A Pumpkin Weekend/New Recipes!

What a crazy busy exciting weekend we had! I can't believe it's already over!

Went back to one of my fall fave's. Jade is the new black. Loves!

Had some chill time with my man Friday afternoon before we went out on a date. We got caught up on all the Revenge shows and I got some chai tea time in with my new mug I made!

Date night at Ruby Tuesday's. 

Much needed one on one time with some good food.

Then we Redboxed this move. 

Have you seen it? So awesome!

Saturday morning I made some breakfast! A new recipe!

Protein Harvest Pancakes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vanilla protein powder

1/2 low fat greek yogurt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

pinch ground ginger and nutmeg

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 egg whites

1 cup oats

1/2 water

2 packets splenda

2 tbs walnuts

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients together

2. Pour onto skillet and heat on medium-high

3. Top with fruits and syrup. Enjoy!

 Then we headed to the new dog park at the marina with our boy! The dog park there is SO nice! No mud, lots and lots and loooots of room for him to run around. And there was a little water fountain for him! He was beyond pooped after! He napped the rest of the day.

Saturday afternoon we went to the Pumpkin Patch!

So fun! Here's us, our pumpkins we got, and the little corn maze.

Carvings pumpkins! So fun. This was my first time carving a white pumpkin. They are SO thick! 

Of course Jax got a pumpkin. I helped him carve it. :)

Here's the finished products!

Happy Fall, ya'll!

Come on. What else would you expect me to turn a white pumpkin into? The Cinderella Carriage!

Brandon made Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas. His pride and joy. It looks so awesome! And yep, there's Jaxon's little paw pumpkin!

Saturday night for dinner I made a new meal that was Kashi microwave bag inspired!

Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

1 box penne pasta

1 can artichokes

1 bag baby spinach

1 red pepper

1/2 onion {chopped}

3 cubed chicken breasts

1 can cannellini beans

1 jar alfredo

Directions:

1. Boil pasta. Boil cubed chicken. Boil spinach and artichokes.

2. Chop red pepper and onion. Place on backing sheet. Cover with olive oil and garlic powder. Broil 5 minutes.

3. When everything is done boiling combine all ingredients in a pan and stir. Let sit on medium 5 minutes.

4. Pour into casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Sunday morning we were off to the Happiest 5K on the Planet... The Color Run! But, I'll blog about that tomorrow...

Sunday night we went to mom and dad's. Check out this meal. 

Oh yeah! Love my southern roots.

 While waiting for the feast to cook Brandon and I did some baking!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Ingredients:

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups solid pack pumpkin puree

2 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 tbls ground cinnamon

1/2 tbls ground ginger

1/2 tbsl ground cloves

{Icing...}

1 egg white

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups confectioners' sugar

3/4 cup shortening

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets.

2. Combine the oil and brown sugar. Min in the pumpkin, eggs, beating well. Add the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, 1 tsp vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Mix well.

3. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons onto the baking sheets. Bake for 10-20 minutes. Let cookies cool before making the sandwiches.

4. To make Whoopie Pie Filling: Beat egg white and mix with the milk, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1 cup of confectioners sugar. Mix well then beat in the shortening and remaining cup of confectioners sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.

We ate a few of those. Then we might of might not have went to get a DQ Blizzard of the month. Which just so happened to be Pumpkin Pie. HELLO FATTY! That's our name, don't wear it out! ;)