pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with cream cheese frosting

Its that time of year again for all things pumpkin and we are loving it at our house.  At the store the other day the hubs saw some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with cream cheese frosting and wanted to buy them.  I said no way I will just bake you some.  So glad I made two batches.  It has been his breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a few days and he has not complained!  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• ½ cup salted butter, softened 
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup pumpkin (canned pumpkin purée, do not use pumpkin pie filling)
• 2½ cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 heaping teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 12 oz bag milk chocolate chips

Frosting

4 oz salted butter, softened

8 oz cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla

3-4 Cups powdered sugar

3-4 Tbsp milk

Cream butter, and cream cheese.  Add remaining ingredients until well mixed.  Mix on high for 1 minute.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Set aside.
3. Cream together the butter and sugar.
4. Add the eggs. Blend until combined.
5. Mix in the pumpkin.
6. Slowly shake in the flour and cinnamon mixture while mixing on low.
7. Stir in all of the chocolate chips.
8. Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet or parchment paper lined cookie sheet. 
9. Bake for 13-15 minutes.  Enjoy! 

Recipe Source:  Adapted from simplygloria.com

Miss Saylor Kate

Kara woke up Monday September 29 like any other day not even thinking she would soon meet her new little love.  She was not feeling quite right and decided to call the doctor just in case.  The doctor said to come in and get checked out.  They found that fluid was low and that the baby needed to come out today.  Kara could not believe it.  She called her husband who was working at a nearby hospital and told him to pick up stewart from preschool and get to the hospital.  She then called my mom who could not believe it.  I then get a phone call from my mom who is crying saying I am packing my bag and I need you to take me to the airport.  So my mom made it just a half hour before she was born and stewart was beyond excited to have his YaYa there.  All is well and they are doing great.  Miss Saylor Kate was 5lbs 6oz 18 inches long.  She is beautiful and loved beyond she will ever know.  I cannot wait to get back there to snuggle, kiss, and just stare at her.

Halloween wreath

This wreath was beyond easy to make and turned out so cute.  I love it.  I needed a new wreath since my cute new decided to eat my candy corn wreath.  I must thank him now since I love this one so much.  Make one today to put up tomorrow!

Halloween Wreath

wreath form
black yarn
white yarn
hot glue gun
orange ribbon
twine
brown paper bag
black sharpie

All you have to do is wrap the yarn around the wreath form as thick or as thin as you like.  I did mine a little thicker.  The hardest part is not burning your fingers every time you glue the yarn to the wreath form.  Always glue the yarn on the back of the wreath form.  The twine and brown paper bag banner was decided last minute but I love it.  Looks good without too.  Just glue the twine to the back on the yarn.  Cut out small triangles out of a brown paper bag and write whatever saying you would like.  Glue each triangle to the twine.  Then add a cute orange ribbon to hang it up.  So easy and so cute.

Hoisin Rice Noodles with Chicken

This was soooooo good and it came together really fast! Another bonus, my 4 year old ate his whole plate without complaint! If you are looking for something fast and yummy, make this for dinner tonight! P.S. I had never made anything with rice noodles before, they were located by the Ramen noodles in our grocery store.

Hoisin Rice Noodles with Chicken

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1/2 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter or tahini
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken cut into 1 inch pieces
• 12 ounces rice noodles
• Grated carrots, chopped green onions, chopped peanuts, chopped cilantro, chopped red pepper for topping

Directions

1. Prepare the rice noodles according to package directions by soaking in hot water.
2. For the sauce, whisk together the soy sauce, water, sesame oil, honey, vinegar, lime juice, garlic, ginger, hoisin and peanut butter. Set aside.
3. Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray generously with nonstick cooking spray. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken with about 1/3 cup of the sauce until they are  cooked through. Scoop the chicken and sauce onto a plate and set aside.
4. Drain the noodles and add them to the hot skillet with the rest of the sauce. Cook over medium heat, tossing the noodles with the sauce, about 3-4 minutes until the noodles have soaked up a lot of the sauce and become even more tender.
5. Add the chicken and heat through.
6. Serve the noodles and chicken with the grated carrots, chopped green onions, chopped peanuts, chopped cilantro, and chopped red pepper. I let everyone at the table add their own toppings to the noodles. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe Source: Adapted from www.melskitchencafe.com

Easy Yeast Rolls

I (Joni) made these rolls the other day and I could not believe how easy they were.  And they came out looking like rolls!  I am not a huge fan of baking breads because of all the steps, but I will defiantly be making these again.  Super easy to go with tonights dinner.  Enjoy!

Super Easy Rolls

1 Cup warm water
1 pkg active dry yeast
1/4 Cup sugar
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp  softened butter
1 egg, beaten
3 1/2 - 4 Cups flour

1.  Mix all ingredients in mixing bowl except flour.  Once all combined slowly add flour.  Mix well so all is combined.  If the flour mixture is sticking to the sides, slowly add a little more flour.  Knead for 5 minutes.  Put in bowl, cover for 45 minutes until it has doubled in size.

2.  Punch down dough, and roll into 12 balls.  Place in greased 9x13 pan.  Cover and let raise for 30 minutes.

3.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Recipe Source: www.recipebinder.com

chocolate chip cookie graham cracker toffee bars

These bars are so good!  You cant go wrong with a name like that.  All the good stuff all in one bar.  I found this yummy recipe and changed it slightly and it came out perfect.  They did not last long and I already have requests for them to be made again.  Make some and then hide some so you can have some for later.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Graham Cracker Toffee Bars

2 1/2 Cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 Cup butter melted
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp butter
1 Cup milk chocolate chips
1 small package pre made cookie dough
1 bag toffee bits

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Combine 1/2 Cup melted butter, 2 Cups graham cracker crumbs.  Mix until well combined and press in greased 9x13 pan.  Place in fridge for 15 minutes.

3. Over medium heat combine sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and 2 Tbsp butter.  Mix until melted together and pour over graham cracker crust.

4. In another bowl combine cookie dough, 1/2 Cup graham cracker crumbs, and toffee bits.  Once combined sprinkle crumbled mixture over chocolate layer.

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until top is golden brown.  Wait until cool to cut into squares.

golf cake

I (Joni) had a fun time making this birthday cake this last weekend.  A friend wanted to do something fun for her husband who is really into golf!  This was fun, simple, and made the perfect birthday cake for him.  Hope you all like it.  If you need a cake email me at twosweettreats@gmail.com