Pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese cinnamon frosting.

My favorite season is fall. The leaves are changing beautiful bright colors, and as they fall and drift through the wind, everything seems magical. I, more than normal, took great notice in the colors of the leaves this year. There were these trees that I passed everyday on my way to school that were this beautiful, bright red. You couldn't help but notice them when you went by. During this time of the year to express the magical qualities that I find in fall, I think of pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin, pumpkin pumpkin. Pumpkin just screams autumn. Above I mentioned pumpkin cupcakes, these little cakes are just scrumptious. Pumpkin cupcakes are fall, all wrapped up into one little delight. So if that wasn't enough to get you to make them, I don't know what will.

Another reason to love these is that this recipe is so super easy to make. If you have a cake mix and pumpkin then you can probably make these. Not a lot of work involved since it uses a cake mix. BONUS! You of course don't have to use the cream cheese cinnamon frosting recipe that I provided but I would highly recommend because it is awesome.  

The cream cheese cinnamon frosting as mentioned above that accompanies these pumpkin cupcakes is absolutely amazing. Cream cheese frosting is amazing with out cinnamon, but you add the cinnamon and it is even more amazing. I could probably just eat it right out the bowl all day long. Pair that with the pumpkin cupcakes, and you have one delicious dessert. So go ahead and make them for Thanksgiving or for just the heck of it. You won't be disappointed. 

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients:

For cupcakes:

1 yellow cake mix

1 can (14-15 oz.) pumpkin puree 

1 cup milk

2 Tbs. oil

5 Tbs. butter, melted

4 eggs

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

For cinnamon cream cheese frosting:

1-  8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

7 Tbs. butter, at room temperature

1 lb. powder sugar (or about 7 cups powder sugar)

1 tsp.vanilla

2 tsp. cinnamon 

Directions:

For cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 cupcake holder with liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pumpkin pie spice. Add pumpkin, milk, oil, butter, and eggs to the bowl and mix well until smooth.
3. Fill each lined cupcake holder with batter 2/3 full. 
4. Bake in oven for 10-16 minutes or until when a inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 5-10 minutes and then remove from pan and let cool on wire rack or towel. 

For Frosting:

1. Using electric mixer, in a large bowl beat cream cheese until fluffy and smooth. Next add the butter and mix with mixer until light and fluffy.
2. Add the vanilla and mix. Combine in powder sugar 1 cup at time, so that it doesn't make a huge mess. Mix until smooth.
3. After adding all the powder sugar, add the cinnamon. Mix until well blended.
4. Frost cupcakes or pipe frosting on with piping bag and tip. I used the Wilton 1M tip. 

Enjoy! Everyone in my family loved these cupcakes, They each came back wanting another one. I plan on serving these at Thanksgiving dinner. They will easily fit in with any Thanksgiving meal. Or eat them anytime like I am sure my family and I will. 

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Peace, love, bake on.

                                             Andrea 

Homemade Egg Rolls.

Have you ever wondered how to make egg rolls? Well, if you asked my dad he would say you push it. While I am casting him out as a smart alec, I am going to tell you that making homemade eggs rolls is actually not as hard as one might think. I always thought that making egg rolls would be tough, but after trying my hand at them several times, I can tell you that they are actually quite simple and delicious to make at home. These egg rolls can be either baked or fried in oil. It's your preference, I love them either way. 

Homemade Egg Rolls:

adapted from Joyful Abode

Ingredients:

1 package egg roll wrappers (can be found at grocery stores, I purchased mine from Walmart; you can also make them homemade, if desired)

1 bag coleslaw of mix 

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Splash of soy sauce 

salt and pepper to taste

Oil, if frying

Cooking spray, if baking

Some water in small bowl for sealing the egg rolls

Optional fun add ins:

Chopped mushrooms

Bean sprouts

can of shrimp

cooked chicken or beef

whatever else you find will taste good in egg rolls

Directions:

1. If baking, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Or if frying, place oil in deep skillet and heat to about 375 degrees. 
2. Put coleslaw mix in a large microwave safe bowl, cover, and then microwave for 3-6 minutes. 
3. In a large mixing bowl, place the optional ingredients, if you are adding any. 
4. Splash in some soy sauce. Add garlic and ground ginger.
5. After coleslaw is cooked. Drain off the excess liquid. Then combine the coleslaw in with the rest of the ingredients. 
6. Next, after laying out one egg roll wrapper pointing towards you, use the water and dip the tip of your finger in the water and moisten the edges of the egg roll wrapper (making a square on the wrapper, or outlining the whole wrapper). 
7. Now, spoon a small amount of the filling on the center near the corner that is closest to you. Fold corner over mixture and then the two side corners toward the center and continue rolling up. Repeat for the rest of the wrappers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                               
8. If baking, place egg rolls on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Lightly spray the egg rolls with cooking spray, too. Bake 15 minutes in preheated oven and then flip the egg rolls over, and bake an additional 10-15 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
9. If frying, place egg rolls into heated oil and fry, turning occasionally, until  golden brown. Remove from oil and drain on paper towel or wire rack. Serve with dipping sauce or eat plain. Either way enjoy!

               
                                   

 Now you can enjoy egg rolls when ever you want in the comfort of your own home. You also now know that making egg rolls is no trouble at all. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family and I do. Comment or email me to give me suggestions or to tell me what you think.

Peace, love, bake on.

                                         The Fiery Redhead

Cheesy taco pasta.

It's been way to long since I have last posted anything, and for that I am sorry. I have been super duper busy lately. Tennis seemed to take over my life. Anyway on to better things. Things such as comfort food. Ahhh Comfort food. Lets take a moment of silence to savor these words. (brief pause) Just typing these words bring me comfort.

 Comfort food can be defined under a wide variety of cuisines. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary comfort food is defined as food that is satisfying because it is prepared in a simple or traditional way and reminds you of home, family, or friends. Sounds simple enough. To me anything with cheese, cream, pasta, or many other not-so-healthy items of food are comforting.

This brings me to my next point, sharing a delicious comforting recipe with ya'll. This recipe could be easily defined as comfort food and under the umbrella of super easy and quick. 

Cheesy Taco Pasta

adapted from Emily Bites

Ingredients:

8 oz. of pasta of your choice (I either use wide egg noodles or shell pasta)

1 pound of ground beef

1 packet of taco seasoning (or something equivalent to a packet)

1 1/2 cups salsa (I used a chunky salsa)

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup sour cream

1 1/2  cups shredded cheese (used half cheddar & half Colby-Jack)

salt and pepper to taste

Olives (optional)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. While the pasta is cooking, brown (cook) the ground beef in a large skillet. Break and crumble the beef while it is cooking. After it is thoroughly cooked, drain the grease from the beef.
3. Add the taco seasoning, salsa, water to the beef and let simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes or until pasta is done cooking.
4. Once the pasta is done cooking, drain pasta and add it to the beef mixture. Add the sour cream, cheese, salt and pepper and stir until it is combined. After the cheese has melted thoroughly, remove from heat and serve immediately.
5. ENJOY!

As you can see, this recipe is easy and really good. I loved it the first time I made it. When I first made my family thought it looked kind of gross, but after they tried it they loved it. As always please and enjoy. Tell me what you think by either commenting or emailing me.

                                

Peace, Love, bake on.

                                                The Fiery Redhead