MMM! Pumpkin Dip

I've been making this yummy dip for years and often share the recipe.  It's a little different than many dishes, easy to make and nice to have on hand.  It lasts a couple of weeks in the refrigerator, so get ready to enjoy!

Hope it is a hit at your place too!!

PUMPKIN DIP

1 - 8 ozs. pkg. cream cheese, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 - 15 ozs. can solid pack pumpkin

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

1 c. Cool Whip, optional

In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.  Gradually mix in the pumpkin.  Stir in the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and orange juice until smooth and well blended.  Stir in cool Whip, if using. Chill until serving. Let stand at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to blend.

This is great for dipping graham crackers, gingersnaps or apples.

Linked to Eat at Home Ingredient Spotlight
        Gooseberry Patch Roundup
    Homemade Holiday
Gooseberry Patch Roundup - AFter School Snacks

HAPPY DESSERT DAY! (& a Favorite Dessert Recipe too)

Desserts are my favorite!!!!!  So I wanted to make sure you knew today was "Dessert Day" and share one of my most favorite dessert recipes with you too!  Enjoy a sweet day!

HAPPY DESSERT DAY!

photo: Taste of Home

BUTTERSCOTCH APPLE CAKE

1-1/4 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 c. white sugar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

2 eggs, beaten

2 c. peeled, chopped apples

1/2 c. pecans, chopped

1/2 c. butterscotch chips, divided

Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8-inch sq. baking dish.  In large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon.  Blend sugar, oil and eggs until smooth; stir wet mixture into dry and mix just until combined.  Stir in the apples, pecans and 1/4 c. butterscotch chips.  Pour into prepared pan.  Sprinkle with remaining butterscotch chips. Bake 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack.  Yield: 4 - 6 good sized servings

(because you'll definitely want MORE)

A very moist cake and even those who claim to not like butterscotch, seem to

love this cake.

This recipe is linked to Sweets for a Saturday

Homemade Ghosts from Making Memories Blog

Are these adorable or what?  A fun (& free!) decorating idea as Halloween quickly approaches! Enjoy some family fun.

Print this idea to use next year too...but you can certainly leave these out until after Halloween...

I love the frugal and family-friendly ideas shared at this blog - she
has some darling holiday crafting ideas.  Enjoy!

A LINEUP OF GHOSTS FROM MAKING MEMORIES...ONE FUN THING AFTER ANOTHER

Life really is Sa-Weeeet!

My dear hubby and I just got home from spending a week in the Ozarks. It was a glorious time away!!

Here we are standing on the dock in front of the 'cabin' on the Lake of the Ozarks

where we stayed!

We were truly blessed to stay in a gorgeous 'second' home of some local friends and couldn't have been more pleased.  We had plenty of room and even a washer/dryer.  I think we only ate out 3 times during the week.  I did some cooking but nothing demanding.

We had NO tv....internet...not even a radio!  I know I had years added to my life because of the restful and relaxing time we enjoyed - away from my usual fast-paced life! I can't believe

I actually had time to read a 252-page book while gone!

The best part was spending time with precious TX friends that we hadn't seen in over 5 years. This was kind of a mid-way place for us to meet.  We always laugh ourselves silly when we're together and that's SUCH good medicine for the soul!

This is Bill & Jerri Sparks - our TX pastor and wife when we were stationed in Austin, TX, in the early 80's.  These folks truly light up our lives.  (After all - they ARE Sparks!=)

We all enjoyed sitting on the deck watching the fish come to the surface to catch bugs, or jump out of the water. We played card games and dominoes and relaxed to the max.  I even took 2 naps one afternoon!

Sunset from the second floor deck

Sunrise

It was tough to come home, but we were missing family and are ever so grateful for the break.
It was an 11 hr. drive one direction.

A beautiful place we hope to return to again one day.  Til then, we will cherish the precious memories we made during this very special getaway.

Black Bottom Cupcakes

Don't these look yummy?  Look at that cream cheese & chocolate chips! MMM!

I recently made this recipe and shared with my son and family.  It wasn't long afterwards, my daughter-in-love called to find out where the recipe was

in my cookbook.  (SMILE!)

Again I say....MMM!  Enjoy!

BLACK BOTTOM CUPCAKES

Cupcake part:

1 c. white sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 c. water

1 TB. vinegar

1-1/2 c. all purpose flour

1/4 c. baking cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. In medium mixing bowl, beat all

ingredients together until blended.  Line cupcake pans

with papers - fill 1/3 full with batter.  Top with a tablespoonful

of the cream cheese mixture.  Bake 15 - 18 minutes.  They are

done baking when the cake part tests finished. 

Yield: about 2 dozen

Cream Cheese Filling:

1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 egg

1/2 c. white sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate (mini) chips

In small bowl, beat all ingredients together until smooth.

Linked to Sweet as Sugar Cookies

    Weekend Potluck

     Meal Plan Monday