Fantastic Food

Ingredients:  2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (OR 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, and 1/8 tsp. cloves) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup canned pumpkin 1/2 cup butter, softened 2 cups finely chopped (or shredded) peeled apples TOPPING: 1/4 cup sugar pinch salt 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 1/2 cup pecans, chopped (optional) Directions: In a large bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. Combine sugar and butter, whipping until fluffy; add one egg at a time, incorporating fully before adding the next one.  Add pumpkin to wet ingredients.  stir in dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apples. Fill greased & floured or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. For topping, combine sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle chopped pecans ov

INGREDIENTS:   3 Tbs. Olive Oil 1 cup minced yellow or white onion 1/2 c. chopped zucchini 1/2 c. frozen or fresh cut green beans 1/4 c. minced celery (about 1/2 stalk) 4 tsp. minced garlic (about 4 cloves) 4 c. vegetable broth (can use chicken) 2 15oz. cans red kidney beans (drained & rinsed) 2 15oz. cans small white beans (drained & rinsed) 1 15oz. can diced tomatoes 1/2 c. julienned or shredded carrot 2 Tbs. minced fresh parsley 1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano 1 1/2 tsp. salt (or more to taste) 1/2 tsp. black pepper (or to taste) 1/2 tsp. dried basil 1/4 tsp. dried thyme 2 bay leaves 3 c. hot water 1 to 1 1/2 c. cubed butternut squash** 4 c. baby spinach 1/2 cup small seashell pasta* (or other small pasta) DIRECTIONS: 1) Prep all veggies. 2)Heat olive oil over medium heat in large stock pot.  Saute onion, zucchini, green beans, celery, and garlic in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent. 3) Add b

M&M Chocolate Chip Blondies ingredients: 1 cup all purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/8 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 stick butter, melted 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon of vanilla 1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips 1/3 cup M&M's (optional) directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 8X8 pan with cooking spray. I used a glass Pyrex dish. 2. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl-flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Set aside. 3. In a medium bowl, stir together the melted butter and brown sugar. Stir until smooth. 4. Add in the egg and stir. Next, stir in the vanilla. Stir until smooth. 5. Add the flour mixture and stir until the ingredients are combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and M&M's. 6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake the blondies for 23-25 minutes, until the blondies are set. A toothpick will come out clean when they are done. Let the blondies cool on a rack. When cool, cut and

FRENCH ONION SOUP 4 Tbs. butter 5-6 yellow onions (4-5 if the onions are really big) 1/2 tsp. sugar 1 Tbs. flour 1 tsp. dried thyme (or 2 tsp. fresh) 6 1/2 cups beef broth 1 small baguette olive oil salt & pepper 8 oz. swiss cheese (sliced or grated), or gruyere if you want stronger flavor 1. Slice onions into half moons.  Melt butter in a large stock pot or a very large skillet over LOW heat.  Add onions and sugar to skillet and try to stir onions enough to coat with butter (pan will be very full of onions, but they will shrink down more than half so don't panic).  Keep heat on low, and don't cover with a lid.  Stir onions every 20 minutes or so.  It will take 2 to 3 hours for the onions to cook down and carmelize.  It is critical to leave the heat low and to take your time.  Don't rush this! **(If you want to make your own baguettes, now is the time! I used this recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/homemade-french-baguettes.html?soc=sharingpintere