Pumpkins and Pecans, It Must Be Fall

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Pumpkin French Toast
5 eggs
1/2 cup pumpkin
1/2 t. cinnamon
1t. vanilla
1/2 t. salt
8-10 slices of bread

DIRECTIONS: Mix all ingredients (except bread) until eggs and pumpkin blended well.  Dip bread and in mixture until soaked through. Place into buttered pan and cook on each side. Don't forget the whipped topping and honey!





Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins
1 box Betty Crocker yellow cake mix
2 eggs
2/3 c. pumpkin
1/2 c. butter
1 t. cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together and then pour into buttered muffin tin. Cook 15-18 minutes or until knife comes out clean from middle. Happy eating!  





Athena's Heaping Advice
Pumpkin pies are tasty, and it wouldn't be a holiday meal without one. Don't be afraid to expand your horizons and see what else you can do with this seasonal delight.  I tried this new recipe this week and it was a big hit with my gang. The fun part of cooking is creating. So, create something new for your family today.



Pumpkin Pie
2 unbaked 9 in pie crust shell
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. salt
1t. vanilla
3 eggs
1 16oz. can pumpkin
1 12oz. can milnot or evaporated milk

Combine  sugar, spices and salt in bowl and set aside. Blend eggs ,pumpkin, vanilla, and milnot. Gradually add spices to  pumpkin mixture.  Pour into pie shells. Bake in a preheated 425 for 15 minutes. Reduce teperature to 325 and bake 25-35 minutes or until knife  inserted near the middle comes out clean.



Pecan Pie
1 unbaked  9 in. pie crust
3 eggs
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups pecans
1 t. salt

Beat together eggs, corn,syrup, butter, salt, and vanilla.  Pour in pecans and lightly stir.  Pour into pie shell. Put into 350 degree preheated oven.  Bake for 1 hour or until knife inserted 1 inch from edge comes out clean.


Amy's Tidbits

When I make pies, especially pecan, I always wrap the crust in foil so that the edges don't burn. When I work so hard on a pie there is nothing worse than a pie with black crust. There are pie crust shields that many stores sell that can be  placed over the crust as well.  I shield the crust and then the last 5-10 minutes remove it so the crust is golden colored.

Also, I know many people like to shake up their pecan pie recipes to make it more non-traditional. If you are one of those people you might think of adding 1/2 cup chocolate chips for a chocolate pecan pie or 1/2 cup coconut for coconut pecan pie.  Add either when adding the pecans for a little change to the holiday traditional. 
As always if you try any of the recipes or have a different spin to the recipes we would love to know!

Soup is Super

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Corn & Sausage Chowder
4T. Butter
2T. all-purpose flour
1lb. pkg. smoked sausage, cut in 1/2 in. slices
1qt. milk
1 1/2c. frozen corn
18oz. can Campbell's Chunky Old Fashioned Potato and Ham
1T. Cajun Seasoning
2c. shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS: Melt butter in a large pot; stir in flour and blend thoroughly. Add sausage and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add remainder ingredients, cover and cook over low heat until everything well blended and warm, stirring occasionally.


Athena's Heaping Advice
You can make some yummy soups starting with boxed soups.  Boxed soups are a healthier option with little or no preservatives and artificial flavors. Campbells has a line of boxed soups. My favorite is the Pacific Natural Foods brand. You can add a small noodle to a tomato soup and give your kids a healthier Spaghetti O, or you could choose your favorite and add meat to make it hearty. Give it a shot, and let me know what you think.
Pacific Natural Foods. Campbell's has a line of boxed soups as well. The soups that come in the boxes tend to have less artificial flavors, aren't condensed, and do not have preservatives. There are an endless ideas of what you can accomplish with one of these boxes. You can use one of these as a base for a soup and add additional ingredients. For example: adding a fun noodle to the tomato soup and topping with some cheddar cheese. You can add heartiness to any soup by adding your favorite meat or even just potatoes.

Choice CChoice Chili

2 cans tomato sauce 15oz.
2 cans red beans 15oz.
1 small onion chopped
2 Roma tomatoes chopped
2 heaping tbs. chili powder2-4 drops of Tabasco
1/4 cup sugar1 lb hamburger

DIRECTIONS: Brown hamburger in deep pot. When meat is almost finished browning add onion and tomatoes. When fully browned drain grease add tomato sauce and beans, do not drain the beans. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to boil then simmer for at least 20 min.

Amy's Tidbit
This is a very basic chili recipe. Many different things can be added to suit your family. If you like thick chili keep it as is. I usually add a can or two of water to make my chili go further. If you like spicy chili add more Tabasco or chili powder or a cup of salsa or all three. The sugar just gives it a little sweetness that is unexpected and in my experience most people really like it. If this is new for you and your leery, start with a couple tablespoons and see what you think. I have used different types of beans in a batch. I haven't even mentioned peppers or many other things that could be added, but I hope I have you thinking.

I like chili recipes a lot, it is not Fall until I have made chili. I am always looking for new and different chili recipes. My hope is that you like this recipe so much it becomes your own. Once you start cooking it is yours, I'm not in the kitchen with you your doing the work. Don't be afraid to add things you like and let us know.


Looking Forward to Next Week
 It's everywhere this time of year and next week we're talking about it; PUMPKIN! We would love to receive any recipes that you have including pumpkin. We are also going to spend a little time discussing pecans, so throw those recipes in too.

Next week are focusing on this season's delicacy; pumpkin. If you have any pumpkin recipes or ideas you would like to submit, please send them to us. We love input.