Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Bread

Somehow Fall went by and I didn’t make one loaf of pumpkin bread. I know…it’s crazy! I bought a 3 can pack of pumpkin at Costco and decided it was about time I make loaf regardless that the calendar says December and all things pumpkin are on the way out.

I found this copycat Starbucks version of pumpkin bread. but only it’s much more healthier than the real thing…. but tastes just as good, if not better! The amount of sugar was reduced and there was a few substitutions to make it healthier. Trust me, you won’t even notice the swaps – this bread is moist, packed full of pumpkin spice flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness. My son absolutely loves it, except for the pepitas which need to be cut off before he enjoys a slice of this bread.


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Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

The holiday baking season is here and I can’t wait to spend more time in the kitchen. I was in the mood to make cookies the other night and had this recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies sitting on my cookbook stand. I had everything I needed to make them in my pantry and quickly whipped them up after dinner.

We all loved them … that they’re already gone. Whoops! I know I’ll get a request over the weekend to make another batch. They’re soft and chewy and have the right amount of raisins. Chilling the cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking helps them bake up thicker. If that’s not your thing (we might not be able to be friends anymore), skip the chilling part.


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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

The last time I was at the Farmer’s market I grabbed a butternut squash and wasn’t sure what to make with it. I was in the mood for soup and found a recipe for one made in the Instant Pot. Even better, this recipe is dairy-free so I could eat it without feeling horrible afterwards.

This soup was delicious – it tasted like fall in a bowl. It had those deep flavors of the curry; it was warm on the back of my throat and was creamy. I saved a container to freeze for one of those cold, winter nights when all you want to do is curl up with a bowl of warm soup and a hunk of crusty bread.


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Apple Crisp Bars

I was in the mood to do some baking and wanted to use up what I had in my house. I had bought some apples at the grocery store the other week and it was a mistake. They weren’t crisp and a little mealy….so not great for eating. I decided I would use them to bake instead and whipped up a batch of apple crisp bars.

These bars are three layers of goodness – a layer of shortbread, gooey cinnamon apples and a crisp, buttery top. They are easy to make and delicious.

Apple Crisp Bars | Join Us, Pull up a Chair

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Slow Cooker Lasagna Tortellini Soup

My son loves lasagna, but it’s one of those recipes that I save for a weekend to make because it can be time-consuming. This soup satisfied his “need” for lasagna and a bonus was that it made enough for leftovers for lunch and dinner.

It’s a simple soup to make and allowing the sauce to simmer in the slow cooker makes it feel like you’ve been working on it all day. You could easily make this on the stovetop if you don’t have time to let the sauce simmer for several hours. Another shortcut would be to make the sauce over the weekend and then when you’re ready to make the soup, heat it on the stove and toss in the pasta to cook. Lots of options with this recipe!


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Pressure Cooker Rice Pudding

My husband and I both love rice pudding and when I happened to have all the ingredients to make a batch, I decided to try this new recipe. I loved that it’s made in a pressure cooker… not more watching a pot on the stove. It was so easy to make and was delicious. It’s a rich pudding, but isn’t that what comfort food is all about.

My husband likes raisins in his rice pudding, but you could easily swap out for dried cranberries or other dried fruit. This pudding will thicken up as it sits. Add a little milk or cream to thin it out if you prefer a thinner pudding.

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Caramelized Onion Dip

I’m always looking for a new recipe to bring to parties and events; this may be my new favorite recipe! Caramelizing the onions brings onion dip to a completely different level! There is much more of a richness of onion flavor. I definitely recommend making it a day before you plan to serve it. This give is enough time for all the flavors to really develop. It goes perfectly with chips or veggies! It would be great over a baked potato too!

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Apple Bread

It’s apple season! I love all things apples and I’m excited to spend more time in the kitchen this coming month. My kids fall sports seasons are coming to an end, which means I won’t be coaching, cheering or driving my kids to practice or a game 5 nights a week. While I love seeing how much fun they’re having, it’s been a long couple of months of rainy, muddy weather … that hasn’t been the best for cheerleading or soccer.

But back to this delicious and healthy bread. It’s loaded with cinnamon and chunks of fresh apples. It’s super easy to make, it’s healthy and makes your house smell delicious. I used  whole wheat flour, because that’s what I had on hand; feel free to use any type of flour – all-purpose, whole-wheat white or a combination.

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Monster Mash-up Filled Cupcakes

Today is National Chocolate Cupcake day  and the perfect way to celebrate is with these Monster Mash-up Filled Cupcakes. It’s also the fourth day of #choctoberfest and today’s cupcakes features a product from one of our sponsors, Sprinkle Pop. Sprinkle Pop creates trendy sprinkle mixes that you can’t find anywhere else. I used the Monster Mash-up mix – which included pumpkins, eyes, ghosts, and so much more. I love that they color over 50% of their sprinkles in-house, so each batch is a one-of-a-kind experience. Even better – all their orders are shipped for free in the US. What sprinkle mix would you love to create something with?

I made these cupcakes for my cheerleading squad. They’ve been working really hard on their half-time routine and parade routine that they deserved a little treat. Really..I didn’t need 2 dozen cupcakes sitting on my kitchen counters for days calling my name to eat all of them! HA! The chocolate cupcakes are moist, the frosting has the perfect amount of sweetness and then the center is filled with sprinkles. Surprise!

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