October Pumpkin Brownie Recipe

I decided to go with a festive Pumpkin recipe for October.

Pumpkin Brownies

1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. pumpkin
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. soda
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. water
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
12 oz. chocolate chips

Beat sugar and oil; add eggs, water, and pumpkin. Add rest of ingredients and blend. Stir in 12 ounces chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Use a 9 x 13 inch greased and floured pan.

September Foods

Here is the cake shortly after I made it, and tried to cut part of it. Even though I had put it in the fridge to cool for a while, it was still a gooey mess. I used a 9x13" pan because I don't have a 10x15; and I didn't put pecans in it because I don't like nuts. When I first tried the cake it was mostly just a gooey blob of chocolate that seemed extra rich and I didn't really like it. The next day I gave it a second try before throwing it out, and I liked it. Once I gave it time to set up I could taste the marshmellows and the cake wasn't just a glob of goo anymore it was super yummy....so I would make this again. Maybe the next time I'm in charge of a dessert for pack meeting!

This is the September marinaded chicken. You may notice that it doesn't look like chicken and you're right it doesn't, because it isn't, 'cause if it was, it would. It is pork marinaded in soda. Now, the soda was not Pepsi, it wasn't even coke...it was ginger ale. I know what you are thinking Liz, "What the...Ginger ale?" Well that is all I had since we are not currently keeping any soda at home, and I didn't want to go to the supermarket to buy just one bottle of soda (and chicken) besides I remember the left over ginger ale from a few months ago. Anyways, the pork tasted good and I'm keeping the recipe since it was easy to make I may make it again soon.

Halloween Crafts

It is October which means Halloween Crafts time! I think Halloween is the best time to make craft, it's the first of fall so...the temperatures are dropping, the leaves are falling down and changing colors, and we are getting excited about the new holiday season. From now on it's family, food, and fun.

These are some of the crafts we have made so far, next is monsters and bats!

September's Dessert

We made this cake last weekend, and by "we" I mean Jared. I was going to send the recipe to you then but I was really busy and/or lazy. Here is a picture of it. It was really easy and deliciously decadent.

Mississippi Mud Cake

1 cup chopped pecans                                               

1 cup butter                                                                       

1 (4 oz) semi sweet chocolate baking bar             

2 cups sugar                                                                       

1 ½ cups all purpose flour                                             

½ cup unsweetened cocoa
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 (10.5 oz) bag miniature marshmallow
Chocolate frosting

1.       Place pecans in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes.

2.       Microwave 1 cup butter and semisweet chocolate  in a large bowl at high 1 minute or until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds

3.       Whisk sugar and next 5 ingredients into chocolate mixture. Pour batter into a greased 15x10x1” pan.

4.       Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle evenly with miniature marshmallows; Bake 8 to 10 more minutes or until golden brown. Drizzle warm cake with chocolate frosting (recipe follows) and sprinkle with toasted pecans.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING

½ cup butter

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/3 cup milk

1 (16 oz)package powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Stir together first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar at medium speed with electric mixer until smooth.

September Meal

Grilled Chicken Cola Marinade

2 C (16 oz) Coke or Pepsi

1/3 C soy sauce

1 T minced garlic

1/2 C brown sugar

1 T balsamic vinegar

1 T lime juice

6 chicken breasts

1. Combine all ingredients but the chicken in a medium sized bowl. Stir to incorporate well.

2. Place chicken in a large gallon sized Ziploc bag. Pour marinade over the chicken. Seal tightly and store in the fridge for 4-24 hours (The longer the better in my book).

3. Discard marinade and grill until cooked through.

Birds and Butterflies

After I saw Liz's mobile craft a while back I decided to make one myself. I did it one night a few weeks ago and finally took a couple of pictures of it to post. Thank you Liz for your idea. It was simple and fun. Now I will try to make some ceramic "thing". I haven't yet decided if I will go for the normal pot or bowl or if I will try some other object. Either way I will start to work on it this week.