Pumpkin Oatmeal

Want a spooky and healthy start to your day? Add some pumpkin to your oats. It was so yummy, and the kids thought so too. Plus I could pass it off as a spooky October breakfast because it was orange! Total win in the "make your kids a healthy breakfast department" Somehow it doesn't look very orange in the photo...you get the idea though...

What you need:

1 serving of Your favorite cooked oats, we cooked ours stove top
1 heaping tablespoon Canned pumpkin, not the pie filling
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, agave works here too (one mixed in and one over top)

The toppings:

A splash of cream
Candied pecans
Dried cranberries

I will now pat myself on the back and get on with the day :) . I hope yours is wonderful.

xoxo
d

cocktail friday and fun.

Photo here.

Halloween is right around the corner! I cant wait to smell the lit pumpkins as we work our way around the neighborhoods...that has to be my favorite part of the holiday. This weekend I hope to drink one of these  Halloween inspired cosmopolitan from Real Simple ...

Bloody Cosmopolitan

Serves 1

Ingredients:1 slice blood orange

sugar, for rimming glass

1 ounce vodka

2 ounces triple sec

1 ounce freshly squeezed blood orange juice
½ ounce pomegranate juice

ice

Directions:

1. Run a slice of blood orange around the rim of a chilled martini glass. Dip the rim in sugar and turn until well coated.

2. Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds, then strain into the rimmed glass.

3. Garnish with blood orange slice and serve.

photo here.

I hope to make a make a Halloween craft like these cute pasta skeletons with E...

And I plan on making some more of this bread. We made the rustic white bread last weekend and it was great..it barely lasted all week..we used the last of it for our bruschetta the other day. Yum. Make it. My only suggestion would be to reduce the salt a bit, it was salty for my taste.

On another whim, isn't this such a cute tea pot? I absolutely LOVE it. It is from Anthropologie of course. Maybe it will find it's way to my kitchen soon...

Have a great weekend!!

xoxoxo

d

Something spooky. Bruschetta. Grandpa's honey salad.



Apple Vampire Teeth



Last night we started getting in the Halloween mood with a festive family dinner. We made these spooky meatball eyeballs. Fun right? Ella was a bit full from eating too much edamame after school...but my nieces and nephew dug in! Thanks to Damaris at Kitchen Corners for the great idea! 



The menu:

Spooky chicken meatballs

• Olive oil
• 1 Slice white bread, torn
• 2 Tablespoons milk
• 6 links organic chicken sausage, removed from casing 
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 handful fresh parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Whole black olives, pitted
• Handful of frozen peas
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl pour milk over torn bread to soften. In a larger bowl combine sausage, egg, thyme, parsley, pargigiano, and bread after excess milk has been squeezed out. Scoop tablespoons of mixture, roll into a ball and place on an oiled cookie sheet.  Press olive into each meatball and top with a frozen pea. When all have been rolled and spookified, bake in the oven for 25-35 minutes. Edges should be browned and meatballs firm yet scary. Serve in pairs over pasta.

Whole wheat spaghetti with tomato basil sauce

Store bought.

Grandpa's Honey Salad

2 heads romaine, chopped

2 parts Tarragon vinegar

1 part Honey
1 lemon, squeezed over chopped romaine

Romano cheese, shaved

Pour vinaigrette over romaine and top with shaved Parmesan. Easy and super delicious. Thanks Grandpa.

Bruscetta 2 ways

 I'm not convinced that something like brucetta requires a recipe.... as long as you combine and chop up something fresh, almost everything is good on toasty bread.

1.) Combine some chopped tomatoes, garlic, basil, drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, drizzle of balsamic.

2.) Italian Guacamole: Chopped avocado, basil, shaved Parmesan, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

both over warm toasty bread..llightly buttered or oiled of course.....and preferably homemade every Sunday :)

***Vampire teeth (shown above)

Halve apples, cut out a slice from front, pop in the vampire teeth (slivered almonds).



What spooky treats will you make?

xoxoxo

d