Bringing back the family dinner with simple recipes using real ingredients, that you will actually make.
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Cooking With Courtney
Friday, September 25, 2026
Smashing Pumpkin Recipes 2
Smashing Pumpkin Recipes
2. Add one egg and 1 tsp vanilla and mix again
3. Sift in 2 cup flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, and 1/4 tsp ginger and mix a final time
4. Spoon cookies onto a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 min.
5. For the frosting, melt 3 Tbsp butter in a sauce pan, add 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup milk, stir until sugar is dissolved.
6. Place in your mixing bowl and add 1 tsp vanilla and about 3 cups of powdered sugar, mix until smooth, add a couple more tablespoons of milk to get the right glossy texture.
Frost cookies and enjoy!
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

1. In a mixing bowl place 1 can of pumpkin, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup softened butter 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, and 4 eggs and mix
2. Add 3 cup flour, 2 Tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon and mix again
3. Peel, core and dice 2 tart apples and fold into the batter
4. spray loaf pans and evenly divide the batter between them.
5. To make streusel topping in a bowl combine 2 Tbsp flour, 1/2 cup white sugar, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, and 2 tbsp softened butter. Mix with a fork until crumbly. Spread over each loaf.
6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 min (until a toothpick comes out clean) up to 1 hour for large loaves
Makes 8 mini loaves for 2 large loaves.
1. Pop 1/2 cup popcorn kernels or use a bag of microwave popcorn.2. While it is still hot pour into a paper bag with 1/2 cup pumpkin chips and shake, shake, shake. (if the pumpkin chips aren't melting, you can microwave the paper bag for a 20 or so sec until they melt)
3. rip open the bag and allow the pumpkin to cool and harden a bit and serve.

1. In a blender pour 3 cup apple cider, 1 - 6 oz can pineapple juice, 1 cup pumpkin, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice and 1 cup orange juice (you can sweeten with some agave nectar or honey)
2. Blend for 30 sec.
3. Store in a pitcher in the fridge. The pumpkin will settle to the bottom so stir before serving.
1. In a mixer place 1 1/2 cup pumpkin, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar and mix2. Then add 1 egg and 1/2 tsp vanilla and mix again
3. Sift in 1 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice and mix a final time
4. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and put batter into a prepare piping bag
5. Pipe out an even number of cookies (for sandwiches) and bake at 350 for 10 min. Allow to cool completely.
6. For frosting place in a mixing bowl 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 oz softened cream cheese, 3 tbsp softened butter and 1/2 tsp vanilla. mix until smooth
7. place frosting in anther prepared piping bag and place a dollop of frosting on 1/2 of the cookies. Top with other cookie to make the whoopie pies. Make about 3 dozen mini pies.
Store in the fridge in an air tight container with parchment paper as a liner for layers.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Fall Flavored Sourdough
Monday, August 31, 2026
Fall Chex Mix
This is a favorite Fall tradition with my kids and each year it's slightly different depending on what we find at the store
Basic Chex Mix Recipe
- Melt 1 stick of butter in the microwave and add 2/3 cup Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder (if you like a stronger flavor your can add 2 tsp of onion and garlic powder), stir to combine.
- In a very large bowl add 1 box of the corn chex, 1 box of rice chex, 1 box of golden grahams, 1 bag soup crackers, 1 bag mini pretzels, 1 container pumpkin seeds. Stir to mix up
- Pour the sauce over the crackers and stir to evenly coat (I usually have to do this in 2 bowls because I don't have 1 bowl that is big enough to hold it all)
- Pour out on 2 baking sheets and bake in a 325 degree oven for 25 (stirring every 8 min to prevent burning
- Turn out on a paper sack and let cool
- Add the fall fixings and stir to mix.
- Store in zip lock bags or air tight containers
- Caramel corn
- Dried apples
- Candy Corns
- Reese's Pieces
- Honey Roasted peanuts
- Caramel bits
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Apple of My Eye - Apple Recipes
3. Boil until soft (about 20-30 min) Stirring to make sure all the apples get cooked.
4. Puree apples in a food processor and put back in the pot.
5. Add 1/2 cup sugar (1/4 cup brown, 1/4 cup white) 1 tsp butter and a pinch of salt, stir .
6. Taste and make adjustments (ex. more sugar, more cider)
Store in refrigerator or can for later. (See the "I Think I Can, Canning" episode for canning instructions)
2. Add 2 cups of Orange Juice, 1 can crushed pineapple, pinch of ground cloves, 1 cinnamon stick (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon)
3. Boil until soft (about 20-30 min) Stirring to make sure all the apples get cooked. (Make sure to remove the cinnamon stick)
4. Puree apples in a food processor and put back in the pot.
5. Add 1/2 cup sugar (1/4 cup brown, 1/4 cup white) 1 tsp butter and a pinch of salt, stir .
6. Taste and make adjustments (ex. more sugar, more cider)
Store in refrigerator or can for later. (See the "I Think I Can, Canning" episode for canning instructions)
2. Add 2 cups apple cider and boil until soft (about 20-30 min) Stirring to make sure all the apples get cooked.
3. Puree apples in a food processor and put back in the pot.
4. Add 2 cups of orange juice, a pinch of allspice, a pinch of cinnamon and stir
5. Cover and Bring back to a boil, cook until the mixture is thick and a dark brown color. Stir often to prevent burning. You know it is done when the butter sits on the back of a wooden spoon without running off the sides.
Store in refrigerator or can for later. (See the "I Think I Can, Canning" episode for canning instructions)
2. Deep fry until golden brown
3. Roll in cinnamon/sugar
- Preheat oven to 400
- Combine sugar, apples, flour and spices in a bowl
- Pour into bottom crust
- Dot with butter
- Add top crust
- Bake 40-50 min
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Creamy Shrimp Pasta
This one is super easy and super delicious!!
Monday, August 10, 2026
That's A Wrap
4 Easy and Delicious Wrap Recipes for a quick meal.
1. Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Wrap
Includes: Large flour tortilla, ranch dressing, diced chicken, bacon bits, tomato, cheese, lettuce
2. Subway Wrap
Includes: Large flour tortilla, spicy brown mustard, mayo, turkey, lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickle, cucumber, red wine vinegar
3. The Club Wrap
Includes: Large flour tortilla, mayo, ham, turkey, cheese, tomato, lettuce, bacon bits
4. Bbq Ranch Wrap
Includes: Large flour tortilla, bbq sauce, ranch, diced chicken, cheese, crunchy onions, bacon bits, lettuce








