Low Fat Pumpkin Pancakes........

I'm starting out the New Year right and lightening up any recipe that I think could make a difference in my waistline.   Low fat pumpkin pancakes is a keeper.  Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1/2  cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1  tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/3 cup pure pumpkin

Mix flours, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together in a bowl. Combine egg, oil, buttermilk and pumpkin in another bowl. Stir pumpkin mixture into dry ingredients. Let stand for five minutes. Use a 1/4 cup of batter per pancake and pour onto a hot griddle or nonstick frying pan that has been oiled or sprayed with non stick spray.  Flip pancakes when bubbles appear and edges are cooked.  I toasted a few pecans and served them on top with genuine New Hampshire maple syrup.
Makes 8-10 smaller sized pancakes .

Birthday Girl...

Happy 23rd Birthday to our beautiful daughter who is just as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside. We love you and are so proud of you.  


“Just one smile
Immensely increases the beauty
Of the universe.”
― Sri Chinmoy,

A Little Time Away.........

Wow,  I can't believe how long it has been since my last post.  I can't believe how long it has been since I have sat down at the computer.  Christmas crept up on me rather quickly this year.  I was behind on baking, cleaning,  shopping, decorating and anything else that goes along with the holidays.  Next year I will be better prepared. 
I'm thrilled the New Year is here and all my resolutions have been made.  One of my resolutions is to cook a big family meal once a week.  A meal where I put out the cloth napkins and set a nice table.  Today was that big meal. 

Above is the sirloin strip beef roast we had.  I sprinkled Montreal Seasoning all over the top,  roasted it in a 500 degree oven for twenty minutes and then turned the heat down to 325 for the remainder of the cooking time.
The roast cooking instructions came from my friend Mary (OBCS).

Aren't these the coolest looking carrots..  They are called Carnival Carrots,  I steamed them,  added brown sugar, butter and a few tablespoons of fresh orange juice.  The purple carrot had a bright yellow center.  

A delicious meal to gather the ones I love together around the dinner table.  A meal shared with the people who make me the happiest, the people who make my heart swell.   Wishing you all many wonderful meals shared with the ones you love.  Happy New Year friends!

Friend for Bella....

I'm thinking about getting my girl Bella a friend.  I work everyday and when I leave in the morning she always looks so sad.  Most days she spends sleeping on our bed trying to get as close to our pillows as she can without getting in trouble.  She could use a friend.   My daughter came home from school for Thanksgiving and along with her came the stray cat she adopted.  Lily was so sweet and lovely, the whole house fell in love. Would a cat be a good friend for Bella?   I really don't know. Although I enjoyed Lily, I'm thinking more about a rescue dog or a puppy.  Bella has more than enough love in her heart and with dogs being pack animals the more the merrier right!  I will have to sleep on this one.  I know there are a lot of you who have more than one dog.   Please let me know how your dog adapted to his or her new friend.

Black Bean and Pumpkin Soup.......

This was so delicious and so easy.  I topped my bowl off with sliced avocado and low fat Greek yogurt.  Adapted from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

4 Tablespoons olive oil
1 cup onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 small can diced green chilies
3 cans black beans (15 oz each), drained and rinsed
1 can (14.5 oz) diced zesty tomatoes
1 can (16 oz) pumpkin puree
1 cup roasted corn ( I get mine at TJ's)
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Salt to taste



Instructions
1. In a large pot heat the oil. Add the onion, garlic, cumin, chilies and salt, cook until the onion has softened. About 3 to 4 minutes.

2. In a food processor puree the beans and tomatoes. Add the puree, pumpkin and broth to the pot.

3. Simmer uncovered until thick, add third can of black beans and corn, stirring often while scraping the bottom, about 30 minutes or until desired thickness. Add chopped cilantro and serve.

Cranberry Nut Bars...

If there is one thing I enjoy this time of year its my fireplace.  I have the kettle on and as soon as my tea is brewed I am going to sit down in front of the fire and enjoy my tea and these delicious cranberry bars.  Here's the recipe adapted from Food.com

Ingredients:

2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts
2 cups cranberries chopped (fresh or frozen)

Orange rind from one orange

Directions:

Beat together eggs, butter, sugar and vanilla.

Add flour and baking powder and mix well.

Fold in nuts, orange rind and cranberries.

Pour into greased 9 x 12 cake pan.

Bake@ 350 degrees 40-45 minutes .

Cranberry Vodka....

Before I buy my fresh bag of cranberries this year I needed to use up the two cups of frozen cranberries left over from last year.  I have wanted to make cranberry vodka for a long time.  It is ridiculously easy and fun to make.   Martinis are also all the rage and I thought I could use it at Christmas time.  Here is the recipe.

1. One 750 ml. vodka ( good quality)
2. 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
3. Rind from 1 large orange
4. 1 cup super fine sugar

Throw all of the ingredients in a large jar with a lid.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.  Let sit for at least a week. When the week is up strain the vodka through a sieve and pour it back into the original bottle.  I am going to keep mine in the fridge until Christmas.  
Before the week was up  I decided to opened the jar and squish some of the cranberries against the side of the jar with a large wooden spoon.  Squishing the cranberries really deepen the color of the vodka.  Enjoy!