Tuscan Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup

Cold weather is on its way.  I mean, unless you live somewhere near the equator, where it's pretty warm all year.  Or if you're reading this in spring, for some reason.  Or if you've totally bought into global warming so much that you don't think it gets cold anymore.  Or if you're somewhere like Australia, where the seasons are opposite ours here in the American Midwest.  Here, cold weather is on the way.

You need to have some soup recipes in your back pocket.  Soup is amazing.  It can be warm and soothing, and while you can spend a whole day (or more!) on building flavors, there are some great soups that you can make in that 30-minute time frame that everyone's so enamored with.

Pumpkin Caramel Sauce

I know, I know.  No witty title today.  And this is going to be a short and sweet recipe as well, in many ways.

I had another post planned, but then I woke up and saw this recipe for pumpkin coconut caramel sauce in my Facebook feed.  I had to try it.

This week has been exhausting.  Today was full of obligations, and we're having a much-needed night with friends tonight, where I said I'd bring an appetizer and dessert.  Oh, and adult beverage, which I tend to always just bring along.  But I had no focus, so no plans for what those things actually were.

Pumpkin caramel sauce...over sliced apples...with assorted toppings like nuts, mini chocolate chips, sprinkles...make your own caramel apple bar!  Dessert!

Yumpkin Milkshakes

Sometimes, you're feeling all fallish, and yet it's still 80 degrees outside.  Sometimes, you might yearn for that PSL from SB, but with a chill on it.  And sometimes, you just need a good milkshake.

Milkshakes have a bad rap.  Fast food milkshakes have all kids of scary stuff in them, and most of the time, they taste pretty meh.  But (here comes the control freak in me again), when you control the ingredients, a milkshake once in a while can make for a pretty awesome treat or afterschool snack.  I love milkshakes and smoothies as a vehicle for getting extra fruits and veggies in my kids, and pumpkin is one of those things I always tend to sneak in there, because I usually have plenty on hand, frozen.

Today, I decided not to sneak it in.  No sneaking at all.  I went full out and made a pumpkin pie malted milkshake!

Pumpkin Seeds, Any Way You Like

So, once you've roasted your pumpkin, you have something left to deal with: the seeds.  You could just throw them away with the rest of the innards, or you could elevate them to a crunchy, delicious snack.

C'mon...get your full value out of that pumpkin!  Every last bite of it!  It's pretty simple, and you can even throw them in the oven while your pumpkin is roasting.

Cindrella's Revenge Part 2: Sweet, Delicious, Muffiny Delight

So, I've throw down my own gauntlet.  A week's worth of pumpkin posts.  One each day, for a week.  And honestly, I'm not sure how it's going to happen, but I do my best to always follow through with what I say I'll do.

It'll take more than pumpkin posts during a busy week to break me.  You guys are totally worth it.

So, today's post is a heartwarmer for me.  Pumpkin muffins.  I love muffins, I love pumpkin...I adore these.  So do my kids.  And my husband.  And pretty much anyone who's tried them.  I've taught this recipe to my daughter's girl scout troop, and it was a big hit.  So, basically, this recipe is easy enough to make with a group of 15 seven-year-olds.  Who all...want...to help.

Cinderella's Revenge - Crushing the Pumpkin

Pumpkin in cans.  I can't even talk about it without gagging.  But I love, love, LOVE almost anything pumpkin!  Pumpkin muffins?  Yep.  Pumpkin eggnog?  Oh yeah.  I even discovered yesterday that I like O'Fallon Pumpkin Beer, and I don't really even like beer!  But when I open a can of pumpkin, the look, the smell...it all churns my stomach.

Luckily, there's a much better way to get pumpkin.  Does it take a little more time and work than opening a can?  Honestly, yes, it does.  But you also get a much better pumpkin taste, you save money, and you don't have to worry about what ill effects the metal in the can might have on your long-term health.  By know, you've probably figured out what a control freak I can be about my food, and nothing makes me happier than being able to control where my food comes from and how it's handled and prepared.  So, why should pumpkin be any different?