Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Recipe From: Argo Cookbook
I used my gingersnap cookie recipe and when they came out of the oven, I smooshed them down to be a bit flatter. Now that I am typing out the recipe, I realized I used the whole can of pumpkin, not a cup...wonder what the difference is. They tasted great, maybe next time I'll make them look as good as the picture. I'm not much of the garnishing type.

Ingredients:
Gingersnap Cookies
12 ounces cream cheese (softened)
3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmet, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 cloves)
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup karo syrup

Line muffin pans with baking cups and place 1 cookie in each. Beat cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch and pumpkin pie spice in the mixer. Add eggs and mix well. Add pumpkin and syrup and beat for 1 minute. Pour filling into baking cups over the cookie, dividing evenly. Bake in a preheated 325 oven for 30-35 minutes, until just set. Chill for 1 hour. Garnish as desired.

Citrus Pork Chops

Recipe From: Argo Cookbook

Ingredients:
4 pork chops (1/2" thick, boneless)
3/4 cup chicken broth
2 tbsp corn starch
1 tbsp oil
2 cups orange juice
1 cup carrots
2 tbsp onion (minced)
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp corn syrup (2 tbsp water + 2 tbsp splenda)
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
2 tbsp fresh parsley (minced)

Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Cook over grill. Heat oil in a skillet and add onion. Then add 3/4 cup chicken broth, orange juice and carrots. Cover and simmer 10-12 minutes until carrots are tender. Stir 1/4 cup chicken broth, 2 tbsp cornstarch, honey, corn syrup, vinegar, dijon mustard and crushed red pepper. Add to skillet. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium heat and boil for 1 minute. Stir in parsley. Place pork chops in mixture until heated through. Serve over rice.

Homemade Granola Bars

Recipe From: Joyful Abode Website

Blake and I are obsessed with granola bars lately. Here is my attempt at copying Nature Valley's Dark Chocolate & Nut Chewy Granola Bars. I modified this from a billion websites, but mostly A Joyful Abode.

Ingredients:
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup rice krispies
1/2 cup almonds (or walnuts)
1/2 cup golden raisins (or craisins)
2 TBSP chocolate chunks (or white chocolate)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup splenda
1/2 cup honey
4 tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp kosher salt

Mix together 1st four ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Combine sugar, salt & wet ingredients and simmer in a saucepan. Mix everything together and spread evenly into a 9x13 pan (wax paper spray with pam). Press down hard to set in. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. When cooled add chocolate chunks to the top and press in. Cool completely before cutting.

Chocolate Cholate Cookies

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3.9 oz package instant chocolate pudding mix
1-2 cups of mix-ins (white or semi-sweet chocolate chips)

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugars. Add the eggs one at a time until well incorporated. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl often. Add the vanilla and pudding mix. Slowly add the dry ingredients just until combined. Stir in your choice of mix-ins. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. Don’t over bake.

Pork Chops & Apples

Recipe From: Martha Stewart

4-6 boneless pork chops
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 large onion (sliced)
2 to 3 green apples (cored and sliced)
1 cup chicken broth
2 tbsp brown sugar

Trim the chops of excess fat. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a skillet over high heat, and then swirl in the olive oil. Lay in the pork chops and don't move them for a few minutes, to assure a good golden sear forms. Turn and brown well on the second side for a total of about 10 minutes. Transfer the chops to a warm plate.

Swirl the butter into the pan. Add the onion and apples. Saute until the onion slices are lightly caramelized and the apples have begun to soften, about 8 minutes. Stir in the broth and sprinkle with sugar. Return chops to the pan.

Cook until the pork is tender, about 15 more minutes (depending on the size of the chops), turning halfway through and covering the chops with the apple mixture. If the apple mixture needs a little thickening, transfer the chops to the warm plate again and simmer the mixture on high for a few minutes to reduce. Serve the chops over mashed potatoes with a large spoonful of the apple-onion mixture over the top.

Pumpkin CreamTrifle

Recipe From: The Sisters Cafe
My contribution to Thanksgiving Dinner.

First Layer:
1 pkg spice cake mix
1 pkg. (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding
1 cup canned pumpkin
½ cup vegetable oil (can do ¼ cup applesauce, and ¼ cup oil instead)
½ cup water
3 large eggs
1tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger

Preaheat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 baking pan with vegetable oil spray. Place all cake ingredients in large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer on low speed from 1 minute. Scrape down sides and then increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more. Batter should look think and well blended. Pour into prepared pan and bake 32-39 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool completely. (cake can be frozen at this point. Thaw at room temperature before assembling trifle.) When ready to prepare trifle, cut or tear into approx. 1 inch cubes.

Second Layer (cream):
2 pkgs. (3.4 oz) cheesecake flavored instant pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
2 cups freshly whipped cream (half pint, unsweetened)

Combine pudding mixes with milk and blend with whisk until it starts to thicken. Fold in whipped cream, then quickly assemble trifle.

Third Layer (toppings):
½ cup chopped, toasted pecans or almonds
½ cup Skor toffee bits

To assemble trifle:
Place 1/3 of cake cubes into trifle bowl. Top with 1/3 of cream mixture and sprinkle with 1/3 of nuts and toffee bits. Repeat layers two more times, ending with nuts and toffee on top. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered no longer that 24 hours.

Mozzarella Sticks

Recipe From: Parents Magazine

Ingredients:

1 egg
2 tsp water
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Shake of pepper
4 pieces mozzarella string cheese
1 tbsp flour

In a small bowl, beat egg and water. Place panko, Italian seasoning, and pepper in a separate dish. Coat cheese sticks in flour, then dip in egg mixture and the breading. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake, uncovered, at 450°F for 5 minutes, until warm, then run under the broiler quickly to brown. Cool before serving.