Pumpkin Butter

 I'm too cheap to buy the Trader Joes pumpkin butter and I tried a recipe and didn't love it. But this recipe! It is SO good. We had French toast the other night and I spread a generous amount on, had some homemade syrup and some fresh whip cream on top and it was like eating pumpkin pie. DELICIOUS Fall flavor! We just mixed it into our greek yoghurt and B and the kids have had it spread on bagels. SO GOOD! 

via https://www.fifteenspatulas.com/homemade-pumpkin-butter/

• 2 cups pumpkin puree canned or fresh (about one 15oz can)
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (side note here on the spices, I was feeling lazy and just did 1 heaping tsp of pumpkin spice in leu of all the other spices)
• 1/8 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1/8 tsp ground allspice
• 3/4 cup water (maybe do 1/2 cup) fresh doesn't need water but I didn't make it, and felt like with the Libby the 3/4 we had to cook down for quite a while. 

• Combine all ingredients in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low heat (otherwise the pumpkin mixture will sputter).
• Cook for 20 minutes, stirring often, until the puree has become caramelized and dark brown, with a thick and shiny consistency. As long as you stir every couple minutes and use a heavy-bottomed pan, it shouldn’t burn.
• Once sufficiently thickened, let the pumpkin butter cool completely before storing in a glass jar in the fridge for about 2 weeks. 

Zingy Cranberry Sauce

GrowingupSarita is one of my other favorite cooking follows. She does lots of AMAZING Mexican food and this is cranberry sauce with a flavor twist. But in the best way possible! This is a holiday must for me now. Even if I don't make thanksgiving I have to have it for my turkey sandwich leftovers. It is THE BEST! 

16 oz cranberries ⁣
1 3/4 c. Sugar ⁣
1/4 c. Rough chopped ginger ⁣
1 Jalapeño⁣
1 c. Orange juice ⁣
A pinch of salt ⁣
1 lime, juiced ⁣
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1 tsp orange zest , fresh cranberries to garnish.⁣
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𝘐𝘕𝘚𝘛𝘙𝘜𝘊𝘛𝘐𝘖𝘕𝘚 ⁣
Rinse cranberries, (discarding any discolored) and place into a sauce pan. Start on low heat and when cranberries are warm, pour sugar in. Occasionally stir until sugar is melted. ⁣
⁣

In a blender, pour oj, (I fresh squeezed mine but you can use store bought), ginger and stemmed jalapeño.⁣

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Strain the juice into the saucepan so the sauce is smooth and doesn’t have ginger or jalapeño bits. Mix and simmer until sauce reaches a thick consistency. ⁣

Spoon out three large serving spoons of the sauce and blend smooth. Place back into sauce in pan and incorporate with the rest of sauce. (This gave the sauce texture: smooth with some cranberry pieces. You may use an immersion blender but after trying it, I preferred the half blended method.)⁣
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Squeeze lime juice into sauce, add salt. ⁣
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Garnish with orange zest, fresh cranberries

Roti Bowls

 Another alifefromscratch Roti Bowls, we modify to whatever we feel like a have on hand. 

Can use leftover rotisserie chicken or grill up some chicken with Montreal steak seasoning and some olive oil. If I do this I do like to grill zucchini with the seasoning too. 

Cooked rice
Chopped mini cucs marinated with oregano and Garlic Expressions dressing
Pita/naan bread, warmed up
Marinated onions
chopped peppers
chickpeas 

Your choice of hummus,

Brown Bag Apple Pie

This is another Instagram recipe from Alifefromscratch. This is Courtney's mom's recipe and it works every time! I do recommend not going overkill on the apples if you're using a regular sized pyrex but if you do large apples or there's one or two more I recommend a deeper pie dish. I have a recipe for a strawberry rhubarb pie from a coworker from 10 years ago and can't believe I've never tried it because it's the same no roll crust! This is a must try! I do like to slice my apples with a corer/slicer thingy so they're thinner and consistent size. 

 BROWN BAG APPLE PIE:

Bottom crust, mix together in a kitchen aid:
1 1/2 cups flour (can use cup4cup for gluten-free )
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1 TBS milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Apples:
5 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced 
1/2 cup sugar
2 TBS flour
2 tsp cinnamon

Top crust, mix together:
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup softened butter

Preheat oven to 425.

Layer pie: press bottom crust into pie dish, toss the apples in a separate bowl and put on top of crust, mix top crust in mixer and press top crust on top of apples.

Place pie in brown paper bag and fold over and put on a baking tray. Bake for one hour. (Keep an eye on it, be home, etc). Enjoy!

Cool as a Cuke Salad

Alifefromscratch on Instagram is one of my favorite follows for easy, nutritious and just overall amazing meals. The Trader Joes brand of the chili lime seasoning though is a must. I tried with Chilito and it just wasn't the same. 

In a big bowl place:

Chopped mini cucs
Chopped strawberries
Freshly chopped basil and mint
Chunked up avocado
Handful shaved parmesan
Handful toasted slivered almonds
Grilled chicken (rotisserie works too)

Dress with:

Juice of one lemon
1/3 or so cup good olive oil
1-2 tsp Trader Joe's chili lime seasoning
Salt & pepper

Mug Brownie

 Sometimes you just need a sweet treat. I have a brownie in a bowl recipe but this smaller and just right.

via: https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/263348/mug-brownie/

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (I used canola)

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk or (I used fat-free milk)

• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

• ⅛ teaspoon salt

• pinch or two of chocolate chips (Optional)

  1. Place coconut oil in a small microwave-safe coffee mug and microwave on High until melted, 15 to 20 seconds. Cool for 1 minute. Whisk in coconut milk (or milk) and vanilla. Add flour, sugar, cocoa and salt; continue whisking until completely incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips, if using. Microwave on High until firm to the touch and no longer glossy, 30 to 40 seconds. Let stand for 8 to 10 minutes.