Brie Whole Wheat Galette by Vintage Kitchen
• Pink Water Kimchi (Nabak Kimchi) by Kimchi Mom

Desserts:

• Key Lime Cheesecake by The Foodie Army Wife
• Irish Coffee Ice Cream with Caramel Whiskey Sauce by 30A Eats
• Key Lime Cream Cheese Empanadas by La Cocina de Leslie
• Coconut Raspberry Layer Cake by Gotta Get Baked
• Fresh Mango  Berry Mousse With Coconut Cream by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Gluten Free Carrot Cookies by Simply Gourmet
• Chocolate Mint Brownies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Strawberry Sorbet by Magnolia Days
• Cadbury Creme Egg Pull-Apart Sweet Rolls by Chocolate Moosey
• Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Meyer Lemon Ice Cream Sandwiches by Cravings of a Lunatic
• Lemon Roll Cake by The Ninja Baker
• Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Candied Flowers by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Lemon Citrus Cookies by Mom’s Test Kitchen
• Mini Fruit Tarts by Big Bear’s Wife
• Chocolate Pudding with Irish Cream by Buffy and George
• Faux Fried Ice Cream by Neighborfood
• Watergate Salad by Cupcakes and Pearls Blog
• Good-for-You Strawberry Tiramisu Cheesecake Cups by Cupcakes & Kale Chips

Beverages:

• Guinness Beer Milkshake by The Urban Mrs
• Wines to Pair with Springtime #SundaySupper Dishes by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
• Irish Spring Tea Party by My Cute Bride

Please be sure you join us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper. We’ll be meeting up at 7:00 p.m. EST for our weekly #SundaySupper  live chat where we’ll talk about our favorite cookout recipes!
All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, or you can follow us throughTweetChat!

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