Pumpkin Dip

Tis the season! This recipe comes from Kelsey's Kitchen that I got from a Relief Society Meeting my sophomore year at BYU.

PUMPKIN DIP

8 oz. cream cheese (room temp)

2 Cups powdered sugar

1-2 cups pumpkin puree (to taste. one recipe i have calls for 1, another calls for 2, so maybe 1 1/2 should be right?)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp orange extract (optional)

Chocolate chips (optional 1/2 to 1 cup)

Gingersnaps (or any other good dippers--pretzels, animal crackers, Nilla wafers, etc)

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and powdered sugar. Blend on medium speed until smooth. Add the pumpkin puree along with the cinnamon and orange extract. Blend until smooth and creamy. Stir in chocolate chips.

Place several gingersnap cookies in a plastic bag and crumble them using a rolling pin. Sprinkle the gingersnaps over the pumpkin dip. Serve with remaining dippers.

Enjoy!

Italian Style Cheese Fondue

I love Fondue. Love. It. The Melting Pot is amazing. But instead of spending a *cough* hundred bucks *cough* for every time I get a fondue craving, we have our own little fondue recipe we love that is super easy to make and you don't even need a fondue pot for--it's microwave cooked! I also purchased The Melting Pot cookbook so I might have to post some of their recipes from it too. But here is the Creer family fav cheese fondue recipe for your enjoyment!

ITALIAN STYLE CHEESE FONDUE

4 cups shredded cheese (we like 2 cups Italian cheese blend and 2 cups Colby Jack, but any kind works)

1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

4 tsp. cornstarch

1/4 cup margarine/butter

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 clove (or more to taste) garlic, minced

1 large car Italian style diced tomatoes

1 tsp dry basil

1/2 tsp oregano

1/8t tsp pepper

In a small bowl, stir together cheeses and cornstarch. Set aside.

In a 3 quart casserole dish, microwave butter for 1 minute. Stir in onion and garlic. Microwave covered with wax paper for 3 minutes. Stir. Microwave (covered) for 3 more minutes. Stir in tomatoes and spices. Cover and microwave for 2 minutes or until steaming. Gradually* add cheese mixture. Stir until cheese is completely melted. Microwave covered for 2 minutes. Beat vigorously with a fork. Microwave uncovered for 4 minutes, beating after 2, or until fondue is thick and bubbly.

Serve with French bread cubes, carrots, zucchini, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, or even little chunks of cooked chicken or sausages.

To reheat, heat in microwave on 1/2 power, stirring every 30 seconds.

*It might be kinda annoying to gradually add the cheeses and stir until melted, but it makes the consistency so much better so I highly advise it! :)

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Bars

Photo courtesy of Russell Jack. These are my actual finished products.

This recipe comes from Jared's 9th grade foods class. I was impressed by it. :)

PEANUT BUTTER BARS

1 package semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups oats

Melt chocolate chips in the microwave or in a double boiler.
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with peanut butter. Beat in sugar, egg, and vanilla. Add flour, soda, and salt. Add oats. Press about 3/4 of the mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Spread melted chocolate chips over the top. Crumble remaining peanut butter mixture over the chocolate. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 20 mins.

Makes about 24.

Enjoy!

Poppy Seed Chicken

6 Boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
3/4 cube butter

Cube chicken and lay in bottom of 9x13 pan. Mix soup and sour cream together and put on top of chicken (can mix all together). Melt butter in small bowl. Add poppy seeds and crushed Ritz crackers. Mix together. Spread on top of chicken mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 mins-1 hour covered. Take foil off for last 15 mins.

Peanut Butter Cookies

This is the best peanut butter cookie I've EVER had! The dough is amazing on its own as well!

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1/2 c. margarine

1/2 c. peanut butter

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 c. flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 375. Combine margarine and peanut butter. Add sugars, salt, egg, and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Add dry ingredients. Shape into 1" balls and place on baking sheet. Flatten in a criss-cross pattern with a fork dipped in sugar. Bake for 9-10 minutes.

Yield: 2 dozen

Enjoy!

Blueberry Buckle Muffins

Batter:
1/4 cup butter, room temp
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups blueberries

Topping:
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, room temp.

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, then add milk and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients, mixing well. Fold in blueberries. Spoon into greased muffin tins and sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350 for 20 mins. Let cool 15 mins. in pan.

Enjoy!

Brianne's Freaking Amazing Cheesecake

This is our favorite cheesecake recipe.... so good and so easy! And I like to think that it's healthier than a baked cheesecake cuz it has only one thing of cream cheese and not 6!

8 oz cream cheese
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
1 graham cracker crust

Beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually add sweetened condensed milk. Add lemon juice and vanilla. Pour into graham cracker crust and let sit in fridge for AT LEAST one hour. Serve with your favorite topping.
Eat and love.