Beer Girl Cooks

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Slow Cooker Pumpkin Ale Short Ribs Sliders

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Slow Cooker Pumpkin Ale  Short Ribs Sliders topped with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce are perfect for a party or watching football!

Slow Cooker Beer Braised Short Rib Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce

Hello October.

Slow Cooker Beer Braised Short Rib Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce

I get really excited this time of year.  The leaves are starting to turn, the air is crisp enough at night to sit outside with a fire going in the pit, we can escape the sweltering southern heat and sip on all the pumpkin beer I can get my hands on.

We normally brew our own pumpkin beer in the fall and I have to say that we have mastered the recipe.  Think pumpkin pie rather than pumpkin spice and that should give you an idea of my preference of pumpkin beer flavor.  We haven’t got to it yet this year, but I’m having a good time sampling everything that’s out there.  Two of my go-to favorite pumpkin beers are Southern Tier’s Pumpking and NoDa’s Gordgeous.  They’re both delicious to drink and for cooking up some short ribs.  I used Pumpking for these Slow Cooker Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce.  I made Beer Braised Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Polenta and Pumpkin Ale and Butterscotch Donuts with Gordgeous.  I’m telling you – you can’t go wrong with either of these beers. (This is not a sponsored post – I just love talking about good craft beer)

Speaking of October and pumpkin beer, Sara from Cake Over Steak is hosting a virtual pumpkin party!  If you’re looking for all the pumpkin recipes to make your October the best it can be, head over to the Virtual Pumpkin Party page and get your pumpkin on!

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs Sliders topped with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce are perfect for a party or watching football!

Slow Cooker Beer Braised Short Rib Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce
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Slow Cooker Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 1/2 pounds short ribs
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 16 ounces pumpkin ale divided
  • 2 onions thinly sliced
  • 9 ounce jar prepared horseradish
  • 1/4 cup mayonaise
  • slider rolls

Instructions

  1. Melt butter and olive oil over medium-high heat
  2. Generously salt and pepper short ribs (measurements above are guidelines and don't have to be exact)
  3. Sear short ribs on all sides - working in batches so not to over crowd the pan - 2-3 minutes per side
  4. Transfer short ribs to slow cooker
  5. Pour 1/4 cup of pumpkin ale into the pan used to cook the short ribs and pour the rest of the beer over the meat in the slow cooker
  6. Cook short ribs on low for 6 hours
  7. Add sliced onions to pan with the beer and cook on medium for 20 - 30 minutes or until softened and caramelized
  8. Reserve some of the beer caramelized onions for toppings
  9. Combine remaining beer caramelized onions, horseradish, and mayonaise to the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine to desired consistency
  10. Remove meat from the bones and shred by pulling it apart with a couple of forks
  11. Pile shredded short ribs onto slider rolls, top with caramelized onion horseradish sauce and finish with reserved beer caramelized onions

NOTES:

  1. This made about 12 sliders and can easily be adjusted to make more or less, depending on the size of your slow cooker
  2. I didn’t make the beer caramelized onion horseradish sauce too smooth.  I left it with a little texture, but it’s a flexible sauce and you can make it how you like it.

Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Polenta

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Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Polenta is a rich and delicious dish perfect for warming the heart and soul during cold times.

 

It was a hell of a ride last week.

Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Polenta is a rich and delicious dish perfect for warming the heart and soul during cold times.

I had to take some time away and I’m still not ready to talk about it.

I’d rather focus on some comfort food instead.  Comfort food in the form of short ribs cooked low and slow in pumpkin beer, combined with mushrooms to make a rich gravy, and piled high on a creamy cloud of polenta.  And, of course, I say cheers and raise a glass to you with a warmly spiced pumpkin ale.

Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Polenta is a rich and delicious dish perfect for warming the heart and soul during cold times.

That, my friends, is what dreams are made of.

UPDATE: Y’all, I have to offer my apologies.  I’m totally fine and nothing bad happened to me.  I thought it was obvious that I was expressing my extreme displeasure with the election and all things political.  I appreciate your support , kindness, and concern.  Tune in next time and we’ll totally talk about Thanksgiving and fun things like beer.

Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Polenta
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Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Polenta

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons butter divided
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 2 1/2 - 3 pounds short ribs
  • 1 -2 cups flour
  • salt and pepper
  • 16 ounces pumpkin ale
  • 12 ounces sliced mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 15 ounce can beef consomme
  • Prepared polenta

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 275
  2. Prepare polenta according to package directions
  3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter into 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven
  4. Add flour to a bowl and generously salt and pepper, stir to combine
  5. Dredge short ribs in flour and brown in Dutch oven in batches, 2-3 minutes each side
  6. Deglaze pan by pouring beer into pan and scrape up brown bits
  7. Return meat to pan, cover, and transfer to oven for 3 - 4 hours
  8. Remove meat from pan and shred from the bones, set aside
  9. In a cast iron skillet melt butter and olive oil over medium heat
  10. Add mushrooms, stir to coat, and leave alone for a few minutes then stir periodically until tender
  11. Sprinkle mushrooms with 1/4 cup flour, stir for about one minute
  12. Add consomme, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until thickened
  13. Add meat and any cooking liquid back into pan and cook until heated through
  14. Serve over polenta and garnish with parsley if desired

NOTES:

  1. I used NoDa Brewing Company’s Gordgeous Pumpkin Ale in this dish, which has cardamom and other spices in it.  If you use a different pumpkin ale, you may want to add some additional seasonings.
  2. If you use the polenta in the tube from the produce section, I won’t judge.  It’s a perfectly fine short cut.
  3. You can cook the short ribs in the beer ahead of time and then just make the polenta and mushroom gravy when ready to serve for an easy weeknight meal.

Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Polenta

Pumpkin Ale Butterscotch Donuts Recipe

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Pumpkin Ale Butterscotch Donuts Recipe

Halloween takes me back to high school.

Pumpkin Ale and Butterscotch Donuts Recipe

I’m not really sure why.  For some reason I always seem to think about my friends, Nick and Alex. They were brothers.  They drove a VW bus and had a cocker spaniel that they took everywhere. The bus was adorned with curtains covered in mushrooms, the license plate was attached wtih a ginormous safety (think diaper) pin, and there was a bumper sticker that said, “Because I’m the Mommy, that’s why.”

I’m sure you can understand why I can’t remember the dog’s name or the color of the bus.

Pumpkin Ale and Butterscotch Donuts Recipe

Where am I going with this?  Beats me.  I was just thinking about Halloween and with that my memory always goes back to a time when things were simple.  Even though at the time it all seemed complicated. Around Halloween, I always think about a fall day when Nick and Alex (and aforementioned cocker spaniel who I cannot remember the name) rolled into my driveway in their VW bus.  They wanted to ride up to the mountains and look at the foliage.  Did I want to go?  Sure!

Pumpkin Ale and Butterscotch Donuts Recipe

Who woudn’t?  We picked up a few friends, a few beverages (yes – the boozy kind even though we were in high school – sorry Mom!), and a pack or two of cigarettes – sorry about that too, Mom.  No worries – I don’t smoke anymore.  Virginia Slims 120’s lost some stock value and I was a lot cooler in 1988.

Pumpkin Ale and Butterscotch Donuts Recipe

I can still remember how colorful the trees looked in the distance.  I feel the breeze ruffle the leaves and blow my hair as I jumped into that VW bus.  I grabbed a smoke and a beer while greeting the dog and I didn’t have a single care in the world.  We were off to the mountains in the way of the young in a cloud of innocence.

Pumpkin Ale and Butterscotch Donuts Recipe

I’ll never forget it.  I’ll always miss it.

Pumpkin Ale and Butterscotch Donuts Recipe
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Pumpkin Ale Butterscotch Donuts Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs room temperature and lightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/4 cup pumpkin ale beer
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Whisk together flour, brown sugar, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice
  3. In another bowl, combine buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, sour cream, and beer
  4. Add wet ingredients to the dry and stir to combine
  5. Coat 2 donut pans with cooking spray
  6. Spoon donut batter into the pans until not quite full
  7. Bake 16 - 18 minutes or until golden brown
  8. Cool in pans on wire rack for 5 - 6 minutes then turn out onto the rack to cool completely
  9. Combine butterscotch chips and heavy cream in a bowl and microwave for 30 second intervals until smooth and combined without lumps stirring in between
  10. Coat donuts with butterscotch by either dunking them in the bowl or spooning it over the tops

NOTES:

  1. Be careful not to burn your fingers when glazing the donuts as ganache will be hot
  2. You will also want to work quickly because ganache will get thick and harden when it cools, but you can reheat it in the microwave for a few seconds at a time until it warms up again
  3. If the donuts stick to the pan, just use a rubber spatula to go around the edges and they’ll release
  4. This recipe made 24 donuts
  5. This recipe contains alcohol and shouldn’t be served to minors

Pumpkin Ale and Butterscotch Donuts Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Baked Donuts with White Chocolate Ganache Recipe

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Pumpkin Spice Baked Donuts with White Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Donuts with Whit Chocolate Ganache Recipe

 

I seriously have a problem with pumpkin.  And donuts.

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Donuts with White Chocolate Ganache Recipe

I have no earthly idea when or how my love affair with pumpkin came about, but for as long as I can remember, it has been one of my absolute favorite flavors – and not just for fall.  I know we’ve talked about this, but don’t judge me.

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Donuts with White Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Moving on.  I’m relieved to say that those of us in the Charlotte area fared pretty well with Hurricane Matthew, unfortunately the eastern part of the great state of North Carolina is still having some trouble with flooding.  When it hit here Saturday, it was pretty much just a big old windy rain storm here.

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Donuts with Whit Chocolate Ganache Recipe

I’m sure you won’t judge me if I tell you I spent the day with friends and family in a bar drinking beer and watching college football.  I can 100% assure you that what I saw of the NC State game was one hot muddy mess and there was a slight delay for lightening.  I’m just glad I don’t have to do that laundry. Help me, Rhonda.

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Donuts with Whit Chocolate Ganache Recipe

I know if may come as a great shock to find out that we went to a brewery for some lunch and beer on Sunday.  All I can say is that there was much beer to be had this weekend.  The food was good too!

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Donuts with Whit Chocolate Ganache Recipe

We spent Monday watching the Panthers lose.  There was a lot of profanity up in here.  That’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Donuts with Whit Chocolate Ganache Recipe

So let’s forget all about any of our teams that didn’t fare so well this weekend and stuff our faces with some pumpkin spiced donuts covered in white chocolate ganache.

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Donuts with Whit Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Ya dig?

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Donuts with Whit Chocolate Ganache Recipe
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Pumpkin Spice Baked Donuts with White Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups cake flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs at room temperature and lightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup Greek yogurt plain
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup pumpkin
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat over to 350
  2. Whisk together cake flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, yogurt, buttermilk, and pumpkin
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir to combine
  5. Coat 2 donut pans with cooking spray
  6. Fill the donut pans with batter almost all the way to the top
  7. Bake 15 - 17 minutes
  8. Cool in pans on wire rack 5 - 7 minutes, then turn out of pan and cool completely
  9. Combine white chocolate chips and heavy cream and microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until combined and no lumps
  10. Dunk each donut in the white chocolate ganache or use a spoon to pour over tops

NOTES:

  1. Be careful not to burn your fingers when glazing the donuts as ganache will be hot
  2. You will also want to work quickly because ganache will get thick and harden when it cools, but you can reheat it in the microwave for a few seconds at a time until it warms up again
  3. If the donuts stick to the pan, just use a rubber spatula to go around the edges and they’ll release
  4. This recipe made 24 donuts
  5. This recipe contains alcohol and shouldn’t be served to minors

Pumpkin Spice Baked Donuts with White Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

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Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

Heeeeyyyyyy, pumpkin!  Where in tarnation have you been hiding?  Well, the truth of the pumpkin matter is that I’m a closet pumpkin eater in all socially unacceptable seasons.  We don’t just save it for fall and holidays.  Pumpkin in August?  Why, yes, I believe I will.  Pumpkin pie in July?  Sign me up. Pumpkin cookies in February?  Be mine.

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

You get the picture.  Don’t judge me.

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

This pumpkin spice whoopie pie recipe is a regular around these parts.  I originally made and posted them a couple of years ago.  In AUGUST!  OMG!  Scandalous!

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

What was I thinking?  I was brand new to blogging then and no one was reading this here website except Lisa, Jennifer, and my mom.  They don’t judge.  Well, Jennifer totally judges.  If there were any negative comments I either didn’t care or forgot about them.

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

The point is that I did make and publish this recipe a couple of years ago, but I upgraded my website and had a new one designed.  I also upgraded my hosting company, which was an excellent idea.  Anyhoo, when my original content got transferred to my new site and new host, not all of the photos survived the trip.  The Pumpkin Whoopie Pie was one that didn’t make it.

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

So, we (and as usual, when I say we I really mean me) decided to have a do-over.

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

And here we are with some new and delicious pumpkin spice whoopie pies.  I just have to tell you that they are just as delicious in August as they are in October!  Happy Pumpkin Season!

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe
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Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Cakes

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 can pumpkin 15 ounce
  • 1 stick butter
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

For the Filling

  • 1 8 oz block of cream cheese softened
  • 1 stick butter softened
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

For the Pumpkin Cakes

  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Beat together sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin, and butter
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice
  4. Add dry ingredients to the wet and stir to combine
  5. Coat whoopie pie pan with cooking spray
  6. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the batter into each of the whoopie pie pan cups
  7. Bake 15 - 17 minutes or until done in the middle and golden brown
  8. Cool completely on a wire rack

For the Filling

  1. Add cream cheese and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until fluffy and combined
  2. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar and beat slowly at first, then increase speed until combined and smooth

For the Assembly

  1. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of filling on to the flat side of one of the pumpkin cakes then top with the flat side facing filling of another pumpkin cake, repeat

NOTES: 

  1. I used my trusty, but not rusty whoopie pie pan for this recipe.  If you don’t have one, you can either buy one here or just use a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a slip mat.  Just be sure that you use a measuring spoon or something to make them all even sizes or you’ll have some clumsy looking whoopies.  They’ll still be delicious though. And this is not a sponsored or affiliate post, I just love my whoopie pie pan.
  2. I like to chill my cream cheese frosting a little bit after making it to firm it up a bit.
  3. These can either be served immediately or made ahead of time – just refrigerate until about 15 minutes before serving.

 

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies Recipe

Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Are y’all on sugar overload yet from all these cookies for The Sweetest Season Sweetest Cookie Giveaway?  There’s still time to enter and be sure to check out all the other fantastic recipes by searching  #sweetestseasoncookies or clicking on the links in the highlighted post link two lines above.  I did some serious face plants after seeing some of the epic creativity my friends have posted!

 

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I think this may be my last post for the event because I am on sugar overload and 4 days in a row is totally a lot for me!  Seriously, dudes.  I have 4 dogs, a social life, a full time job, and this here website. I be busy, yo!

 

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So unless I get ambitious, the moon is in it’s seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars, my kitchen cleans itself, and the pulled muscle from my bum to my knee cures itself, this is my last post for the week of this fun The Sweetest Season event.

 

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But not to worry, if you are into my ramblings and shenanigans I’ll be here next week.  I found something I was looking for, so I hope to make it over the weekend, not jack it up, and share it with you next week.  Fingers crossed.

 

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Can someone please focus me?  I don’t know what in tarnation happens (I’m totally sure it has nothing to do with booze), but I tend to get lost in my own head.  I mean, can we finally talk about the subject matter of this post?  Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting?  About time.

 

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This is another one of the recipes I hijacked from my gram’s recipe box and has always been my #1 favorite cookie recipe of all time.

 

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It was the first thing I went looking for in this recipe box after my mom gave it to me.  I actually just put the box in a special place in my kitchen and didn’t open it for quite some time, but when I did this pumpkin cookie recipe was what I was looking for.

 

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Clearly this recipe card has been around for quite some time.  I’m fairly certain I’ve said this before, but just to be clear, this is not a accurate reflection of my age.  I’m just sayin’….

 

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When I found this recipe card I felt like I won the lottery because (as you may have seen from my mom’s comments here and there – she goes by Mags 🙂 hi Mom!) my gram probably only wrote down about half of her recipes.  She just put stuff together and made magic.  I’m not sure we will ever figure out her pineapple upside down cake or that dang chocolate cake made with coffee, but I’ll be sure to let you know if we do!

 

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Happy Holidays, friends!

 

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Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Cookies

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1 8 ounce block cream cheese softened
  • 1 stick butter softened
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Instructions

For the Pumpkin Cookies

  1. Mix together sugar, pumpkin, and shortening
  2. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice
  3. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and mix well
  4. Cover and chill overnight
  5. Preheat oven to 350
  6. Use a 1 tablespoon size scoop or two tablespoons to drop on parchment lined baking sheet
  7. Bake 12-15 minutes
  8. Cool on baking pan for a few minutes then transfer to a rack to cool completely

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. Combine cream cheese, butter, confectioners sugar, and vanilla bean paste in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment
  2. Mix on low until combined, then increase speed to medium and mix until smooth
  3. Top each pumpkin cookie with a heaping tablespoon of cream cheese frosting - or as much as desired

Note:  These cookies look like a biscuit and have the texture of a cake.  Top them with tons of cream cheese frosting and you’ll be gobsmacked!

I received free product from Imperial Sugar, Dixie Crystals and Bob’s Red Mill as part of The Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Beer Girl Cooks!

Pumpkin Cheesecake, Bourbon Whipped Cream + GIVEAWAY

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It’s November and the sun has been missing from the south for almost 2 weeks, so we’re just moving on and celebrating the Thanksgiving countdown with a vengence.  We’ve been talking about sides and vegetables and I love them all, but I’m in need of some sunshine and sugar because this time change early darkness business and the constant gloomy doomy rain is an absolute buzzkill.

To be fair, the sun did come out for a bit yesterday.  I felt like a vampire coming out of my cave when the bright light hit my face.  I cowered, cringed, and covered my eyes.  I couldn’t find my sunglasses because it had been so long they ended up in the dark scary place in the bottom of my bag with stale gum and used tissues. Don’t judge me.

 

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So I made you a cheesecake!  A pumpkin one with a bourbon boozy whipped cream and just for kicks and giggles I made a ginger snap crust!  Whaaat?  And this pumpkin cheesecake is not for the faint of heart – it’s like 6 inches tall.  Ok, that may be an exaggeration and it might be closer to 3.74 inches. Either way, it’s a hot mess over the top ginormous pumpkin cheesecake totally appropriate for a holiday party.  DO IT!

 

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And it would hardly be a holiday party without some swag, so a bunch of my blogger buddies and I got together to bring you this giveaway.  Dudes!  It’s a $650 AMAZON GIFT CARD!   Booyah!  Think of all the awesome stuff you can get at Amazon with $650!

 

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We like to have fun on this here website, but on a serious note I’d like to add a reminder that today is Veteran’s Day.  Thank and be thankful for your service members.  And since this is an Amazon giveaway, I’ll let you know in case you didn’t, that if you go in through Smile.Amazon.com, you can choose a charity and Amazon will contribute a portion of the proceeds from your sale to the charity you choose.  Mine is the Wounded Warrior Project.

 

Use the Rafflecopter below the recipe to enter and get a kick start on your holiday shopping!  The giveaway runs for two weeks and ends on November 25 to residents of the US, UK, and Canada. Good luck, y’all! (CLOSED)

 

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Pumpkin Cheesecake with Ginger Snap Crust and Bourbon Whipped Cream

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • about 1/2 box ginger snap cookies
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 stick butter melted

For the Cheesecake

  • 5 8 ounce packages cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 1/4 cup flour sifted
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • 6 eggs at room temperature

Additional Items

  • Heavy duty aluminum foil
  • Spring form pan
  • Large roasting pan
  • Large teapot or measuring cup for boiled water

For the Whipped Cream

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon I used Maker's Mark

Instructions

  1. Wrap 2 sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil tightly around a spring form pan
  2. Using a food processor, pulse gingersnaps until they become fairly fine crumbs
  3. Transfer to a mixing bowl, add sugar and melted butter, and stir to combine and all crumbs are evenly coated
  4. Transfer to the spring form pan, using hands press across bottom and up the sides
  5. Set aside
  6. Add the cream cheese to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment
  7. Beat cream cheese on low until fluffy, 2-3 minutes
  8. Combine brown sugar and confectioner's sugar in a bowl, sift in flour
  9. With the mixer still running on low, add the sugar - flour mix to cream cheese a little at a time
  10. Add vanilla bean paste and pumpkin, scrape down sides if necessary
  11. Add eggs, one at a time, making sure each is incorporated before adding the next
  12. Turn of mixer, remove bowl, and tap on counter several times to remove air pockets, set aside for 20 minutes or so
  13. Preheat oven to 350
  14. Put the prepared spring form in the large roasting pan
  15. Transfer batter to the prepared spring form pan
  16. Boil about 6-8 cups water in a teapot or in the microwave in a measuring cup that can pour safely
  17. Put the pan on the oven rack
  18. Pour boiling water in the roasting pan, halfway up the sides of the spring form pan, careful not to splash the water on the cheesecake (or yourself)
  19. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes
  20. Reduce heat to 325 and bake an additional 60 minutes
  21. Turn off oven, leave door open halfway with the cheesecake still inside for 30 minutes
  22. Remove from oven and cool completely
  23. Refrigerate overnight

For the Whipped Cream

  1. Chill metal bowl and whisk of stand mixer in freezer for 20-30 minutes
  2. Combine cream, sugar, and bourbon in the bowl and attach whisk to stand mixer
  3. Start on low so you don't splash, whip and increase to medium until soft peaks form

 

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Pumpkin Beer Risotto

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Happy Friday, Y’all!  Before we get into all that I have to ramble on about tell you, I have to explain that I’ve got a bit behind on things with this here website – I’m looking at you, Jennifer – after all you are my most loyal stalker friend!

 

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The truth of the matter is we’ve had a bit of family troubles.  Chris’s dad has been in the hospital. He’s a widower and lives alone now.  We’ve spent a lot of time in the evenings driving 45 minutes to his house to take care of things and check the mail, then going 1.5 hours away on the weekends to visit.  The good news is that there is some progress, and hopefully he’ll be home soon.  And I’m kind of exhausted.

My public service announcement here is: please get your estate planning documents in place. That’s it.From your friendly neighborhood attorney.

 

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So, moving on to Pumpkin Beer Risotto!  We are just hours away from Halloween, so pumpkin is required.  However…..

 

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I have to confess and do the FULL DISCLOSURE here…

 

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I actually do not like Halloween.  It’s creepy.  I can’t stand the Monster Mash and scary movies make me suck my thumb and hide under the covers.  Don’t even ask me about that dang clown from Poltergeist. The original one.

 

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Call me a buzz kill or a party pooper, but I’m totally afraid of the dark and I DO NOT like scary stuff. Seriously, that stuff keeps me awake for months!  Sometimes years!  Ok.  We’ll talk about it. Poltergeist clown – I’m so scared of you!  I can’t get out of my bed in the middle of the night without thinking about that murderous clown under the bed.  I used to do a run-fly-jump into the bed when I had to get up in the night.  Chris would fly 2 feet into the air and be all “damn chick!” but now I have a flashlight.  Just like Jennifer’s 8 year old son.  Yay me!

 

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I’ve talked about this ridiculousness before, but it was back when only my mom and Jennifer were reading this here website.  So, y’all probably are not quite as informed as they are about my hot mess issues sensitivities.

 

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Seriously, the only things about Halloween I like are the candy, pumpkins, and Hocus Pocus!  Amuk! Amuk! Amuk!

 

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Pumpkin Beer Risotto

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 shallot diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • 1 12 ounce bottle pumpkin ale - I used Southern Tier Pumpking
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1/2 can 15 ounce can of pure pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup grated parmesan additional for topping

Instructions

  1. Melt butter into olive oil over medium heat
  2. Pour chicken stock into a pot and heat on low, keep warm
  3. Add shallot, cook for 1-2 minutes
  4. Add garlic, cook another 1 minute
  5. Add rice, cook and stir until coated, and cook another 2 minutes
  6. Pour in beer and cook until absorbed, about 1 - 2 - minutes
  7. Add chicken stock 1/2 cup at a time, make sure absorbed before next addition, before last 2 additions, add pumpkin and stir until combined. Keep adding chicken stock until all is absorbed and rice is creamy
  8. Stir in parmesan
  9. Garnish with parmesan

 

Roasted Butternut Squash, Pumpkin, and Carrot Soup

by 32 Comments

Have I ever told you how back in high school a nun almost busted me for smoking behind the school?

 

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Yeah.  I didn’t think so.  Sorry, Mom!  I don’t think I ever told you either!  Ummm…. probably because I valued my life?

 

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True story.  I went to this very small Catholic high school in the middle of nowhere.  Seriously, there was a total of 39 kids in my graduating class. And there wasn’t a lot to do in this little place, so you can imagine how we had to make our own fun.

 

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This little school clearly trusted us too much.  We had a senior lounge down in the basement by the cafeteria.  It had couches, a television, and a coke machine.  We were allowed to hang out there during lunch and study hall.  SENIORS ONLY!  It was totally isolated in the afternoon which just opened the door to teenage shenanigans. We used to sneak out all the time.  Most of us had cars, so we would all jump in someone’s car and take off to scandalous places like Wendy’s, the pizza joint or the corner store. Although the corner store is where we bought our smokes.

 

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Right.  I was confessing about smoking.  So, my friend Mary Beth and I were hanging out in the senior lounge.  And because high school is soooooo dang hard we decided we needed a smoke break.  There wasn’t enough time before our next class to actually get in the car, fire up a couple of Virginia Slims menthol foot-longs, drive around the block, and head back to school.

 

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Well, of course we did the next best thing.  We snuck out the back door of the cafeteria, fired up the foot-longs, leaned our tired selves against the building in our plaid skirts, cardigans, knee socks, and penny loafers, and blew out a plume of smoke in satisfaction.  Ahhhhhh!

Then the door opened.

 

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Fortunately, we had the good sense to be on the side of the door that hid us behind it as it opened. And thank goodness that Sister Celeste was about 100 years old and kind of….well, old?  We saw her black habit peek out the door, sniff the air, give a hmmp, and go back inside.  You can imagine the relief we felt.

 

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Ahhhh.  High school.  There’s just something about the fall, pumpkins and butternuts, football season, and cooler weather that just sends me back in time to the days of innocence (ok not so innocent?) and carefree comfort of having no responsibilities.  The perfect time of year for silly memories and comforting soup.

 

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P.S. Dont’t judge me.  Y’all will be glad to know that I no longer smoke Virginia Slims foot-longs or any other carcinogen.

 

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Soup Draft

Ingredients

  • 2 small pie pumpkins
  • 1 butternut squash
  • 3-4 large carrots
  • 2 onions
  • 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 3-4 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • salt and white pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cups heavy cream plus another 1/4 cup or so for serving
  • pistachios and sour cream to garnish optional

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin Creme Brulee

by 30 Comments

Happy Fall Y’all!

 

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Seriously?  OMG!  My sincerest apologies.  I know how corny that was and I’m pretty sure I saw that phrase painted on a wooden block in a cluttered up dust collector (A.K.A. knick knack) store or maybe on a magnet somewhere.  I just couldn’t help myself because my crazy enthusiasm for the pumpkin makes me kinda bonkers.

Let’s rephrase…..

Happy October!   I just get so totally excited every year in October because it becomes socially acceptable (FINALLY) to cook, bake, and do all things fun with pumpkin!

 

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Now, please don’t misunderstand me here.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE every single thing about pumpkin! I’m completely guilty of baking with it all year long.  In fact, I also sometimes confess publicly to this lawless misconduct and published Pumpkin Whoopie Pies on this here website back in August of 2014.  I also shared a Pumpkin Soup in February of this year.

 

I’m such a rebel.

 

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I have never been a rule follower and I’m socially unacceptable on a disturbingly regular basis.  It was difficult to restrain myself from going rogue and posting pumpkin recipes on the 4th of July, and I had a lot of built up pumpkin neglect frustration, so I needed something ridiculous and epic.

 

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Pumpkin Creme Brulee was how I rolled.

 

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Happy Fall, Y’all! Hehehe

 

 

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Pumpkin Creme Brulee

Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste
  • 1 can pumpkin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 3/4 cups sugar plus a couple of tablespoons more for finishing
  • 8 egg yolks

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300
  2. Heat cream over low heat, add vanilla, pumpkin and spices, bring to simmer, remove from heat and set aside and let cool slightly
  3. Whisk together egg yolks and sugar - it will become a light yellow color
  4. Add 1/2 cup of the cream to eggs, whisking constantly
  5. Continue to add cream 1/2 cup at a time, while whisking constantly
  6. Microwave water in measuring cup to boiling or boil on stove top
  7. Set ramekins in a baking dish, transfer custard to ramekins (I used a large measuring cup for easy pouring), set dish on oven rack, pour water in baking dish halfway up sides of ramekins
  8. Bake at 300 30 - 40 minutes, depending on size of your ramekins
  9. Carefully remove the ramekins (I used a large spatula) and cool completely on a wire rack
  10. Refrigerate overnight
  11. Remove from refrigerator about 30 minutes prior to serving
  12. Just before serving sprinkle evenly with a thin coating of sugar - I used about 1 1/2 tablespoons for each one, but you can make it thicker or thinner if you want
  13. Using a kitchen torch, melt the sugar until it forms a thick crust
  14. Serve immediately

Notes:  The custard mixture made 4 cups of liquid prior to baking.  I only had 4 large shallow ramekins, so I had some leftover and just pour it into pudding cups.  It would have made 6 if I had more ramekins – note to self – buy more ramekins!