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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Top 10 Must-Haves to Get Your Pumpkin Fix

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Fall (or autumn as I prefer to call it), is definitely upon us.

At least the calendar says so.
While here in Texas Mother Nature is taking her time to give us a little fall weather, the grocery stores have definitely served up a thousand ways for you to taste the official flavor of fall, pumpkin.

Probably one of the most pinned or hashtagged items on social media right now, pumpkin has replaced apple as the official flavor of the season, at least according to BusinessWeek – and I couldn’t be happier.


So if your Starbucks #PumpkinSpiceLatte isn’t enough to keep your tastebuds satiated, here are just a few of the items I picked up this week at Walgreens, Walmart and Tom Thumb.

Top 10 Pumpkin Must-Haves

1. Duncan Hines Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes: Comes with its own pumpkin spice icing!

2. Nestle Coffee Mate Pumpkin Spice: It’s not just for coffee; try this for making your french toast!

3. Kellogg’s Pop Tarts Pumpkin Spice: In less than two minutes you can have a taste of something like pumpkin pie!

4. Jello Instant Pudding Mix Pumpkin Spice: I’m thinking there’s going to be something delicious made with this soon!

5. Yoplait Light Pumpkin Spice Yogurt: Some people love it, some people hate it. You decide

6. Betty Crocker Pumpkin Cookie Mix: Need pumpkin stat? Then cook these up with a cream cheese icing for that almost-homemade cookie smell throughout the house.

7. Krusteaz Pumpkin Pie Bar: I want to eat these now – especially since they have a Gingerbread crust. It’s like heaven in a bar.

8. Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies: How could these be bad? Pumpkin + Cheesecake = happy tastebuds.

9. Kraft Jet-Puffed Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows: Not only are they pumpkin flavored, but pumpkin-shapped too. We use them for s’mores and fell in love.

10. Pumpkin Candy: Every candy has made a version of pumpkin-something shaped or flavored. The highly coveted and posted Pumpkin Spice M&Ms couldn’t even be found, but Hershey’s Kisses and Candy Corn have both turned into pumpkins this season. And if you are looking to find more pumpkin, check out McDonald’s, Einstein Bros., Seattle’s Best and Dunkin Donuts for more pumpkin, drive-thru style.

Join me in all kinds of PUMPKIN FUN on my Pinterest!

Satisfy Your Craving for Pumpkin without the Calories

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Satisfy Your Craving for Pumpkin without the calories! It’s possible with these easy but delicious recipes full of pumpkin flavor, but not pumpkin calories! 

So today to kick off my favorite season, we whipped up two delicious recipes that can help satisfy that pumpkin kick you are on (and everyone else on Facebook and Pinterest) on KTXD The Broadcast this morning. 

Did you see what I forgot to put in that shake? That’s right. The banana. Very fitting for my slip-up! But when you are doing live TV, you just smile and move on! Watch it again and see if you see my reaction when I realize I forgot!

 Did you also see that adorable chalkboard pumpkin on the table with the TV show name on it? My friend Shannon at MilkandCuddles.com made it, and it fit perfectly into the show! THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO USE IT! 

Anyhow, I’ve included the recipes here for the two recipes I made (although they are so super easy you really don’t need them!) 

 PUMPKIN BREAKFAST SHAKE


(Makes 2)

 Ingredients
1 banana
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup milk
4 Tablespoons honey (or 2 Tablespoons brown sugar)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2-3 cups ice (depending on how thick you want your shake)
whipped cream granola for garnish

 Instructions
Place all ingredients except whipped cream and granola in a blender and blend until smooth.
Top with whipped cream and granola.

 PUMPKIN DIP

 Ingredients
1 tub Cool Whip (Use this version for those watching calories) 
1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
1 can pure pumpkin (not pie filling, the real deal!) 
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (homemade version or use this version.)

Instructions
Mix above ingredients and serve with graham cracker sticks, apple wedges, or ginger snaps (yes, the best gingersnaps I always suggest are these…but fruit is an excellent option for a healthier version.) 

Are you looking for more pumpkin flavors? Then check out my PUMPKIN PINTEREST board for all kinds of yummy things (both healthy and not-so-healthy!) 

Get Your Pumpkin Fix: Celebrate Fall with Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Food Fridays

I love autumn in Texas (yes, I did make a funny there). It only lasts for two weeks with our crazy weather, so I intend to suck the life of every second of it. That means breaking out the fall wreath, painting my pumpkin (carving is way too messy), burning tons of candles with a baked something smell and baking up these perfect pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. They’re easy to make, which is why my friend who gave me the recipe makes them. That and they taste delish!


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Makes 3 dozens)
Ingredients
1 cup pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (can use 1/2 cup chopped nuts instead of 1/2 cup chocolate chips if desired)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, pumpkin and vanilla.
Mix and sift flour, baking powder, soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Add chocolate chips (and nuts if desired.)
Mix thoroughly but don’t over mix.
Drop by teaspoons onto well-greased cooking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes until lightly browned.
Remove from cookie sheet while still warm.
Cook on rack.
Enjoy the perfect taste of pumpkin and chocolate.

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