Pumpkin Cookies

 1 box spice cake

1 can pumpkin (15 oz)

1 bag chocolate chips

Mix pumpkin and cake mix together, until blended.  Stir in bag of chocolate chips.  Spoon onto cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for at least 12 minutes.

(If cookies look shiny, they are still doughy... I usually bake 14-15 min.)

Spaghetti Squash Obsession

I will break the silence.

I have noticed in the grocery store there is a lot of spaghetti squash right now.  I love spaghetti squash, we grow our own, we use it in place of noodles, and the squash lasts forever!  So here are a few recipes to try if you want to take advantage of it while it's in the stores, or like me still have tons from your harvest this fall.

Microwave-If your short on time, you can just cook it in the microwave.  Cut it in 1/2, putting one half in cooking for 5 minutes open side down, then turn it over and cook for 5 minutes open side up, then leave it in the microwave for 5 minutes.  I love this method cause you can do it last minute and it's quick and easy, the only thing is if you like the noodles a little more soft, this method doesn't cook them quite as much so they're a little more crunchy and the "noodles" don't come out quite as easily.

Oven-Or you can cook it in the oven by either cutting it in half, placing the halves face side down on a cookie sheet, or put the squash in whole just make sure you poke holes in it and cook at 350 for 1 hour.  Leaving it whole is the easiest, because cutting it before it's cooked can be a little difficult.

After cooking it, scoop out the seeds and throw away. Then scoop out the flesh, it comes out like little noodles and you can just pour your favorite spaghetti sauce over top.  Makes for a very healthy spaghetti dinner, you and your families may be a little leery at first, but Colby is picky when it comes to healthy, and he now prefers the squash over noodles!

Here are 2 other recipes we like

Spaghetti Squash Capreese Bake

http://pinktrollkitchen.com/2013/01/08/spaghetti-squash-caprese-bakecrustless-pie/

Skinny Spaghetti Squash Alfredo - we love this one

http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/03/skinny-spaghetti-squash-alfredo.html

Waiting to hear from you all!

Love-Nat

Crepes

Crepes

We always had crepes for Saturday morning breakfast growing up...they are so yummy.

2 eggs

2 T. oil

3 T. sugar

1 c. four

1 1 /3 c. milk

In skillet pour small amount and spread so crepe is pretty thin. 30 seconds on first side, 15 seconds on the other side.

Fill with: berries, cinnamon sugar, vanilla pudding, syrup, apple cinnamon mixture, any canned pie filling.

Top with: Whipped cream, nuts, powdered sugar.

Mini Pizzas

Easy Alert!
These are so easy and so yummy.  On nights where I don't feel like cooking I'll whip these babies out.  I learned this from a dietician at a nutrition class I had to go to at the hospital.  So added bonus, they're healthy.
All you need is

• Thawed wheat roll dough - I use rhode's multi-grain.  If you decide to make these last minute just put them in the microwave frozen on defrost for  1-2 minutes

• Pizza sauce or pasta sauce, whatever you have on hand

• Cheese- mozzerella is best

• Corn Meal

• And any healthy pizza toppings you can think of:
• Some ideas: cooked chicken, pinapple, olives, cooked ham, mushrooms, tomato, green pepper, onion... my favorite spinach (give it a chance), etc.

1. Cover pan with corn meal
2. Stretch each roll dough out to a flat circle and put on pan- (we usually eat 1-2 each)
3. Put in oven- use temp on baking directions for dough
   Let cook for 5 minutes
4. Take dough out of oven and put sauce, cheese and toppings on each pizza.
5.  Put back in oven for 15 minutes or however long your baking directions say. 

And you're done.  It's that easy, and they are way yummy.  Combine with a salad and some fruit and you have a complete, nutritious meal.

This one doesn't look very appetizing, but I promise they're good.  I usually just use spinach and onions as toppings cause I always have them on hand.

Eclair Cake

Here is the recipe from dessert on Sunday.
Super easy and yummy! I hate eclairs, and Love eclair cake so don't knock it until you try it.

This picture is not mine but you get the idea

2 (3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding packages

3-1/2 cups whole milk- skim milk works just fine and saves a few calories:)

2 boxes of Graham crackers- you won't need most of the 2nd box, but will need just enough for >1

8 oz. cool whip- I use fat free, can't tell the difference

1. Blend milk and vanilla pudding packets for about 2 minutes.  Fold in Cool Whip

2. In a 9x13 pan, Layer graham crackers to cover entire bottom of pan.  You man need to cut and shape the crackers to fit nicely.

3. Poor half of pudding/cool whip mixture on top and level.

4.  Put another layer of graham crackers to cover entire surface.  Cut and shape crackers accordingly.

5.  Put the second half of pudding/cool whip mixture on top and level.

6.  Put the final layer of graham crackers on top with bumpy side down.  This will help the top look more smooth when you go to put the frosting on top.  Once again, cut and shape crackers accordingly to avoid pits and cracks.

FROSTING

3 Tbsp Butter- I use about 1 tbs and it works just fine

3 Tbsp milk

3 Tbsp Cocoa

1-1/2 cup powdered sugar

1. Microwave butter and milk just enough so that they are melted together.  You do not need to boil it. (I don't have the powdered cocoa, so I use 1 unsweetened cocoa square and put it in the microwave as well)

2.  Add cocoa and powdered sugar and blend together.  This will be a runnier frosting/glaze

3. Pour over top of graham crackers and smooth out nicely.

The recipe says to refrigerate over night, but I think the graham crackers get too soggy this way.  So I'd just say refrigerate for a few hours and call it good.

I love this and it's way easy.  Also per Jenn's request the less frosting the better.  The frosting is a little sweet and you could probably half the frosting and just drizzle it over top and it'd be just as good, or go without it all together.  I also thought about eliminating the final layer of graham crackers.  It wouldn't be as finished, but it would still taste good.