More Pumpkin treats

Here's a little glimpse into our fall so far:

Lots of driving around in the car . . . usually listening to audio books

Lots of soccer . . . 3 night a week plus Saturdays

Lots of laughter . . . especially prompted by this silly girl!

Showing the kids the fidget spinner of my youth

And - baking!

So I wanted to use up some of my extra canned pumpkin and was looking for some healthier options than cookies.  I remembered the baked oatmeal singles I made last year (in the recipe index - blueberry ones and cranberry ones) and tried this version with pumpkin, pumpkin spice, and chocolate chips.  They did not disappoint!  My problem was that one is a healthy snack or treat but eating 3 or 4 is maybe not the best idea . . . so I took the remaining ones to my tennis friends the next day!

Individual Baked Pumpkin Oats (makes 1 dozen)
from Emily Bites Blog

2 cups old fashioned oats
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg white
1 egg
3/4 c. almond milk (can use regular milk)
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray the cups of your muffin tin with cooking spray (or butter).

Combine oats, brown sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in large bowl and stir until thoroughly combined.

In another bowl, whisk together the egg white, egg, pumpkin, milk and vanilla.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Evenly divide the mixture into the 12 muffin cups and bake for 18-22 minutes or until lightly browned and a tester comes out clean.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.  (4 sp/muffin)

Pumpkin Spice Everything

Ahhh . . . fall.  Leaves falling, cooler temperatures - nope.  Here in Southern California we are having 90+ degree weather almost every day and the kids are swimming on the weekends and blistering hot during their midday soccer games.  Despite this, I've been craving fall foods and flavors and made some new pumpkin cookies when my girl friends came over a week or so ago.  I had lots of help from Little who has been enjoying the one-on-one (aka not taking turns with the mixing or having to share the kitchen stool) time we get together this fall.

These cookies are sort of like a fall version of the molasses spice cookies I make at Christmas or similar to pumpkin snickerdoodles.  They were delicious!

In other pumpkin spice news, I've been loving the "pumpkin spice almond beverage" from Trader Joe's and have been putting it in my coffee or making overnight oats with it.  My PSA for the day is to stock up on the pumpkin stuff you love from there . . . it won't last all the way through the holidays!

Pumpkin Spice Cookies
from Just So Tasty blog

2.5 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cloves
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup canned pumpkin

To roll the cookies in:
1/4 cup granulated sugar combined with
1.5 tsp. cinnamon

Whisk together flour, cornstarch, cream of tartar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.  In a separate bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy and then add the brown and granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy.  Turn the mixer to low and beat in egg yolk, vanilla, and pumpkin.  Gradually add the flour mixture until incorporated but do not overmix.  The dough will be very sticky.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours (or up to 2 days).

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 and take the dough out of the refrigerator.  Form into balls (about 2 T apiece) and roll in the cinnamon sugar.  Place on a cookie sheet lined with silpat mats or parchment paper and bake for 7-9 minutes or until the cookies look barely set.  Cool on a rack.

Lemon Chicken with Olives

Chicken . . . it's a healthy protein, relatively easy and readily available but controversial in my house.  It's not my husband's first choice and because I make it often, my kids sometimes groan.  But, I've landed on a couple of dishes lately that are winners.

The first isn't a new idea, I think I've posted it before, but I put boneless skinless chicken thighs in the crockpot and smear them with pesto (lately Kirkland pesto from Costco), pour a little chicken broth over, and cook it for 3-4 hours until it's falling apart.

The second is this chicken pictured here.  My kids like olives but even if you don't, you could leave them out or chop them large enough to pick out.  I used a chopped Greek Olive tapenade from Trader Joe's so the red flecks are pimentos or roasted peppers.

In addition to the family liking it, the bonus was that it's super fast to the table - perfect for busy weeknights!


Lemon Chicken with Olives (serves 4)
from Skinny Taste blog


1/2 T olive oil
4 chicken breasts
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp flour (all purpose or gluten free)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best)
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp fresh thyme, minced
1 cup olives, pitted and roughly chopped
1 T chopped fresh parsley
4 thin lemon slices (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Season chicken with salt and sprinkle with flour.  Heat oil in a oven proof pan and sear the chicken about 3 minutes each side.   Add garlic, wine, lemon juice, zest, thyme, and olives to the pan.  Top chicken breasts with lemon slices.  Transfer to the oven and cook for 10 minutes.  Serve hot, topped with the chopped parsley.
7 sp