What a way to welcome Autumn! Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins!

Ok, so I have been putting off taking care of the last 2 cooking pumpkins from my garden. I finally got them cut in half and roasted before bed a couple days ago. Today seems like a good day to send them for a whirl in the food processor and get them bagged up for the freezer.

This is what I made with the last cup of puree!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Makes approximately 36

2 Cups All Purpose Flour

2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

1 Cup Sugar

2 Tbsp Baking Powder

1 tsp salt (Ooops! I think I put 2 in)

1 tsp Cinnamon or more to taste

2 eggs

1&1/2 Cups Milk

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

2 Tbsp Yogurt

1&1/2 Cups Pumpkin puree

4 oz Cream Cheese in 1/4-1/2 inch cubes room temperature

Mix pumpkin puree and cream cheese in small bowl allowing them to half cream together and set aside. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl leaving a well in the center. Combine wet ingredients in bowl mixing together well. Add wet to dry and quick mix, lumps are ok in muffin mixtures. Add in the pumpkin and cream cheese and stir together.

Portion into muffin pans cooking 18-20 minutes at 400*.

The teens walked in the door a few minutes after the first batch came out. They loved these though they both agreed with me that a bit more pumpkin, cinnamon and maybe some clove as well.

Breakfast Burritos for the Freezer

When I do this I buy most of my ingredients from Costco because store prices here are crazy on tortillas. For less than $30 I have enough materials to make at least 28 burritos (or more) with plenty left overs of cheese, potato & eggs for other things.

-About 12 potatoes cubed and fried (8-10 cups) and seasoned with Johnny's Seasoning Salt ($1.99 at the grocery store)
-1 Costco (3lb) sized log of Jimmy Dean sausage cooked OR a couple packages of bacon baked in the oven ($6.39)
-28 eggs scrambled with milk (I buy the 5 doz pack for less than $5)
-tortillas ($3.99 for 30)
-shredded cheese (LARGE package $10)

Combine in a very large bowl to help evenly distribute ingredients. Warm tortillas to make pliable in a lidded pan with water and a cooling rack on top one at a time. Warm one while wrapping one. Scoop of filling and add some cheese, wrap, put in a sandwich bag.

Cool in fridge then freeze.

Remove plastic wrapper and microwave 1-1/2 minutes on one side, flip and do another 30-60 seconds.

Homemade Laundry Soap

This is the recipe I have been using for a couple years now. Cleans well, inexpensive and VERY easy to make!

This makes a double batch. Just over 3 gallons.

1 Bar of grated "laundry" soap like Fels Naptha or Zote

2 Cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

2 Cups Borax

Heat 1-1/2 Gallons of water on the stove. Melt grated soap. Lower temperature and add Washing Soda & Borax. Stir to dissolve.

In a large bucket add another 2-1/2 Gallons of hot/warm water. Add soap mixture and stir well. Let cook, stirring occasionally and it will gel.

Stir and break up gel when cool and funnel into jugs. Leave a bit of room to shake before use.