Frugal Menu Mamas

I know I mentioned before that I LOVE pumpkin recipes.  Anything except pumpkin pie…perhaps its a texture thing.  I’ve also mentioned that I used to be a Pampered Chef consultant.  While I am not one any longer, I still love the products and recipes.  There are two recipes I’ve made before that use pumpkin and will really impress folks.  So, if you are looking for something different to take to a holiday gathering this year, try one of these.

The first is Spiced Pumpkin Spread.  This is a warm dip that is delicious.  It fits in a Pampered Chef small oval baker, but you could make it in any small baker.  The recipe suggest serving it with apple slices for dipping.  I don’t usually do that, I usually serve it with cinnamon sugar tortilla crisps.  They are super easy to make…just cut tortillas into triangles, spray with a little water or oil, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.  Then bake for about 5 minutes.

The second recipe is Frosty Pumpkin Dessert.  This is a frozen dessert that will definitely impress and tastes great.  You’ll have to plan ahead as this one is better if it is frozen over night.

Now, I do have to admit, these are probably not frugal recipes.  However, if you are like me, I save on the stuff for our family so that I can splurge a little when I’m making food to share. 

Please let us know if you’ve had these recipes before…we’d love your opinion in the comments!

Another yummy pumpkin recipe!  If you enjoy pumpkin roll or cream cheese frosting, you will love this recipe!  Sorry no photo this time, so just believe me that it is delicious and super easy to make.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Squares
makes 24 squares
4 eggs beaten
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin
1 1/3 sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger or nutmeg (I use PC Cinnamon Plus as a substitute for the last 2 spices)
1 tub (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
-Heat oven to 350F.
-Beat together eggs, pumpkin, sugar, and oil until well blended. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and the ginger or nutmeg. Mix until smooth then spread the batter in an ungreased 10 x 15 pan.
-Bake for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool.
-For the frosting beat together the cream cheese butter and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Spread the frosting over the cake then cut into 24 squares.

Its my first pumpkin recipe!  Yippee!

I LOVE these pumpkin muffins and they smelled sooooo  good baking on this rainy, dreary day.  I got the recipe from a Bible study I did a year or so ago with a group of ladies.  The book is called No Other Gods and it is fantastic. I would recommend the study any day.

Anyway, on to the recipe and just for your info, I substituted the Pampered Chef “Cinnamon Plus” for the spices in this recipe.  That is about as brave as I get in doing substitutions or variations on a recipe.  So, try this recipe, it is SUPER easy!

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

4 eggs

2 cups pumpkin (not pie filling)

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

–Mix ingredients together in a large bowl.  Put into muffin tins (sprayed with cooking spray) and bake 20-25 minutes at 350.

I really wanted to do a TOP 5 post this month about pumpkin recipes.  I love baking with pumpkin.  However, I do not like pumpkin pie!  Can you believe it?  I think it has something to do with the texture because I love almost everything else pumpkin.  And there is not a food I can think of that says “fall” more than pumpkin. So, I worked up a list of my TOP 5 recipes and there are some good ones.  Then, I found this post with a huge collection of pumpkin recipes…how can I beat that?

So, check out this fantastic collection of pumpkin recipes!  Make a few and let us know how they turn out.  Meanwhile, I will still be working on and posting my favorites, which include pumpkin muffins, pumpkin dip, frosty pumpkin dessert, pumpkin roll, pumpkin squares………  I could go on.  Keep an eye out for these recipes coming soon and please recommend your favorites as well.