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.

Blueberry Pineapple Cobbler

Yes, it's true, I have a thing for blueberries. What can I say? My grandpa had a blueberry patch when I was a kid and I have fond memories of those carefree days. 

This is my sister-in-law, Lorra's recipe. Lorra is an amazing cook. You're sure to see more of her recipes on here another time. 

Blueberry/Pineapple Cobbler

2 c. blueberries

1 can crushed pineapple with juice

2 boxes Jiffy yellow cake mix (I haven't tried 1 box of regular sized yellow cake mix, but I'm sure it would work in a pinch).

1/4 c sugar

2 sticks semi-melted butter

1 c pecans, chopped

Mix blueberries, pineapple and sugar. Place in a greased casserole/baking dish

Mix cake mix and butter. Spoon over fruit mixture. Top with pecans.

Bake 350 for 30-40 minutes.

I like to serve this warm. Even with leftovers, I like to zap it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Enjoy!

Banana Nut Bread

Fall is right around the corner and I'm starting to crave comfort food. How about you? 
The other day, I had two bananas that were turning brown quickly. In an effort to not waste them, I pulled out my recipe cards and turned them into banana nut bread! As you can see, it didn't last very long at home. 

Recipe
3 ripe bananas (okay, I only had two, but it still worked)
1 egg, beaten
1 stick of melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts

In a large bowl, mash the bananas, add the egg and butter, mix well. Now add the sugar and flour. Last, fold in the nuts. Pour into a 9x5 inch loaf pan that is greased. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes to an hour. Enjoy!