Pumpkin pie in a cup!

I made this pumpkin smoothie to go with my oatmeal this morning after my run.  It was so delicious, I had to share the recipe.  We have pumpkins (Sugar Pumpkins, also called Pie Pumpkins) coming out our ears; our garden was good to us in that way this year.  I've been experimenting and putting pumpkin puree in just about everything.  Sometimes I want the pumpkin to be the star of the show and bring out it's full flavor, like in the Pumpkin Spice Cake I made last night.  Other times I just want to sneak the pumpkin in the recipe to add to the health benefits, without any obvious pumpkin flavor, as it was with the Alfredo (pumpkin) sauce I made for our pasta for last night's dinner.  Well, if you enjoy the flavor of pumpkin, specifically pumpkin pie, you will love this "milkshake"!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pumpkin puree (we use fresh, cooked pumpkin, but you could use canned pumpkin also)

1 cup skim milk (you could substitute 1 cup vanilla yogurt or vanilla soy milk)

2 tsps. brown sugar

1 tablespoon Splenda (depending on how sweet you prefer, you could add more or less, or use honey)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. ginger

1/8 tsp. cloves

(For the above 3 ingredients, you could also substitute 1/2 tsp. Allspice or Pumpkin Pie Spice)

1/2 cup ice cubes

Add liquid to your blender first, then pumpkin puree, sweeteners and spices.  Then put a few of the ice cubes in and start the blender.  Gradually add the rest of the ice, until you reach the consistency you like best.  I like mine thick like a real milkshake, so I add a little more ice.

For a bonus, you could add a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon to the top.  It's awesome!  And by the way, pumpkin is very healthy.  It is rich in potassium, vitamin A and fiber, and even has a bit of protein and vitamin C to add to the benefits.  I usually add protein powder to my morning smoothies, and since I'm all out of it right now, I ate oatmeal with my smoothie.  But I think some vanilla protein powder added to the above recipe would make it a very healthy, filling breakfast or snack.

Dutch Oven Pizza ~ Yum!

Oh, man...it's been a while since I've posted to this blog!  Anyway, several weeks ago we made this BBQ and Garlic Chicken Pizza in the dutch oven, and it turned out so delicious, I thought I'd share the idea.

First, I made the dough in my bread maker.  Here's the recipe:

Cornmeal Pizza Dough

1-1/2 cups warm water

1/4 cup olive oil

3-2/3 cups flour (I used whole wheat, but you can use unbleached all-purpose)

1/3 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tsp salt

2 tsps yeast

Follow the dough directions on your bread maker, or to make by hand:

1) Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.

2) Mix together dry ingredients.

3) Make well in dry ingredients, add oil and water/yeast mixture.  Combine, about 20 strokes.

4) Remove dough from bowl, knead until smooth in texture.  Place back in bowl, cover and let sit for about 20 minutes.

 (Makes enough for a 12" dutch oven, and then an additional 16" regular pizza pan.)

Pizza Sauce

Combine 1/4 cup store bought pizza sauce, 1/4 cup carrot puree, 1/4 cup butternut squash puree, 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce.

Chicken

Cut chicken breasts into small chunks.  Put a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a saute pan and heat the oil on low heat.  Add diced, fresh garlic to the oil stirring continuously until it starts to brown.  Add chicken to pan and cook until golden brown, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Spray dutch oven with non-stick cooking spray.  Spread dough in oven, going up the sides as far as you can stretch the dough.  Sprinkle a small amount of your favorite pizza cheese on the dough before you add the sauce.  (This will help keep the dough from getting soggy.)  Then add sauce, chicken and the rest of your favorite toppings.

As far as the other toppings I used, I added black olives, onions and mozzarella cheese, but you can be creative based on your personal taste.

Put your hot coals under the dutch oven and about 6-8 pieces of hot charcoal on the lid, and bake for about 30 minutes.  Enjoy!

I made this bunny cake just for fun. It's not perfect looking, but it made my kids giggle, so it was worth it!

Chili dinner.

I made some super easy, healthy chili for dinner tonight, and it was so yummy I thought I'd share the recipe:

1 pound of lean ground turkey
2 (8oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 pkg. chili seasoning mix
1/2 cup zucchini puree
1/2 cup cauliflower puree
1 cup carrot puree

Brown the ground turkey in a stock pot. Add all the other ingredients and stir until well blended. Simmer on low for at least 30 minutes. (The longer you simmer, the better the taste.) You're family will never guess there are all those veggies in there, I promise!

I served the chili with some delicious buttermilk cornbread:

1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan.
2.Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3.Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

I knew there was a reason!

One of my favorite things about summer is the delicious in-season produce. Granted, we're not quite to the warm and sunny days of summer, but I picked up these gorgeous strawberries at Costco and they became an instant mood booster! Just look at this beautiful desert I made for us to enjoy tonight while we're watching the Grey's Anatomy season finale...

3lp Couture

My friend's darling twin 5 year old girls recently modeled some super cute little girls clothes. You've got to check them out! One warning: it's going to make you wish you had twin girls to put the adorable clothes on. Have fun!

www.littlepeoplecouture.squarespace.com

Leading or following: seriously, what's happening?

Lately I have felt somewhat burdened and disheartened by some of the weaknesses of humankind I have had the misfortune of witnessing. I'm amazed at the number of people I know, by acquaintance and otherwise, that have so easily succumbed to caving on (what I believed and understood to be) their values and morals. I'm also just wondering if it's possible to take a stance about an issue based on a core belief system, without being considered small-minded, bigoted, uneducated, judgemental, etc.? I have become so frustrated by a society that accepts pretty much anything, and in some cases, even promotes and encourages any and all behavior, if it makes a person "happy".
Some of my readers may or may not know of my faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As a member of the church, and a Christian, I personally look to the leaders of the church for guidance and instruction when it comes to modern issues. This is not to say that I am a mere lemming, as some perceive those who follow an organized religion, to be. Most of the time I rely on my heart and the whisperings of the Holy Spirit to guide me and help me remain on a path that I feel will bring me and my family the most joy, not only in this life, but in the one to come. During the past year, there has been so much debate about so many issues (because of the election and change of leadership in the country), and particularly issues that bring into question one's belief in something, anything, greater than ourselves.
The Mormon church, in particular, has taken a lot of heat because of it's stance opposing same-sex marriage. During an interview regarding this topic, one of the church's leaders, Elder Lance B. Wickman (of the Seventy), said this: "One of the great sophistries of our age, I think, is that merely because one has an inclination to do something, that therefore acting in accordance with that inclination is inevitable. That’s contrary to our very nature as the Lord has revealed to us. We do have the power to control our behavior."
I think he says so perfectly what we are meant to learn through having faith in God, or any other being: this life isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to be a test of our strength and endurance. If we give in to our carnal nature, on any level, we are allowing ourselves an excuse to behave a certain way, claiming we have no control over how we feel. The notion that something that "feels" so right, must be right, has become too mainstream.
In no way do I attempt to charge that I may be any more righteous than any of those of my acquaintances who are now finding themselves at these cross-roads in life. My sadness comes from a place deep inside me, where I feel the broken hearts of the children and loved ones left behind and pushed aside during these tragedies. It is so hard to watch as people put their own selfish needs before their children, with the rationalization that what they've chosen will make them happy, therefore they will be able to be a "better and happier" parent. The reality is that those children will suffer in ways that no one can know or understand now, or maybe ever. It will come for years as they struggle with their own confusion, identity and self-esteem issues.
So I'm just wondering, what ever happened to keeping a commitment, even when it gets boring, dull, monotonous or difficult? What happened to standing up for what you believe, even if it's the unpopular thing or may offend someone? Why does showing concern for a person and their family's long term emotional welfare somehow translate into a person being judgemental and hypercritical?
As my husband and I were discussing these issues recently, we concluded that we are encountering more of these situations because of our ages and stages in life. This, to me, goes on to beg the question, why have so many given up and given in, all for instant and self-gratification?