Friday, October 8, 2010

Delicious Fall Recipes

I happened across some recipes this past week that I tried, loved and had to share with you guys-they're delicious!!

The first one I tried was Pumpkin Spice Popcorn that I came across on Jolly Mom. The kids and I had this for a snack just a couple hours after I saw it...I couldn't wait to try it and it is YUMMY! I actually made it 3 times that day I liked it so much!! (One batch was for my father-in-law, because it reminded me of him.)


Pumpkin-Spiced Popcorn

3 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. canola oil
3 Tbsp. butter
2/3 cup popcorn kernels

Combine sugar, spice, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

Stove top method:
Add canola oil and a 2-3 popcorn kernels to a large, heavy bottomed pot on stove top over medium-high heat. When those kernels begin to pop, the oil is hot enough to begin popping the corn. Add 2/3 cup popcorn kernels to the pot. Cook, covered, on medium high heat until fully popped--shaking the pot every 10-20 seconds to ensure that all kernels are popped and that popcorn doesn't burn. Turn off heat. Quickly add melted butter to the popcorn and immediately sprinkle spice mixture over popcorn. Stir or shake pot to coat.

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The next one I tried is Butternut Squash Soup that I saw on Momtrends. I had a HUGE butternut squash that my mom had given me and needed ways to use it up without having to eat it all plain(I'm not a big squash eater). So I thought I'd give this a try, especially since I could use up 6 cups of squash at once ;-) This was SO worth it! I never knew squash could be SO good!!! Delicious!!

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:
6 Tbslp minced onion
4 Tblsp butter
6 Cups butternut squash (peeled, slightly cooked is better)
6 Cups chicken broth
1 chopped red pepper, or roasted red pepper
1 clove minced garlic
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 8oz package cream cheese (light if you prefer)

Directions:
Slice the squash in half and bake just enough to soften the insides. Remove from skin, set aside.
Saute onion, garlic and red pepper in butter till soft.
Combine onion/garlic, broth, squash, and cayenne pepper in a pot. Simmer until the squash is tender.
Remove from heat, puree in a blender, until squash is smooth.
Add cream cheese, puree again, then return to heat and simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve with soft fresh bread and a bit of cream on top.

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The last new recipe that I tried was for this Pumpkin Bread that was on allrecipes.com. I had to make a dessert for workshop we had for Morgan's school and I always consider quick breads like a dessert, since they're so sweet....plus I STILL had more squash to use up! Yes I used squash instead of pumpkin, but I'm pretty sure there probably isn't a difference in the taste of the bread......it's still yummy! :-)



Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3 cups white sugar
1 cup canola oil
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups solid pack pumpkin puree
2/3 cup water

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two loaf pans.
2.In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and cloves.
3.In a large bowl with an electric mixer, blend sugar, oil and eggs. Stir in pumpkin. Slowly blend the flour mixture into pumpkin mixture. While blending the mixture add water incrementally. Pour the batter into two prepared loaf pans.
4.Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 90 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pans.
I'm entering this post as part of the Gooseberry Patch Blog's Halloween Party. Head on over and join in on the fun!! :-)

11 comments:

Michele Williams said...

Okay, I am officially hungry now! Those recipes sound and look so good. Thank you for sharing them with us. Blessings....

Alexia said...

Thanks to you, I know need to go make some popcorn LOL

We went to the orchard last week and I still have three pumpkins waiting around to be cleaned out so we can make pumpkin bread and cookies...and Noah seems to think we can make waffles as well, but I'm not sure LOL

Gooseberry Patch said...

YUM! This sounds like a great fall menu...thanks so much for sharing these recipes!

Alexis AKA MOM said...

You know my love of pumpkin!!! YUM YUM

I wonder if I could get the boys to eat the soup Rick is a freak about squash ... lol

The popcorn is a must!!!

XOXO

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Thank you, they all sound delicious. I will have to try them for sure. Hope you have a great weekend.

Unknown said...

Hi Kristie,

Thank you for the wedding wishes. So you went to a wedding recently, too! It always feels great to dress up for such happy occasions. One of my girlfriends said to me after our wedding, "Hey Jo, thanks for giving me a reason to feel good again!". She looked so pretty in her dress and she said she hasn't dressed up like that in a while. :)

Hope you're having a great weekend. And those Fall recipes look yummy! Might try one of those for Thanksgiving. :)

Mandie said...

Great recipes! I love pumpkin bread. I have never tried a pumpkin or squash soup, sounds yummy!

Marissa said...

That popcorn sounds delicious. In fact, all the recipes do. Thanks for the ideas!

Felicia said...

I really have been wanting to try that popcorn! Sounds delicious!

the country cook said...

Congrats on winning! Those are some great looking recipes, especially the popcorn. I've never seen anything like it! - www.delightfulcountrycookin.com

Alesha @ Full Time Mama said...

I have a butternut squash I need to cook up! Hope I love it as much as you do! Sounds yummy!
And of course, the other recipes look amazing, but much less healthy... =)

 
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