Category: Lindsey

Renny's Recipes: Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

11/11/2019

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This post was originally posted in 2017. It has been updated with this adorable video of my daughter from when we made some today. These Pumpkin Snickerdoodles and the perfect fall cookie.

My current kitchen towel

Do you know what I love about pumpkin?

Everything. That's what. I know pumpkin spice is all the fall rage these days, and let me tell you something, I will take the blame for it. Way back in 2006 a few friends and I started a tradition of having a pumpkin party. It just so happened to perfectly align with my birthday, and I've had a pumpkin party every year for my birthday ever since.

If you want to know the truth, if it were up to me I'd put pumpkin in my food every day of the year. Since I have a husband who, while he does not object to pumpkin, does not adore pumpkin as I do I behave myself every year and wait.

Well guess what! IT IS ALMOST FALL AND I CAN DO WHAT I WANT! PUMPKIN EVERYTHING!

My current oven mitts

I decided to make you a pumpkin recipe this week and I really got into my head. Should it be sweet or savory? Basic or creative? What else could I do to show you the power of pumpkin? Well, my mom suggested I make my pumpkin snickerdoodles, and since I had volunteered to make cookies for a church function anyway it seemed like a win win.

I'll be honest, I originally found this recipe on Pinterest many years ago (we're talking pre-mission somewhere around 2012). I can't recall where it originated from, and I am sorry for that, but it is really so delicious. These snickerdoodles are so soft and pumpkin-y and wonderful that if you find who originally created the recipe, tell me. Not only will I give them the credit they deserve here, but I'll find some way to give that person an award.

The team players in this treat.

Fall baking is honestly where I feel in my zone. You see that cinnamon container? We have two of those. I think I have three different bottles of pumpkin spice as well. It might be four. Needless to say, I have a lot of great plans and how-to's for your fall baking, so make sure you come back and see what else I have in store for you. (For example, I realized I never showed you how to cook a pumpkin.) Until next time, enjoy these pumpkin snickerdoodles. If they're not the best snickerdoodle you've ever had, well, honestly I'll think you're confused.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Renny's Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

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Renny's Recipes: Meatball and Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Meal

11/3/2019

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Hey everyone! I hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween! It was a very busy week for us last week, which made it difficult to post. This year our little one was more into Halloween. We let her choose her costume, and she decorated her own pumpkin. We went to two Trunk Or Treats where she got very good at saying, "Trick or Treat!" and "Thank you!" and also, very good at asking us for candy.

Proudly standing next to the pumpkin she decorated. Why yes, she is holding a Santa straw.

I've never really been into Halloween, but it is a lot more fun when you have a little kid who gets excited to paint her "pumpin" and be "a bu'erfly for Ha'oween!" She was a super cute butterfly as well!

This last Saturday we also participated in a Walk to End Alzheimer's. Both PH and I have been personally affected by this terrible illness. I watched my grandmother deteriorate for years and years (and there were many years before my time as well). PH's father passed away this last May due to complications from Alzheimer's. This walk was really important to us. Our little one loved holding her purple flowers! If you want to donate to the cause, here is a link.

Don't worry, the Coke isn't for her, it was PH's. He bought it because it was his dad's favorite. He found one with his brother's name, so it was like he was there in spirit.

Anyway, with all of these goings on, finding time to make dinner can be really difficult. Additionally, with the greater influx of candy and treats at this time of year, finding time to make a HEALTHY meal is so important! This is why I love sheet pan meals! We have shared with you other sheet pan meals in the past. Sheet pan meals are really the most convenient way to pack in the most in a small amount of time.

I think sheet pan meals call for less clean up as well. One pan, throw all the ingredients on. Season on the pan. Way less mess!

Well, this sheet pan meal is even more convenient because I cheated. Remember that whole lack of time thing? Well, nearly everything on this sheet pan was prepackaged. My daughter loves meatballs so I had bought a bag of them. I also found this bag of pre-sliced sweet potatoes. We had a big frozen bag of "California" veggies. (I don't really know why they're called that, but whatever). The only thing I had to chop up was the onion.

I love the variety of vegetables you can toss onto a sheet pan so you end up with a very colorful meal! Plus, vegetables taste better roasted or grilled. Drizzle everything in olive oil. Sprinkle on some salt, pepper, rosemary, and sage and pop it in the oven!

You can't go wrong! We gobbled down this tasty sweet potato and meatball sheet pan meal, and I know your family will love it too!

Sweet Potato and Meatball Sheet Pan Meal

Ingredients:

1/4 bag Caulipower Sweet PotaTOASTs
2 servings frozen meatballs
2 servings frozen vegetables of your choice (I used broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot)
1/4 purple onion, chopped
1 TBSP Olive Oil
salt
pepper
rosemary
sage
garlic
(Use these seasonings at your own discretion)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Spread meatballs, sweet potatoes, and vegetables over pan.
3. Drizzle with olive oil
4. Season with all the seasonings distributed evenly.
5. Bake for 15 minutes.

Voila! Your sweet potato and meatball sheet pan meal is ready to eat!

These are a few of my favorite things:

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Renny's Recipes: Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

10/21/2019

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This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated for purchases made through those links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Hopefully you guys know by now how much I love pumpkin. I've given you a lot of savory recipes because I feel like pumpkin is not recognized enough for it's versatility.

But, I wanted to share with you something I was finally able to achieve. A chewy, not cake like, pumpkin chocolate chip cookie.

Don't get me wrong, I love me a cakey pumpkin chocolate chip cookie. Sometimes though, you just want a chewy chocolate chip cookie.

I experimented a little bit with my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, and I did it! I made a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie that doesn't make you feel like you're eating cake.These cookies are soft, chewy, with just a little bit of that toffee like crisp that we want out of a chocolate chip cookie. Plus it has that pumpkin-y kick to it.

As Elle Woods would say, this gives it a little something extra.

The secret is the eggs. Take them out and replace them with pumpkin. The eggs create a lot of whipped moisture which we just don't need when we have pumpkin in the mix.

You guys, I am dreaming about these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies as I write this post right now.

Make them and love them. They are so ridiculously good!