RECIPE: Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

We had our first snowfall this week. And as much as I wished it would have happened a month later than it did, I will admit it was really pretty. We had just enough to cover the ground and it stayed around for a few days. The kids were ecstatic and even though they got home from school after 4 that day, they zipped through their homework and dug out all of their snow pants and boots to play in the snow well into darkness (which right now is around 5 pm!)

Just as the snow was falling I thought about how nice warm pumpkin bars would be for the kids after school snack. Unfortunately, that thought came 20 minutes before the bus arrived, wah wah wah! I started making these bars anyways and figured they would be a great dessert buuuut since it was snowing I figured we could eat them right after they cooled a bit which would mean....dessert BEFORE dinner! Yeah, every now and then you just have to do that. :-)

These bars are sooo good! I have been making them for years now and they always please every crowd. I frost them with my 4 Ingredient Cream Cheese Icing which really makes them outstanding. And on a side note, I didn't have any vegetable oil when I made this particular batch so I replaced it with an equal amount of liquid-state coconut oil and they turned out perfect. Not a hint of coconut in them! Sweet!

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

1 15 oz can pumpkin puree

4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil (or 1 cup liquid-state coconut oil)

1 2/3 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 Tbsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients together in a medium size bowl. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake 40-45 minutes. Let cool and frost with 4-Ingredient Cream Cheese Icing (Recipe found here). Enjoy!

The ingredient list run down....pumpkin, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, sugar, coconut oil (or vegetable oil)

Flour and eggs!

This recipe is so simple, truly!

Mix all the ingredients together and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes in a greased 9x13 inch pan.

Yumm-o!

This would make a great dessert this Thanksgiving too! I hope you give it a try!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

 XOXO,

Mini Pancake Push-Up Pops

Holy cats, we have less than a week before school starts, I cannot believe the last week of summer is finally here! So, like a good momma, I have been diligently trying to come up with a fun first day of school breakfast.  You might remember last year's here (and here!)

This year since Noah is heading into first grade, Penny is starting kindy, and Eloise is starting her first year of preschool, I have staggered first days. Our area schools do the whole first through the twelfth grades start one day and then the kindergarteners start the following. Then the following week the preschools start up. I have a whole lots of firsts coming up and I better be prepared!

I want to make them a breakfast that is fun and nutritious yet easy/quick to eat in case we have a late sleeper. PS. Please remind me that I really need to start getting them to bed earlier these next few days or we are sooo going to be in TROUBLE! 

I thought I'd try a spin our on last year's breakfast of mini pancakes but instead I used a small biscuit cutter to make them tiny enough in diameter to fit into those cute push-up pop containers and layered with some blueberries, chopped strawberries, and fresh whipped cream. Ta-da!...Mini Pancake Push-Up Pops!

They are almost too pretty to eat...almost! My kids loved them, hooray! So these will definitely be a contender for next week's First Day of School breakfast :-)

Have your kids started school yet? We are getting so excited over here!!

XOXO,

RECIPE: The Best Homemade Waffle Mix Ever!

There is just something about a warm, crispy waffle for breakfast, don't you think? With a side of some crispy bacon and fresh strawberries and blueberries as my toppings I think that may just be my perfect breakfast! 

Since waffles are always high on our list of fun breakfast food at our house and since I dislike buying pre-made mixes full of preservatives I decided to figure out a dry mix that would be our go-to waffle recipe. And let me tell you, this has been nothing less than a hit every time I make it!

The Best Homemade Waffle Mix Ever!

2/3 cup all purpose flour (I like to use a gluten-free variety!)

2 cups powdered sugar (organic if you have it!)

3/4 cup softened butter

3 large eggs

1 Tbsp vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add in your wet ingredients and mix together until just incorporated. Cook in a waffle maker according to the appliance directions. Enjoy!

I tend to make a double or triple batch of this mix which makes it easy to grab when waffles are on the brain. It's as easy as a store-bought mix then!

It's also great for gift-giving.
Just place in a mason jar and add a tag with the ingredients needed on the back!

I included it as a part of my Breakfast in Bed Housewarming/Hostess gift found here where you can also see all the other fun items I added to this care package as well!

Thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,