Oh My Gourd! - 2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins

I found this pin on Pinterest of 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins from Sweet-Verbina, originally made as a pumpkin cake on Big Red Kitchen.  The hubster and I both LOVE pumpkin, so I knew I had to try it! I used Spice Cake instead of the Vanilla Cake used in the original recipe, and it was amazing!

You just empty the cake mix and the 16oz. can of pumpkin into a mixing bowl and mix it.  That's it! No eggs, no water, nothing!  I did this at work so there wasn't an electric mixer, and mixing it by hand made it kind of sticky and not batter-like like it was supposed to be, but it tasted yummy anyway, even if it didn't look the best.

Tah-dah!

I ate some plain, but I also bought some Cream Cheese frosting for the top and it tasted really great too! 

Other Variations :

• Big Red Kitchen has a recipe for a glaze with her post
• Sweet-Verbina dusted hers with powdered sugar
• I bet it would taste great with chocolate  chips added in
• I might try making these as pancakes too; yum!
• I'm thinking about trying it out with carrot cake mix too

Have you tried these out?  Any other ideas to change up this simple recipe?

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Link Parties - I don't get to all of them with each post, but you should check them out!

Sundays:  I <3 Naptime, 1+1+1=1 ( kid friendly), Little Wonders' Days (kid friendly)
Mondays : C.R.A.F.T.,Making the World Cuter, The Girl Creative, Skip To My Lou, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping It Simple, Sew Can Do, The DIY Home Sweet Home Project, Home Stories A to Z
Ninth Street Notions, Polly Want A Crafter, Ask Anna, Pinkapotamus, So Creative
Tuesdays: Today's Creative Blog, All Thingz Related, Sugar Bee Crafts,Tales of A Trophy Wife, Today's Creative Blog, Not Just A Housewife, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Crayon Freckles,
Wednesdays: Fireflies & Jelly Beans, Sew Much Ado, Blue Cricket Design, Lil' Luna, Polka Dots On Parade, Free Pretty Things For You, A Little Tipsy (DIY under $5), DIY By Design, Raising 4 Princesses(kid friendly), This Chick Cooks (recipes), Lollipops (what I love), Sew Much Ado, Organize and Decorate Everything, The Girl Creative
 Thursdays: A Glimpse Inside, My Repurposed Life, Simple Home Life,
Fridays: TaterTots & Jello, Sun Scholars (kid friendly), Remodelaholic, Bacon Time, Stuff & Nonsense, At The Picket Fence
Saturdays: I Can Teach My Child (kid friendly), Be Different, Act Normal,

Pumpkin Party @ Confessions of a Stay At Home Mom

Tasty Thursday - Copy Cat Mexican Shrimp Dish

There's this one Mexican restaurant by my parents house that has a dish called "AC Shrimp."  I haven't seen it at any other restaurant, but it is amazing!  I decided to try and recreate it at home, and while it's not exactly like the dish at the restaurant (really, it's never the same is it!?) it still turned out pretty dang good!

I started some Spanish Rice,

 I cut up a green bell pepper, half an onion, a summer squash, and some broccoli and sauteed them in the skillet until they were soft.  Then I threw in some precooked shrimp to heat them up.

 

 I put some mexican cheese dip in the microwave and melted it,

 

then served it all on top of the rice.

Yum!  

Do you have any good copy cat restaurant recipes?  I know this isn't a complicated dish, but I was pretty proud of myself for thinking this up, and it totally satisfied a craving I was having for Mexican food!  If you try it out, or if you've had it before and have any suggestions for making it better, I'd love to hear!

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Link Parties - I don't get to all of them with each post, but you should check them out!

Sundays:  I <3 Naptime, 1+1+1=1 ( kid friendly), Little Wonders' Days (kid friendly)
Mondays : C.R.A.F.T.,Making the World Cuter, The Girl Creative, Skip To My Lou, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping It Simple, Sew Can Do, The DIY Home Sweet Home Project, Home Stories A to Z,Ninth Street Notions, Polly Want A Crafter, Ask Anna, Pinkapotamus, So Creative, Mrs. Happy Homemaker
Tuesdays: Today's Creative Blog, All Thingz Related, Sugar Bee Crafts,Tales of A Trophy Wife, Today's Creative Blog, Not Just A Housewife, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Crayon Freckles,
Wednesdays: Fireflies & Jelly Beans, Sew Much Ado, Blue Cricket Design, Lil' Luna, Polka Dots On Parade, Free Pretty Things For You, A Little Tipsy (DIY under $5), DIY By Design, Raising 4 Princesses(kid friendly), This Chick Cooks (recipes), Lollipops (what I love), Sew Much Ado, Organize and Decorate Everything, The Girl Creative
 Thursdays: A Glimpse Inside, My Repurposed Life, Simple Home Life,
Fridays: TaterTots & Jello, Sun Scholars (kid friendly), Remodelaholic, Bacon Time, Stuff & Nonsense, At The Picket Fence
Saturdays: I Can Teach My Child (kid friendly), Be Different, Act Normal,

http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/10/halloween-ideas-party.html
http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/10/fall-fun-party.html
http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/09/pumpkin-addicts-anonymous-link-party.html
ishareprintables 

Tasty Thursday - Hot Pepper Jelly

I had this recipe years ago, and then my boss made it this year and reminded me how good it was!  I found the recipe on Kraft and once it's made and anned it will last for a long time!  I pulled it out and poured it over a block of cream cheese to serve with some wheat thins when the hubsters friends came over for football Sunday.  It looks a little icky but tastes great!

 

 what you need

1 green bell pepper, seeded, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

1   red bell pepper, seeded, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

6 jalapeño peppers, seeded finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

1-1/2 cups  cider vinegar

1/2 tsp. butter or margarine

6-1/2 cups  sugar, measured into separate bowl

1 pouch CERTO Fruit Pectin

Make It

BRING boiling-water canner, half-full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
PLACE peppers in 6- or 8-qt. saucepot. Add vinegar and butter. Stir in sugar. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly.
STIR in pectin. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
LADLE immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

This was great to use as a quick dip to make and throw together for a simple gathering with the neighbors.  Do you have any good recipes for good and quick snacky type foods?

Tasty Thursday

Holding on to the last warm days, the hubster cooked out and made some Paula Deen Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese - amazing!

• 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (an 8-ounce box isn't quite 2 cups)
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, cut into pieces
• 2 1/2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1.Prepare macaroni noodles according to directions, then drain.
2. Mix butter and cheese in saucepan until melted.
3. In crock pot, combine all ingredients, adding the macaroni last.  Stir and cook for 3 hours on low, stirring a few times throughout.

*If you're a garlic addict like I am, I always put garlic salt on mine too, but the hubster doesn't like it so we don't add it in when cooking.

**I've also used this recipe but swapping out the Cheddar with Pepper Jack cheese...really yummy too!


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Linking to
Fireflies and Jelly Beans
Stuff and Non Sense
At The Picket Fence
The Idea Room
A Glimpse Inside
Remodelaholic
My Repurposed Life
My Simple Home Life
Bacon Time

Tasty Thursday - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

I am a fan of peanut butter.  That's an understatement...I'm a nut over peanut butter!!! :-p  For the past three years now the hubster has made me this awesome cake using this recipe from Smitten Kitchen.

image also from Smitten Kitchen

Instead of making a homemade cake he uses a devil's food chocolate cake mix, and it tastes amazing.  I can't for certain say it tastes just as good as the recipe's cake, because I haven't had the recipes cake, but it's great none the less.  Follow the directions on the box to make the cake, then use the following recipes to ice the cake with the recipes taken directly from Smitten Kitchen;

Peanut Butter Frosting:

Peanut Butter Frosting
Makes about 5 cups
10 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably a commercial brand (because oil doesn’t separate out)
1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl often. Continue to beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Add the peanut butter and beat until thoroughly blended.

And top with the Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
Makes about 1 1/2 cups
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup half-and-half
1. In the top of a double boiler or in a bowl set over simmering water, combine the chocolate, peanut butter, and corn syrup. Cook, whisking often, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
2. Remove from the heat and whisk in the half-and-half, beating until smooth. Use while still warm.


For some reason the picture of my birthday celebration got deleted, but instead of the cake this year he made cupcakes, and left off the Chocolate Glaze, and it was still amazing!  If you like peanut butter, do yourself a favor and make this...or better yet have someone else make it for you because food always tastes better if you don't have to make it yourself! :D

Do you have any good recipes for cakes?  Any good recipes using my favorite food ever, peanut butter?