I’m not ready . . .

Tonight is my special needs group’s “Harvest Dance Party” and I’m just not ready . . . let me explain: it’s going to be BIG (because not only will our kids be there, but several other groups have been invited), it’s going to be VERY loud (that’s a given when my kids get excited, and it’s going to be LOOoong (I need to be there at 4 p.m./it doesn’t start until 6:30, ends 8:30 so you can guess I’ll be PRETTY TIRED when I finally get to go home after helping clean up. Yes, I love getting together with my ‘kids’ but I’m just not ready for this level of  WILD/LOUD! This past Wednesday found our room packed with kids – it was our Music/Birthday night. What was different this time? We’re finally getting back some of our kids- the church we meet at is undergoing a huge re-building and the parking lot has been a nightmare for anyone with physical disabilities or wheelchairs (dirt, rocks, no lighting at night, etc.). Recently they’ve added parking lot lighting (YAY!) but it’s still pretty treacherous for wheelchairs so quite a few of our group homes just haven’t been coming. With more kids in our room this Weds. it was loud, hectic and almost overwhelming but we survived. Because of the construction, our group has been moved back to our ‘old’ room (the one we asked to be taken out of due to lack of room for wheelchairs) so now that we’re back in that room – it’s CROWDED! Oh well, eventually it will be better – we’ve been assured that the building project will be suspended as of the end of October – still not sure where that leaves our group but we’ll see. All that said – I’m going to put on my BIG GIRL PANTS and go to this dance/party with a big smile, hoping to help out wherever needed. (It’s a Western/Cowboy theme – I bought a red bandanna & am wearing a denim shirt – (western is NOT my style, so I’m going to be quite the CITY cowgirl…hehehe).

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Pumpkin Pie Cake

1 (29 oz) can pumpkin
2 boxes spice cake mix
1 bag milk chocolate chips
(optional)
–
1 tub cream cheese frosting
–
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Spray a 11 X 18″ baking sheet
with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine pumpkin, cake mixes &
(chocolate chips, if using) together
in large bowl, mix well & pour into
prepared pan. Bake 25-30 minutes.

NOTE: You will not use eggs, oil or
water in the cake – the pumpkin
adds the moisture.

When cake is cooled, frost with
cream cheese frosting
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This recipe can be halved:
1 box spice cake mix
1 (15 oz) can of pumpkin
1/2 bag chocolate chips (optional)
–
half tub cream cheese frosting
–
Use a 9 X 13″ baking dish sprayed
with nonstick spray. Bake 350 degrees
F. for 20-25 minutes

(recipe: thecreativemom.com)
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Balsamic Chicken w/Roasted
Vegetables

8 (4 oz ea) boneless skinless
chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
1 tsp. kosher salt
fresh black pepper, to taste
10 medium spears asparagus,
ends trimmed, cut in half
2 red bell peppers seeded,
cut into strips
1 red onion, chopped in large
chunks
1/2 C. carrots, sliced in half
long, cut into 3 inch pieces
5 oz. pkg. sliced mushrooms
1/4 C. plus 1 T. balsamic vinegar
2 T. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed/roughly
chopped
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 T. fresh rosemary
1/2 T. dried oregano or thyme
2 leaves fresh sage, chopped
–
Preheat oven 425 degrees F.
Season chicken with salt/pepper.
Spray 2 large baking sheets with
nonstick cooking spray. Combine
all ingredients together in large
bowl-use your hands to mix well
then arrange everything onto
prepared sheets – spread out in
an even layer. (VEGGIES should
NOT touch chicken or chicken will
steam instead of roast). Bake
20-25 minutes until chicken is
cooked through & veggies are
roasted & tender. Serves 4

(recipe: skinnytste.com)
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Hearty Sausage & Bean One Pot

1 medium onion, peeled/cut in
half & sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 lb. fresh Italian sausage, casings
removed
1/2 lb. fully-cooked smoked sausage,
sliced diagonally into 1/2 inch slices
1 (16 oz) can cannellini beans, drained/
rinsed
1 (16 oz) can chick peas, drained/rinsed
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 C. chicken broth
–
Spray large saucepan with nonstick
cooking spray. Add onion & garlic – cook
over medium heat 2-3 minutes until
onion is softened. Add Ital. sausage to
pan & cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add
sliced smoked sausage & cook 3-5
minutes until Ital. sausage is cooked
through & not pink. Pour off drippings;
stir in remaining ingredients. Mix gently,
cover & reduce heat to Low – simmer
5 minutes. Uncover & cook over medium-
Low heat 5-10 minutes to blend flavors.
Serves 5

NOTE: You can also add rice or noodles to
soup – they soak up the sauce.

(recipe: mrfood.com)
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Braised Red Cabbage

2 T. butter
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 medium red cabbage, shredded
(about 8 C.)
1 tart apple, peeled/cored & sliced
1 T. sugar
1 T. red wine vinegar
1/2 C. good red wine
1 bay leaf
salt/ground black pepper
–
Melt butter in Dutch oven or soup
pot. Add onions & saute over medium
heat until soft, about 7 minutes. Add
cabbage, apple, sugar, vinegar, red wine
& bay leaf. Stir & simmer on Low 30-40
minutes until cabbage is tender. Remove
bay leaf & season with salt/pepper.
Serves 6

(recipe: cookstr.com)
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Grilled Ranch Potatoes

2 lb. baby potatoes, halved
1/4 tsp. olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 packet ranch salad dressing mix
kosher salt
ground black pepper
Ranch dressing – for drizzling
chopped fresh chives, for garnish
–
Preheat grill to Medium heat. In
large bowl toss potatoes with
olive oil, lemon juice & ranch
seasoning mix. Season with salt/
pepper & toss to coat. Thread
potatoes onto skewers & grill
until tender & lightly charred,
15 minutes. Drizzle with Ranch
dressing & garnish with chives.
Serves 8

(recipe: delish.com)
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Pumpkin Pie Spiced Popcorn Balls

12 C. popped popcorn
1 (16 oz) bag regular sized marsh-
mallows
1/4 C. butter
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
8 oz. white chocolate chips
1-2 T. shortening
1/2 C. fall colors sprinkles
–
Lay out several sheets of waxed
paper on counter.
Heat butter in LARGE sauce pan over
medium heat until melted. Add
marshmallows & stir until
completely melted. Add pumpkin
pie spice – remove from heat & stir
in popped popcorn. Make sure
your hands are clean & spray
them with nonstick cooking spray.
Gently scoop up popcorn mixture &
press into a ball shape; place balls
on waxed paper.
Add white chocolate chips &
shortening to a deep bowl. Melt
accordg to pkg. directions in
microwave in 30 second increments,
stirring in between, until completely
melted & smooth. Dip balls in white
chocolate & then in sprinkles – place
back on waxed paper until chocolate
is hard.

(recipe: aroundmyfamilytable.com)
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Cheesy Meatball Bake

1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 C. finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 C. breadcrumbs
1 egg
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 C. milk
2 C. marinara sauce
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
2 T. chopped parsley (garnish)
–
In large bowl combine ground beef,
garlic, Parm. cheese, breadcrumbs,
egg, salt/pepper & milk – mix until
thoroughly combined.
Preheat broiler.
Spray bottom of a 9 or 10″ skillet with
nonstick cooking spray. Form meatballs
approx. 1 1/2 inches in diameter & place
in a single layer in pan. Broil 8-10 minutes
until meatballs are cooked through &
browned on top.* Drain any fat/liquids in
pan. Pour marinara sauce over meatballs
& sprinkle cheese over sauce. Broil 3-5
until cheese is melted & browned.  Sprinkle
with parsley & serve immediately. Serves 4

*It does not say in the recipe, but I would
probably turn the meatballs at about 4 minutes
to make sure all sides are cooked.

(recipe: dinneratthezoo.com)
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Peanut Butter Pudding Dessert

1 C. flour
1/2 C. cold butter, cubed
1 1/2 C. chopped cashews, divided
1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese,
softened
1/3 C. creamy peanut butter
1 C. powdered sugar
1 (12 oz) tub Cool Whip,
thawed/divided
2 2/3 C. cold milk
1 (3.9 oz) pkg. instant chocolate
pudding mix
1 (3.4 oz) pkg. instant vanilla
pudding mix
1 (1.55 oz) milk chocolate candy
bar, coarsely chopped
–
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Place flour & butter in food processor;
cover & process until mixture resembles
coarse crumbs. Add 1 C. nuts; pulse a
few times until combined. Spray 9 X 13″
baking dish with nonstick cooking spray &
press mixture into pan to form a crust.
Bake 25-28 minutes until golden brown.
Remove & cool completely on wire rack.
In small bowl beat cream cheese, peanut
butter & powdered sugar until smooth;
fold in 1 C. Cool Whip – spoon over crust.
In another bowl whisk milk & both pudding
mixes 2 minutes; let stand 2 minutes until
soft-set. Spread mixture over cream cheese
layer. Top with remaining Cool Whip mixture
& sprinkle with chopped chocolate &
remaining nuts. Cover & refrigerate at least
1 hour before serving. Serves 12-16

NOTE: You can substitute your favorite pudding
flavors; use almond butter in place of peanut
butter or use dark or white chocolate bars for
topping. You can also use fresh whipped
cream instead of Cool Whip.

If you are transporting this dessert during the
summer/warm weather, you can freeze this
dessert 20-30 minutes to keep it cold en route.

(recipe: tasteofhome.com)

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Our weather has finally changed: it’s really COLD/
WET/RAINY/GLOOMY today! Woke up at 7 a.m. &
you would have thought it was the middle of the
night – it was DARK!!! Glad I don’t have to go out
until later today – it’s supposed to get down to
56…it’s 56 RIGHT NOW! Looking at our weather
forecast – we don’t get sun until Monday, but
still a HIGH of 56! UGH! (Here’s where I insert
my desire for INDIAN SUMMER! One can hope,
right?)

Hope you are staying warm & cosy – enjoy a
little something warm (tea, coffee, etc.) and
maybe a little added ‘extra’ (cookie, doughnut,
etc.) just to keep you ‘fortified’…hehehe.

Hugs;

Pammie