Oreos

 

I got this recipe from my friend Summer years ago. They are always a fun one and kids think they are great! I loved them as Christmas cookies, so many possibilities. Next time I think I will add peppermint to the frosting and sprinkle the edges with crushed candy canes. Let them set for a while after frosting though or the frosting oozes out of the sides. Not a big deal to me, I just licked the edges like an ice cream cone, but not so good for kids!

Oreos

2 boxes devils food cake mix
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil

Mix all together until there are no lumps. Drop by spoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 6-8 minutes. They should start to crack on the top. Put a spoonful of your favorite icing on one and top with another cookie. Here is my favorite icing.

Chocolate Chip Pie

Also known as Heaven on Earth! My mom made this growing up and I have always loved it! What could be better than a big gooey chocolate chip cookie baked into a pie crust?! Nothing, nothing at all!

Chocolate Chip Pie

2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup melted and cooled butter
6 oz chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
9 in pie shell

Preheat oven to 350. Beat eggs until foamy. Beat in flour and sugars, then butter. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour into pie shell and bake at 325 for 1 hour.

Yams {the BEST}

Here is another of our !Must Haves! for Thanksgiving. This is another one from my sister-in-law. This is really more like dessert than a side dish but I still claim it as part of dinner so I can stuff my face with dessert later and not feel guilty!

Yams

5 cups cooked and mashed yams (about 4 large)
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
4 T flour
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 cup brown sugar
5-6 T butter

Whip together yams, 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar and 4 eggs. Put into a greased 9x13 pan. Melt 5-6 T butter and add flour, walnuts, and brown sugar. Sprinkle on top of yams. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Cranberry - Orange Sauce

A friend of mine requested this recipe. This is a must at Thanksgiving for us. But I didn't want to wait because I thought some might want to take a stab at this for their holiday. I got this recipe from my sister in law and would not do Thanksgiving without it (or left-overs for that matter)!

Cranberry - Orange Sauce

1 pkg fresh cranberries
1 orange (peel and all)
1 apple, cored
2 cups sugar
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)

Combine cranberries, orange and peel, and apple in a food processor or blender. Blend until no more chunks. Add sugar and nuts and stir until all mixed together.

Pumpkin Pie Crumble Bars

I am not a huge fan of pumpkin pie, but I do love pumpkin. So, when I saw these over at Our Best Bites, I couldn't resist. And they totally did not disappoint. I loved them, especially right out of the oven! So whether you love pumpkin pie or don't, these are sure to please. Try something new for Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Pie Crumble Bars

1 box yellow or white cake mix
1-2 sticks butter (see notes in instructions)
1 16 oz can pumpkin*
2 eggs
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
1/4 t ginger
1/8 t cloves
1/8 t nutmeg
1/2 t salt
1/3 C chopped pecans
1/2 t additional cinnamon for topping*

Preheat oven to 350.Place 2 C of the cake mix in a bowl. Cut in 3 T chilled butter. Just use your fingers to crumble the butter until it's in small crumbly pieces. Place mixture in a 9x13 baking dish and press flat with your fingers.

Mix pumpkin, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, and spices until smooth. Pour on top of the cake mixture in the pan.

Now take the rest of the dry cake mix and mix in 1/2 t cinnamon. Sprinkle it all over the top of the pumpkin mixture. Use a measuring cup so you have a rough measurement of how much you're putting on.

Here's why:
Next sprinkle on the chopped pecans. You'll have 3 distinct layers now: For every 1 C of cake mix you sprinkled on top, you'll need 3 T of melted butter. Drizzle it right on top. That butter is going to combine with the cake mix and make magic in the oven. Pop it in your 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes or so. A knife should come out without globs of pumpkin on it and the topping should be nice and golden.

Apple Cider Muffins

Muffins are one of my favorite breakfast foods and snacks. I wanted to do an apple muffin without chunks, I am not a fan. So, I found this recipe that has apple cider in it instead. These are so yummy, with a hint of apple flavor. I didn't have apple butter, so I just doubled the apple cider and it worked just fine.

Apple Cider Muffins
(adapted from Black Cat Kitchen)

Streusel:
2 tbsp. packed light brown sugar
4 tsp. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces

Muffins:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar (I used dark)
1/2 cup apple butter (I didn't have this, so I doubled the cider)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup apple cider
1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/4 cup canola oil

Preheat oven to 400. Coat 12 muffin cups with cooking spray. (I actually got about 16 muffins)
Prepare streusel: Mix brown sugar, whole wheat flour, and cinnamon in small bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.

Prepare muffins: Whisk flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in large bowl.Whisk together egg and brown sugar in medium bowl until smooth. Whisk in apple butter, syrup, cider, yogurt and oil. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir with rubber spatula until just combined. Scoop batter into muffin cups and sprinkle with streusel.
Bake until golden brown and tops spring back when touched lightly, 15-25 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then cool on wire rack before serving.

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

These have been a Fall favorite for years now. My husband will ask for these in all seasons though, he loves them! They make a big pan so I always try and make them when we have friends to share them with.

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 t baking powder
2 t cinnamon
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/4 t ground cloves
4 eggs, beaten
1-15 oz can pumpkin
1 cup oil

In a large bowl mix together dry ingredients. Stir in eggs, pumpkin and oil until combined. Spread batter into an UNGREASED 15x10 in pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

6 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 t vanilla
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Cream together first 3 ingredients. Add two cups of powdered sugar, mix well. Add additional sugar, mix until creamy. (The frosting is thick, be careful when spreading it can pull off the top of the bars)