Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies from Pillsbury.com

INGREDIENTS
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies
1 container (16 oz) chocolate creamy frosting
Candy corn
Orange decorating icing
Black decorating gel
Miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Bake cookies as directed on roll. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
2. Spoon chocolate frosting into resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Cut small hole in bottom corner of bag. On each cookie, pipe frosting on outer edge of half of cookie. Arrange candy corn over frosting for feathers.
3. Pipe orange icing onto each cookie to resemble turkey face and feet. Use orange icing to attach baking bits to turkey face for eyes. Pipe black gel on baking bits for centers of eyes.

Mixed Veggies with a twist!

Broccoli and Squash Medley from pillsbury.com

INGREDIENTS

2	bags (12 oz each) Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ frozen broccoli cuts
2	cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled butternut squash (1 1/2 lb)
1/2	cup orange juice
1/4	cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2	cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2	cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
1	tablespoon grated orange peel
1	teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1.	Cook broccoli as directed on bag; set aside.
2.	Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, cook squash in orange juice over medium-low heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender but firm.
3.	Stir in butter, broccoli, cranberries, pecans, orange peel and salt; toss to coat. Serve immediately.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft):

Increase orange juice to 1 cup. Cook squash 18 to 20 minutes.

Gingerbread Pancakes

We gave this recipe a try this morning. We thought they were good for a nice change-but still prefer the pumpkin pancakes.

Gingerbread Pancakes
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
dash of cloves
1/2 teaspoon ginger
3 Tablespoons molasses
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk

Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Add milk, molasses, vegetable oil, and egg to the flour mixture and mix quickly. Don't over beat. It's all right to let the batter stand or "rest'' before cooking. Pour batter onto a hot greased skillet, cooking for 2 or 3 minutes. Turn pancakes when bubbles appear on the upper surface. You may add more milk to make batter thinner. You may also reduce the amount of molasses for lighter pancakes. Serve with fresh whipped cream and warm maple syrup.

Favorite Pumpkin Dessert

1 ½ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground cloves
4 large eggs
4 cups pumpkin puree (~32 oz can)
2 cans evaporated milk
1 yellow cake mix
1 cube of butter or margarine softened

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
Pour into 9x13 baking glass.
Cut butter into cake mix (like when making pie dough. Use a fork or pastry blender.)
Top batter with cake and butter mixture.
Bake in preheated 425⁰F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350⁰ F; bake for 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.
Serve warm or cold. Goes great with vanilla ice cream.

Pumpkin-Pecan Coffee Cake

I invited a friend over for breakfast, then another and another. Until we had more people than chairs. :) That’s the way to start a Saturday morning, if you ask me.

I doubled the following recipe and baked it in my favorite Bundt pan.

Yield

8 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon butter or stick margarine
• 1/4 cup regular oats
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons chopped pecans
• 3 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Melt 1 teaspoon butter in bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan. Combine oats, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and pecans. Sprinkle oat mixture over bottom of pan, and set aside.

Beat 3 tablespoons butter, granulated sugar, and 1/4 cup brown sugar at medium speed of a mixer until mixture is well-blended (about 4 minutes). Add the egg, and beat well. Lightly spoon the flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, pumpkin-pie spice, and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the pumpkin and buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.

Spoon batter evenly over oat mixture. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes, and invert cake onto a serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.

From MyRecipes

A variation on the fall theme: Pumpkin Waffles

I had some friends over yesterday morning for a Columbus Day breakfast complete with pumpkin waffles and bacon. Yum yum.

I just used the recipe for the pumpkin pancakes and topped them with chocolate chips, whipped cream, and nutmeg. I believe maple syrup was involved too. They were a hit.

Pumpkin Pancakes

We all love fall and going out for pumpkin pancakes. Since we didn't have enough time this morning before general conference, I looked up some recipes and chose this one. It is delicious, a keeper and hopefully an October conference tradition!

Pumpkin pancakes
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar

In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt, stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot. (Spread scoop of batter out into bigger pancake so not so thick. Don't add extra milk or it will dilute pumpkin flavor.)

From Allrecipes.com