The Bible study ladies loved these

Mini Pumpkin Pies

If you're like me, other people's blogs are so inspiring.  I've been on a kick lately to find recipes.  Here is the latest one I found on Bakerella   I saw them and instantly thought of my Bible study group. So I got all the supplies and started.  I did it late at night and quickly wondered why I attempted such a project.  Turns out, it was really easy to do! Try 'em, you'll like them.

2 eggs

1 can pumpkin pie mixture

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp. cinnamon 

2 refrigerated pie crusts 

(there is actually enough to make more. So next time, I'll buy another packet.) 

You may also like whipped cream, but I didn't put any on mine. 

You will also need a biscuit or cookie cutter and a mini muffin tin sprayed with oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut your pieces out and press them into place into each spot on the muffin tin.  Then, mix all the ingredients together well.  Once it's mixed, use a measuring cup to help scoop out of the bowl and pour into each pie crust. 

It took awhile for it to bake.  At first, I thought maybe 20 minutes, but then I had to keep adding 5 more minutes.  The crusts shouldn't burn, but should be browned and the top of the pies firm.  Let them cool, then transfer to a plate, cover with plastic wrap and chill.  

These should stay refrigerated until ready to eat. 

 I hope you like them as much as my group did!

Leftover Chicken Dish

Ever wonder what to do with that leftover chicken breast?  I made chicken the other night and found it to be bland, so I didn't want to go near it the next day.  I ended up looking online for ideas on how to make it better.  This is what I found on allrecipes.com.  I had to change out the ingredients for what I had in my pantry.

2 cups of diced chicken

1/2 c mayo

4 tsp dried dill

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp slivered almonds (I had to use small pieces of pecans)

1 c. broccoli (I didn't even have any, so I skipped it)

1/4 c diced onion

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

 2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls (I didn't have this. Instead, I had Pillsbury Country Italian Bread loaf).

Preheat oven to 375

In a large bowl, mix everything except the dough together.

Unroll dough onto a baking sheet topped 

with parchment paper. 

I cut a slit down the middle and opened it up like it had a zipper jacket. 

Then I squished the dough out to the sides. 

If you are using crescent rolls, pinch the perforations to 

form a single dough sheet. 

Next, fill the center with your mixture.

Finally, fold the sides in and pinch together to form a seal.

You may brush the dough with egg white, I didn't. Bake to the directions on the dough container or until golden brown. Enjoy while it's warm.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

In my opinion, one of the best things about pumpkins are their seeds. It's a pain to make a Jack-o-lantern, but well worth it to get a fun Halloween decoration and yummy seeds to roast.

Directions:

You will need a baking sheet, cooking spray, fresh pumpkin seeds, butter and salt.

Pull out all the insides of your pumpkin and separate the pumpkin guts from the seeds. Sometimes I wash the seeds, most of the time I like the pumpkin on it. Now, lay them out flat on a greased cookie sheet. Dab slivers of butter on top. Sprinkle salt over it all. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until the seeds look toasted. You will want to use a spatula and move the seeds around half way through the roasting time. 

I have read that you can flavor your seeds other ways. I haven't tried them yet. But here are a few ideas:

Add 1/2 tsp garlic salt and 2 tsp. worchestershire sauce. 

or

use Mrs. Dash

or

1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp all spice

Easy Halloween Wreath

I am a huge fan of Halloween. So when I saw a wreath with black snakes on it in Martha's magazine, I had to make it...but with my own twist. Instead of snakes, I chose to do glow-in-the-dark webbing and spiders (I used plastic spider rings that came in a packet). 


First, spray paint a grape vine wreath black and let it completely dry.
Next, pull the webbing to make it look like a creepy spider web and lay it on the vine. The vine is prickly, so the web will stick.
Finally, attach your spiders. I clipped the back of the ring and just put them on the vine.
If you buy a few grapevines, you will be able to make a lot of these wreaths. I'm planning to give a few away. And I want one for my front and back doors.