Pie Crust (easy)

PIE CRUST
*most people who know me know that I hate pie crust, both making and eating but I can't avoid them all together because others like many dishes that require pie crust.  This is the easiest and best tasting I have found...you can't do any real decoration with it though :(

9 in deep pie pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
*2 teaspoons white sugar - use for a dessert pie, if for something else then use less sugar

*1 teaspoon salt - don't add this for a dessert pie but add it for a savory dish like quiche or chicken pot pie
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons milk

Toss all the ingredients into a 9in deep pie pan.  Mix them together with a fork and press into the sides of the pie pan.  Yes!  That easy.  Bake for 15 minutes at 400 if you need it pre-baked

Pumpkin Pancakes

PUMPKIN PANCAKES
*the original recipe is from Ruth at allrecipes
Combine these with the buttermilk syrup and it is incredible!!


2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vinegar

Combine everything wet ingredients in mixer.  Add dry ingredients and mix well.
You do need to make sure you cook these long enough of they will be smooshy in the middle.  For our family I need to double this and there are usually a few left over until people get room in their stomach again and then they are usually gone within the next 2 hours :)

Taco Soup - sort of...

TACO SOUP - sort of
*this was a mess up, I was trying to hurry so I just grabbed cans and started opening.  I had too much tomato sauce and accidentally opened stewed tomatoes instead of diced tomatoes and didn't realize till I started pouring them in.  It turned out really, really good and everyone wants it again (which is why I am writing it down) but I don't think it is an authetic taco soup.

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce (large can)
1 C corn
2 C chicken broth/vegetable broth
1 medium onion, diced
1 Tbsp taco seasoning or more to taste
dash of garlic salt

Combine ingredients and put in a crockpot for a few hours.  Top with cheese and sour cream.
I had to break up the stewed tomatoes a bit in the crockpot.

Pear Cake

PEAR CAKE
*from Kristen B.

3 firm, ripe pears, sliced
2 eggs
1 C sugar
1/2 C milk
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 C flour
2 Tbsp butter

Mix eggs, milk, sugar, salt in mixer till combined.  Gradually mix in flour till well combined.  Fold most of pears into batter.  Put in greased 9 in round pan.  Fan remaining pear slices out over the top of the cake and dot with butter.  Cook for 40 minutes at 350 or until golden.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Eggnog

EGGNOG - non alcoholic, non pudding
*is is hard to find a recipe without alcohol or pudding for eggnog and I rarely have pudding so this is an adaptation from an cooking light alcohol recipe and I think it turned out delicious.  If someone else has one better let me know!!

3 1/2 C milk
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 Tbsp flour
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp rum extract

Combine both milks, flour and nutmeg in a saucepan and bring to a boil stirring constantly.  Put the egg yolks in a bowl.  Whisk 1 C of the boiling mixture into the egg yolks gradually.  Add egg yolk mixture into the saucepan and cook for 1-2 more minutes or until slightly thickened.  Remove from heat and add vanilla and rum extract.  Cool in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.  Carefull because this can form a skin on the top while cooling.

Note - first of all I realize that rum and vanilla extract do contain alcohol but...
Also, use the nutmeg and rum extract to taste.  I find that I liked a little more but this is a good jumping point.

Dinosaur Cookies

DINOSAUR COOKIES

1/2 C butter
1/2 C unsweetened cocoa
2 C sugar
1/2 C milk
3 C oats
1/2 C peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

Bring butter, cocoa, sugar, milk to a boil.  Cook for about 2 minutes, don't burn.  Add rest and drop on foil.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIE
*the main recipe from Libby's

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teasppon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bake at 350 for about 11 minutes if you are doing mini whoopie pies (about 1 tsp size).  I have only made mini ones since that is what we like :)