Butternut Squash Blondies

With Thanksgiving coming up, I have been on the lookout for fun recipes to celebrate fall flavors.  When I came across the idea for Butternut Squash Blondies, I just couldn't resist! I love when recipes are unexpected and exciting and this was perfect! I adapted it slightly from Food Plus Words and the result was amazing! I knew I was going to like it since I adore butternut squash, but even I was surprised at how much I loved it.  I roasted by own butternut squash to make the puree and then got to work on the blondies.  I can't wait to make this again and share it with my family for Thanksgiving!

Butternut Squash Blondies 

Ingredients:
Roasted Butternut Squash Puree:
1 butternut squash
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 tbsp brown sugar
Blondies:
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp (heaping) cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 tbsp brown butter, cooled
1 1/2 cups butternut squash puree
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup mixed chocolate chips (I did white chocolate, milk chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate)
1 cup dried cranberries

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 400.
2. Prepare your butternut squash by peeling it, taking out the seeds, and then cutting it into 1/2 inch cubes.
3.  Toss the chopped squash in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and brown sugar.  Spread the squash out on a baking sheet in a single layer and place in the oven for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes, stir the squash and roast for another 15.  After 15, stir again, and leave in for a final 15 minutes.
4.  Place the roasted squash in a bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher.  Let cool.  You can do this ahead of time and place in the fridge for a few days, or you can let it cool and use immediately.
5. Reduce the heat of the oven to 350.
6.  In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
7.  In a large bowl, beat the brown sugar and eggs until pale in color.  Beat in the brown butter, squash, vanilla, and salt until well combined.  Switch to a spatula and fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.  Stir in the chocolate chips and cranberries.
8. In a lightly greased 13 by 9 inch baking dish, pour the batter.  Bake the blondies for about 30 minutes or until sides are lightly browned and the middle is set.  Let cool.

Enjoy :)

Caramel Apples

The Little Sisters of Delta Theta Sigma are some of my favorite people on this campus.  I love this organization and I love all the great ladies I have met in this group.  This is my last semester being "active" with the group because of my student teaching in the Spring.  I am sad to be almost done with these girls, but I have decided to go out with a bang.

 This semester, I am Sister RA (where I make sure that people are feeling okay and helping out anyone who is going through any sort of hard times), I am Academic Chair (I reserve study rooms once a week and make sure that there are plenty of yummy baked goods for people to snack on as they study), and for the first time, I ran for Fundraising Chair.  I was really nervous about Fundraising Chair because it was something new and something I was not so sure I would be good at.  However, I have done my best to be creative and get us involved in various fundraisers to help support our group.  First we had a Cup Night, at a local bar/restaurant.  This helped to get us over $300!  I was so surprised at how successful it was and it gave me a lot of confidence that I could do a good job as Fundraising Chair.  Then, I wanted to do something that really reflected some of my strengths   So, we did a bake sale! And, not just any bake sale, but we made and decorated caramel apples and then sold them! It was great.  People loved the caramel apples and many people even gave us extra donations! Making and selling the apples was also a really fun way to bring the girls together!

Caramel Apples

Ingredients:
8 bags caramels
40 medium granny smith apples
peanuts, chopped
pecans, chopped
mini M&Ms
oreos, crumbled
reeses, chopped
sticks
sandwich bags

Directions:
1. Melt the caramels and 6-8 tbsb of water in a crockpot on medium until melted.
2.  Stick the sticks into the apples.  Dip them in the crockpot and then let the caramel drip off for a few seconds.  Then, take a knife and scrape off the bottom of the apple.  Then place on wax paper if leaving plain, or dip in your toppings.  This allows the caramel to form an even layer and not pool at the bottom.
3.  If using toppings, roll the dipped apple in the toppings of your choice and then place in the plastic bags to wrap up.

Enjoy :)
 

Foodie Friends Friday Thanksgiving Party

For this Foodie Friends Friday, come link up some of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes! This is going to be such a great way to share good ideas, plus you have the chance to win one of three prizes from three different sponsors! I'm linking up my favorite Pumpkin Pie with Gingersnap Crust , a great Butternut Squash Pie and my favorite Carrot dish.

Last week, two lucky winners won great items from our sponsors, Home Matters First and Adorned Well.

And here are the winner's from last week's party!

Most Votes:

1. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

2. How to Can Apples

3. Pumpkin Pie Martini

Most Clicked:

1. Cabbage Rolls Redone

2. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

3. Veggie'd Meatloaf

This week is sponsored by ArtisEverything, KraftiesbyKasey, and Sageandkai.  You can win a coaster set, a Thanksgiving plaque, or a table runner.  All perfect for Thanksgiving!

But first, here are this week's co-hosts:

Foodie Friends Friday http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com

Tracy at Busy Vegetarian Mom http://www.busyvegetarianmom.com

Robyn's View http://www.robynsviewathome.blogspot.com

Marlys at This and That  http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com/

Lois at  Walking on Sunshine http://wifeofthecolonel.blogspot.com/

Lindsey at Family Food Finds  http://www.familyfoodfinds.com

Michelle at  From Calculus to Cupcakes http://www.fromcalculustocupcakes.com

Cynthia at Feeding Big  http://www.feedingbig.blogspot.com

Jodie at Binomial Baker http://www.binomialbaker.blogspot.com

R Dawn at Spatulas on Parade http://www.spatulasonparade.blogspot.com

Angie at A lil Country Sugar http://www.alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com

Jutta at HungryLittleGirl http://www.hungrylittlegirl.com/

Ericka at Chef PickyKid and Me http://www.chefpickykid.com

Kelly at http://www.adornedwell.blogspot.com/

Cindy at Cindy's Recipes and Writings: : http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Baked Whole Wheat Apple Cider Donuts

Today is election day and it is also the first election that I have voted in! This is all very exciting and it is really fun to be on a college campus.  Also, Madison is a great place to witness politics in action.  Not only is it the state capitol, but it is also a place filled with many different people and with many different views.

Now, I am sitting here, writing this post, because I just can't wait to share this fun recipe and I am too anxious just watching the election results roll in.  This is the most invested in an election I have ever been.  It has been a great learning experience for me and, as my teaching career takes off, I can't wait to become more knowledgeable about government and politics in the future!

I know that politics can be stressful.  Just this night is crazy exciting.  So, grab one of these awesome donuts and a nice cup of warm apple cider.  Curl up in front of the TV and try to relax with all this crazy election stuff going on. Or, bake in the morning to celebrate or comfort yourself with...whatever you do just enjoy these great mini donuts!

Baked Whole Wheat Apple Cider Donuts (adapted from TheKitchn)
makes 48 mini donuts

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup honey (I used some honey and some agave nectar)
1/3 cup apple cider
1/3 cup non-fat greek yogurt (I used Chobani)
2 tbsp canola oil
1 apple, peeled and chopped (I used a large granny smith apple)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease a mini donut pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. In a large bowl, beat the egg, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, honey, apple cider, greek yogurt, and canola oil.  Mix until well combined.  Stir in the dry ingredients until just combined.
4.  Fill the donut pan about 3/4 full with the batter and then place pieces of apple on top.
5.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Continue until you use up all your batter.  Let cool and dust with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or just enjoy plain!

Enjoy :)