Pumpkin Einkorn Muffins | Life After Coffee

Today I'm happy to be hosting a TLC book tours stop for the first novel by Virginia Franken. Centered around 30-something wife, mom, and coffee buyer Amy O'Hara, Life After Coffee delves into the somewhat taboo storyline of a working mom who actually enjoys her life. Amy has a hunky husband (Peter) who takes care of their two young children (Billy, 5 and Violet, 3) while she travels the world in 6-week stretches, sourcing the finest coffee beans and connecting with farmers and is happy to be the sole breadwinner in the family.

Her life tumbles down around her when her boss sells his company due to troubles in the coffee industry and she's left without a job. Peter is only too happy to immediately hand over the reigns so that he can finish the screenplay he's been working on for five years. Hilarity and hijinks ensue as Amy realizes that she really has no idea how to fill the parental role she's been thrust into.

25 Desserts (that aren't Pie) for your Thanksgiving Table

It's no secret that I love pie...and our Thanksgiving dessert spread reflects that love. But while I'm satisfied with (eventually) making my way through three or four kinds of pie, I hear tell that there are people who don't feel the same. I mean, apparently there are people who don't even serve a single pie, but instead turn to cake, cookies, cheesecake, or another sweet treat. I know—MIND. BLOWN.

Dramatic? Me? 

But seriously, if you're looking for a couple of dessert options that aren't pie, I've gathered 25 absolutely tempting dessert recipes below, all of which have a "fall feel" and would fit perfectly at your Thanksgiving table this year. And guess what? I even have one non-pie dessert option planned to serve alongside my pie. Madness!

Pumpkin Caramel Sea Salt Blondies

Welcome to the November edition of Blogger CLUE Society! As you may have seen in the past, we have a monthly theme to aid us in the hunt of our assigned blog, and this month's theme is Pie and other Thanksgiving Desserts. This suited me just fine since I am featuring Thanksgiving recipes daily leading up to the big meal this year!

Of course I went in all psyched up to find a new recipe that would fit in amongst our yearly pie assortment...you know about my deep love of pie, right? Well, sometimes we have to adapt...annaDishes was my assigned blog for this month—and she doesn't have any pie recipes on her blog! After the nervous sweats died down (what, no pie!?), I went hunting again...with a fresh perspective.

Although pie is first and foremost in my choices of Thansgiving dessert, lately I've been opening my mind to the possibility of another dessert (or two) alongside the pie. I thought about making Anna's Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies or maybe her Grammy's Hermits, but in the end it was her Maple Caramel Sea Salt Blondies that won my heart.

Yes, I know I said maple, not pumpkin. And I went in with the full intention of making them with maple syrup until I realized there was only about a teaspoon of maple syrup in the bottom of my bottle...after I'd already started mixing things together. Doh! So I improvised and swapped one seasonal flavor for another.

I have to admit, they were pretty wonderful; they would definitely hold their own in any holiday dessert spread. As soon as I replenish my maple syrup stock, I'll be making Anna's original version, as well.

Pumpkin Caramel Sea Salt Blondies

Pockets of caramel and chocolate complement the rich taste of brown sugar mingling with seasonal pumpkin in these blondies that are special enough to earn a place at your holiday table.

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Keywords: bake dessert vegetarian nut-free pumpkin caramel chocolate Thanksgiving bars American fall

Ingredients (9 large or 16 small blondies)

• 4 ounces (8 tablespoons / 1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (or 1/2 teaspoon flaked or coarse sea salt)
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark)
• 8 soft caramels, quartered (~2 1/2 ounces or a heaping 1/4 cup)

to finish:

• flaked or coarse sea salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease an 8"x8" baking pan (then line with parchment paper if you wish).

Combine melted butter and sugar and mix until smooth, then beat in the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Stir in the flour and salt until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and caramel pieces.

Pour into prepared pan, then slide into preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until set in the middle. Set the pan on a wire rack, sprinkle with coarse of flaked sea salt, then allow to cool.

note:

If you'd like, try topping your cooled blondies with some chocolate or caramel icing/frosting before sprinkling on the sea salt.

Anna's original recipe used maple syrup instead of pumpkin, which I can't wait to try. She also used milk chocolate chips which I has every intention of using, as well...until I realized that somebody had raided the pantry and there were none to be found (they would be equally wonderful here). Anna also topped hers in melted milk chocolate chips before sprinkling on the salt.

The blogger C.L.U.E (Cook, Learn, Undertake, Eat) Society meets every month in a game of mystery, intrigue, and fun! We are given a theme and secretly assigned another member's blog; our mission is to hunt through our assigned blog to find a recipe that fits the theme through our eyes. We then head into the kitchen and recreate the recipe and post together on reveal day!

I'm a lifelong mystery-lover, my favorite board game is CLUE, and I'm a believer that there's no better way to get to know somebody than through food—is there any doubt that I enjoy this event!?

Today is reveal day, and this month's theme is: Pie and Other Thanksgiving Desserts. Join me in reading about the food hunted down this month in the #bloggerCLUE member's kitchens!

• Aunt Orlean's Pie Dough by Stacy from Food Lust People Love
• Bacon and Leek Quiche by Sue from A Palatable Pastime
• Black Forest Fruit Pie by Stacy from Food Lust People Love
• Brownie Pecan Pie by Christiane from Taking on Magazines
• Cast Iron Apple Pie by Lisa from Suburban Gourmet
• Cauliflower and Leek Quiche by Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie by Aly from Cooking in Stilettos
• Classic Pumpkin Pie by Jean from Lemons and Anchovies
• Fig and Caramelized Onion Crostini by Christy from Confessions of a Culinary Diva
• Five Spice Apple Pie by Kate from Kate's Kitchen
• French Silk Pie with Frangelico by Christiane from Taking on Magazines
• Lemon Almond Cake by Azmina from Lawyer Loves Lunch
• Lemon Icebox Pie by Kathy from A Spoonful of Thyme
• Pumpkin Caramel Sea Salt Blondies by Heather from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie by Kelli from Kelli's Kitchen
• Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream by Debra from Eliot's Eats
• Roasted Butternut Squash Dip by Anna from annaDishes
• Semisweet Chocolate Tart with Candied Pistachios by Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Southern Buttermilk Pie by Lora from Cake Duchess
• Vegan Blueberry Cranberry Mini Cashew Icebox Cheesecakes by Kim from Liv Life

"Great Pumpkin" White Hot Chocolate + DIY Linus's Blanket Mug Cozy inspired by The Peanuts Movie

Guess what movie hits theaters today? The Peanuts Movie! Call me old school, but Charlie Brown and the gang just make me happy. In honor of its release, I've teamed up with 10 other "Blockbuster Bloggers" to bring you some movie-inspired food and crafts. This month, each of us picked a different Peanuts character to focus on, and I chose my personal favorite, Linus.

Linus is Charlie Brown's best friend and Lucy's younger brother. He's wise beyond his years and can't function properly without his beloved security blanket. Aside from the blanket, when I think of Linus, I think of The Great Pumpkin. While everybody else dons costumes and heads out trick-or-treating, Linus sets up camp in the pumpkin patch, waiting to welcome the Great Pumpkin. He believes that the most "sincere" pumpkin patch is where the Great Pumpkin will stop and bring gifts.

Although Linus has his trusty blanket, I can't help but think how cold he must be waiting in a pumpkin patch on a dark, autumn evening. So, I decided that he needed a mug of a tasty hot beverage to help keep him warm. This white hot chocolate is infused with pumpkin, orange, and a hint of spice.

Linus photo courtesty of The Peanuts Movie website

Oh, and the mug gets a little blanket of its own in the form of a homemade cozy (koozie) modeled after Linus's blanket.

What you'll need to make your own Linus's Blanket Mug Cozy:

• Soft, light blue "blanket-type" fabric (1 yard will make a TON of cozies, so you decide how much you need)
• measuring tape
• fabric scissors
• safety pins
• needle
• thread
• button (1 per cozy)

1. Use the measuring tape to measure around your mug, between the handle. Add an extra inch to the length and the height, and cut a piece of fabric that size.
2. Fold a 1/2 inch of fabric in on each edge ("show" side down), using safety pins to secure the folds.
3. Sew each edge, holding the pinned fabric securely between your thumb and fingers to keep it straight. You can remove the pins from each edge as you finish them (this helps to keep the thread from getting caught on them as you work).
4. Wrap your sewn fabric around the mug, eyeballing where you'd like to place the button and button hole. You could make a mark with a fabric pen if you need to, but I just place a finger on the spot.
5. Sew a button on the spot you eyeballed, then wrap it around again to eyeball the spot for the buttonhole. Fold the fabric over on that spot and snip a very small hole (smaller than the button) in the fabric.
6. Secure the soft, fuzzy cozy around your mug.

Now that you have a soft cozy on your mug, fill it with this "Great Pumpkin" White Hot Chocolate. It will warm your bones while you sit outside awaiting the great pumpkin!

"Great Pumpkin" White Hot Chocolate

Rich white hot chocolate infused with pumpkin to celebrate the season.

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Keywords: beverage pumpkin white chocolate orange vegetarian soy-free Halloween Thanksgiving American winter fall

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 3 cups whole or 2% milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• peel of one orange, cut into a long strip (or 2 or 3- w/ no pith attached)
• 8 ounces good white chocolate, chopped (or good white chocolate chips)
• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 3/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
• freshly grated nutmeg
• tiny pinch of fine sea salt

Instructions

Combine milk, cream, and strips of orange peel in a medium-sized sauce pot over medium-low heat. Bring to a boil, stirring from time to time. Gradually whisk in the white chocolate until it is entirely melted, then whisk in the pumpkin puree until smooth and steamy.

Turn off the heat and whisk in almond extract, a few fresh grates of nutmeg, and the tiny pinch of sea salt. Lift out the orange peel and discard.

Ladle into mugs and garnish with another fresh grate of nutmeg and some finely grated orange zest, if you wish.

I hope you'll check out these other fun recipes and crafts inspired by The Peanuts Movie and its characters:

• Charlie Brown Marshmallow Pops from Bread Booze Bacon
• Little Red-Haired Girl Chocolate Popcorn from Celebrating Family
• Printable Snoopy Dog House from Liz on Call
• Woodstock Banana Pudding Filled Chocolate Cupcakes from Big Bear's Wife
• Lucy Bento Lunch Box from East Valley Mom Guide
• "Great Pumpkin" White Hot Chocolate + DIY Linus's Blanket Mug Cozy from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
• Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Cookies from Around My Family Table
• Pipe Cleaner Glasses Craft from Popsiculture
• Dust Storm Salted Toffee Muddy Buddies from Lady Behind The Curtain
• Mud Pie Brownies from Sugar and Soul
• Schroeder's Piano Key Cookies from Love Bakes Good Cakes

Pumpkin Cheesecake w/ Gingersnap Crust

You know how time flies, right? One holiday sneaks up on you, then you blink and another one is right in your face. Well, this month I'm prepared. I'm grabbing Thanksgiving by the horns and wrangling it in. Starting November 1, I'll be sharing recipes and roundups featuring recipes fit for Thanksgiving all month long...because Thanksgiving is my favorite food-day of the entire year!

Why mention that now when it's still October? Well, I'm taking advantage of this month's pumpkin theme for Progressive Eats to get a head start on November. Thanksgiving and pie go hand in hand, and traditionally it's always been pecan and pumpkin pies in my family. When I got older and started making my own pies, I started adding another one or two to the mix every year.

Well, this may be the year that I add a cheesecake to the mix. I decided to bake this last week and test it out on my extended family last week at my grandpa's 90th birthday celebration. Let's just say that I didn't bring a single piece home. The rich, creamy, lightly spiced cheesecake filling sits perfectly atop a spicy gingerbread crust and is adorned with crunchy bits of candied pecans.

I know this is practically sacrilege, but it's almost like Pumpkin Pie Plus. It tastes an awful lot like pumpkin pie...but richer and creamier. And you'll have to check back with me on this (once I've eaten it a couple more times), but it wind up replacing pumpkin pie altogether on our Thanksgiving tables of the future.

Pumpkin Cheesecake w/ Gingersnap Crust

This spiced pumpkin cheesecake that sits between a gingerbread crust and a layer of candied pecans is a delicious alternative to pie this Thanksgiving.

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Keywords: bake dessert vegetarian soy-free Thanksgiving American fall winter

Ingredients (serves 10-12)

for the crust:

• 4 ounces gingersnaps
• 1.5 ounces (1/3 cup) pecan halves
• 2 ounces (1/4 cup firmly packed) brown sugar
• 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

for the filling:

• 16 ounces cream cheese, at soft room temperature
• 8 ounces (1 cup) pumpkin puree
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 6 ounces (3/4 cup firmly packed) brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• pinch of fine sea salt

for the topping:

• 2 ounces (1/2 cup) pecan halves
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• pinch of fine sea salt

Instructions

Make the crust:

Lightly butter a 9-inch springform pan. Combine gingersnaps and pecans in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until crumbly. Add the brown sugar and melted butter and pulse a few times until it is the texture of wet sand.

Pour the crumbs into the springform pan and use your fingers to pan the mixture into the bottom and about 1-2 inches up the sides of the pan as evenly as you can get it. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside.

Make the filling:

Rinse and dry the bowl for the food processor. Add all of the ingredients for the filling to the bowl and puree until very smooth, using a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides if needed. Pour and scrape the filling into the chilled crust, smoothing the top.

Set the whole thing onto the prepared baking sheet and slide into preheated oven. Bake until the cheesecake is set and a thin-bladed paring knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Let cool completely on a wire rack, removing the outside of the springform pan once you see the sides pull away. You can run a thin-bladed knife around the edge to be sure that nothing sticks first. Wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Make the topping:

Set aside 10 pecan halves; finely chop the rest. Heat the butter in a small pan over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the pecans and sprinkle the sugar and a pinch of salt over them. Cook, stirring, until the sugar melts and the nuts are toasted and covered in caramel.

Transfer to a piece of parchment paper and allow to cool completely. If it sticks together in large clumps, just use a sharp knife to chop it back up into fine pieces.

Just before serving, sprinkle the candied pecans evenly over the top of the cheesecake and arrange the extra pecan halves evenly around the perimeter.

-adapted from Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving Entertaining

Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month's theme is all about Pumpkin and is hosted by Jeanette Chen who blogs at Jeanette’s Healthy Living. With Autumn’s arrival, it’s the perfect time to start using fall’s harvest in our menus. We have some great ideas this month to use pumpkins in all sorts of dishes, both Savory and Sweet.

If you're unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.

Savory

• Pumpkin Cappuccino Soup from The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Pasta with Mascarpone Pumpkin Sauce and Toasted Walnuts from Creative Culinary
• Kaddu Ka Ambal - Sweet and Tart Pumpkin Curry from Spice Roots
• Roasted Pumpkin Herb Focaccia from Pastry Chef Online

Sweet

• Pumpkin Cheesecake w/ Gingersnap Crust from All Roads Lead To The Kitchen
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies from Never Enough Thyme
• Pumpkin scones from Mother Would Know
• Skinny Pumpkin Chai Latte from Jeanette’s Healthy Living
• Caramel Topped Pumpkin Cheesecake from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Snack Cake from Miss in the Kitchen

We have a core group of 12 bloggers, but we will always need substitutes and if there is enough interest would consider additional groups. To see our upcoming themes and how you can participate, please check out the schedule at Creative Culinary or contact Barb for more information.

Split Pea and Smoked Turkey Soup

If you know me and my "soup preferences", you're probably surprised to see this recipe. I'm not a very big (or even small) fan of thick, pureed vegetable soups. I usually avoid them like the plague. It feels like I'm eating baby food. And yet, here I am pushing a big pot of baby food in your direction. My only explanation is one I use often—I am a walking contradiction.

I haven't gone dark side, this weekend was simply a "clean fridge and pantry" kind of weekend, and well, necessity is the mother of invention. I had a package of yellow split peas that were nearing their best-by date. I still had about a third of a smoked turkey in the fridge. Plus, there's never really a time that celery and carrots aren't waiting their turn in the crisper. Soup it was.

Fast forward to the fact that today is actually the start of the 11th week of the Twelve Weeks of Winter Squash—and I've been a true slacker in this department for an entire month. Seriously, I've neglected to post a winter squash recipe for the past four weeks. I'm ashamed. Needless to say, I fell short of that goal this year. But I couldn't let another week go by with only my best intentions to show, so I grabbed a can of pumpkin puree from the pantry and added that to the mix.

Buttermilk Pumpkin Pie

I can't make it through Thanksgiving without eating at least one slice of pumpkin pie. Does anybody else feel that way? I'm sure it's a tradition-slash-nostalgia type of deal. But the crazy thing is, if we're not having Thanksgiving dinner with the extended family (my grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.), I am the only one who will eat it. Not a single one of my kids likes it. My hubby doesn't like it. And yet, I can't do without it. Therefore, I wind up either trying to eat a whole pie by myself or throwing the majority of a pie away. Both scenarios make me sad.

I need to buy one of those split-decision pie pans. I would feel much better about finding something a way to consume or save half of a pie. But then the problem lies in what to make on the other half of the pan. Pretty much all of the other pies are devoured in their entirety. I suppose that could be my "experimental pie" side. Sounds like a plan. Or there's always an individual tart...

But this year was still a full pie. And we stayed home, so you can probably guess what happened to the majority of it. I always try to switch things up a bit, try a variation on the Libby's recipe I grew up with (not that there's anything wrong with that one, it's just in my nature). This year's pumpkin pie used buttermilk in the filling, which added a nice little tang that worked to temper the sweetness and complement the spice.

Cardamom-laced Pumpkin Steel-Cut Oatmeal

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Silk. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've always been a milk-drinker. Growing up it was always dairy, and I don't think I even knew there was an alternative. I've even been a shareholder of a grass-fed organic dairy herd. I like dairy milk and I don't have any sensitivities to it. That being said, now that I'm "all grown up", I also keep alternative varieties on milk on hand at all times. One—because you never know when an intolerant person might drop by, and two—because I like using different types of milks for different applications.

I almost always have a can of coconut milk in my pantry. It's good for me to keep rice milk around because my mom can't have dairy, nuts, or soy. I use almond milk on a fairly regular basis, and soy milk from time to time. Often you hear about making nut milks at home, and while it's something I'll probably try making (because I like to try making everything myself—at least once), I know I wouldn't make it on a regular basis. I know a lot of vegans (and non-vegans) who use cashew cream, and it's always intrigued me, so when I saw that Silk® now makes cashew milk, I knew I wanted to try it.

I went for the unsweetened, because I like to control the end result (I knew I'd be using most of it as an ingredient). But of course, I had to drink some to give it the old college try before I went any further. The carton says "irresistibly creamy"...and it's right. The Silk Cashewmilk is creamy with an entirely natural and pleasant mouthfeel. Sorry, I know some people hate the word "mouthfeel", but it fits here. When you tilt your head back to take a gulp, the cashewmilk does not feel cloying or unnaturally thick. It has a mild, pleasant taste. And it BEGS to be used in oatmeal. Really, I heard it.

Giant Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls

It was almost exactly 5 years ago to the day that I made my first from scratch, fully homemade batch of cinnamon rolls. I was so darn proud of myself, because I had just started to become friends with yeast. We're a family of cinnamon roll eaters through the generations, so that was a pretty significant moment in my life. Coincidentally, they also had a pumpkin base. But oh, how far I've come since then. Where once I avoided baking yeast breads like they were the plague, I now long for the comfort of their company in the kitchen. What a difference 5 years can make.

So, when our #TwelveLoaves host for the month, the lovely Renee from Kudos Kitchen by Renee, announced that our theme for November was pumpkin, I automatically knew that I was making cinnamon rolls. No, that's a lie—but wouldn't it have been poetic? I was actually leaning towards savory. Visions of a sage-laced pumpkin cornbread danced in my head. And then I entertained a rustic loaf that still included sage, but also bacon. I even had all of the ingredients ready to go for that one. But instead, the craving for cinnamon rolls full-on telenovela-slapped me across the face. Cinnamon rolls it was.

I've mentioned (many times) before that I'm a bit of a connoisseur. I love a good straightforward cinnamon bun without any bells and whistles, but I can't help but veer off the path, picking up random bells and whistles and sticking them in my bag for later. Today is a bells and whistles day. Did I just say bells and whistles far too many times in one paragraph? 

Vegan Pumpkin Bread inspired by How to Bake a Man

Let me start off by saying that this book is pure fun. I took along with me to read on my flight to Seattle a few weeks ago, and finished it shortly into my return flight. I was disappointed after I turned the final page, not because of the book, but because I didn't want to stop reading.

How to Bake a Man is a fast, light-hearted jaunt into the world of 27-year old Becca who hasn't quite figured out yet what she wants to do with her life—other than bake (because that's what she's truly good at). Just as she's about to go back to school for her MBA, she decides that she'd rather push a food cart filled with baked goods through an office building. She's a feeder, and anybody who loves to cook or bake knows that her choice is inevitable (oh she who speaks from experience...).

With a cast of characters that includes (but is in no way limited to) a long-distance best friend, a handsome and confident snakeskin boot-wearin' neighbor, an evil doppelganger,  the perfect man, and a menu full of tempting food—I found it hard not to lose myself in the world of Becca's Best.

Curried Pumpkin Coconut Soup

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Libby's. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've never been shy about my love for pumpkin. It's healthy. It's versatile. It's delicious. It's a superfood that packs a powerful boost of Vitamin A (which promotes healthy bones, skin, and eyes) and fiber which, along with a balanced diet, helps to protect your body from certain types of cancer and heart disease. So, when I was offered the opportunity to partner with Libby’s Pumpkin to promote the versatility and health benefits of eating pumpkin year-round, I happily accepted.

So wait, pumpkin year-round? Oh yeah, I said it. Don't shove those hoarded cans of pumpkin puree to the back of your pantry once the cool weather finally gives way to a Spring thaw. Instead, shift your perspective. I'll concede to the fact that your warming spices may no longer be displayed prominently next to your salt and pepper, though.

I mean, did you know that one serving of Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin actually provides more than 100% of your daily allowance of Vitamin A, and 20% of your daily fiber requirement? Why would you want to forget about such an easy source of antioxidants for 3/4 of the year? That's just crazy talk.

Pumpkin Power Smoothie {12 Weeks of Winter Squash}

So, it seems that 2014 is not about to slow down and give me any time to catch my breath. It's been less than a week and I already need to pick up my pace. So, while I said (okay, implied) that I was done copping out and using pumpkin in my 12 Weeks of Winter Squash posts...I'm doing it one last time.

But fortunately, this is a POWER smoothie. So, you know, now I have the energy to power through a few tasks that need doing. Case in point: I actually already have my dish for next week done. And there isn't a can of pumpkin anywhere in sight.

Of course, there are only two...TWO!...weeks left of our 12 week journey. But hey, every week counts. I'm hoping that I get my bootie in gear and bust into that Blue Hubbard that I mentioned weeks (months?) ago for our final week.

Pumpkin-Oatmeal Cookies {12 Weeks of Winter Squash}

It's funny, because last year during the 12 Weeks of Winter Squash, I don't remember doing a single recipe that contained pumpkin puree. I used whole varieties of other squash all the way through. This year, I've used puree more often than not. It may have something to do with the ridiculous stock of it lining my pantry. Apparently I went a little nuts at the end-of-the-season sale last year.

It kind of feels like I'm cheating. Or using Cliffs Notes instead of reading the book. I'm sliding by with a C-. But fortunately, I've always been able to plead my case convincingly. Take these cookies for example.

They are soft without being cakey, and studded with bits of pepitas, toasty pecans, and tart dried cranberries. Plus, they have oats. Oats means that they are totally acceptable to eat for breakfast. And that beautiful orange hue? It comes from the addition of pumpkin. Also healthy.

Pumpkin Fry Bread

...or is it Fried Pumpkin Bread?  My intention was for this to be a somewhat typical fry bread.  Flatter, chewy, utterly addictive.  I somewhat failed in that department.  Fortunately the bread that I wound up with wasn't an all-around fail.  It was actually entirely delicious in its own right.

But really, can you go wrong with fried dough?  I think  not.

Instead of reminding me of fry bread or an elephant ear, these fried pumpkin breads remind me of a cake doughnut.  They're sort of the same texture.  Like a cross between a doughnut and a muffin.  Have I just made the world's first fried muffin!?  I refuse to google that, for fear that I will be proved wrong.

Spiced Pumpkin Rum Flan #CaptainsTable

Do you have a go-to dessert for a specific holiday?  I tend to choose lemon bars and a fresh coconut tart for Easter.  For Christmas I lean towards cookies, candies, and gingerbread.  And Thanksgiving?  Well, Thanksgiving it's always pie.  It really never seemed like Thanksgiving if there wasn't pie for dessert.  Not that it was a rule or anything...technically.  But if it was a rule, I would have broken it this year.

Of course, this year seemed anything but traditional.  I usually spend a solid month planning and re-planning my menu.  I paste together bits and pieces to make what I think will make the perfect meal for the year.  I have a notebook.  It has headings.  If you were to glance at it, you'd see Turkey and Gravy, Stuffing (which I should technically call Dressing, because I never actually stuff it into the bird), Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Cranberries, Applesauce (the applesauce is always the same, but I still list the category and fill it in), Sides (because potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and applesauce are always there in some form or another...but the sides often change from year to year), Bread, Drinks, and Desserts.

Into that notebook also goes a shopping list, a prep schedule, and a cooking schedule.  It goes with me everywhere during the month of November, leading up to the big day.  You know, in case I have any things that need to be immediately added or changed.  Lest I forget those changes before I return home.  This was the first year that two or three pies were not listed under Desserts.  Some years, I just use Pies as the heading, as I know that's all that will be there, anyway.  But really, not a single pie.

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

What is a gooey butter cake, you ask?  And why is it called cake when it looks more like pie?  Those are both valid questions.  Let's start with the "what is it".    It's not a "cake cake", it's a "coffee cake cake".  With origins in St. Louis, Missouri, there are several claims to fame (like any famous recipe); ingredients switched...wrong filling mistakenly used...either way it seemed to come about as a happy mistake.  In it's basic form, it is the anti-diet food.  A base of a shortbread nature.  An ooey-gooey filling made from lots of butter, full-fat cream cheese, eggs (with extra yolks), and sugar.  How could it not be irresistible?

There are two schools.  One school uses a yellow cake mix as a base, the other does not.  This version does not.  And the original doesn't have pumpkin in it,either - but as you know, 'tis the season for me to stick pumpkin (or any winter squash for that matter) into anything and everything.

Pumpkin Hummus Mashed Potatoes {12 Weeks of Winter Squash}

I had intended to share an entirely different squashy dish with you today.  It had pasta and kale and colorful Delicata half-moons.  But it got moved to the back burner after I found a fun new way to use my Pumpkin Hummus!

Here's how it came about:  me, two hours of "waiting room time", and a big stack of holiday food magazines.  I've saved Thanksgiving issues of magazines for years.  At least 15.  Yes, it's my favorite holiday.  Planning my Thanksgiving menu is almost as much fun as enjoying it.  And you never know what will jump out at you from the pages of the past.

So, in the midst of ripping up the subscription cards to make bookmarks, I stumbled on one of those little booklets stuck in the center of a Food Network magazine.  Usually I take them out, but this one got missed.  It was a "50 Mashed Potatoes" version.  Out of the purse came a pencil (yes, I carry a pencil around...but it's mechanical, so my purse doesn't get all marked up).

Pumpkin Hummus w/ Spiced Lamb

Everybody has a few dishes that they make that are miles above the same dish when made by someone else.  Don't they?  For example, I am basically in the kitchen at any given hour; cooking, baking, testing, experimenting, eating, or just thinking about food in some form or another.  It's what I do.  But that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy eating somebody else's cooking every now and again.

However, there are two or three dishes that I make better than anyone else.  For me.  For my tastebuds.  And I know that just because I think something is the best, it doesn't mean that you will think it's the best.   But sometimes, you've just got to toot your own horn.  That's okay.  It's healthy to appreciate your talents.

One of my talents is making hummus.  I make a seriously mean hummus.  It was actually my fourth-ever blog post, which means that I've been churning out good hummus for at least the past five years.  So yes, I like hummus in general.  I'll eat hummus if you make it.  And I'll like it.  I'll eat store-bought hummus.  I'll like that, too.  But I get silly with a batch of "my" hummus.  I scoop it up with warm pitas like it's going out of style.  I slather it on toasted bagels.  I eat it on veggie sandwiches.  I dip major amounts of roasted broccoli in it.  I eat it from a spoon.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Popsicles {#SummerOfThePopsicle Guest Post: The Messy Baker}

Who's Holding the Stick:  This week I am happy to have another one of my Sunday Supper friends taking over the Summer of the Popsicle!  Please help me welcome the sweet, talented Jennie of The Messy Baker today.  And I couldn't be more excited that Jennie is ushering in the flavors of Fall with these tempting pops!

Hi, girlichef fans! My name is Jennie. I'm the author, baker, and spatula licker over at The Messy Baker. I'm here today to bring you a frozen treat on a stick. Since we're nearing the end of summer and fall is right around the corner, I decided to make a frozen treat using one of my favorite ingredients--pumpkin!

Soon pumpkin will be all the rage. It will trickle in slowly at first. You'll see a few pumpkin recipes here and there. Then--bam!-- pumpkin everything. There will be copious amounts of pumpkin recipes as far as the eye can see. I'm a lover of pumpkin, so it's cool. I don't mind it one bit. The hardest part for me is choosing which delicious recipe to try first. I'm not going to lie, I try to pack in as many pumpkin recipes as I can before the season is over and I'm left to wait an entire year before having it again.

One of my very favorite pumpkin recipes is pumpkin cheesecake. It's only Squirrel and I, so baking a pumpkin cheesecake for just the two of us isn't ideal. So, I did the next best thing... I made pumpkin cheesecake popsicles. They taste just like cheesecake, only they're individual and frozen. I even made them healthier by using a mixture of low-fat cream cheese and Greek yogurt. I sweetened the frozen treats with all-natural maple syrup and my homemade vanilla syrup (store-bought vanilla syrup will work just fine). The result is creamy popsicle perfection without the guilt.

You're going to love these popsicles. They're velvety smooth and oh so creamy. They taste just like their cheesecake counterpart, only healthier and individually frozen.

The popsicle mixture only takes minutes to whip together and a few hours in the freezer to set up.

I used pumpkin pie spice to add that classic fall flavor that I look forward to months before fall even arrives. The warm spices contrast perfectly with the cold pumpkin mixture.

These frozen treats are perfect for the warm days of September, yet they taste like the warm, spicy flavors of fall. Enjoy!

A big thank you to Heather for having me over for popsicles!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Popsicles

a guest post from Jennie Phaneuf of The Messy Baker

Prep Time: 4 hours 10 mins

Cook Time: n/a

Keywords: dessert snack nut-free soy-free vegetarian cream cheese pumpkin frozen popsicles summer fall

Ingredients (6 popsicles)

• 4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, at room-temperature
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (fat-free or 2%)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup low-fat milk

Instructions

In a large bowl, add cream cheese and Greek yogurt. Using a hand mixer, whisk until smooth. Add the pumpkin puree and whisk until smooth.

Add the maple syrup, vanilla syrup, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and milk. With your mixer on low, slowly whisk until the mixture is completely smooth.

Pour the mixture into your popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 4 hours.

Oh my gosh, Jennie - I have never had a pumpkin popsicle...I need to remedy that pronto!  These sound amazing, I love the cheesecake/pumpkin combo...and I am SO ready for the flavors of Fall.

If you want to see what other delicious treats Jennie is bringing to the table, head on over and see her at her place, The Messy Baker - or visit her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

Gingerbread Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin sits atop

Chewy, sticky gingerbread

Hard to eat just one.

Uh oh.  I'm breaking out the haikus.  You know what that means, right?  Yes, a tough case of writer's block.  I have been staring at a blank screen for 2½ hours.  No joke.  Sure, I've taken minuscule breaks to surf the web.  Because that goes hand-in-hand with writer's block.

I just feel a little all over the place an unable to concentrate.  I think that if I could just take a bite of one of these bars, everything would be okay.  But alas, they disappeared a good two weeks ago.  They were tasty.  I loves me some pumpkin and I really luvs me some gingerbread, so how could putting the two together be wrong?  It couldn't.

This makes a big 'ol batch, so make them when you have a crowd to feed!

Gingerbread Pumpkin Bars

by Heather Schmitt-González

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25-35 minutes

Keywords: bake dessert pumpkin molasses oats butter bars

Ingredients (~48 bars)

for the gingerbread crust and crumble:

• 1½ c. sugar
• 1 c. unsalted butter, at room temp.
• ¼ c. molasses
• 2¼ c. all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger
• ¼ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• ⅛ tsp. ground cloves
• big pinch salt
• ⅓ c. rolled oats

for the pumpkin filling:

• 1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
• ½ c. sugar
• 6 oz. cream cheese, at room temp.
• 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger
• ¼ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• ⅛ tsp. ground cloves
• pinch salt
• 2 large eggs

for the glaze:

• ½ c. powdered sugar
• ¼ tsp. vanilla bean paste
• ~1 Tbs. milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 15"x10" baking sheet with a long sheet of parchment paper. Butter the paper and the sides of the sheet.

making the gingerbread crust and crumble:

Cream the sugar, butter, and molasses in a large bowl on medium speed. Reduce speed to low and add flour, baking soda, spices, and salt; beat until well combined.

Remove ¾ of a cup of the mixture and place it in a small bowl. Knead in the oats; set aside.

Press remaining mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking sheet evenly.

making the filling:

Combine all ingredients except the eggs in a large bowl and beat until thoroughly mixed. Beat in the eggs. Pour mixture over the gingerbread layer in the pan.

finishing:

Crumble the reserved gingerbread/oat mixture over the filling. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until the topping is golden and filling is set. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

glaze:

Combine powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla bean paste in a small bowl. Stir in milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you have a drizzle-able consistency. Drizzle over cooled bars.

Store, loosely covered, in the fridge.

adapted from All About the Holidays

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Welcome to day #4 of Christmas Week, a multi-blogger event co-hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen of Juanita’s Cocina. Today’s theme for Christmas Week is “Gingerbread Surprise”. Make sure you visit all the participating bloggers today to see what special dish they whipped up for you.

• Ginger Horse Cookies from Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic
• Mini Gingerbread Donuts from Jen of Juanita's Cocina
• Gingerbread Biscotti from Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Chocolate Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Bourbon Cream Cheese Drizzle from Anuradha of Baker Street
• Gingerbread Donuts with Lemon Glaze from Kristen of Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
• Mini Holiday Gingerbread Loaves from Isabelle of Crumb
• Gingerbread Biscoff Truffles from Erin of Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
• Gingerbread Dip from Erin of The Spiffy Cookie
• Gingerbread Milkshake from Ramona of Curry and Comfort
• Gingerbread Pumpkin Bars from Heather of girlichef
• Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls from Cathy of The Dutch Baker's Daughter
• Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Lemon Cream Cheese Filling from Chung-Ah of Damn Delicious