Pumpkin Bacon Sauce

If you are looking for more of a "grown-up" Halloween dinner, this recipe for pumpkin bacon sauce will not disappoint!

Fall=pumpkin everything. That’s a fact. However pumpkin doesn’t always mean sweets like cookies, cakes, and breads (although I love those too!). Pumpkin works just as well in savory dishes! I always make it a point to make a new savory pumpkin recipe every year, and so far, I’ve never been disappointed. So grab some pumpkin and local bacon and head to the kitchen!

 {Pumpkin Bacon Sauce}

 {Serve the sauce over whatever you prefer be it pasta, rice or steamed veggies like cauliflower!}

 {Want a bite?  Head to the kitchen and get cooking!  This was done in under 30 minutes!}

Two years ago:  Lazy Pizza Dough

Pumpkin Bacon Sauce
adapted from Created by Diane

1/2 pound bacon (local), diced
1/2 medium onion (local), diced
4 cloves garlic (local), minced
12 oz tomato sauce
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup broth
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup Greek plain yogurt
Pasta, cooked (rice, steamed cauliflower, etc)

1. Fry bacon until crispy.
2. Turn heat down, and add onions and garlic. 
3. Cook onions and garlic until transparent and fragrant. 
4. Add tomato sauce, pumpkin, broth, nutmeg, and pepper flakes, stirring to combine. 
5. Allow to simmer 10-5 minutes or until thickened. 
6. Turn off heat and add yogurt. 
7. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 
8. Serve over cooked pasta. 

The Hubby loved this! Several co-workers were lucky that I was able to sneak some out of the house! Not a bad word to say about this recipe, and I even brought steamed cauliflower to serve it with at work instead of pasta. Everyone was surprised at how delicious a savory pumpkin recipe can be! Won’t they be even more surprised when I bring a Pumpkin and White Bean Stew for our potluck on Halloween? It’s just as delicious!

Do you use pumpkin for more than just sweets? Comment below with some of your favorite recipes because I am always looking for more ideas (and I don’t think I have all of my pumpkin-eating out of my system)!

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Halloween | Frozen Hand in the Punch

You can't have a Halloween party without red punch and a hand in that punch!  So easy but cool!

 {Frozen Hand in the Punch}

 {Freezing the water in the glove}

 {Set in the freezer, and be careful when peeling the glove off!  Mine broke several times}

 
Frozen Hand in the Punch

NON-latex, powder-free gloves
Rubber bands
Water
Punch

1. Fill each glove with water and tie off with a rubber band.
2. Freeze overnight.
3. Allow the hand to sit out for a few minutes before use so the glove is easier to remove; if you are in a hurry, it can be run under cool tap water.
4. Remove glove.
5. Place hand in punch.  Bonus if a "finger" falls off!

Hopefully these easy recipes gave you some ideas about your Halloween party this year!  Or at least with your family!

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Halloween | Band-Aids

Continuing on with Halloween week...

BAND-AIDS!  Don't these just look gross?!  They were actually delicious and incredibly easy to make.  Plus, the messier you make them, the more gross they look!  Perfect finger food for a Halloween party or after-school kiddo snack!

 {Spidey showing off the KY Proud jelly and band-aids!  I don't know about you, but insects chewed me up this year!  LOTS of band-aids were used!}

 {Band-Aids are actually quite delicious!}

One year ago:  Beer Cheese 

Two years ago:  Roasted Apple Spice Cupcakes

 

Band-Aids

Graham crackers
1-8 oz cream cheese, softened
Red jelly (I used strawberry-rhubarb from the farmer's market)

1. Break each graham cracker into 4 pieces (along the seams)
2. Smear some cream cheese in the center of each small graham cracker square.
3. Dab about 1/4 teaspoon of red jelly onto each cream cheese center.  Bonus if you miss and it falls off!

These would have to be made the day of a party because the graham crackers would get soggy, and then you would have a bloody mess on your floors (see what I did there---LOL).

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Halloween | Mummy Dogs

Welcome to Halloween week here at a girl eats world!  I'll be sharing some incredibly easy Halloween recipes that can be done either for parties or just for some family fun!  All of these recipes are kid friendly!

First up is Mummy Dogs; it's a variation on pigs in a blanket.  Little did I know that The Hubby LOVES pigs in a blanket so this recipe was a big hit.  He also said that the "mummy" theme was cool and any excuse to make more of these was good for him!  (guess I'll have to add it to my arsenal of I-don't-feel-like-cooking-so-here's-something-quick).

 {Mummy Dogs}

 {Nice spread right?}

 

 {This is so easy that the kids can help with this one!}

Mummy Dogs

1 package of 8 hot dogs
1 can crescent roll dough
Mustard (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Open the hot dogs and crescent dough.
3. Unroll the crescent dough into squares (two triangles still held together) and pinch the seams together.  
4. Using a pizza cutter, cut the square into 1/4 inch wide strips (should get about 8 strips).
5. Grab a hot dog and wrap 4 strips haphazardly around the hot dog.
6. Place on baking sheet.
7. Repeat until all hot dogs are mummified.
8. Bake until hot dogs are hot and crescent dough is cooked, about 11 minutes.
9. Using a toothpick and mustard, place "eyes" on the mummies.
10. Serve.

If you use cocktail wieners, just cut the strips in half after you cut them length-wise.  This recipe is really just a guideline so give yourself plenty of everything!  These can also be made a day ahead and popped into the oven right before the party starts!

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