Adventures of Mel

Author: Mel Lockcuff

Deliciously Moist Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Bake up a taste of fall with this deliciously moist pumpkin bread recipe. Simple, easy, and quick, you can even add walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips. Thank you to WonderMix for sponsoring this recipe!

There’s nothing quite like a pumpkin bread recipe to bring the taste of fall right into your very own kitchen. Filled with pumpkin and the flavors of pumpkin spice, this is one quick bread I look forward to every year.

Pumpkin bread is a lot like banana bread. It has many of the same ingredients; only it has pumpkin instead of banana.

While I haven’t tried it myself, I would think that you could also make muffins with this recipe, if you don’t want to actually make a bread loaf. The muffins will be sweet, moist, and everything you love about a fall morning.

A couple weeks ago, I shared a buttermilk cornbread recipe we’d made, using milled corn from our WonderMill grain mill.

Now with the help of my WonderMix, pumpkin bread is quite easy to make. You really just have to mix a few ingredients, pour the dough into a greased loaf pan, and bake it.

Homemade pumpkin bread is the best! It’s right up there with pumpkin spice muffins and gingerbread loaf!

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR PUMPKIN BREAD!

If you’d rather skip all of my baking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the deliciously easy pumpkin bread recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT WONDERMIX!

WonderMix is “the kitchen mixer that’s built for life.” I love using my WonderMix when I’m baking.

The WonderMix Revolution Mixer is an all-in-one kitchen mixer with optional attachments like cookie whips, a blender, and a food processor.

Features of the WonderMix include the following:
- 900-watt motor
- Direct drive high torque transmission
- 3 speeds and pulse function
- Large 5.5-qt. bowl with handle that’s dishwasher safe
- Dough hook
- BPA free
- Cord storage
- and so much more… You can read more about the features on the WonderMix site.
WHAT ATTACHMENTS CAN I GET FOR THE WONDERMIX?

There are several attachments you can get to complement your WonderMix, including the blender, cookie whips, a slicer/shredder, meat grinder, grain flaker, and grain mill.

HOW DOES THE WONDERMIX REALLY WORK?

I love how easy the WonderMix is to use and how easy it is to clean up.

The large capacity bowl is very important when mixing larger quantities of foods, and I love that it actually has a handle. I don’t have to wrestle with the bowl to remove the ingredients.

I also like that the bowl is deep and ingredients don’t splatter out near as easily, if ever, while mixing. It also has a lid that prevents splatters and flour dust.

The beaters really do mix the ingredients in the bowl; they don’t leave chunks of unmixed ingredients in the bottom. And while I do have to occasionally scrape the sides, this mixer does a really good job overall of mixing up my recipes.

The speed did throw me for a loop at first because it doesn’t get louder the faster it goes. I wasn’t quite used to that.

It’s easy to scrape contents out of the bowl when I’m done mixing, even with the center console for the drive shaft there. And did I mention it’s easy to clean up, even after making a batch of homemade pumpkin bread?

WHERE CAN I BUY PUMPKINS FOR PUMPKIN RECIPES?

You can either use fresh pumpkin for this recipe or canned pumpkin.

Fresh pumpkins are easy to find this time of year; you can buy pumpkins at any grocery store, pumpkin patch, or orchard. You can find canned pumpkin in the baking aisle of your nearest grocery store too.

HOW DO I MAKE PUMPKIN PUREE?

Homemade pumpkin purée is really easy to make. In fact, I have a recipe you can follow for homemade pumpkin purée.

The recipe involves roasting the pumpkins and blending the pumpkin flesh into a smooth purée, meaning you can use the blender on your WonderMix to make the purée.

IS CANNED PUMPKIN THE SAME AS PUMPKIN PUREE?

I got this question the other day from a reader… I can see how it might be a bit confusing because they can look quite different from each other.

Canned pumpkin is, however, pumpkin purée. The only difference I see when using either/both is that homemade pumpkin purée can have a bit more water and be a little more juicy than store bought canned pumpkin.

You can use either kind of pumpkin for this pumpkin bread recipe.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN BREAD

You’ll need a bread loaf pan to bake easy pumpkin bread. You’ll need to grease the pan well, either with cooking spray or with shortening/butter.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°.
- Mix together the softened butter and sugar; then mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, and pumpkin.
- Sift together the dry ingredients, including the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and ground cloves.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
- Then add the chopped walnuts and mix again.
- You can add a cup or so of chocolate chips, as well, if you’d like to make chocolate chip pumpkin bread.
- Pour the dough into a well greased loaf pan, and bake at 350° for about an hour, or until a toothpick (or cake tester) inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove your loaf of deliciously moist pumpkin bread from the oven, and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
- Then run a butter knife around the edge of your loaf, and slip the loaf out of the pan onto a wire rack to cool.
We love to slice our bread while it’s still slightly warm (but not too hot) and slather it with butter. It’s so good!

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE PUMPKIN PIE SPICE?

That’s ok! What is in pumpkin pie spice is a mixture of spices, including ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger; it may also include cloves and allspice.

You can use these spices, individually, if you have them. You’ll just need to use a smaller amount of each spice you choose to use, so they can work together to create the amount of pumpkin pie spice you would need, in this case, a teaspoon.

I would definitely try to use cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and even allspice if possible.

MORE PUMPKIN RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:
KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE PUMPKIN BREAD:

WonderMix Kitchen Mixer

Spatula – for pouring the dough into the loaf pan.

Sifter

Loaf Pan

Cake Tester – While you can also use a toothpick, I kinda love my li’l cake tester.

Wire Rack

PUMPKIN BREAD RECIPE

If you love this pumpkin bread recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Moist Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Bake up a taste of fall with this deliciously moist pumpkin bread recipe. Simple, easy, and quick, you can even add walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips.
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup cane sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pumpkin purée
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Pre-heat the oven to 350°, and grease a loaf pan well.
Mix together the softened butter and sugar; then mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, and pumpkin.
Sift together the dry ingredients, including the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and ground cloves.
Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Then add the chopped walnuts and mix again.
Pour the dough into a well greased loaf pan, and bake at 350° for about an hour, or until a toothpick (or cake tester) inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove your loaf of deliciously moist pumpkin bread from the oven, and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
Then run a butter knife around the edge of your loaf, and slip the loaf out of the pan onto a wire rack to cool.
Serve with butter, jelly, or whatever your heart desires!
*You can make this recipe into a pumpkin bread loaf, or you can use a muffin tin and make pumpkin muffins instead. You can add a cup or so of chocolate chips, as well, if you’d like to make chocolate chip pumpkin bread.

Breads & Muffins
American
moist pumpkin bread, moist pumpkin bread recipe, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bread recipe, pumpkin recipes
October 4, 2018
Kayaking the Current River from Akers Ferry to Pulltite
EXPLORE THE CURRENT RIVER FROM YOUR KAYAK

Kayaking adventure on the Current River from Akers Ferry to Pulltite in Missouri. Plan a float trip with tips for Ozark National Scenic Riverways!

Out of all the rivers in the Ozarks, the Current River is the most spring-fed of all of them. This makes it a great river for floating in Missouri, even during the hottest months of summer.

The Upper Current River in my home state of Missouri, the Show Me State, is a popular river for kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and tubing. This 54-mile stretch from Montauk State Park to its junction with the Jacks Fork River east of Eminence, Missouri, is actually one of the more popular float trips in Missouri, meaning it can get especially crowded on weekends.

You can float anywhere from a few hours to a few days on the Current River. Parts of the river move fast, and other parts move slow, requiring a bit more paddling than the Jacks Fork River.

We planned yet another kayaking trip with my family and set out for a full day of fun, floating on Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri.

WHERE TO LAUNCH YOUR BOAT ON THE CURRENT RIVER

There are several popular float trips you can take on the Current River, with several spots to launch your boat. This trip we decided to float from Akers Ferry to Pulltite Campground, so we launched at Akers Ferry.

In order to launch your kayak at Akers Ferry, you’ll need to follow the signs to the launch spot, which is down a gravel road from the general store.

There’s a spot on the riverbank to unload your kayaks. Then you need to drive just a little bit further to a small parking lot where you can leave your vehicle for pickup later.

If you’re launching on the weekend, you’ll likely be unloading with other groups of people, maybe even a bus full of floaters. The launch spot isn’t hard to miss.

WHEN TO LAUNCH FOR A FLOAT TRIP FROM AKERS FERRY TO PULLTITE CAMPGROUND

The Current River is very popular, so it can get really crowded on summer weekends, especially when it’s really hot. Not only that, but people like to float and drink at the same time.

You throw drinking and inexperience into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for “fun.”

Most other nature lovers and those who crave solitude will tell you if you’re floating on the weekend, to launch either early in the morning or mid-afternoon. They’ll also tell you weekdays are the most peaceful time to float.

We launched mid-morning on a Saturday in mid-September; and although it was nearly fall, there were still quite a few people floating that day, including a large group of college students.

Akers Ferry to Pulltite on the Current River is about a 5 hour float, so early in the morning is probably best, unless you’re floating when the days are longer in summer.

WHAT TO EXPECT AS YOU FLOAT FROM AKERS TO PULLTITE ON THE CURRENT RIVER, MO

When you get in the river at Akers Ferry, you may launch with a small group of people. You’ll paddle past the ferry and the campground, but soon you’ll be enjoying the wild expanse of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Being spring-fed, the river is very cold, and the water is crystal clear, though it does get darker in some of the deeper spots.

Floatable year-round, there are only a few shallow spots where you may have to give yourself a boost to keep going; but most of the time you’ll have no trouble at all. I don’t think I had to get out of my kayak once on this trip, besides during our little incident when I got out to help.

There are places with ripples and small sets of rapids. The Current River is rated a Class I-II whitewater river. Most of the areas with ripples are pretty easy to paddle through, though we did have trouble in one spot, and I’ll get to that in a minute.

Just like kayaking the Jacks Fork River, there are places where trees stick out over the water or up from under the water. You’ll sometimes come upon sunken logs or boulders submerged in the water.

While I almost felt the Jacks Fork River was more beautiful, scenery on the Current River has a beauty all its own, and it’s still a beautiful river to float in Missouri.

There aren’t quite as many bluffs as on the Jacks Fork, though there are still a few bluffs and quite a few caves, Cave Spring being one of them.

There really isn’t any development along the river either, though you will see a privately owned cabin along the way. You’ll also likely see camping enthusiasts enjoying dispersed camping along the banks of the river.

Missouri Canoe shares a Current River map, also giving a really helpful mile-by-mile description of the Current River and sights to watch for, places like Akers Ferry, Lewis Hollow, Cave Spring, and Rock House Cave.

WHAT IS CAVE SPRING ON THE CURRENT RIVER LIKE?

Cave Spring is a stop you’ll definitely want to make while floating the Current River.

A little over 3 miles from Lewis Hollow, the spring will be on your left. You can’t miss it with the crowd of people who will likely already be there.

The cave is large enough to paddle your kayak into the entrance, but it doesn’t go back very far.

According to Missouri Canoe, the water at the back of the cave “is 120 feet deep and comes from Devil’s Well via nearby Wallace Well Cave.”

WHAT THE WATER’S LIKE ON THE CURRENT RIVER

The water is clear and cold, shallow in spots, and deeper in others with a beautiful deep blue color.

You can see to the bottom in many parts of the river. I watched schools of minnows swimming along through the water and actually wished we could do a little fishing.

The current actually felt a bit stronger to me in some areas than Jacks Fork… Then in other areas, I felt like I had to paddle more because it slowed way down.

Fed by springs, the water is really cold, so if you flip your kayak, be prepared for a cool down. Normally, you shouldn’t have a problem, but this brings me to my next point.

IN WHICH WE HAD A LITTLE KAYAKING INCIDENT

Closer to Pulltite, there’s a fork in the river where it can get a little sketchy. Where the fork converges on the other end, there’s a tree with a tree root sticking out in the water.

As I rounded the corner and started down a small set of ripples, the current getting stronger, I could see there was a canoe stuck on the tree up ahead.

Jaden was in front of me in his kayak, but he was way ahead of me. He tried so hard to miss them, but ended up crashing into their canoe, which eventually set off a small pileup of people… Then I saw him flip and get sucked under their canoe.

I couldn’t see him come up on the other side, so of course, I started to freak out just a bit, while at the same time trying to stay calm. A very nice man, an experienced kayaker (let’s just call him an angel) stopped to help, which was no easy feat in the current.

In fact, quite a few people stopped to help. Jaden had come up on the other side and was clinging to the tree root; but he wasn’t the only one who had flipped, and stuff was floating down the river.

It was a scary moment, and Jaden was white as a sheet by the time he finally made it to shore. But all’s well that ends well, and I’m thankful for the ones who stopped to help.

I’m also thankful he didn’t panic. In fact, besides the people in the canoe who were pretty much yelling and screaming, everyone remained pretty calm, for the most part.

WILDLIFE TO WATCH FOR ON THE JACKS FORK RIVER

Whether you’re a fisherman, an avid birdwatcher, or a nature lover, there are all sorts of animals, birds, and fish to watch for as you float this beautiful river in the Missouri Ozarks.
- Bring your fishing pole (and license). The Current River is chock full of smallmouth bass. You may also be able to catch catfish, walleye, hog suckers, etc.
- Mussels and crayfish
- We did not see any snakes on this kayaking trip, but don’t you worry, there are 25 species of snakes, the most popular of which is the copperhead. While there aren’t quite as many trees to duck under on the Current, you still need to watch out because there may just be a snake sunning itself on a low lying branch. Eek! Also, watch where you put your hands if you float up close to the banks of the river… Again, snakes love to sun themselves on outcropping rocks and boulders.
- Watch for amphibians like bullfrogs, grotto salamander, and the very rare Ozark Hellbender.
- With 198 species of birds, the Current River is the perfect place to get out your binoculars and watch for new birds to add to your bird watching list.
- You may see whitetailed deer and wild turkey.
- We saw what looked like an otter; you may also see mink, beaver, and muskrat.
- There are also a wide variety of insects and arachnids. You may even encounter a tarantula or scorpion.
- And be on the lookout for bears, mountain lions, and cougars.
The thing to remember with animals is that if you respect their space, they will pretty much leave you alone. Remember: YOU are the one invading THEIR space. Respect that and you’ll be fine.

WHERE TO GET OUT OF THE RIVER AT PULLTITE CAMPGROUND

Pulltite isn’t hard to miss. It’s a larger area with a huge gravel bar where you can pull up your kayaks and load them up.

We recommend parking one vehicle at Akers Ferry and one at Pulltite Campground. It’s about a 30 minute drive from one place to the other.

There is at least one shuttle service that will shuttle your vehicle for you, but it costs around $50, so if you have the time, it’s probably worth planning your trip so you can shuttle yourselves back and forth more efficiently and affordably.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A KAYAK? ARE THERE OUTFITTERS FOR THE CURRENT RIVER?

Yes, there are several outfitters that will set you up with what you need to float the river, including shuttle service. There are also several places to stay, including campgrounds and cabins.

You can usually rent canoes, kayaks, rafts, etc.

Here is a listing of places that offer rentals:
- Silver Arrow Canoe Rental
- Carr’s Canoe Rental
- Running River Canoe Rental
- Jadwin Canoe Rental
- Akers Ferry Canoe Rental
- Current River Canoe Rental
And if you don’t want to rent a kayak, there’s always the option to buy your own kayak, especially if you see yourself kayaking more than just one time. We do enough kayaking, especially on Beaver Lake, that it made sense for us to buy our own.

WHAT TO PACK FOR KAYAKING THE UPPER CURRENT RIVER FROM AKERS TO PULLTITE

Especially if you’re kayaking with kids, you’ll want to be sure to pack a few things for your paddle from Akers Ferry to Pulltite in Missouri.
- Sunscreen – On a sunny day and even an overcast day, you’ll burn very quickly. My friend, Lynsey from Moscato Mom, has shared her experience with basal cell carcinoma and why it’s so important to guard yourself against skin cancer.
- Life Jackets – Everyone needs a life jacket, but kids 7 and under have to wear one; it’s the law!
- Drinking water and food
- Sunglasses and/or Hats
- First aid kit
- Toilet paper, swim diapers, and wipes (along with a trash bag)
- Find a dry bag to keep things dry, so you can pack all the gear you need.
- Bilge pump – to pump water out if needed.
- Soft case or a hard case for your phone – to keep it out of the water.
- Binoculars
- Fishing gear for fishing from kayaks
Also, wear water shoes or sandals meant for being in the water, something comfortable for walking on rocks and pebbles. Dan loves his Body Glove water shoes, and I love my Teva sandals.

SAFETY TIPS FOR KAYAKING THE CURRENT RIVER

Be sure to check water levels and the weather forecast before floating or river kayaking. You want to make sure it’s safe and suitable for kayaking, especially if the area is experiencing drought or on the other hand, you’re floating after a heavy rainfall.

The National Park Service provides a ton of helpful information, including river levels, places to explore, and a whole lot more.

Watch out for other people in canoes, kayaks, rafts, and tubes. Make sure to give yourself and the people around you enough room to maneuver your kayaks, especially through areas where the current gets stronger and the water’s swift.

Especially on hot summer weekends, there are a lot of inexperienced floaters; it’s a great river to float for novice floaters. But when you couple inexperience with alcohol, it can be a little dicey.

Learn how to best use your paddle to maneuver through areas of swifter water; the water can turn you around before you even know what’s happening. And you can get into tricky areas with crowds.

In most areas, you’ll be just fine; but learning how to paddle yourself through these places and around other people can save you from experiencing any injuries or problems along the way.

You will see trees, sunken logs, and boulders sticking up out of the water, and there may be trees sticking out over the water. Watch out for these things, warn others in your group, and do your best to paddle around them.

With 25 species of snakes in the park, you’re very likely to see a few, especially on low lying branches of trees sticking out over the water or on the banks of the river. When paddling close to shore, do your best to keep yourself away from rocks and branches sticking out; snakes love to sun themselves, and we’ve actually had a few close calls.

A FEW RULES FOR KAYAKING ON OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS

Glass containers are and styrofoam coolers are prohibited on rivers, trails, in caves, and within 50 feet of the river.

Speaking of caves, all caves in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways are closed, except Round Spring. Do not go into the caves. It’s also prohibited to wade or swim in any of the springs.

Per a Park Service representative, however, it is permissible to float into Cave Spring and then exit back out, since it is not a through cave.

You’ll likely see people swinging on rope swings… Don’t do it. It’s illegal to do so.

Check with the park for more laws and policies.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Finally, leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in. The more you practice this, the safer and more enjoyable kayaking will be for everyone, including paddlers who come after you.

If you’re considering kayaking in Missouri, the Current River from Akers to Pulltite is a wonderful place to explore. It’s a great place, even for kayaking beginners to get your bearings, with the opportunity to learn how to maneuver your kayak through obstacles here and there.

And it’s an opportunity to create some beautiful memories with your family… Memories you’ll likely cherish for many years to come.
October 2, 2018
Easy Peanut Butter Corn Flake Bars
Mix up a batch of Corn Flake bars with peanut butter, marshmallows, peanuts, and candy corn. Quick and easy treats you can make in a jiffy; they make the best Halloween treats for kids!

If you love candy corn and peanuts, peanut butter cereal bars are another really yummy treat with that same sweet and salty flavor. They’re also chewy, which I don’t know why, but I love chewy when it comes to sweets.

There are a few reasons why I love this recipe and why I love to make them in the fall.

Why You’ll Love These Treats As Much As I Do
- They’re no bake. I mean, who doesn’t love a good no bake snack, especially during one of the busiest seasons of the year?
- Like my favorite chocolate-y granola bars, these no bake snacks are super easy to make.
- They’ll fit the bill for both fall and Halloween festivities.
- You can easily add a little pizzazz by drizzling a little chocolate or white chocolate on top.
- They’re a fun snack to make with kids.
- They make a great snack to take on outdoor adventures together, like kayaking the Jacks Fork or hiking with your family.
Ingredient Notes

Corn Flakes – You can use any brand of corn flakes you prefer. You can even try making these treats with other types of cereal, like Cheerios, Rice Krispies, etc. The texture will be quite a bit different, but it’s really up to you to decide what texture you want for your cereal bars.

Peanuts – I’d recommend using dry roasted or cocktail peanuts for the best flavor.

Candy corn – If you want to make these candy corn bars at other times of the year, you might pick up a few extra bags so you have them on hand.

Creamy peanut butter – Yes, you can use crunchy peanut butter instead; it’ll just add a little more crunch to your treats.

Light corn syrup

White chocolate melts – You can use melts or white chocolate chips. Either one will work.
You’ll find a complete ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Make Corn Flake Bars

There are only a few steps to making these no bake easy desserts. Before you get started, be sure to grease an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray.
Then mix up the treats…
1. Start by mixing together the cereal, peanuts, and candy corn in a large mixing bowl. That way you’re ready to go after you’ve cooked your sticky syrup mixture.
1. Melt together the peanut butter and corn syrup in a saucepan on the stove, constantly stirring to keep it from scorching on the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes. The peanut butter and corn syrup will melt together and form more of a syrupy liquid.
2. Remove the peanut butter mixture from the stove, give it a good stir, and pour it over the cereal mixture.
3. Stir everything together really well, making sure all of your cereal, peanuts, and candy corn are coated with the peanut butter syrup.
1. Put the mixture into the greased dish, and pat it down really well. Allow your pan of no bake snacks to cool… You can even put it in the fridge if you’d like it to cool quicker.
1. Once the bars have cooled, go ahead and slice them into approximately 9 bars. Then drizzle with melted white chocolate, and decorate the top with candy corn!
I actually drizzled white chocolate on our no bake cereal bars because I love how it complements the flavors of both the peanuts and the candy corn. It’s so delicious!
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Can I make these in the microwave?
Yes, you can melt together the peanut butter and corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Just cook the mixture on High in 15-second increments, stirring after every cooking cycle, ’til everything is melted. The peanut butter and corn syrup will eventually melt together and form a syrupy liquid.

Why are my corn flake squares falling apart?
They shouldn’t be falling apart, but it might be that your cereal bars weren’t pressed down into the pan as firmly as they needed to be. You want to press them firmly enough to compact the treats but not so much that it causes the treats to be completely dense. It’s kind of a balance. It’ll also help to cool the treats before you try to eat them; warm cereal bars tend to fall apart easier.

How should I store them?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also freeze them if you want to make them ahead; just be sure to place them in an airtight container or bag, so they don’t get freezer burn.

More Quick and Easy Treat Recipes:
More easy last minute ideas –>> 20+ Halloween movie night snacks – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more!

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Peanut Butter Corn Flake Bars

Mix up a batch of Corn Flake bars with peanut butter, marshmallows, peanuts, and candy corn. Quick and easy treats you can make in a jiffy!
Large Mixing Bowl
Small Saucepan
8×8 Baking Pan
4 cups Corn Flakes cereal
1 cup peanuts
1 cup candy corn
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup white chocolate melts ((or white chocolate chips))
Grease an 8"x8" baking pan with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cereal, peanuts, and candy corn.
In a small saucepan over low to medium heat on the stovetop, melt the peanut butter and corn syrup, constantly stirring to keep it from scorching on the bottom of the pan.
Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes, constantly stirring. The peanut butter and corn syrup will melt together and form more of a syrupy liquid.
Remove the peanut butter mixture from the stove, give it a good stir, and pour it over the cereal mixture.
Stir everything together really well, making sure all of the cereal, peanuts, and candy corn are coated with the peanut butter syrup.
Spread the mixture in the greased dish, and firmly pat it evenly into the pan.
Allow the treats to cool. Then slice the bars for serving.
Drizzle the top of each bar with melted white chocolate, and add a piece of candy corn for decoration.
*You can use either white chocolate or regular/dark chocolate for a drizzle. I actually drizzled white chocolate on our no bake cereal bars because I love how it complements the flavors of both the peanuts and the candy corn. It’s so delicious!

Can I make these in the microwave?

Yes, you can melt together the peanut butter and corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Just cook the mixture on High in 15-second increments, stirring after every cooking cycle, ’til everything is melted. The peanut butter and corn syrup will eventually melt together and form a syrupy liquid.

How should I store them?

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also freeze them if you want to make them ahead; just be sure to place them in an airtight container or bag, so they don’t get freezer burn.

Cookies & Bars, Desserts
American
corn flake bars, Halloween treats, no bake peanut butter bars, peanut butter cereal bars, peanut butter cereal bars recipe
October 1, 2018
Whipped Cream Ghost Halloween Brownies
Whipped cream ghost Halloween brownies are the easiest Halloween treats ever! Fun and spooky Halloween idea for kids, using whipped cream and candy eyeballs.

If you’re looking for Halloween snacks that are both fun and spooky, but not too scary, these ghost Halloween brownies are just the thing. They’re so easy to make, it’s not even funny.

Life gets busy and before you know it, it’s time to make the Halloween treats you committed to make for the Halloween party. I know what it’s like; weeks squeeze into weeks and days become hours and before you know it, Halloween’s tomorrow!

It’s ok because these cute little treats will take you no time at all. And they use a brownie mix, so no need to fret over trying to make them from scratch.

Instead you can focus on having a little fun with your kids come Halloween time. Or you can just whip these up in a jiffy.

More Halloween treats you will love: Frankenstein brownies, mummy Halloween brownies, Tombstone Brownies, and Pumpkin Patch Halloween Brownies.

WHAT KIND OF BROWNIE MIX SHOULD I USE?

First of all, you really need a brownie that’s easy to slice and pull out of the pan, nothing too messy or gooey.

My first batch of brownies were extremely soft and gooey; I didn’t realize they’d be so gooey. They could hardly be scraped off the bottom of the pan.

So, I definitely recommend making cake-like or chewy brownies (preferably chewy) that won’t be so gooey and will easily pop right out of the pan.

This brownie mix worked wonderfully well for our ghost brownies.

DO I HAVE TO MAKE HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM?

No, you absolutely don’t have to. You can just use store bought whipped cream, either the whipped cream in the can (negating any need of pastry bags and tips) or the kind in the tub.

Also, you can even use icing instead of whipped cream. Make homemade sugar cookie icing or use ready made icing that comes with a convenient tip for decorating, making the process even easier.

It’s totally up to you! However, whipped cream is so easy to make, it only takes a few minutes.

HOW DO I MAKE HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM IF I WANT TO USE THAT?

You can just follow my recipe for homemade whipped cream, where you’ll find the exact ingredients and the steps to making it yourself.

You’ll need cream cheese (that’s softened), heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.

Be sure to refrigerate the whipped cream until you’re ready to serve it.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE GHOST HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

You’ll need just a few things to make ghost Halloween brownies, including the following:
- Already baked and cooled brownies
- Whipped Cream
- Candy eyeballs
TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE THESE SCRUMPTIOUS HALLOWEEN TREATS

Slice your completely cooled brownies into squares or as close to square shaped brownies as you can.

To decorate brownies with ghosts, follow these steps:
- Using Wilton Round Tip 2A (or the closest off brand cake tip) and a small pastry bag, swirl a ghost on top of each brownie.
- Add candy eyeballs for the eyes.
That was easy, right?! So simple.

This is the perfect opportunity to get your kids in the kitchen. Let them swirl a few ghosts, or have them add the candy eyeballs while you swirl the whipped cream.

Most importantly, just have fun with it!

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE CAKE TIPS AND PASTRY BAGS?

That’s ok! You really don’t have to have the cake tip I mentioned above or the pastry bag. You can get creative with what you have.

If you have sandwich bags, snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with whipped cream, and swirl away. Works like a charm!

You can also create a DIY pastry bag using parchment paper or wax paper.

MORE EASY HALLOWEEN TREATS AND RECIPES YOU CAN MAKE:
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars with Candy Corn
- Soft and Chewy Monster Cookies
More easy last minute ideas –>> 20+ Halloween treats – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE WHIPPED CREAM GHOST HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

Mixer

Brownie Pan or Cake Pan

Pastry Bags (or Sandwich Bags)

Wilton Tip 2A

GHOST HALLOWEEN BROWNIES RECIPE

If you love this ghost Halloween brownies recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Click on the video below to see how easy it is to make ghost brownies for Halloween!
Whipped Cream Ghost Brownies

Whipped cream ghost brownies are the easiest Halloween treats ever! Fun and spooky Halloween idea for kids, using whipped cream and candy eyeballs.
Wilton Round Tip 2A
Small Pastry Bag
15 brownies (baked and cooled)
4 cups whipped cream
40 candy eyeballs
Slice the brownies into squares.
Using Wilton Round Tip 2A and a small pastry bag, swirl a whipped cream ghost on top of each brownie.
Add candy eyeballs for the eyes.
That's it! They're ready to serve.
I recommend not swirling the ghosts until you’re ready to serve; OR refrigerate the ghost brownies until you’re ready to serve them. Otherwise, your ghosts may start to melt.

Desserts, Halloween
American
brownie mix, ghost brownies, Halloween brownies, halloween desserts, Halloween snacks, Halloween treats, whipped cream ghost
September 25, 2018
Pumpkin Patch Halloween Brownies
How to make quick and easy pumpkin patch Halloween brownies for kids, a fun Halloween treat recipe with candy corn pumpkins and green icing!

Fall is full of so many beautiful things, including that ever anticipated trip to the pumpkin patch. Why not bring a little bit of the pumpkin patch into your Halloween treats with the cutest pumpkin patch Halloween brownies ever?

While you will need just a little bit of green decorating icing, the only other things you’ll need for this brownie recipe are a brownie mix and candy corn pumpkins.

My dad used to keep these cute little mellowcreme pumpkins in our farm truck, along with Tootsie Rolls. But when fall hit, he always had a bag of Brach’s candy pumpkins.

Every time I eat them, they take me back to riding around in the farm truck with my dad, feeding the cows and working on the farm.

Now I’m using them to make the cutest and pretty much the quickest little Halloween desserts. Place a couple of pumpkins, swag a little bit of green icing, and you’re all set, easy peasy!

Use a brownie mix to make the brownies. And while I use a homemade sugar cookie icing, you can totally buy a tube of decorating icing already made and ready to go; just get green.

More Halloween treats you will love: Frankenstein brownies, Ghost Halloween Brownies, Graveyard Halloween Brownies, and Mummy Halloween Brownies.

WHAT KIND OF BROWNIE MIX SHOULD I USE?

I really recommend using a brownie that’s going to be easy to slice and pull out of the pan, nothing too messy or gooey.

Our first batch of brownies gave us a really ooey gooey brownie; I didn’t realize they’d be that gooey. They could hardly be scraped off the bottom of the pan.

Definitely go for more cake-like or chewy brownies (preferably chewy) that won’t be so gooey and will easily pop right out of the pan.

This brownie mix worked fantastically well for our pumpkin patch brownies.

WHAT KIND OF ICING SHOULD I USE?

You have two options here: You can either mix up a quick batch of my favorite sugar cookie icing and then color it green.

Or you can use pre-made icing or decorating icing that’s ready to go.

Personally, I love the flavor of homemade frosting. It just tastes so much better! But whatever you decide to use will work just fine.

HOW DO I COLOR THE ICING FOR MY PUMPKIN PATCH BROWNIES?

Add food coloring to your icing, and mix it according to your specific food coloring directions. I will say that it doesn’t take a lot either.

Rule of thumb when baking or mixing up anything, especially when adding food coloring to anything: Start with a small amount because you can always add more, but you can’t take away.

I used Wilton Kelly Green for the vines on my pumpkin patch treats.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE PUMPKIN PATCH HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

You’ll need just a few things to make pumpkin patch Halloween brownies, including the following:
- Already baked and cooled brownies
- Green sugar cookie icing
- Candy pumpkins – Brach’s Mellowcreme Pumpkins are my favorite.
TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE THESE SCRUMPTIOUS HALLOWEEN TREATS

Slice your brownies into squares or as close to square shaped brownies as you can.

To decorate brownies, follow these steps:
- Using Wilton Round Tip 5 (or the closest off brand cake tip) and a small pastry bag, add pumpkin vines (and leaves if you want) to the top of the brownie with green icing. Just do a little swag with little loops around the outside edge of the brownie; think of how long and wispy a pumpkin vine looks.
- Add a dab of green icing to the bottom of your candy pumpkins and set in place with the vines. You can add 2 or 3 pumpkins to each brownie.
- If you have time and want to, you can even add a little bit more vine coming down from the stem of the pumpkin to meet the vine on the top of the brownie. This step is totally optional, though.
The most important thing to remember is don’t try to make them perfect. If you’ve ever grown pumpkins, you know how much of a tangled mess the vines can be.

Just have fun with it, and get your kids in the kitchen with you. They’ll have so much fun decorating these fun little Halloween brownies.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE CAKE TIPS AND PASTRY BAGS?

That’s ok! You really don’t have to have the cake tip I mentioned above or the pastry bag. You can get creative with what you have.

Or you can just use ready made icing that comes with a convenient tip for decorating, making the process even easier.

If you want to use homemade icing and have sandwich bags, you can snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with icing, and swirl away. Works like a charm!

You can also create a DIY pastry bag using parchment paper or wax paper.

MORE HALLOWEEN TREATS AND RECIPES YOU CAN MAKE:

Soft and Chewy Monster Cookies

More easy last minute ideas –>> 20+ Halloween treats – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE PUMPKIN PATCH HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

Mixer

Brownie Pan or Cake Pan

Pastry Bags (or Sandwich Bags)

Wilton Tip 5

PUMPKIN PATCH HALLOWEEN BROWNIES RECIPE

If you love this pumpkin patch Halloween brownies recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Click on the video below to see how easy it is to make pumpkin patch brownies for Halloween!
Pumpkin Patch Brownies

How to make quick and easy pumpkin patch Halloween brownies for kids, a fun Halloween treat recipe with candy corn pumpkins and green icing!
15 brownies (baked and cooled)
2 cups green decorating icing
40 mellowcreme candy pumpkins
Slice the brownies into squares.
Using green decorating icing with a round tip, add pumpkin vines (and leaves if you want) to the top of each brownie. Just do a little swag with little loops around the outside edge of the brownie; think of how long and wispy a pumpkin vine looks.
Add a dab of green icing to the bottom of your candy pumpkins and set in place with the vines. You can add 2 or 3 pumpkins to each brownie.
If you have time and want to, you can even add a little bit more vine coming down from the stem of the pumpkin to meet the vine on the top of the brownie. This step is optional.
And that’s it! They’re ready to serve for a fun Halloween or fall treat!
*If you don’t want to buy icing, you can also make homemade cookie icing; then use a pastry bag and round tip to decorate. If you’re using homemade icing and you don’t have pastry bags or tips, it’s ok! You can use a sandwich bag instead. Just snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with icing, and swirl away.

The most important thing to remember is don’t try to make them perfect. If you’ve ever seen pumpkins on the vine, you know how much of a tangled mess the vines can be. Just have fun with it!

Desserts, Halloween
American
brownie mix, Halloween brownies, halloween desserts, Halloween snacks, Halloween treats, pumpkin patch brownies
September 25, 2018
Chewy Monster Cookies
How to make soft and chewy monster cookies from scratch, loaded with peanut butter, oats, M&M’s, and chocolate chips. Easy dessert recipe you can easily customize for Halloween and other holidays. But watch out, cuz they’ll disappear fast!

Monster chocolate chip cookies made with loads of chocolate are one of my favorite cookies. Partly because they remind me of a childhood neighbor and partly because they’re just so soft and chewy.

When I was a kid, my neighbor would make the most delicious soft and chewy monster cookies filled with oatmeal, peanut butter, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, and M&M’s. I mean, she loaded those puppies up with all kinds of sweet chocolaty goodness.

Why You’ll Love M&M Monster Cookies

There are a handful of reasons to love this scrumptious monster cookies recipe…
- They are easily customizable… You can make them festive for any occasion. Halloween? Add a spooky touch with candy eyeballs. Christmas? Use Christmas M&M’s that are red and green. Easter? Use pastel colored M&M’s.
- These cookies are especially fun to make with kids, and this is an easy recipe for that exact purpose.
- You can add other mix-ins besides chocolate chips and M&M’s. Try Snickers bars, Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, Milky Way, mini marshmallows, and more!
- They’re thick, soft, and chewy. What’s not to love about soft monster cookies that are also thick and chewy?
- They’re very similar to another reader favorite oatmeal cookies recipe, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

You’ll need to gather a few ingredients to mix up this monster cookie dough…
- Butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter rather than salted when baking, so I can more easily control the amount of salt that goes into the recipe. Also, be sure to soften the butter, so it will mix well.
- Light Brown Sugar – Brown sugar is just one of the things that helps give these cookies their soft and chewy texture.
- Peanut Butter – You can use creamy or crunchy, but I highly recommend creamy, mainly because we’re already adding other crispy ingredients that will give a lot of crunch. It is best to use a regular peanut butter that doesn’t require stirring every time you use it. I do use Skippy Natural creamy peanut butter, but it only requires stirring upon opening the jar the first time around. The problem with other natural peanut butters is that all of the oil can be too much for the dough, and your cookies may spread more while baking.
- Egg – You’ll need a large egg.
- Vanilla Extract
- All-Purpose Flour – I recommend using an unbleached all-purpose flour. If you want to make these cookies gluten-free, use a good gluten-free flour that bakes well; <<– the one I link to here is my go to.
- Baking Soda
- Sea Salt – I recommend Redmond Sea Salt.
- Oats – You can use quick oats or old-fashioned oats. Either kind of oatmeal will work just fine.
- Chocolate Chips – While I prefer semi-sweet chocolate chips, feel free to use milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips.
- Peanut Butter Chips
- M&M’s – Feel free to use Reese’s Pieces instead.
- Other Optional Candies – Crushed Mini Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, or other candies. And candy eyeballs, especially if you’re making these cookies for Halloween.
How to Make Chewy Monster Cookies

These cookies are really easy to make. Here’s how to mix up the dough…
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream, or mix together, the softened butter and brown sugar.
2. Then mix the peanut butter into the butter sugar mixture.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well.
6. Mix the oats into the cookie dough.
7. Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, M&M’s, and other candies (except candy eyeballs) into the dough, mixing everything together well.
8. Using a cookie scoop, drop the cookies onto a cookie sheet.
9. Bake at 375° F for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden and done.
1. If using candy eyeballs, gently press the eyeballs into the tops of the cookies while they’re hot, adding as many or as few as you want. This has a dual purpose… 1) Great for decorating Halloween cookies and 2) It allows you to gently press the cookie down into a flatter cookie while still warm.
1. Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool. Then serve with a nice mug of cold milk and enjoy!
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Should I chill monster cookie dough?
It’s really not necessary for this cookie recipe. These cookies are already pretty chewy, and I prefer to just go ahead and bake the cookies while the dough is nice and soft.

Why do my monster cookies go flat?
There may be a few reasons… 1) If you use natural peanut butter, the extra oil can make the cookie dough spread flat while baking. 2) If your oven is too hot, the cookies may bake flatter, due to the butter in the dough melting too quickly. 3) Did you measure out the ingredients correctly? When measuring flour, it helps to spoon the flour into measuring cups, then use a knife’s edge to scrape off extra flour.

Can I make this recipe into monster cookie bars instead of cookies?
Yes, you can. Spread the dough into a greased 9×13 baking dish, and bake for at least 20-25 minutes, probably longer, ’til the cookie bars are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

How should you store these cookies?
Store then in an airtight container on the counter. They should keep for 4 to 5 days.

Can you freeze monster cookies?
Yes, you can make them and freeze them. Just allow enough time for the cookies to thaw before serving time. You can also freeze the cookie dough; just be sure to wrap it in plastic wrap, as well as place in an airtight container or freezer bag so it doesn’t get freezer burn. It should keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Really Yummy Mix-In Ideas for Monster Cookies

We touched on this just a bit in the ingredients section, but this cookie dough is really versatile, and there are several mix-ins you can add to make them even more bulky, sweet, and monster-like…
- Mini M&M’s
- Crushed Mini Snickers
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Reese’s Pieces
- White chocolate chips
- Butterscotch chips
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Bits of graham crackers, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips to make s’more monster cookies
Just use your imagination; the sky’s the limit with these cookies.

More Reader Favorite Cookie Recipes (and Cookie Bars Too)

If you love this monster cookies recipe, you’ll love these cookie recipes too!
More easy last minute Halloween ideas –>> 20+ Halloween treats – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more! And if it’s a costume you need, why not make a DIY Garfield costume?

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Chewy Monster Cookies

How to make soft and chewy monster cookies from scratch, loaded with peanut butter, oats, M&M's, and chocolate chips. Easy dessert recipe!
Mixer
Cookie Sheet
Cookie Scoop
Wire Rack
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup M&M'S
1/2 cup candy eyeballs (optional)
Pre-heat the oven to 375° F.
Cream, or mix together, the butter and brown sugar.
Mix the peanut butter into the creamed mixture.
Add the egg and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture and mix well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well.
Mix the oats into the cookie dough.
Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, M&M'S, and any other candies you want into the cookie dough, mixing everything together well.
Using a cookie scoop, drop cookies onto a cookie sheet.
Bake at 375° F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden and done.
While the cookies are still on the cookie sheet, gently press the candy eyeballs into each cookie.*
Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool.
Serve with a mug of ice cold milk!
*Gently pressing the candy eyeballs into the cookies will also allow you to gently press the cookies a bit flatter while they’re still nice and warm.

Store the cookies in an airtight container on the counter. They should keep for 4 to 5 days.

Cookies & Bars, Desserts
American
halloween cookies, halloween desserts, monster cookies, monster cookies recipe
September 20, 2018
Creamy No Bake Pumpkin Dessert
Deliciously creamy no bake pumpkin dessert layered with a cream cheese filling and pecan nut pie crust. Simple dessert recipe, perfect for Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin spice is no stranger to popularity, and neither is a really good no bake dessert. Combine the two, and you’ve got a deliciously cold and creamy no bake pumpkin dessert that is, to put it simply, to die for.

Made with a nutty pie crust, homemade pumpkin purée, and a creamy layer of cream cheese lush, it’s just as dreamy as my favorite no bake blueberry dessert.

Like Strawberry Delight, this dessert is yet another twist on my mom’s recipe for her famous Cherry Crunch. I will definitely have to share the cherry version of this recipe someday soon.

While the pie crust does require bake time, the rest of this recipe is indeed no bake. And it’s actually really simple and easy to make, even though, like an icebox cake, it does require a bit of chill time before serving.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR THIS DREAMY CREAMY NO BAKE PUMPKIN DESSERT!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this deliciously creamy no bake pumpkin dessert recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR THIS NO BAKE PUMPKIN DESSERT

You’ll need just a few ingredients to make this no bake pumpkin pie absolutely delicious…
- An already baked pecan nut pie crust
- A box of Dream Whip – I’ll explain why below.
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Cream cheese
- Pumpkin Purée
- Vanilla pudding mixes
- Pumpkin spice seasoning
- Chopped Pecans
HOW TO MAKE THE 3-INGREDIENT PIE CRUST:

Making the pie crust is so simple and easy and requires just a few minutes of bake time.

First, melt the butter; then mix it together with the flour, forming a dough. Stir in the chopped pecans.

Press the crust into a 13″x9″ baking dish, and bake at 350° for about 20 minutes, or until the crust begins to turn a golden brown.

It’s important to let the crust cool before adding any filling.

Here is the full recipe for a pecan nut pie crust. Or if you’d rather have a crust without nuts, you might want to try this more traditional pie crust recipe or this easy no roll pie crust.

WHY DO I NEED DREAM WHIP FOR THIS CREAM CHEESE DESSERT? WHY CAN’T I JUST USE PLAIN WHIPPED CREAM?

I’ve tried making the cream cheese filling with homemade whipped cream; for some reason, it just doesn’t work. In fact, you’ll end up with a liquid goop that just won’t work for pie filling.

So, I usually reserve my whipped cream for the top (or save back a little Dream Whip) and use Dream Whip for the filling, the same ingredient my mom uses in her Cherry Crunch.

Dream Whip creates an ultra creamy pie filling that’s silky smooth, a bit like angel fluff (hard to describe it any other way), and so creamy delicious. It’s hard to beat when it comes to making a really rich, creamy, no bake dessert.

WHAT IS IN PUMPKIN PIE SPICE ANYWAY?

Pumpkin pie spice is used more traditionally in classic pumpkin pie. But it’s used in a lot of other recipes, as well, including Pumpkin Roll and Pumpkin Spice Gooey Butter Cake.

So, what is in pumpkin pie spice? It’s a blend of spices, including ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger; it may also include cloves and allspice.

It smells and tastes so good and adds that pumpkin spice kick to your favorite fall dessert recipes.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE A CREAMY NO BAKE PUMPKIN DESSERT

When you use Dream Whip, you’ll need to mix it up according to the package directions. You can follow how to make Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix here, but be sure to double the ingredient amounts if you do.

Mix together your whipped cream, powdered sugar, and softened cream cheese with a mixer.

Spread the creamy filling on top of your cooled pie crust. At this point, you need to save back about a cup of the Dream Whip to top off your pumpkin dessert later when you’ve finished making it.

For the pumpkin layer, mix together the pumpkin purée, vanilla pudding mixes, milk, and pumpkin pie spice, until you’ve got a creamy pumpkin pie filling. Add the pumpkin layer on top of the Dream Whip layer.

Top the entire pumpkin dessert with the leftover cup of Dream Whip, and sprinkle chopped pecans on top.

And that’s it! This recipe is so easy. If you’re not quite ready to serve it, just cover it and chill in the refrigerator; and it’ll be ready when you are.

Personally, I think the colder it is, the better it tastes.

ANOTHER NO BAKE DESSERT RECIPE YOU MAY ENJOY:

Creamy No Bake Blueberry Dessert

MORE PUMPKIN DESSERT RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:
And if you’re looking for even more holiday recipes, you’ll find a whole slew of them on my list of Best Thanksgiving Recipes for Your Holiday Menu.

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE A PUMPKIN NO BAKE DESSERT

13″x9″ Baking Dish – You’ll need this size baking dish for this recipe. I find myself using this size for so many recipes, not just desserts.

Mixer – You’ll need a mixer to mix together the ingredients for the creamy filling.

Spatula – Where would I be without my spatulas? I have a whole slew of them because we’re ALWAYS using them.

CREAMY NO BAKE PUMPKIN DESSERT RECIPE

If you love this creamy no bake pumpkin dessert recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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No Bake Pumpkin Dessert

Deliciously creamy no bake pumpkin dessert layered with a cream cheese filling and pecan nut pie crust. Simple dessert recipe, perfect for Thanksgiving!
1 pecan nut pie crust
Cream Cheese Filling:
1 box Dream Whip ((2 small packets))
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
16 ounces cream cheese (softened)
2 cups powdered sugar
No Bake Pumpkin Filling:
15 ounces pumpkin purée ((or canned pumpkin))
6.8 ounces vanilla pudding mix ((2 small boxes))
3/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Topping:
1 cup Dream Whip
1 cup chopped pecans
Prepare and bake the crust ahead of time, so it's cooled and ready to go.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the Dream Whip according to package directions, whisking the 2 small packets with the whole milk and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese well with a mixer.
Add the cream cheese and powdered sugar to the Dream Whip whipped cream, whisking the mixture 'til it’s smooth and creamy.
Spread about 3 cups of the creamy filling on top of the cooled crust in a 9×13 pan.
For the pumpkin layer, mix together the pumpkin purée, vanilla pudding mixes, whole milk, and pumpkin pie spice, until you’ve got a creamy pumpkin pie filling.
Spread the pumpkin layer on top of the Dream Whip layer.
Top the entire dessert with the leftover cup of Dream Whip, and sprinkle chopped pecans on top.
Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible, before serving.
*Personally, I think the colder this no bake dessert is, the better it tastes.

Thanksgiving
American
cream cheese desserts, no bake, no bake pumpkin dessert, pumpkin dessert, pumpkin recipes, pumpkin spice recipe
September 19, 2018
Frankenstein Brownies for Halloween
Frankenstein brownies are the cutest Halloween treats. They’re quick and easy Halloween snacks anyone can make, and especially fun for kids. Decorate these frosted chocolate treats at your next Halloween party!

These fun Frankenstein Halloween Brownies are my favorite out of my entire Halloween brownie series I’m sharing with you. There’s just something so cute and sweet about a silly Frankenstein face.

I wanted to give you several Halloween desserts you can make in just a short amount of time. More Halloween brownie recipes you’ll love include:
And even though they’re not brownies, I can’t forget these super cute Frankenstein Rice Krispie treats.

Why You’ll Love These Halloween Frankenstein Brownies
- These Frankenstein Halloween treats may look like they take a lot of time, but they really don’t. They’re super quick and easy to make; you can even use a brownie mix.
- You can either mix up a quick batch of sugar cookie icing, or you can buy pre-made decorating icing, whatever is easiest for you.
- This recipe makes the best activity for a Halloween party. Set up a simple brownie buffet, and let everyone decorate their own Frankenstein brownie.
Below you’ll find a few tips so that hopefully, making these Halloween snacks can be quick, seamless, and enjoyable for you. This is an opportunity for you to grab your kids and have some Halloween fun with them in the kitchen!

If you still need a costume, I’ve gotcha covered with the most adorable Garfield costume ever!

Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

You’ll need just a handful of things to make Frankenstein Halloween brownies, including the following:
- Already baked and cooled brownies – You really want a brownie that’s going to be easy to slice and pull out of the pan, nothing too messy or gooey. My first batch of brownies turned out really soft and gooey; I didn’t realize they’d be that gooey. They could hardly be scraped off the bottom of the pan. I recommend using cake-like or chewy brownies (preferably chewy) that won’t be so gooey and will easily come right out of the pan. This brownie mix worked wonderfully for our Frankenstein brownies.
- Green and black sugar cookie icing – Like I said above, you can mix up a quick batch of my favorite sugar cookie icing. You can even add peppermint extract if you want a minty flavor to your frosting. Once mixed, just separate the icing into two bowls, and mix according to your specific food coloring directions. I used Wilton Leaf Green and Black icing colors for my Frankenstein treats. Or you can use pre-made icing or decorating icing that’s ready to go. Personally, I love the flavor of homemade frosting. It just tastes so much better! But whatever you decide to use will work just fine.
- Candy eyeballs
How to Make Frankenstein Brownies

First things first, make and prep the brownies…
1. Mix and bake a brownie mix according to package directions.
1. Slice the brownies into squares, or at least, as close to square shaped brownies as you can.
How to Decorate a Frankenstein Brownie
1. Spread a layer of green icing on top of the brownie.
1. Using Wilton Round Tip 5 (or the closest off brand cake tip) and a small pastry bag, add hair to your Frankenstein with the black icing. Just do a zig-zag along the hairline, and outline around the top of the head. Then fill in with black icing.
1. Add candy eyeballs for his eyes.
2. Add a small smile or mouth with the black icing.
3. Then add a small piece of stitching to one cheek, also with black icing.
Don’t worry about perfection because the more imperfect your Frankenstein looks, the more he’ll look like the monster mash-up his character was really created to be. Just have fun with it!

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

What if you don’t have cake tips and pastry bags?
No worries! You really don’t have to have the cake tip I mentioned above or the pastry bag. You can get creative with what you have. If you have sandwich bags, snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with icing, and swirl away. Works like a charm! You can also create a DIY pastry bag using parchment paper or wax paper. Or you can just use ready made icing that comes with a convenient tip for decorating, making the process even easier.

Can I make Frankenstein brownies ahead of time?
I’d recommend making them day of or only 1 day ahead of time. Reason being is the brownies, icing, and candy can degrade over time, and you really want these spooky Halloween brownies to look and taste their best.

How should you store decorated Halloween brownies?
Depending on the type of frosting you use, you should be able to store them in an airtight container on the countertop for 1-2 days; after that, they should be in the fridge for longer keep.

More Easy and Spooky Halloween Recipes:

If you love this freaky Frankenstein dessert, you’ll love these recipes too…
- Soft and Chewy Monster Cookies
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars with Candy Corn
More easy last minute ideas –>> 20+ Halloween movie desserts – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more!

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Frankenstein Brownies

Frankenstein brownies are the cutest Halloween treats. Quick and easy Halloween snacks anyone can make, especially fun for kids!
Mixer
Brownie Pan
Wilton Tip 5
Pastry Bags
15 brownies (baked and cooled)
2 cups green icing
2 cups black decorating icing
40 candy eyeballs
Slice the brownies into squares.
Spread a layer of green icing on top of each brownie.
Using the black decorating icing and a round tip, add hair to your Frankenstein brownie. Just do a zig-zag along the hairline, and outline around the top of the head. Then fill in with the icing.
Add candy eyeballs for his eyes.
Add a small smile or mouth with the black icing.
Then add a small piece of stitching to one cheek, also with the black icing.
And that's it! They're ready to serve.
*I used Wilton Leaf Green and Black icing colors for my Frankenstein.

*If you don’t want to buy icing, you can make homemade cookie frosting; then just separate the icing into two bowls, and mix it with black and green food coloring. Use a pastry bag and round tip to decorate. If you don’t have pastry bags or tips, you can use a sandwich bag instead. Just snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with icing, and swirl away. You can also create a DIY pastry bag using parchment paper or wax paper.

Depending on the type of frosting you use, you should be able to store these Halloween brownies in an airtight container on the countertop for 1-2 days; after that, they should be in the fridge for longer keep. I’d recommend making them either day of or only 1 day ahead of time. Reason being is the brownies, icing, and candy can degrade over time, and you really want these spooky Halloween brownies to look and taste their best.

Halloween
American
Frankenstein brownie, Frankenstein brownies, Frankenstein dessert, Frankenstein Halloween treats, Halloween brownies, halloween desserts, Halloween Frankenstein brownies, Halloween snacks, Halloween treats
September 18, 2018
Buttermilk Cornbread with Milled Corn
Buttermilk Cornbread – How to mill corn and make a delicious buttermilk cornbread from scratch. Easy, simple, non-sweet recipe. Bake in a cast iron skillet and enjoy with dinner. A huge thank you to WonderMill for sponsoring this recipe!

Every so often we’ll make cornbread to go with our dinner, especially if we’re having chili or some sort of soup like 15 bean soup with ham. Our oldest especially loves to make this buttermilk cornbread recipe, which is actually his own recipe.

Before a few weeks ago, I’d never actually milled corn to make our own homemade cornmeal. All of that changed, however, the minute we started using our WonderMill.

Now we actually mill corn to make our own cornmeal, and it makes the most delicious cornbread. Plus we know exactly what’s in our cornmeal.

And corn is it! No flour, no additives, no preservatives, just corn!

Milling corn literally takes seconds. In just a few seconds we have enough cornmeal for a few batches of homemade cornbread.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious buttermilk cornbread recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHERE CAN I FIND CORN TO MAKE CORNBREAD?

While you can order dried field corn online (just search “corn for milling” on Amazon, Google, etc.), it can be quite expensive.

We bought a 50-pound bag of corn, used for farm animal feed, at our local farm store. Of course, before you do so, you want to check and make sure it doesn’t have anything in it that wouldn’t be safe for human consumption.

WonderMill actually recommends using triple cleaned grains from a trusted source.

WHERE DO I FIND A CORN MILL?

The WonderMill Grain Mill is the world’s #1 rated electric grain mill, and it’s what we use to make our own cornmeal, as well as different types of flours for baking.

WonderMill says, “We have tested our mill to make sure it is the Quietest, Cleanest, Easiest To Use, Fastest, Coolest, Most Powerful, and the Longest Lasting Mill in the World.”

Not that our family would need to mill this much, but just to give you an idea of how fast it can work, the WonderMill can grind over 100 pounds of flour in just an hour. It’s heavy duty, durable, and will get the job done.

It makes a great addition to your prepper pantry, so you can grind your own flour as needed.

You can make fresh flour from most dry grains and dry, non-oily legumes and lentils, including:
- Wheat
- Oats
- Rice
- Split Peas
- Buckwheat
- Spelt
- Rye
- Soybeans
- Dried Field Corn
- Chick Peas, etc.
Gluten-free? No problem! The Wondermill is great for making all sorts of gluten-free flours, as well.

HOW DO I GET STARTED USING MY WONDERMILL?

If you’re using your WonderMill for the first time to mill corn for cornmeal, you’ll want to do a test run with at least 2 cups of wheat or another hard grain. Then discard or get rid of the flour.

It is important to only add grain with the mill actually running. Never turn it on with grain already in the hopper.

Also, you don’t want to switch off your mill while it’s milling. Wait until it’s finished milling the grain you added to the hopper. Otherwise, it has potential to clog.

About 8 cups of grain in the hopper will give you 12 cups of flour in the canister; and that is how much flour the canister can hold.

HOW TO MAKE CORNMEAL WITH YOUR WONDERMILL

The mill and flour canister will need to be side by side, so the tube can be pushed into place in the flour outlet on the mill. That way all the flour goes into your canister.

Now WonderMill does recommend placing a plastic bag into the canister, for self cleaning purposes. We just let our flour go right into the canister, store it, then wash it when it’s all gone.

Using the Optimum Setting, turn on the mill and fill the hopper with dried field corn. Once it’s finished grinding, you’ll hear a change in how the mill sounds. Let the mill run for about 5 more seconds, helping it self clean the grinding chamber.

Once you’re done milling, unplug the mill; then separate the canister from the mill. Use your cornmeal to make cornbread right away, or place the storage lid on the canister until you’re ready to use it.

You can either mix up your cornbread by hand or with the help of a mixer.

DOES CORNMEAL GO BAD? HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

How long cornmeal will last depends on how you store it. Be sure to store your cornmeal in a dry, airtight container when storing it in the pantry.

We usually freeze our cornmeal, again in a dry, airtight container.

When you freeze cornmeal, you want to be sure that when cooking, you only remove the amount that you need and leave the rest in the freezer. In other words, place it somewhere in your freezer that it’s easy to get in and out of without having to take it out of the freezer.

Cornmeal can last at least a year, sometimes longer. According to Does It Go Bad, it can last 2 to 3 years when stored properly.

If you’ve had it awhile, just make sure it doesn’t smell rancid, and watch for things like mold, weevils, or clumps.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BUTTERMILK SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY IT

I don’t know about you, but we almost never buy buttermilk. We just never use it because I know I can make my own when I’m baking.

My mom taught me this little trick when I was younger.

Just add about a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to a cup or two of milk; I usually use a tablespoon for every 1 to 2 cups of milk. Stir and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

And voila, you have sour milk or buttermilk. Works like a charm!

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD

You can use just about any type of pan that will work for cornbread or even corn muffins. We prefer to make cornbread in cast iron because it’s just so simple and easy.

You can mix up your cornbread by hand or with the help of a mixer, like the WonderMix kitchen mixer, which we also used for our recent pumpkin bread recipe.

If you’re making cast iron cornbread, you’ll want to pre-heat the skillet for as long as it takes you to mix up your cornbread.
- Go ahead and set the oven to 450° and put the skillet in the oven to pre-heat.
- Mix the dry ingredients together, including the cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
- Add the buttermilk to the eggs and beat.
- Then add the melted butter to the egg mixture and beat.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing well.
- Bring the pre-heated skillet out of the oven, and grease it well with bacon grease, cooking spray, or shortening, though I highly recommend bacon grease. Can you tell I’m a cook with southern/midwestern tendencies?
- Then just bake the cornbread for about 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Now tell me I’m not alone in this… But I love slathering a piece of cornbread with butter and pouring on just a little bit of maple syrup. It’s so delicious!

It’s also really good with a spoonful of apple jelly. And one of my favorite wintertime meals is cornbread and chili. Yum!

How about you? How do you like your cornbread?

While I’ll have more cornmeal recipes for you in the near future, here are a few recipes you can pair up with your cornbread while you wait.

MEALS THAT GO WITH CORNBREAD:
KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD:

WonderMill Grain Mill

Large Mixing Bowl and Spatula

Cast Iron Skillet

BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD RECIPE

If you love this buttermilk cornbread recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Buttermilk Cornbread

How to make a delicious buttermilk cornbread from scratch. Easy, simple, non-sweet recipe. Bake in a cast iron skillet and enjoy with dinner.
2 1/2 cups cornmeal
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 whole eggs
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
2 tablespoons bacon grease
If you’re using a cast iron skillet*, you’ll want to pre-heat the skillet for as long as it takes you to mix up your cornbread.
Go ahead and set the oven to 450° and put the skillet in the oven to pre-heat.
Mix the dry ingredients together, including the cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
Add the buttermilk to the eggs and beat.
Then add the melted butter to the egg mixture and beat.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing well.
Take the pre-heated skillet out of the oven, and grease it well with bacon grease or cooking spray**, though I highly recommend bacon grease.
Bake the cornbread for about 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Remove the cornbread from the oven, and allow it to cool in the pan.
Serve with your favorite meal and enjoy!
*You can use just about any type of pan that will work for cornbread or even corn muffins. We prefer to make cast iron skillet cornbread because it’s just so simple and easy.**You can use bacon grease, or you can grease the pan with cooking spray or shortening. I prefer the flavor that bacon grease gives the cornbread.

Breads & Muffins
American
buttermilk cornbread, cornbread recipe
September 13, 2018
Twix Bar Mummy Halloween Brownies
Twix Bar Mummy Brownies are quick and easy Halloween treats anyone can make! So cute and fun for kids, they’re the perfect Halloween desserts!

Halloween is just around the corner, believe it or not. And these Halloween brownies topped with cute little Twix bar mummies, are a super easy treat you can whip up in no time.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like a really long, drawn out process when it comes to fun little Halloween treats for kids. I’m not a HUGE fan of pastry bags, even though I’ve created quite a few detailed treats with them since I became a mom.

But I’ll tell you, this is one super easy Halloween recipe, even uses a brownie mix. And while I use a homemade sugar cookie icing, you can totally buy decorating icing already made and ready to go.

Below you’ll find a few tips, things I learned along the way, so hopefully, making these Halloween desserts can be seamless and enjoyable for you. This is a great opportunity to get your kids in the kitchen with you too.

More Halloween treats you will love: Frankenstein Brownies, Ghost Halloween Brownies, Graveyard Brownies, and Pumpkin Patch Halloween Brownies.

WHAT KIND OF BROWNIE MIX SHOULD I USE?

Ok, here’s the first tip because live and learn. You want a brownie that’s going to be easy to slice and pull out of the pan, nothing too messy or gooey.

My first batch of brownies turned out a really ooey gooey brownie; I didn’t realize they’d be that gooey. They could hardly be scraped off the bottom of the pan.

I recommend using cake-like or chewy brownies (preferably chewy) that won’t be so gooey and will easily come out of the pan.

This brownie mix worked wonderfully for our mummy brownies.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE THESE SCRUMPTIOUS HALLOWEEN TREATS

You’ll need just a handful of things to make mummy Halloween brownies, including already baked and cooled brownies, Fun Size Twix bars, sugar cookie icing, and candy eyeballs.

Slice your brownies into squares or as close to square shaped brownies as you can.

To decorate brownies as mummies, follow these steps:
- Using Wilton Round Tip 10 (or the closest off brand cake tip) and a small pastry bag, “glue” a Twix bar to the top of the brownie with the sugar cookie icing.
- Next “glue” the candy eyeballs toward the top of your Twix bar.
- Wrap it up (see what I did there?) by zig-zagging white icing across the top of your Twix bar.
When you add the mummy wrap (or icing), try not to cover up the eyes. Although if you happen to go across one of the eyeballs, it’s totally fine… It’ll probably look even more like a real mummy.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE CAKE TIPS AND PASTRY BAGS?

No worries! You really don’t have to have the cake tip I mentioned above or the pastry bag. You can get creative with what you have.

If you have sandwich bags, snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with icing, and swirl away. Works like a charm!

You can also create a DIY pastry bag using parchment paper or wax paper.

Or you can just use ready made icing that comes with a convenient tip for decorating, making the process even easier.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE TWIX BARS?

If you don’t have Twix bars, just create the top of your brownie to look like a mummy.

Simply add the candy eyeballs and icing to the top of your brownie instead of on the candy bars.

And if you can’t find candy eyeballs, you can always use M&M’s, M&M’s Minis, or chocolate chips.

Get creative and just have fun!

MORE HALLOWEEN TREATS AND RECIPES YOU CAN MAKE:
- Soft and Chewy Monster Cookies
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars with Candy Corn
More easy last minute ideas –>> 20+ Halloween treats – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE MUMMY HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

Mixer

Brownie Pan or Cake Pan

Pastry Bags (or Sandwich Bags)

Wilton Tip 10

TWIX BAR MUMMY HALLOWEEN BROWNIES RECIPE

If you love this mummy Halloween brownies recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Click on the video below to see how easy it is to make mummy brownies for Halloween!
Twix Bar Mummy Brownies

Twix bar mummy brownies are quick and easy Halloween treats anyone can make! So cute and fun for kids, and you only need 4 ingredients!
15 brownies (baked and cooled)
2 cups white decorating icing
20 Fun Size Twix bars
40 candy eyeballs
Slice the brownies into squares.
Using the white decorating icing, "glue" a Twix bar to the top of each brownie with the icing.
Next, using the white decorating icing, "glue" the candy eyeballs toward the top of the Twix bar.
Zig-zag white icing across the top of the Twix bar, doing your best not to cover up the eyes.
That's it! Your spooky mummy treats are ready to serve.
*If you don’t want to buy icing, you can also make homemade cookie icing; then use a pastry bag and round tip to decorate. If you’re using homemade icing and you don’t have pastry bags or tips, you can use a sandwich bag instead. Just snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with icing, and swirl away.

Desserts, Halloween
American
brownie mix, Halloween brownies, halloween desserts, Halloween treats, mummy brownies, Twix bar mummy
September 12, 2018
Jacks Fork Float Trips – Alley Spring to Eminence
Of all the Jacks Fork float trips, the Alley Spring to Eminence float is one of my favorites. Where and when to embark and tips for Ozark National Scenic Riverways, along with a video of this amazing float.

This Eminence, MO float trip is an incredible way to explore the Jacks Fork River from your kayak. You’ve never experienced a kayaking adventure quite like Jacks Fork kayaking.

A tributary of the Current River, the Jacks Fork River is a beautiful place for a float trip in Missouri. Shallow spots, deep spots with blue green water, bluffs, and caves all along the way provide an escape for nature lovers.

Like our favorite spot on Beaver Lake in Arkansas, the Jacks Fork proved to be yet another mesmerizing place to kayak, this time in my home state of Missouri, the Show Me State.

We planned a kayaking trip with both of my sisters, and off we went for an afternoon full of fun, kayaking the Alley Springs to Eminence float. I don’t think I’d laughed that much in a really long time.

If you decide to float the river, I highly recommending gathering a small group of family and friends and experience it together. You’ll create a lifetime of memories in just one afternoon of fun.

If you love Jacks Fork River kayaking, you may also love kayaking the Current River.

Table of Contents
Where to Launch Your Boat at Alley Spring

There are a couple of spots that are open to boat launch; however, closure of the pedestrian bridge has also closed the river underneath the bridge. Noone is allowed to float underneath the bridge.

In order to launch your kayak, you’ll need to drive to the Burr Oak day use area just downstream from the bridge, where you can drive out on the gravel, unload, then go park.

How Long is the Float from Alley Spring to Eminence?

The float from Alley Spring to Eminence is about 7 miles long, with about a 4 hour float time duration.

This stretch of the Jacks Fork River has a reputation as party central. Not to burst your nature loving bubble, though, because none of us that went on this float trip enjoy the party scene.

We do, however, love experiencing the quiet solitude of nature, and we hardly saw any party floaters ’til we got more toward the end of our float, closer to Eminence, MO.

Most other nature lovers and those who crave solitude will tell you if you’re floating on the weekend, to launch either early in the morning or mid-afternoon. They’ll also tell you weekdays are best.

We launched mid-afternoon on a Saturday, fearing that we’d be too late, but it turned out to the best time we could have floated.

If we’d launched just a few hours earlier, we would have been caught up in a HUGE band of noise makers and since I’ll try to be nice here, those who do not appreciate nature but would rather party it up.

Rule of thumb: Early morning or after 2pm, and you’ll be fine. Mid-afternoon will usually leave plenty of time before it gets dark, at least in the summertime.

What to Expect on This Float

When you get in the river at Alley Spring, the water will be quite shallow, and there are usually quite a few people enjoying the day use area. Paddle just around the bend, and you’ll likely find yourself alone on the river.

The river is spring-fed, so the Lower Jacks Fork is usually floatable year round. There were a few places where we had to push ourselves over the rocks, but I think I only had to get out of my kayak one time and that’s because I chose to go around the rapids (or maybe I should call them ripples).

Speaking of rapids, the Jacks Fork River is rated a Class I-II whitewater river. Most of the areas with rapids are fairly easy to maneuver through with your paddle.

There are a few areas where trees stick out over the water, or they stick up from under the water. You may need to duck down as you paddle through.

Scenery on the Jacks Fork River is just amazing. It’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve kayaked so far.

Numerous bluffs and rock formations give plenty of opportunities for photos. You’ll also see a cave or two; at one point, we rounded a corner, looked up, and saw what appeared to be some sort of cavern or cave high up on the bluff overlooking the river.

You’ll Come to a Fork in the River

At one point about halfway through your float, you’ll see a small sign that points you left for the national park… While you may be tempted not to go that way because it looks tricky (and it is a little tricky), go left anyway.

Paddle, paddle, paddle, as you round the corner on a small set of rapids and keep following the river.

There are not many meadows along the banks, but toward the end of the float, you’ll see a few, along with a couple of homes and farms. Speaking of homes, there really is no development until you get closer to Eminence.

Missouri Canoe shares a Jacks Fork River map, also giving a good mile-by-mile description of the Jacks Fork River and sights to watch for, places like Horse Hollow and Mahan’s Creek.

What the Water’s Like

Being a spring-fed river, the Jacks Fork River is crystal clear and cool. Especially below Alley Spring, the temperature of the water is colder.

Parts of the river are deeper with that deep blue green color of deeper water. On shallower parts of the river and even some deeper parts, you can see clear to the bottom.

You can watch schools of fish swim by and look for unique rocks and pebbles.

People You’ll Meet on Jacks Fork Float Trips

You’ll meet some interesting people along the way, and even if you’re craving solitude, it’s always interesting to meet others with a similar intention of getting out and exploring nature.

On our trip, there were a few guys floating with trash receptacles, for the sole purpose of keeping the waterway clean. There were extended families who do weekly or monthly float trips on Ozark rivers, enjoying quality time together.

You’ll likely see camping enthusiasts enjoying dispersed camping along the banks of the river.

Then, of course, toward the end, there are the partygoers whose sole purpose is floating on a tube and having a beer (ok, a few beers), loud music and all. When you really get to the end, you’ll likely see some silly stuff.

Wildlife to Watch for on the Jacks Fork River

Whether you’re a fisherman, an avid birdwatcher, or a nature lover, there are all sorts of animals, birds, and fish to watch for as you float this beautiful part of the Missouri Ozarks.
- Bring your fishing pole (and license). There are 67 species of fish on the Jacks Fork River, including chain pickerel, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, shadow bass, and warmouth.
- Mussels and crayfish
- Oh the snakes you will see. Ducking under a tree branch? Watch out because there may just be a snake sunning itself on that low lying branch. Eek! Also, watch where you put your hands if you float up close to the banks of the river… Again, snakes love to sun themselves on outcropping rocks and boulders.
- With 198 species of birds, the Jacks Fork River is the perfect place to get out your binoculars and watch for new birds to add to your bird watching list. One of the most memorable birds we saw were what we believe were kingfishers.
- You may see whitetailed deer and wild turkey.
- There are also a wide variety of insects and arachnids. You may even encounter a tarantula or scorpion.
The thing to remember with animals is that if you respect their space, they will pretty much leave you alone. Remember: YOU are the one invading THEIR space. Respect that and you’ll be fine.

Where to Get out of the River in Eminence, Missouri

We recommend parking one vehicle at Alley Spring and the other vehicle at Lions Ball Park in Eminence. You’ll take out on your right, about a quarter mile below the Highway 19 bridge.

What If I Don’t Have a Kayak? Are There Outfitters Nearby?

Yes, there are several outfitters that will set you up with what you need to float the river, including shuttle service. There are also several places to stay, including campgrounds and cabins.

Here is a listing of places that offer rentals:
- Windy’s Canoe – Rent canoes, kayaks, tubes, and rafts.
- Jacks Fork Canoe Rental and Campground
- Harvey’s Alley Spring Canoe Rental
- Two Rivers Canoe Rental
What to Pack for Kayaking the Lower Jacks Fork River from Alley Spring to Eminence

Especially if you’re kayaking with kids, you’ll want to be sure to pack a few things for your paddle from Alley Spring to Eminence, Missouri.

Here are a few of the recommended items to pack along with you…
- Sunscreen – On a sunny day and even an overcast day, you’ll burn very quickly. My friend, Lynsey from Moscato Mom, has shared her experience with basal cell carcinoma and why it’s so important to guard yourself against skin cancer.
- Life Jackets – Everyone needs a life jacket, but kids 7 and under have to wear one; it’s the law!
- Drinking water and food
- Sunglasses and/or Hats
- First aid kit
- Toilet paper, swim diapers, and wipes (along with a trash bag)
- Find a dry bag to keep things dry, so you can pack all the gear you need.
- Bilge pump – to pump water out if needed.
- Soft case or a hard case for your phone – to keep it out of the water.
- Binoculars
- Fishing gear for fishing from kayaks
Also, wear water shoes or sandals meant for being in the water, something comfortable for walking on rocks and pebbles. Dan loves his Body Glove water shoes, and I love my Teva sandals.

Safety Tips for Jacks Fork River Kayaking

Check water levels and the weather forecast before floating or river kayaking. You want to make sure it’s safe and suitable for floating, especially if the area is experiencing drought or on the other hand, you’re floating after a heavy rainfall.

The National Park Service provides a ton of helpful information, including river levels, places to explore, and a whole lot more.

Watch out for other kayakers, tubes, and rafts. Make sure to give yourself and the people around you enough room to maneuver your kayaks, especially through areas where the water gets swift.

Trees can stick out over the water, and you’ll float past trees and sunken logs sticking up out of the water. You may also come across huge boulders just under the water. Watch out for these things and do your best to paddle around them.

You’re very likely to see snakes, especially on low lying branches of trees sticking out over the water. When paddling close to shore, do your best to keep yourself away from the rocks and branches sticking out; snakes love to sun themselves, and we’ve had a few close calls.

Learn how to best use your paddle to maneuver through areas of swifter water. There was one really tricky part of the river where one of us ended up turned around backwards, then finally got turned around and ran smack into the bank of the river; the water can turn you around before you even know what’s happening.

In most areas, you’ll be just fine; but learning how to paddle yourself through these places can save you from experiencing any injuries or problems along the way.

Glass containers and styrofoam coolers are prohibited on rivers, trails, in caves, and within 50 feet of the river.

Speaking of caves, all caves in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways are closed, except Round Spring and Devils Well. Do not go into the caves.

Leave No Trace

Finally, leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in. The more you practice this, the safer and more enjoyable kayaking will be for everyone, including paddlers who come after you.

If you’re considering a vacation kayaking in Missouri, the Jacks Fork River from Alley Spring to Eminence is a wonderful place to explore. It’s a great place, even for kayaking beginners to get your bearings, with the opportunity to learn how to maneuver your kayak through obstacles here and there.

Not to mention, it’s an opportunity to explore one of rural Missouri’s more beautiful hidden gems.

Video from Our Float

Have you floated from Alley Spring to Eminence? Let me know what you thought of it in the comments. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
September 6, 2018
Mexican Corn Casserole with Bacon
Mexican Corn Casserole with Bacon – How to make the most delicious Mexican corn casserole recipe with Jiffy cornbread, green chiles, cream cheese, and bacon. The best holiday comfort food!

My boys are serious about their sides. When it comes to Thanksgiving sides, they have their absolute favorites, one of which is now this Mexican corn casserole with a Tex-Mex twist.

I mean, I do have to admit, corn casserole is the perfect side to go with turkey, ham, stuffing, the works. Of course, on any ordinary day, I love to pair this creamy casserole with a good burger.

The fact this Mexican street corn casserole has bacon? Well, bacon just makes everything better, right?

I’m going to out on a limb here and tell you that while I thought it would be impossible to beat our favorite Jiffy corn casserole recipe… I actually love this Mexican cornbread casserole even more. Like Mexican Corn, it’s full of Tex-Mex flavor, and I am a sucker for Tex-Mex.

Wanna make corn casserole in your slow cooker? This slow cooker corn casserole is ah-mazing!

If you love a good Tex-Mex comfort food recipe, you may enjoy Mexicali meat pie too.

My family also loves this easy green bean casserole recipe!

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE WITH BACON!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious Mexican corn casserole recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHY SHOULD I USE JIFFY CORNBREAD MIX IN CORN CASSEROLE?

We use just half of a JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix in our casserole. Just mix it in with the rest of the ingredients.

Using just half the mix gives stability but not so much that the casserole is more like a cornbread than an actual casserole.

Instead the cornmeal gives the casserole a little bit of breading, just enough to keep it very moist and creamy but also have enough substance to bake well.

It also adds just a hint of sweetness, bringing out the flavor of all the ingredients.

IS CORN CASSEROLE THE SAME AS CORN PUDDING?

I guess this could be considered to be the same as corn pudding. You’re basically mixing a bunch of ingredients together to create a creamy side dish.

And the casserole isn’t fully stable, like a slice of cornbread would be. It requires you to spoon it onto your plate, no eating with your hands here!

DO I HAVE TO USE CILANTRO IN THIS BAKED CORN CASSEROLE?

No, you do not. Cilantro is totally optional.

In fact, I leave cilantro out, mainly because Dan doesn’t care for the taste. While it’s grown on me, I’m not a HUGE fan of cilantro either.

WHAT IS COTIJA CHEESE AND WHERE CAN I FIND IT?

Did you know there is a website completely dedicated to cheese, all kinds of cheese?

According to Cheese.com, Cotija cheese “is a Hispanic-style cheese named after the town of Cotija in the Mexican state of Michoacán. It’s also made mostly from cow’s milk.

It does crumble, so it kind of resembles feta cheese in that way; but in taste, it’s got a LOT more flavor, in my opinion. Since it has zero carbs, Dan likes to eat it on a lot of foods, including salads.

This cheese also doesn’t melt, so it’ll make your casserole look as though you’ve sprinkled parmesan on top.

And I’ll warn you… While cooking and after you remove your casserole, the cheese can smell a bit like vomit; there, I said it. Do me a solid, though, and just take one bite of this delicious casserole. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

You can usually find Cotija cheese in the cheese or deli section of your store; our Walmart had it with all of the Hispanic cheeses, next to the Queso Fresco cheese. It’s a small, round, white block of cheese.

CAN I FREEZE MEXICAN STREET CORN CASSEROLE?

While I haven’t had the need to freeze it, I don’t see why you couldn’t freeze it, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

The ingredients used in this casserole are all conducive to freezing. Just cover it well, so it doesn’t get freezer burnt.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE WITH BACON

Looking ahead, you’ll want to cook the bacon. You’ll also need to chop up the green onions and shred the cheddar cheese.

The steps to this recipe are really simple and easy…
- Mix together the cream cheese, mayo, heavy whipping cream, butter, sugar, and sour cream in a medium saucepan, and allow to cook on low heat until the cream cheese has melted. Stir constantly so the mixture doesn’t scorch.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the creamy mixture, crumbled bacon, green onions, green chilies, frozen corn, half the JIFFY Corn Muffin mix, chili powder, salt, pepper, and shredded cheddar.
- Pour the entire corn casserole mixture into a greased 9″x13″ baking pan.
- Then let the oven work its magic for about an hour.
- When it’s all baked and ready to go, you can crumble Cotija cheese on top and let it bake an additional 10 minutes or so.
And that’s it! Easy peasy, so simple, yet so delicious!

WHAT CAN I PAIR WITH MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE?

While it makes a delicious holiday side with both turkey and ham at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it also pairs really well with a good burger and the following main dishes:

Chicago Hot Dog

Sweet Chili Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs

Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

IF YOU LOVE THIS MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE RECIPE, TRY SOME OF OUR OTHER CORN FAVORITES:

Mexican Corn on the Cob with Bacon

Grilled Corn in the Husk with Honey Butter

Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

Creamy Potato Corn Chowder

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE:

Cutting Board and Knife – for mincing the green onions and crumbling the bacon.

Cheese Grater – Use to grate cheddar cheese for your casserole.

Saucepan – You’ll need a medium-sized saucepan to cook up the cream cheese mixture.

Heat Resistant Spatula – Works well for stirring and scraping the sides of the pan.

Large Mixing Bowl – Use to mix all of the ingredients together.

Casserole Dish – Use to bake the Mexican corn casserole.

MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE RECIPE

If you love this Mexican corn casserole recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Mexican Corn Casserole with Bacon

How to make the most delicious Mexican corn casserole recipe with Jiffy cornbread, green chiles, cream cheese, and bacon. The best holiday comfort food!
6 slices bacon
3 whole green onions (minced)
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons salted butter
1 teaspoon pure cane sugar
1 tablespoon sour cream
4 ounces green chiles (chopped)
1 tablespoon chili powder
32 ounces frozen corn
1/2 box JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix
1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 ounces Cotija cheese
3 tablespoons cilantro (optional)
Pre-heat the oven to 325°.
Cook the bacon and set it aside.
Mince the green onions, shred the cheddar cheese, and set both aside.
In a medium saucepan, add the cream cheese, mayo, heavy whipping cream, salted butter, sugar, and sour cream.
Cook the mixture on low heat until the cream cheese is fully melted. Constantly stir to keep the mixture from scorching.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese mixture, crumbled bacon, green onions, green chiles, chili powder, frozen corn, 1/2 the box of JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix, shredded cheddar, salt, and pepper.
Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with cooking spray.
Pour the casserole mixture into the baking dish, making sure it’s evenly spread throughout the pan.
Bake at 325° for about 55 minutes or until the mixture is set.
Add crumbled Cotija cheese* to the top of the casserole, and bake an additional 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.**
Serve while warm and enjoy!
*Cotija cheese is a small, round, white block of cheese; you can usually find it next to the Queso Fresco and other Hispanic-style cheeses at your grocery store.

**Cilantro is totally optional. Some readers love it, and some don’t… I chose not to use it, since some in my family don’t care for it either.

Mexican corn casserole pairs deliciously well with a good burger, a Chicago Hot Dog, Sweet Chili Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs, and Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions, just to give you a few dinner ideas!

Side Dish
American
Mexican corn casserole, Mexican street corn
August 27, 2018
Hiking Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
Explore Santa Elena Canyon Trail and the Rio Grande River

Cross Terlingua Creek and hike up through beautiful Santa Elena Canyon and along the Rio Grande River, with stunning views of Big Bend National Park!

Before we ever left for Big Bend in Texas, I knew I wanted us to hike Santa Elena Canyon Trail, a 1.7 mile roundtrip river hike on the western side of the park. Just from everything I’d read and seen, it looked to be a really beautiful area.

And wow, did it ever live up to its reputation. It was an absolutely beautiful hike, one I’ll remember the rest of my life, much like our experience camping in Big Bend National Park.

While it was late May and really quite hot, it was still a gorgeous hike. Starting out on the banks of the Rio Grande River, looking over into Mexico and up through the canyon, we were in awe of this magnificent place.

Big Bend is a force of nature to be reckoned with. It is so worth every road trip I inevitably see in our future to the far reaches of West Texas.

HOW TO GET TO SANTA ELENA CANYON IN BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

There are two ways you can get to Santa Elena Canyon Trail:
- Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive from the eastern side of the park
- and Old Maverick Road from the western side of the park
If you’re coming from over Panther Junction way and over toward Boquillas, you can drive Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, taking in the sights as you go.

Along the way, you may want to stop and explore the history of places like Sam Nail Ranch, Homer Wilson Ranch, and Castolon Historic Compound. Enjoy the view at Sotol Vista, Mule Ears Overlook, Tuff Canyon, and Santa Elena Canyon Overlook, which is just before the entrance to the trail.

If you’re coming by way of Terlingua, you can drive Old Maverick Road, a 14 mile “improved” dirt road with views of the Terlingua Creek badlands. The road is usually passable for any vehicle, but keep in mind it can flood after storms; it’s also a very rough, slow going road with a lot of washboard spots that rattled us up pretty good.

THE EVER FORMIDABLE SANTA ELENA CANYON

The Rio Grande makes its way through Santa Elena Canyon, and they say the best way to see the canyon is by floating the river. Sheer limestone walls tower 1500 feet above the river on both sides.

About a mile below the entrance to the canyon, located in Lajitas, is an area known as the Labyrinth, a rock slide that creates a pretty formidable hazard for those who float the river. Moving on past the rockslide, the canyon becomes more narrow, in some places as narrow as 25 feet across.

While it widens up the closer you get to the mouth of the canyon, located near Castolon, it definitely provides an unforgettable experience to those who choose to float this beautiful area of the Rio Grande.

According to the Texas State Historical Association, these features of Santa Elena Canyon made it a thorn in the side of early explorers. Most were so afraid of the repercussions they might face from actually going through the canyon, they chose to detour around it instead, extending the length of their expeditions.

Until October 1899, when Robert T. Hill took on a “scientific exploration of the canyon.” Then in 1937, historian Walter Prescott Webb took a well-known trip through Santa Elena Canyon; he was a part of the work to establish Big Bend as a National Park, and what better way to help that cause along than to show off the magnificent beauty of this formidable force of nature.

By the way, Big Bend National Park opened up in 1944. I think it’s safe to say Mr. Webb’s work paid off.

WHAT IT’S LIKE HIKING SANTA ELENA CANYON TRAIL

Entering Santa Elena Canyon Trail requires hiking in toward the river at first. You can walk right up to the Rio Grande.

The riverbank is actually the perfect spot to stop and grab a photo that captures the magnitude of the sheer walls that climb up and up into the sky.

Of course, if it’s been raining, Terlingua Creek may be up, so you may have to wade across… Unless it’s been raining a lot and the creek is up, and then it may be too dangerous to do so. While we were there, the creek was a mere trickle into the Rio Grande, so we easily stepped right over.

Walk up through a bit of vegetation, and you’ll begin a climb up the canyon walls via paved steps, small switchbacks, and a winding bluff side trail.

You’ll climb 160 feet above the Rio Grande River, giving you spectacular views of Big Bend National Park, the Rio Grande, and the narrow gorge.

As you descend back down to the river, you’ll pass through a very sandy area with bushes and other vegetation, along with huge boulders. Eventually, you’ll come to the end where the trail meets the river. This is where the river moves freely on through the gorge, as you stop to take in the scenery.

Look up and you might get a little dizzy with the sheer magnitude of those limestone walls seemingly reaching to the heavens.

WILDLIFE YOU MAY ENCOUNTER WHILE HIKING IN BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

There is a LOT of amazing wildlife to be found in Big Bend. In fact, according to the National Park Service, “wide-ranging ecosystems within the Big Bend provide habitat for more than 450 species of birds, 75 species of mammals, 56 species of reptiles, and 11 species of amphibians.”

Big Bend is a bird watcher’s paradise, and little did I know that there are bears in the park. We actually had the opportunity to see both javelinas and jackrabbits up close; and of course, we also saw a scorpion one night.

While hiking Santa Elena Canyon, you may encounter the following animals and reptiles:
- Ringtails
- Rock squirrels
- Coachwhip
- Diamondback rattlesnake
- Rock and black-tailed rattlesnakes
- Mountain patchnose snakes
- Trans-pecos copperheads
- Bullsnake
- Tree lizards
- Southwestern earless lizard
- Southern prairie lizard
- Crevice spiny lizard
- Checkered whiptail
- and more!
With the closeness of the Rio Grande, you may also see waterfowl, fish, turtles, beavers, and any number of amphibians.

WHAT TO PACK FOR HIKING INTO SANTA ELENA CANYON

Especially if you’re hiking with kids, you’ll want to pack a few things for your trip into the canyon.
- Water – Pack plenty of water for everyone because this can be a very hot hike. There really is not a lot of shade, if any, and there are no places to refill along the trail, so pack plenty of water for everyone to stay well hydrated.
- Sunscreen – The sun will beat down on you, reflecting off both the river and those sheer limestone walls. Protect yourself and your family. If you need a reason why it’s important to protect yourself, read about my friend Lynsey’s experience with basal cell carcinoma.
- Sunglasses and/or Hats
- Backpacks with more water and snacks
- Binoculars
- Hiking Carrier – This is hands down the BEST thing we could have ever gotten for our baby/now toddler. We’ve used it so many times. Read our review of our favorite baby carrier backpack.
- Shoes – While you’ll be wearing these and not necessarily packing them, I still think it’s worth mentioning wearing the proper footwear for this hike.
SAFETY TIPS AND THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HIKING IN SANTA ELENA CANYON

Santa Elena Canyon Trail is about 1.7 miles roundtrip. While it’s not a long hike, per sé, it’s still a moderate hike and hiking in Big Bend National Park can be dangerous due to the extreme heat.

While there are bathrooms at the trail head, there are no bathrooms and no water along the trail. Again, pack plenty of water to carry along, so everyone will stay well hydrated.

It’s very hot in Big Bend, so you may want to consider hiking this trail in early morning or evening. We hiked it mid-morning, and we all got a little too hot.

Watch your step and wear good shoes. Watch for insects and snakes, but also watch your step as you climb the steps and pass through several small switchbacks.

It’s always a good idea to let someone know when and where you are going.

If you’re making the hike with kids, watch your kids closely because there are very steep and sheer drop offs, not to mention the river, on this trail. Keep little ones closer, maybe even using a hiking carrier like the one we mentioned above.

The weather at Big Bend National Park can change on a dime; if the weather looks stormy, maybe postpone your hike until later. Thunderstorms can be extremely dangerous in the desert, and if Terlingua Creek is really flowing, it may be too dangerous to cross.

Finally, leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in. The more you practice this, the safer and more enjoyable hiking will be for everyone, including hikers who come after you.

Hiking Santa Elena Canyon is definitely one of our most memorable adventures from Big Bend National Park. While it was extremely hot and the climb up the steps of that canyon wall were quite steep, the views were amazing and worth every step we took. I’d recommend this hike to anyone planning a visit to Big Bend National Park.

MORE BIG BEND ADVENTURES YOU MAY ENJOY:

Backcountry Camping in Big Bend National Park

Boquillas – Crossing the Rio Grande River to Mexico
August 23, 2018
The Best Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Tips for how to make the best buttercream frosting recipe for cake decorating. Smooth, creamy, and bursting with vanilla flavor, it’s the perfect recipe for cupcakes!

While I consider this recipe to be the best buttercream frosting ever, I haven’t always had a love relationship with buttercream icing.

In fact, the way I used to make it, using half shortening instead of all butter, was never my favorite way to make it. I never liked the dulled down flavor of buttercream made with shortening.

And that, my friends, is how this lovely frosting recipe came to be. I needed a buttercream icing for piping onto chocolate cupcakes, and I wanted to make it a more flavorful icing.

It turned out to be the best buttercream frosting I’ve ever tasted, reminding me of scrumptious wedding cake. And it’s easy to make, with only 5 ingredients (including absolutely no shortening).

This frosting recipe makes it easy to pipe grass frosting onto Minecraft cupcakes or decorate whatever type of cake/cupcakes you’re making.

If you love regular buttercream, you will definitely love butterbeer buttercream frosting.

CAN I SUCCESSFULLY MAKE BUTTERCREAM ICING WITHOUT SHORTENING?

Yes, you can. While shortening does add stability to the recipe, heavy whipping cream can do the same thing.

Using all butter will create a very flavorful frosting, so if you’d rather not have all of that buttery flavor, you can cut the butter in half and substitute shortening instead.

WHY DO I NEED TO USE SALTED BUTTER?

I do recommend using salted butter for this recipe, because the salt in the butter adds a richness and a better flavor to your buttercream. It gives it a zing that unsalted butter just can’t do.

And it’s so much easier to use salted butter over trying to add salt to a frosting, especially when trying to get a good consistency and texture.

CAN I FREEZE THIS BUTTERCREAM FROSTING?

You sure can! If you think about it, bakeries put their cakes in a cooler to store them for customers.

Freezing won’t hurt the texture, consistency, or flavor of your frosting. I always have a little bit of icing leftover, and I usually do freeze it for the next time I need it.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Making homemade buttercream frosting is really easy, and it doesn’t require a lot of ingredients either.
- Make sure you soften the butter first. Try to get it out ahead of time and let it soften naturally; don’t be like me and use the microwave to soften it, therefore melting it.
- Mix together the softened butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, and heavy whipping cream.
- Then add in the powdered sugar, and let the mixer work its magic for 2 to 3 minutes.
You’ll end up with a very smooth, creamy, vanilla buttercream frosting that’s perfect for cake decorating, piping onto cupcakes, and more. Plus, it tastes really good.

PAIR HOMEMADE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING WITH THESE DESSERTS:
CAN I CHANGE UP THIS BUTTERCREAM ICING RECIPE?

While I do have a chocolate buttercream frosting, here are a few more ways you can change up this vanilla frosting recipe…
- Add a flavored extract for additional flavor… Think maple, caramel, peppermint, etc.
- If you want a lemon frosting, try adding in a little lemon juice and/or lemon zest.
- If you don’t like the buttery flavor of the icing, you can substitute the same amount of shortening for half the butter.
- You can use milk instead of heavy whipping cream, but keep in mind, you may end up with a softer icing, especially at room temperature.
- Add a little food coloring to create any color you want or need for your project.
IF YOU LOVE THIS BUTTERCREAM FROSTING RECIPE, TRY SOME OF OUR OTHER FROSTING FAVORITES:
KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – You can definitely mix homemade frosting by hand, but a mixer enables you to get a really smooth texture.

Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups

Spatula

8 ounce Bowls – These would be perfect for separating your icing to make different colors.

Cake Decorating Kit with Tips and Pastry Bags

THE BEST BUTTERCREAM FROSTING RECIPE

If you love this buttercream frosting recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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The Best Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Tips for how to make the best buttercream frosting for cake decorating. Smooth, creamy, and bursting with vanilla flavor, it’s the perfect recipe for cupcakes!
1 cup salted butter (softened)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
4 cups powdered sugar
First, allow the butter time to soften.*
Then mix together the softened butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, and heavy whipping cream.**
Add in the powdered sugar, and mix everything together for 2 to 3 minutes, mixing well.
If you want different colors for your icing, separate the icing into smaller bowls, and follow food coloring instructions for creating colored frosting.
You’ll end up with a very smooth, creamy, vanilla buttercream frosting that’s perfect for cake decorating, piping onto cupcakes, and more. Plus, it tastes really good.
*If you don’t like the buttery flavor of the icing, you can substitute shortening for half the butter.

**You can also use milk instead of heavy whipping cream, but remember, you may end up with a softer icing, especially at room temperature.

Desserts
American
best buttercream frosting, buttercream frosting recipe, buttercream icing, homemade buttercream frosting, vanilla buttercream frosting
August 21, 2018
Low Carb Sausage Egg Muffins
Low carb sausage egg muffins you can make ahead for an easy, healthy breakfast both for you and your kids. Freezable, simple ingredients, quick and delicious recipe!

We pretty much eat the same thing for breakfast every single morning, but sometimes we just need to switch it up. These sausage egg muffins, filled with sausage, bell pepper, cheddar, pepper jack, and basil, are an easy way to do that.

Like bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast muffins, this egg muffin recipe is bursting with incredible flavor. It also makes a very fluffy egg muffin cup.

Eat them with a fork, or eat them with your fingers, making them the perfect breakfast on the go. They’re quick, low carb, and healthy, giving you a boost of protein to start your day off right.

If you love these egg cups, you’ll also love these ham and cheese egg muffins.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR LOW CARB SAUSAGE EGG MUFFINS!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this delicious low carb sausage egg muffins recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

CAN YOU MAKE AHEAD AND FREEZE BREAKFAST MUFFINS WITH EGGS?

Yes, you can. In fact, you can make enough for a couple weeks in a very short amount of time.
- Make a batch or two of sausage and egg muffins and allow them to cool.
- Then place them all in a freezer bag or freezer tight container and freeze for easy breakfasts all week.
- When morning comes, simply warm them up in the microwave or the oven, whichever your preference.
TIPS FOR HOW TO BAKE EGGS IN A MUFFIN TIN

Baking eggs in a muffin tin is actually really easy, even when you have multiple ingredients you’re trying to fit in each small muffin cup.
- Make sure all of your ingredients are ready first… Sausage (or bacon or ham) is cooked, peppers and onions are sautéed, cheese is shredded, veggies are washed and ready, and eggs are whipped up with either heavy whipping cream or milk.
- Spray the muffin pan with cooking spray before adding any ingredients to it.
- Start by adding solid ingredients, like your meat, vegetables, cheese, etc.
- Then pour the egg mixture into the muffin tin, filling each cup about 3/4 of the way full; this will leave a little room for expansion in baking.
- Then bake the sausage egg muffins, following your recipe instructions.
HOW TO TELL WHEN EGG MUFFINS ARE DONE

You’ll be able to tell when your egg muffins are done by both sight and touch. They’ll be fluffy and not jiggly in the middle.

Of course, if you really want to make sure the eggs are cooked through, you can always use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature. According to the Egg Safety Center, any type of quiche or egg casserole should reach a temperature of 160°F.

IF YOU LOVE THIS SAUSAGE EGG MUFFINS RECIPE, TRY SOME OF OUR OTHER BREAKFAST FAVORITES:
WAYS YOU CAN CHANGE UP BAKED EGG MUFFINS
- Add minced onions.
- Or if you like them better, add chopped green onions.
- Add chopped up spinach to the egg mixture.
- Use smoked cheese or Queso Fresco in place of cheddar, colby jack, or pepper jack.
- Add a different type of meat, like ham or bacon.
- Or go meatless.
KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE EGG MUFFINS WITH SAUSAGE:

Frying Pan and Spatula

Cutting Board and Sharp Knife

Cheese Grater

Liquid Measuring Cup

Mixing Bowl and Whisk

Muffin Tins

Cooking Thermometer (optional)

LOW CARB SAUSAGE EGG MUFFINS RECIPE

If you love this low carb sausage egg muffins recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Sausage Egg Muffins

Low carb sausage egg muffins you can make ahead for an easy, healthy breakfast both for you and your kids. Freezable, simple, and delicious!
Muffin Tin
1 tablespoon salted butter
1 medium bell pepper (minced)
1 pound breakfast sausage
1 tablespoon fresh basil (chopped)
10 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
1/2 cup pepper Jack cheese (shredded)
Pre-heat the oven to 375° F and grease a muffin tin.
Add the butter to a large skillet over medium heat.
Sauté the minced bell pepper in the melted butter for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the peppers begin to soften.
Add the sausage to the skillet, combining it with the peppers.
Stir in the chopped basil leaves, and cook the sausage thoroughly.
Remove the sausage and pepper mixture from the heat, and drain well.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy whipping cream, salt, and pepper.
Put 1 to 2 tablespoons of sausage in the bottom of each muffin cup.
Sprinkle on a layer of cheddar and pepper Jack.
Pour the whipped egg mixture over the sausage and cheese, filling each muffin cup about 3/4 of the way full.
Bake at 375° F for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the egg muffins are fluffy, not jiggly, and have reached 160° F with a meat thermometer.
Allow the muffins to cool for 2 to 3 minutes in the pan; then run a table knife around the edges of the muffin cups, and pop the muffins out onto a wire rack to cool.
Serve immediately with your favorite toppings and sides!
*You can serve them immediately, or you can refrigerate or freeze them. Then pop them in the microwave in the morning, and enjoy a warm breakfast with hardly any effort! They’re perfect for a quick, on the go, healthy breakfast!

Breakfast & Brunch, Main Course
American
easy breakfast, low carb breakfast, sausage egg muffins
August 18, 2018
Kayaking Beaver Lake at Scenic Van Winkle Hollow
EXPLORE VAN WINKLE HOLLOW FROM YOUR KAYAK ON BEAVER LAKE

One of our favorite kayaking spots in Arkansas is Van Winkle Hollow in Hobbs State Park on Beaver Lake. Much like the Jacks Fork River and the Current River in Missouri, it’s a beautiful paddle with numerous caves, lakeside bluffs, and scenic views!

The water is warm, so it’s also a great place to shore your kayak and take a dip in the lake. With about 60 miles of shoreline on Beaver Lake, Hobbs State Park is a great place to get away from it all.

WHERE TO LAUNCH YOUR BOAT IN VAN WINKLE HOLLOW

Though there are a few spots to launch your boat, including Rocky Branch Park, our favorite place to launch is at the end of Van Hollow Road. It’s a gravel road off Highway 303.

You’ll drive all the way to the end of the gravel road, and there’s plenty of room to park, unload, and gear up. During more rainy seasons, it can be quite muddy, so I suggest launching from the left where there’s a bit of a gravel bar for easier footing.

Be sure to park your car along the side where it’s out of the way so bigger vehicles with boats will be able to turn around if needed.

WHAT TO EXPECT AS YOU PADDLE THIS AREA OF BEAVER LAKE

You can expect to paddle at least a couple of miles exploring this area of the lake. In fact, you may want to launch from different areas on different trips, so you can see even more.

Launching from Van Hollow Road, you can kayak to your right a short ways to where a creek or spring flows into the lake. The water is shallow, so you’ll likely feel your paddle hitting sunken logs and sometimes even the ground.

Paddling back down the arm, you’ll find a tiny cove lined with bluffs that lends to a quiet fishing hole away from boats who wander up this arm of the lake, some of them pulling tubes, boards, and skis.

For the most part, this area of the lake is really quiet and peaceful. There’s no development, so really the only noise you’ll hear is the sound of the occasional boat coming up the arm; but duck into a quiet cove, and you’re in for a peaceful paddle.

Watch out for trees sticking up out of the water as you paddle your way over toward Pigeon Roost Trail, where you’ll find a quiet cove filled with numerous lakeside and bluff side caves.

WHAT THE WATER’S LIKE ON THE VAN WINKLE ARM

Depending on the time of day you decide to kayak, the water may be as smooth as glass, or it may be a gorgeous blue green color, reminding you of a tropical cove.

It’s warm too, so it’s a beautiful place to find shore and take a swim. Personally, I love just floating on my back looking up at the blue of the sky… It reminds me of our trip to Captiva Island just a few years back.

In my opinion, this area of Northwest Arkansas has some of the best kayaking in Arkansas.

EXPLORING ARKANSAS CAVES ON BEAVER LAKE

Paddling back toward Pigeon Roost Trail leads to a quiet cove where you’ll encounter the occasional hiker, swimmer, or fisherman.

As you come to a fork in the lake, you can paddle to your left and land near a grove of beautiful maple trees.

Or you can paddle to your right and come to a group of caves, two of which are lakeside, so you can feel the chill of the air coming out of the caves. Look up on the bluffs, and you’ll see more caves hidden behind trees and bushes that seemingly grow right out of the rocks.

If you have your fishing license, this is a great place to stay awhile and see if you can’t catch a few. Depending where you are on Beaver Lake, you may catch trout, bass, crappie, bluegill, or catfish.

WILDLIFE TO WATCH FOR ON BEAVER LAKE

From the moment you get out of your car, you’ll encounter a whole ecosphere of wildlife.
- Geese like to swim around the area near Van Hollow Road.
- Beaver Lake is also a renowned place for eagle watching, especially during the months of November through February.
- If you’re into bird watching, this is the perfect place to get out your binoculars and watch for new birds to add to your checklist of sightings.
- Hobbs State Park is full of whitetail deer, wild turkey, beaver, and more. We’ve seen deer with their fawns while paddling; we’ve also seen loads of snakes (shiver).
- Snakes are abundant near any type of water source, and Beaver Lake is no exception. Watch out for water moccasins, copperheads, and more.
The thing to remember with animals is that if you respect their space, they will pretty much leave you alone. Remember: YOU are the one invading THEIR space. Respect that and you’ll be fine.

WHAT TO PACK FOR KAYAKING THE VAN WINKLE ARM OF BEAVER LAKE

Especially if you’re kayaking with kids, you’ll want to be sure to pack a few things for your paddle around Van Winkle Hollow.
- Sunscreen – The water is clear and very reflective on this part of the lake. You’ll burn very quickly. My friend, Lynsey from Moscato Mom, has shared her experience with basal cell carcinoma and why it’s so important to guard yourself against skin cancer.
- Life Jackets – Everyone needs a life jacket, but kids 12 and under have to wear one; it’s the law!
- Drinking water
- Sunglasses and/or Hats
- First aid kit
- Maybe even toilet paper, swim diapers, and wipes (along with a trash bag)
- Find a dry bag to keep things dry, so you can pack all the gear you need.
- Binoculars
- Fishing gear
- Walkie Talkies
SAFETY TIPS FOR KAYAKING THIS AREA OF HOBBS STATE PARK

Make sure you have plenty of room before crossing the wider parts of the arm, and be ready to ride a few waves as boats pass you by. Don’t assume that boats can see you; always be observant and exercise caution.

Waves can be quite large sometimes and can almost feel like they’re going to throw you into the bluff if you’re near the bluff lined parts of the shoreline. Make sure to give yourself and the people around you enough room to maneuver your kayaks.

When the lake is down, and even when it’s up, trees can stick up out of the water. Be sure to watch for trees and sunken logs sticking up out of the water.

Again, you’re very likely to see snakes. When paddling close to shore, maybe keep your hands away from the rocks and branches sticking out; snakes love to sun themselves, and we’ve had a few close calls.

Finally, leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in. The more you practice this, the safer and more enjoyable kayaking will be for everyone, including paddlers who come after you.

If you’re considering kayaking in Arkansas, the Van Winkle arm of Beaver Lake is a wonderful place to explore. It’s a great place, especially for kayaking beginners to get your bearings, with not too many boats and the opportunity to learn how to maneuver your kayak through obstacles here and there.

And it’s just plain beautiful… What more could you ask for?
August 16, 2018
Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies
Make a batch of soft pumpkin spice sugar cookies, perfect for a cozy fall dessert. You can roll cookie dough in sugar before baking or spread with frosting after baking. Delectable autumn cookie recipe everyone will love!

Fall is in the air, and so is pumpkin spice. Along with my favorite pumpkin gooey butter cake, these soft pumpkin sugar cookies are a scrumptious way to welcome fall.

We make a lot of pumpkin recipes around here, so easy pumpkin sugar cookies fit right in.

Why You’ll Love These Cookies
- Pumpkin spice sugar cookies are soft and delicious.
- You have options if you don’t have pumpkin on hand; we’ll talk more about this in the ingredients notes below, but you can use canned pumpkin, homemade mashed pumpkin, or even various types of squash.
- Enjoy these soft pumpkin sugar cookies with frosting or without. If you don’t want to frost them, just do like I do, and roll the dough balls in sugar before baking. Easy peasy and still just as good.
- This pumpkin sugar cookie recipe is great for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Bake a batch for potlucks, parties, or bake sales.
Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

Gather up a few ingredients, most of which you probably already have on hand.
- Unsalted Butter – You can use salted butter too; just keep in mind you may not need to add quite as much salt. Unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt that goes into the cookies. You’ll need to be sure to soften the butter before mixing.
- Cane Sugar – You can also use granulated sugar. Just be sure to use the appropriate amount of sugar as specified by the recipe, because extra sugar can make your cookies spread and flatten, as well as be really sweet with a super chewy texture.
- Light Brown Sugar – Brown sugar helps give a cookie its texture and flavor. In the case of fall flavors, brown sugar is where it’s at when you’re trying to get those yummy fall flavors into a recipe.
- Egg – You’ll need a large egg.
- Vanilla Extract
- Pumpkin – While I make the cookies with canned pumpkin, you can also make your own homemade pumpkin puree. A lot of times, I will also substitute other types of squash if I don’t have pumpkin, especially when I make my grandma’s pumpkin pie recipe.
- All-Purpose Flour – I prefer to use an unbleached all-purpose flour. And if you want to make gluten-free cookies, use a good gluten-free flour.
- Cream of Tartar – If you don’t have cream of tartar, you can substitute lemon juice or white vinegar; for every 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar, you’ll need 1 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar.
- Baking Soda
- Sea Salt – I recommend and use Redmond Fine Sea Salt.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice – You can buy this at the store, or make homemade pumpkin pie spice with individual spices and use that.
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

Before you mix up the cookie dough, be sure to pre-heat your oven to 375° F.

Mix up the Dough
1. Cream or mix together the softened butter, cane sugar, and light brown sugar.
2. Then mix both the egg and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture.
3. Next add in the pumpkin puree, and mix everything together well.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.
5. Then stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture, and mix really well, being sure to scrape the sides of your bowl.
Bake the Cookies
1. Using a cookie scoop, scoop 1-inch balls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
1. Press each cookie with the bottom of a glass coated in pure cane sugar. If you want to frost the cookies, you can omit the sugar.
1. Bake the flattened cookies at 375° F for about 12 minutes, or ’til the edges of the cookies begin to turn a nice golden brown.
1. Remove the baked cookies from the cookie sheet, and place them on a wire rack to cool before serving. If you want to ice the cookies, just spread your favorite icing on the top of each cooled cookie.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Do you have to chill the cookie dough?
No, but you can if you want a cookie that’s a bit more chewy in texture. If you choose to chill the dough, put it in the fridge for about 1-2 hours before baking.

Can you freeze pumpkin spice sugar cookies?
Yes, and actually, you can freeze the dough itself, the dough balls once you’ve scooped with a cookie scoop, or the unfrosted cookies. However you plan to freeze them, be sure to store in an airtight container so they don’t get freezer burn.

How do you store pumpkin sugar cookies?
If they’re unfrosted, just keep them in an airtight container on the counter. If you do frost them, you’ll need to store them in an airtight container in the fridge, since the frosting will likely have either cream cheese or milk in the ingredients.

Additional Ingredients or Recipe Options

There are a few ways you can add to this pumpkin sugar cookie recipe…
- Coat the cookies in a cinnamon sugar mixture, rather than just sugar.
- We talked about this a little bit above, but just like with my regular sugar cookies, instead of coating the cookies in sugar, you can actually frost these cookies with an easy sugar cookie icing or a cream cheese frosting.
- If you want to make the icing even more fun and flavorful, you can add maybe 1/2 teaspoon of caramel extract or maple extract. Mmmm, can you imagine? Yum!
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans to your cookie dough before baking.
- Dust the top of your freshly baked, warm out of the oven, pumpkin sugar cookies with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar.
More Pumpkin Spice Recipes:
You’ll find even more pumpkin recipes on my list of family favorite Thanksgiving recipes!

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

Make a batch of soft pumpkin spice sugar cookies, perfect for a cozy fall dessert. Can be rolled in sugar or frosted. Delectable recipe!
Mixer
Cookie Scoop
Cookie Sheet
Cookie Spatula
Wire Rack
1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
3/4 cup cane sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup pumpkin
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Pre-heat the oven to 375° F.
Cream or mix together the butter, cane sugar, and light brown sugar.
Then mix both the egg and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture.
Next add in the pumpkin, and mix everything together well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.
Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture, and mix really well, being sure to scrape the sides of your bowl.
Using a cookie scoop, scoop 1-inch balls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Press each cookie with the bottom of a glass coated in cane sugar. If you want to frost the cookies, you can omit the sugar.
Bake at 375° F for about 12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies begin to turn a nice golden brown.
Remove the baked cookies from the cookie sheet, and place them on a wire rack to cool. If you want to frost the cookies, just spread your favorite frosting on the top of each cooled cookie.
You can use either canned or homemade pumpkin purée to make these cookies.

If the cookies are unfrosted, just store them in an airtight container on the counter. If you do frost them, you’ll need to store them in an airtight container in the fridge, since the frosting will likely have either cream cheese or milk in the ingredients.

Cookies & Bars, Desserts
American
pumpkin cookies, pumpkin spice, pumpkin sugar cookies
August 14, 2018
Wash up with a Solar Outdoor Shower for Camping
Grab a hot shower with a solar shower for camping that holds 5 gallons of water and warms up with a little help from the sun.

One thing I hear most often from people who don’t necessarily like dispersed camping, is that they’d miss their hot showers. We usually do a lot of free National Forest camping and backcountry camping, so a hot shower just isn’t always available.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss them too, but we’re living in a time where a hot shower for camping really does exist.

All you need is a little help from the sun and the Advanced Elements 5 Gallon Shower. You can even pair it up with a quick pop up camping shower tent for privacy.

While we use our homemade body wipes for camping on every trip, it’s still nice to take a hot shower, especially when it’s hot. 5 gallons may not seem like a lot, but it actually goes a long way in showering our family of 5, especially if we conserve.

On a recent trip backcountry camping in Big Bend National Park, it came in quite handy, especially after days spent in 100°+ heat. And let me tell you, desert heat will warm this shower up quick.

Features of the Advanced Elements Solar Shower

The Advanced Elements camping shower has a lot of great features, including the following:
- Holds 5 gallons
- 4-ply construction
- Warms up quickly with direct heat from the sun
- Easy to use on/off shower head
- Extra large screw cap filling valve
- Pocket for soap and shampoo
- Velcro straps that hold other items, like washcloths
- Mirror (perfect for shaving)
- Water temperature gauge
- Easy and durable carry handle
- Compact storage
What it’s like to use this camp shower

5 gallons definitely goes a long way, especially when you conserve water. For example, I tend to use dry shampoo when we’re camping, just so I don’t have to use a ton of water for my shower.

The 4-ply construction on this outdoor shower for camping includes a reflector panel, insulator panel, solar panel, and the water reservoir. This makes quick work of heating it up.

Camping Hack: While you may not want to wait around for the portable shower to warm up in the mornings, you can literally fill it up with the handy filling valve, strap it to the top of your vehicle or leave it in the sun with your tent and other gear, and away you go to explore all day. Come back in the evening, and you’ll have a hot shower waiting for you.

You can even check the temperature of your water with the temperature gauge on the back of the bag.

The shower head itself is super easy to turn off and on, so you can easily conserve more water for the next person.

You can either hang the shower head up, or you can hold it in your hands, which makes it a LOT easier to shower a toddler.

I like to have all my stuff with me no matter what I’m doing, so the fact that I can store my soap and shampoo in the handy holding pocket while showering outdoors gets a thumbs up from me.

There’s also a mirror, perfect for washing your face or shaving.

And, of course, it’s important that it stores well, especially in a confined space like a camping trailer. It has a convenient and durable carry handle and rolls up into a smaller pack so you can easily store it while on the go.

Where to hang your outdoor camping shower

Usually, where we’re camping, there are plenty of places to hang our portable shower for camping. Then other times, we have nothing but a cactus, and well, that just won’t work.

Important Note: It’s important that when hanging your shower pack, you not harm any vegetation in the area. Find a place to hang your shower that’s safe and that will ultimately leave no trace.

You can hang your camping shower in a tree; we’ve even hung ours on the side of our camp trailer. They do make special privacy tents, aka shower tents, that will hold an outdoor camp shower, as well.

Find a place that’s safe to hang your shower, but think about the ease of use when doing so, as well.

Where to buy an affordable shower for camping:

You can purchase the Advanced Elements Solar Shower through both US Outdoor Store and Amazon. You’ll also find more affordable options for camping showers and shower tents through US Outdoor Store, Moosejaw, REI, and Amazon.

You may also want to invest in a quick dry towel so you’re not toting around wet towels on your camping trip. Campsuds is a biodegradable soap you can use not just for dishes, but for hair and body, as well.

Have you made a hot shower your excuse for not camping? You can easily enjoy an outdoor shower while camping with this affordable option for a camping shower. It’s time to let go and get out there!

More outdoor gear and camping gear suggestions for you:

Roof Top Tent vs. Ground Tent: The Inside Scoop

The Ultimate Camping Checklist for Packing

Homemade No Rinse Body Wipes for Camping

Best Baby Carrier Backpack for Hiking and Outdoors

Camping Cooking Gear and Outdoor Cooking Tips
August 11, 2018
Asian Chicken Salad Wonton Cups
Make delicious Asian chicken salad in crunchy baked wonton cups. Easy appetizer filled with ginger soy chicken, crunchy almonds, red cabbage, and more! Thanks to StarKist and The Motherhood for sponsoring this post.

While we love our more traditional chicken salad recipe with eggs, I’ve also fallen in love with Asian chicken salad. Especially now that StarKist® Chicken Creations™ chicken pouches make it so easy to make this quick appetizer, we can whip it up in minutes.

Filled with Ginger Soy chicken, broccoli slaw, red cabbage, almonds, and more crunchy deliciousness, it’s super flavorful. And I don’t even have to add any dressing, because the chicken is already flavorful enough for the whole salad.

Wonton cups are easy to bake, as well. Just place wonton wrappers in muffin cups, put them in the oven, and they’re ready to go in about 10 minutes.

Even my kids loved this salad, filled with protein and a host of colorful veggies. I can see myself making this easy chicken salad recipe, along with our favorite Chicken Fried Rice Spring Rolls, for all kinds of events, from family get togethers to holiday parties.

What are StarKist® Chicken Creations™?

Let me just make your day because StarKist® Chicken Creations™ pouches are ready to go, whether you want to make a recipe or eat right out of the pouch. These single serve, no drain pouches make a quick and easy lunch or snack option, especially on the go.

Choose from four delicious flavors:
- BOLD Buffalo Style
- Zesty Lemon Pepper
- Ginger Soy
- Chicken Salad
I love eating the Chicken Salad flavor right out of the pouch with crackers or veggies.

The Ginger Soy makes a delicious chicken appetizer. The premium, white meat chicken is sourced from farms right here in the U.S., where chickens are raised cage free and hormone free.

StarKist® Chicken Creations™ Ginger Soy has a tangy soy seasoning, mixed with chicken and vinegar, reminiscent of your favorite Asian food. It’s also a great option if you’re watching what you eat, with only 90 calories and 10g protein per pouch.

You can find a printable recipe below, but let’s walk through how to make this yummy appetizer recipe.

Asian Chicken Salad Wonton Cups Ingredients:
- 12 wonton cups
- 3 pouches StarKist® Chicken Creations™ Ginger Soy
- 1 cup broccoli slaw
- 1/2 cup red cabbage, chopped or sliced
- 1/2 cup green onion, minced
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup water chestnuts, minced
- 1/2 cup chow mein noodles
Tips for how to make an Asian salad:

Pre-heat the oven to 425°. Then prepare your muffin tins by spraying the cups with cooking spray.

Press 12 wonton wrappers down in your muffin tins, ’til they form wonton cups. Bake at 425° for about 8 to 10 minutes. Then allow them to cool.

Chop or slice the red cabbage, and mince the green onions. Then drain and mince the water chestnuts.

In a mixing bowl, mix together the Ginger Soy chicken, broccoli slaw, red cabbage, green onions, almonds, and water chestnuts. Mix in the chow mein noodles last.

Add spoonfuls of the Asian chicken salad to the baked wonton cups, creating deliciously crunchy wonton appetizers.

I’m telling you, they are so full of flavor, and if you love the blend of Ginger Soy with veggies, you are going to love this appetizer.

If you’re looking for an easy appetizer, this Asian chicken salad wonton recipe is just the thing. It’s quick, simple, and delicious.

Be sure to follow @StarKistCharlie on Instagram and Twitter, and Like StarKist on Facebook.

More Asian recipes you may enjoy:
Asian Chicken Salad Wonton Cups

Make delicious asian chicken salad in crunchy baked wonton cups. Easy appetizer filled with ginger soy chicken, crunchy almonds, red cabbage, and more!
12 whole wonton wrappers
7.8 ounces StarKist® Chicken Creations™ Ginger Soy ((3 pouches))
1 cup broccoli slaw
1/2 cup red cabbage (chopped or sliced)
1/2 cup green onion (minced)
1/4 cup almonds (sliced)
1/4 cup water chestnuts (minced)
1/2 cup chow mein noodles
Pre-heat the oven to 425°.
Prepare your muffin tins by spraying the cups with cooking spray.
Press 12 wonton wrappers down in your muffin tins, ’til they form wonton cups.
Bake at 425° for about 8 to 10 minutes. Then allow them to cool.
Chop or slice the red cabbage, and mince the green onions.
Drain and mince the water chestnuts.
In a mixing bowl, mix together the Ginger Soy chicken, broccoli slaw, red cabbage, green onions, almonds, and water chestnuts.
Mix in the chow mein noodles last.
Add spoonfuls of the Asian chicken salad to the baked wonton cups, creating deliciously crunchy wonton appetizers.
And that’s it. They’re ready to serve and enjoy!
Baking times on the wonton cups may vary with different ovens.

Appetizers
Asian
Asian chicken salad, Asian salad, wonton cups
August 9, 2018
Grilled Banana Campfire S’mores
Fun way to make s’mores while camping! How to make banana boats s’mores over the campfire, using chocolate chips, marshmallows, and graham crackers!

There are so many enjoyable ways to make and eat s’mores, and bananas add a whole new twist to this favorite campfire snack. I thought skillet s’mores and sugar cone s’mores were fun, but grilled banana s’mores are even better.

While a lot of people have an aversion to bananas for some reason, don’t knock banana boats ’til you try them. Filled with melted chocolate, marshmallows, and small graham crackers, the banana adds an ooey gooey factor.

You can break regular graham crackers up into smaller pieces, but I love using smaller graham cracker snacks for this recipe. Teddy Grahams Outdoor Discoveries go right along with camping, with the cutest shapes like bumblebees, butterflies, flowers, and ladybugs. Love!

While you can find the printable s’mores recipe below, let’s walk through the steps to making this yummy camping snack your kids are going to love!

Grilled Banana Campfire S’mores Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips – I love using Ghirardelli chocolate chips.
- 1/4 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/4 cup graham crackers
You’ll also need aluminum foil.

Cooking Tip: Amounts of chocolate chips, marshmallows, and graham crackers may vary, depending on the size of the bananas.

How to make Campfire Banana Boats:

First things first, you’ll need either a campfire or a heated grill. Before you start filling your banana, either get a fire going or heat up the grill.

Next, cut a slit down the length of the banana on top, making sure you don’t poke through the back peel on the banana. Note: You may want to wash your bananas before you ever start.

Next, layer chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and graham crackers in between the banana where you cut the slit down through. Squish and fill as full as possible.

Completely wrap your banana boats in aluminum foil. Make sure it’s completely covered.

Add to a warm grill, or place in campfire coals.

Allow the s’mores to cook for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Using a pair of tongs, remove your banana s’more from the fire or grill, and carefully unwrap the foil; be careful, it’s hot! Watch the marshmallow, especially, as you unwrap so you don’t get burnt.

The banana will have turned mostly brown/black. You can let it cool for a few minutes, then dig in and enjoy!

Grilled banana s’mores are so yummy!

Alternative recipe options
- I love using semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can also use pieces of chocolate bars, mini peanut butter cups, etc.
- In addition to chocolate chips, add white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, etc.
- Mix in candies like M&M’s, toffee bits, etc.
- Add in a little peanut butter. Mmmm, peanut butter and banana are so good!
- Sprinkle peanuts or crushed up almonds for a little extra crunch.
Kitchen/camping tools you may need to make this s’mores recipe:

Grill – You need a way to cook your s’mores.

Paring Knife – to cut the banana.

Aluminum Foil – You’ll need to wrap the banana in foil before cooking.

Tongs – A good pair of tongs will save your fingers.

Did you know National S’mores Day is August 10th?

It sure is, and now you have even more reason to make these lovelies. Plus, I’m celebrating this special “holiday” with a few friends.

Safety first, right?! My friend Sherry, from Cub Scout Ideas, shares how to safely make s’mores. I know, with a toddler, safety around the campfire is really important.

My friend Linda, from Life on Summerhill, has beautiful Outdoor Fall Decor Ideas, along with how you can set up your own s’mores bar. Yes, please!

And just in case you can’t get outdoors, you can still enjoy that chocolatey marshmallow goodness with my friend Anne’s recipe for Jello Pudding Smores Pie. Yum!

No matter how to make s’mores, they’re always fun to make and a great way to spend time with your family, cooking over the campfire, whether you’re in your own backyard or camping.

What’s your favorite way to eat a s’more?

More campfire recipes you may enjoy:
Grilled Banana Campfire S’mores

Fun way to make s’mores while camping! How to make banana boats s’mores over the campfire, using chocolate chips, marshmallows, and graham crackers!
1 whole banana
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup mini marshmallows
1/4 cup graham crackers
First things first, you’ll need either a campfire or a heated grill. Before you start filling your banana, either get a fire going or heat up the grill.
Next, cut a slit down the length of the banana on top, making sure you don’t poke through the back peel on the banana. Note: You may want to wash your bananas before you ever start.
Next, layer chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and graham crackers in the slit you cut in the banana. Squish and fill as full as possible.
Completely wrap your banana boats s’mores in aluminum foil. Make sure it’s completely covered.
Add to a warm grill, or place in campfire coals.
Allow the s’mores to cook for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Using a pair of tongs, remove your banana s’mores from the fire or grill, and carefully unwrap the foil; be careful, it’s hot! Watch the marshmallow especially as you unwrap, so you don’t get burnt.
The banana will have turned mostly brown/black. You can let it cool for a few minutes, then dig in and enjoy!
Cooking Tip: Amounts of chocolate chips, marshmallows, and graham crackers may vary, depending on the size of the bananas.

Camping Recipes
American
banana boats, banana s’mores, campfire, grilled banana, s’mores
August 8, 2018