Garlic Knots

This yummy little recipe was a suggestion from my friend Aubrey.  I added them to our dinner of Ya-Ya Noodles (recipe coming soon) and they were a hit!  Anything that dresses up a meal and starts with store bought rolls works for this busy Momma.  Try them, I'm sure you'll love them.
- 1 tube (12 ounces) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits ( I used Pillsbury Golden Layers Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits)
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

PREPARATION:

Roll each biscuit into a 12-in. rope and tie into a knot; tuck ends under. Place 2 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; brush the warm knots with the mixture. Yield:10 knots.

Thick Pumpkin Pie Filling (For Pie Pops)

Pumpkin Pie Pops
1.5 c pumpkin puree
1/2 c sugar
3 tbsp melted butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4-1/2 cup toasted pecans (optional)

In a bowl, mix everything. Mix well until incorporated. Pumpkin pie pops need to cook about 5 minutes longer than fruit filled pie pops.

Pie Pops - How to

• Pie Dough

• Filling
• Craft sticks or Lollipop Sticks
• 1 egg white, beaten
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar, if desired for drizzle
• 2 to 3 teaspoons milk, if desired for drizzle
• 3 inch round cutter**

Step 1: The dough
For premade dough dust counter with flour and unroll, for homemade dough make sure you roll it out thin.
Step 2: The filling
Make or buy your favorite pie filling.

Step 3: Roll, cut and fill

Using a 3 inch round cutter**, cut out 16 rounds (8 rounds per crust). Place 8 rounds on ungreased cookie sheet. Spoon a 1-2 teaspoons filling evenly onto each round to within 1/2 inch of edge. Place 1 craft stick or lollipop stick in filling of each.

Step 4: Top off the Pops

Flatten remaining rounds to 4 inches in diameter. Brush underside of each round with egg white; place over filling. Press edges together; seal with fork. Cut small slit on top of each. Brush tops with egg white; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar, dividing evenly among pops.

Step 5: Bake

Bake at 400°F for 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack; cool 10 minutes before serving. Do not handle by the stick until completely cool and the filling has had time to set.

Step 6: Drizzle (Optional)

Mix powdered sugar and milk until smooth, adding milk until thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over pops and let stand until set, about 30 minutes.

**Instead of 3 inch circles you can cut them into heart shapes or smaller circles, etc.

Pumpkin Oreos

This is an easy and cute idea for parties or as a small gift or thank-you.

You will need:

Lollipop Sticks

Orange Candy Melts

Oreo Cookies

Black Candy Melts (Optional)

Green Fondant (Optional)

Pretzels (Optional)

1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Then open up the oreos and using a little of the melted orange attach the stick to the inside of the Oreo and close back up.  I put these in the freezer to set for about 5 minutes - I found it was easiest to work in batches.  While some were in the freezer I was adding sticks to others in preparation of sticking them in the freezer.  If you want to have "stems" on your pumpkins you will need to break apart a few pretzels and have them ready to go in a bowl.

2. Melt the orange wafers in a small deep bowl or a cup.  Take the set-up Oreo on a stick and dip it in the orange, all the way up to the stick, make sure to cover it all and then tap off any excess.  Place the Oreo on the parchment paper cookie sheet - if you are adding stems do it now while the chocolate is still wet.  Repeat.  Set aside to firm up/dry - you can put in the freezer to speed up this process.

3. If adding leaves, roll out prepared green fondant and cut out a leaf shape/ tear drop shape and then squeeze it around the stem to attach.

4. Once set feel free to add scary faces, words or any other design you fancy with black melted wafers of black royal icing.

All wrapped up and ready to go.

Happy Halloween.

Raspberry Muffins/ Peach Muffins

These were great!  Super moist and with great flavor.  I made these with raspberries and with peaches since I had both on hand.  I also added streusel topping to some of them.  I prefer the streusel on the peach and raspberry plain, but all of the options were yummy.

Raspberry Muffins

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (you can use plain or lemon) 

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Juice from one lemon

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1 cup fresh raspberries (can use frozen)

2 tablespoons white sugar for decoration (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin tin, or line with paper liners.

In a large bowl, mix together the yogurt, oil, lemon juice, eggs, and, lemon juice. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and mix until just blended. Gently stir in the raspberries. Spoon batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle remaining sugar over the tops for decoration, if desired. Or spoon over strussel topping.

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Cool muffins in the tin on a wire rack.

Peach Muffins

I followed the same recipe as above, but I omitted the lemon juice, zest and of course the raspberries and added in 1 tablespoon cinnamon, and a little milk for some added moisture and then 2 cups pealed and diced peaches.

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cinnamon 

2 cups pealed and diced peaches 

1/4 cup milk

strussel topping (optional)

Strussel Topping

1 cup brown sugar 

6 tablespoons softened butter

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Chopped walnuts nuts (optional)

Mix ingredients with fork until clumpy spoon over muffins before baking.

Canned Pears

I love this time of year! 

I have so many memories of standing at the kitchen sink helping my Mom bottle fruit.

This is how we do pears at our house...

In clean and sterile quart jars add about 3 inches of HOT water at 1/3 cup sugar, stir until sugar is dissolved.

Add some cold water to your sink with the stopper in place.  Blanch pears for 20-25 seconds in a pot of boiling water.  After blanching place pears in the cold water.  The skin of the pears should now slide off with your hands.  Cut the pear in half lengthwise and use a spoon to clean out the seeds, stem and strings.  You can either place the halves in the prepared quarts or cut again lengthwise for quarters.  Fill the jar with pears making sure to not have any pears or liquid in the neck of the jar.  If more liquid is needed to cover the pears add additional water.  Once all of your jars are filled, use a wet cloth to clean the tops of the jars - anything on the rim can prevent the jars from sealing correctly.  Next place your lids in a small saucepan of boiling water for 60 seconds and then using tongs pull out a lid, place it in a ring and screw it onto the jar.  Repeat for all of your jars.  Now on to processing.  It can be different based on if you are using a steamer or a waterbath and your elevation.  But, I process mine for 30 minutes. 

Scotcheroos

Scotcheroos

1 cup Karo Syrup
1 cup Sugar
6 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 cup Chocolate Chips
1 cup Butterscotch Chips

You will need 6 cups of rice krispies measured into a large bowl.

1 cup white sugar...

and 1 cup Karo syrup in a sauce pan.

Cook syrup and sugar in the sauce pan over medium heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar.  Bring mixture to a boil, remove from heat.  Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter and mix well.  Pour mixture over rice krispies and fully incorporate, then press mixture into a greased 9x13 cake pan.

Using the same saucepan melt 1or1 and 1/2 cup chocolate chips and butterscotch chips over low heat - be careful to stir and not burn the chocolate.  Once melted immediately pour over cereal mixture and smooth with a spatula.  Let cool for 45 minutes, or until firm.  Cut and enjoy!