Pumpkin Spice Blondie Bars

 

Today's tea in the garden is with spicy blondie bars and pumpkin chai tea.  

 

I found this pretty Fall teapot in a thrift store for $3.75.  Isn't it perfect for this time of year.  I'll show you the other side in another post. 

 

I'm using my Paprika colored Fiesta Ware mug, as it's a pretty, warm color for Fall, and it blends with the colors in my teapot.

 I crocheted this pumpkin from directions that I found at Priscilla's.  The instructions can be found  here.   The only thing that I did differently was to chain varying lengths for the leaves.  I taught my sister and a niece how to make these adorable pumpkins.  It's a great project for learning how to chain and single crochet. 

It seems like Target is so good about stocking seasonal food items, like these Pumpkin Spice Morsels.  If you can't find them, the blondie bars would be

good with cinnamon, chocolate or butterscotch chips, too.   Here's the recipe that was on the back of the bag in case you need to substitute one of the other flavors of chips.

2 1/4 cups flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar

1 1/2 sticks butter, softened

3 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 10 ounce package Pumpkin Spice Morsels, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.  Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until creamy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in 1 1/3 cups morsels. Spread into prepared pan.  Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup morsels. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until top is golden brown.  Cool in pan on wire rack.  Cut into bars.  Store tightly covered.

Makes 40 bars

I am sharing this with:

Make It Pretty Monday

Tea Time Tuesday

Tuesday Cuppa Tea 

Friends Sharing Tea

Tea Cup Tuesday 

Share Your Cup
Full Plate
Foodie Friday
Weekend Potluck

Thank you for your visit!  xo

Pepperoni Pizza Cheese Ball

This fun cheese ball comes from my Great Balls of Cheese cookbook by Michelle Buffardi.  This makes for a great appetizer for football season, or any time!  It looks like a long list of ingredients, but it goes together quickly.  I hope you try it for your next party.  Doesn't it look like real pizza??

16 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup finely chopped pepperoni

1/4 cup crushed tomatoes

2 1/2 T. chopped bell pepper, any color

1 T. finely chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press

3/4 t. Italian seasoning

1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs, for decorating

Pepperoni slices and black olives, for decorating

Crackers or baguette slices, for serving

Using a stand mixer or a bowl and spatula, mix together the cream cheese, 2 cups mozzarella (reserve the 1/2 cup for decorating), Parmesan, chopped pepperoni, tomatoes, 2 T. of bell pepper (reserve the 1/2 T. for decorating), onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning.  Form the mixture into a ball and loosely cover with plastic wrap.  Gently flatten the ball into a disk; refrigerate for at least 2  hours or overnight.  I actually made two disks.

Before serving, unwrap the disk and roll the edges in the breadcrumbs, pressing the middle in a bit as you roll.  Set the disk on a plate and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella, pepperoni slices, the remaining bell pepper and olives.  I sprinkled a little oregano on top, too.

Serve with crackers or baguette slices.

I am sharing this with:

Make It Pretty Monday 

Share Your Cup
Full Plate
Foodie Friday
Weekend Potluck
Creative Ways

Thank you for your visit!  xo

Grilled Wings

These wings went rather quickly and I had to get a quick shot of these two!  We did a taste test to see what we liked with some of the hot sauce set that was gifted to me.  The recipe was based on one that I found on Food.com, but instead of baking them in the oven, I tried grilling them.  The results were wonderful!

Wings

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  
• 20 chicken wings

Sauce

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup Frank's hot sauce (or your choice of other flavors)
• 2 dashes ground pepper
• 2 dashes garlic powder

Directions:

1. In a food safe food bag, mix together flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt.
   
   
2. Place chicken wings in the bag and shake until they are evenly coated.
   
   
3. Close the bag and refrigerate for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. ( I actually did mine for several hours.)
   
   
4. Preheat grill to around 400 degrees.  Turn off the back burner, as you will be using the indirect heat method.
   
   
5. Spray or coat the grill with oil and then place the wings on the back burner and cook with the indirect heat.
   
   
6. Grill at 400 degrees for 40 minutes, turning once.
   
   
7. If desired, place wings on the front (direct heat) for two minutes. 
   
   
8. Take the wings off the grill and toss with Sauce.
   
   
9. Sauce: Combine butter, hot sauce, pepper, and garlic powder in a bowl and microwave until melted.
   
   
10. Stir for a couple of minutes to blend evenly.

    
    
    

     These were the ones that we tried.  The Habanero one was too hot!!!!

    
    
    

    

    These were our favorites!

I am sharing this with:

Make It Pretty Monday 

Share Your Cup
Full Plate
Foodie Friday
Weekend Potluck
Creative Ways

Thank you for your visit! xo