Pumpkin Perfection

After waking up early this morning ready for a day of errands, a bike ride, and shopping - I quickly realized it would be much less eventful once I saw the snow falling outside of my window.

Instead of sleeping all day (although it was very tempting), I decided to head out to get coffee, buy Milly a present, stop for last minute Halloween costume accessories and pick up some baking ingredients!  There were plenty of guys and gals on the streets walking home in their costumes from last night, but nobody looked as adorable as Milly in her new rain jacket (she disagrees).

Since it's Halloween weekend, I figured I'd bake something festive for the occasion! These little pumpkin pie bites are fun and simple to make (and very easy to pack up to share with friends tonight).

Ingredients:

1 cup pumpkin pie filling
8 oz cream cheese
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice (mix of nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 pie crusts
mini-cupcake pans

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and cut three inch circles out of the pie crust (I pressed the bottom of the pumpkin pie filling into the pie crust to make perfect circles).  Push the circles of pie crust down into the pans and start mixing all of the ingredients.  Stir the cream cheese, pie filling, spices, vanilla, and eggs until smooth and spoon into each of the pie crusts.  Bake for 15 minutes and enjoy!

Happy Halloween!!

Hockey Dinners

The Pittsburgh Penguins play 82 regular season games a year and I watch about 80 a year (the only way you won't find me in front of the TV is if I have a prior engagement or unexpected interruption in my schedule).  Growing up with Pens tickets, I snacked on burgers, fries, and sodas each home game at the old Mellon (Civic) Arena.  During away games, my dad and I would usually order some unhealthy take out, have some chips and salsa, and veg out during the games.

Today, I'm living in New York City and unfortunately can't be there with my mom, dad, sister, or whoever at each home game.  I also can't be relaxing on my couch for some of my mom's cooked meals (I wish).

Tonight, I made a healthy alternative for the typical game day food.

Menu:

Light spinach and artichoke dip
Black bean burgers
Pasta tossed with extra virgin olive oil, basil, and garlic


Spinach and Artichoke Dip

10 oz frozen spinach, thawed
1 Tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup light mayonnaise
4oz fat free cream cheese
1 teaspoon capers
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon mustard
1 can artichokes
3/4 cup shredded mozarella cheese
1/4 grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Dice the artichokes and spinach and mix well with the rest of the ingredients.  Pour into a small casserole dish and bake for about 30 minutes at 350°.  Serve with crackers!



Black Bean Burgers

1 - 16 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 egg
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon basil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 green pepper, chopped and minced
1/2 onion, chopped and mince
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Mash black beans with a fork until pasty.  Add in the egg, cumin, basil, and garlic and stir well.  Next, add in the rest of the ingredients and add small amounts of bread crumbs until the ingredients become think and able to mold into round burgers.

Form into four patties and bake on a lightly greased baking sheet for 20 minutes (10 minutes on each side).

Pasta? Should be easy enough...

Tasty and healthy, game day meal!

Welcoming October with Apple Crisp

Apples are one of those fruits that really adaptable to a variety of (sweet) recipes.  Apple crisp is one of those recipes that my mom has perfected ever since I can remember. She sent me her recipe for this warm fall treat - it left my apartment filled with a decadent cinnamon scent and made for a great first step of the seasonal food transition.

Gather:
5 Gala apples
3/4 Cup sugar
3/4 Cup brown sugar
3/4 Cup flour
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon

To make the apple crisp, slice the apple and cut into bit sized pieces.  Place them in a casserole dish and set aside.  Next, mix all of the other ingredients into a mixing bowl and pour over the apples.  Push the ingredients down into the apples without stirring.

Enjoy!