Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars

I love the fall and I have a pumpkin obsession. This is my first pumpkin baked item of the season.

• 2 Cups Flour
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin seasoning
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temp
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 12 oz chocolate chips

1. Preheat your oven to 350 and spray baking spray on a 13x9 pan.
2. Whisk together flour, spices, salt and baking soda.
3. Cream together the butter and sugar until smooth.
4. Beat in the egg and vanilla
5. Beat in pumpkin puree
6. Add the dry ingredients and mix till combined
7. Stir in the chocolate chips
8. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 40 minutes. Check if done with toothpick in the center after you take out of oven.
9. Cool and Enjoy



Carrot Walnut Cupcakes

This recipe makes approx. 18 cupcakes, while getting your ingredients together preheat your oven to 350 and line cupcake pans with your favorite liners.

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 lg eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups grated carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
2. In your mixer beat eggs, sugar, brown sugar, oil and milk until light and thick.
3. Reduce speed on your mixer and add in the flour mixture. Beat only till blended. Stir in carrots, walnuts and vanilla.
4. Spoon batter into cupcake liners and bake 20 minutes.
5. Let cupcakes cool 5-10 minutes, then remove from baking pan and cool completely on wire racks.

Cream Cheese Icing

• 8oz softened cream cheese
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 16oz confect sugar
• 2-3 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Beat the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy
2. Add the sugar, vanilla and 2 tbsp of milk, add another tbsp of milk if the mixture is too thick
3. Frost your cupcakes, decorate with sprinkles and enjoy

This frosting isn't thick enough to pipe on your cupcakes, it tastes delicious and is a great spreadable icing. If you are looking for a cream cheese icing you can pipe let me know and I will share one with you.

Christmas Craft ideas

I know you're probably thinking I'm crazy, thinking about Christmas already. But if I don't start my christmas crafts early, I never finish in time.

• First up is a wine cork wreath, these are easy to make. Take a styrofoam wreath and using hot glue wrap ribbon around the entire wreath. When done just hot glue wine corks around the entire wreath

• Next up are ceramic coasters, go to Lowes or Home Depot and pick up tiles. Then take your favorite scrapbook paper and cut to fit the tiles. Modge podge the paper on the tile and spray two coats of a sealer.

• Winter Survival Kit, save the box and bottles from a starbucks and put the bottles in the dishwasher to clean them. Take your favorite scrapbook paper to cover the box and wrap around the middle of the bottles. Once I get ready to give this gift I will fill the bottles with different types of hot cocoa and marshmallows and will label the bottles.