Pumpkin Butter

...or as Mike insists on incorrectly calling it...apple butter.  :)

on a bite of baguette

No, it's actually pumpkin butter and was surprisingly (to me) quite good.  I think the best part of all was the rich scent that filled my tiny little house.  There aren't too many better smells than sweet pumpkin!

on an english muffin for breakfast!

This can be used on an abundance of different items...

*Anything you would use jam on

*A dollop with pork chops

*Oatmeal

*Grilled turkey or ham

*Scrambled eggs

*Cornbread

*Toast

*Vanilla ice cream

*With yogurt & granola

*Roast turkey or chicken sandwich

*Biscuits

*Maybe mix with cheese and dip pretzels/crackers into?

I mean, how diverse is that?  I'm more of a toast kind of girl, but several of these sound pretty good, too.

this is the extent of my creativity or lack of materials...one of the two

The recipe calls for a small slow cooker but I only have a big one - didn't seem to affect it any!  Definitely enjoyed making this - thank you, Cooking With the Big Dogs!

Print the recipe here.

Homemade Granola Bars

Ever since I received this amazing cookbook for our wedding [and then actually unpacked it and started using it], I wanted to make these granola bars.  I also heard from a friend that she'd made them and they were terrific!

As I almost always do, when I use a recipe for the first time, I try not to alter it at all - then I find out what I want to change for the next time.  [As perfectly exemplified in my very-cashewy Spicy Stir-Fried Cashew Chicken I made tonight, about which I may or may not blog - it was cashew-iculous!]  These granola bars were a bit sticky.  Okay, a LOT sticky.

I'll definitely make them again (because they were seriously so good), but I'll certainly need to change some quantities.  And when I DO and find some better solutions, I will blog about it.  In the meantime, please let me know if you have any ideas, as well!  This time I tried almond pieces, coconut and sunflower seeds.  Next time, I might try peanuts and raisins or something else!  There are truly endless possibilities.

Print the recipe here.

Or here.  :)