Pumpkin Maple Pecan Muffins with a Cream Cheese filling & Crumble Topping

Fall is nearing even though the weather says, "No", but the trees say, "Yes". I wanted a recipe that is not too committed to the Fall flavors but I can adjust as the season changes. I find such adjustment can be made with the spice so I go a little lighter on the Pumpkin Pie spice when the weather is warmer. I hope you enjoy this simple recipe that is my way to start getting in that Autumn mood.

Batter:
15 ounce can of Pumpkin Puree (not the pie mix)
1/2 cup of Brown Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1 tablespoon of Unsalted Butter (melted)
2 tablespoons of Vegetable Oil
1/4 of Maple Syrup
1/2 tablespoon of Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon of Salt
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of Pumpkin Pie Spice (go with how you desire the spice to be)
1 teaspoon of Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon of Baking Soda
1/3 cup of Milk (you can also use Almond Milk, Yogurt, Coconut Milk or a mix like I did. I used whole Milk and Almond milk to make 1/3 of a cup)
1/2 cup toasted Pecan pieces or halves
3/4 cup of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (I used a mix of mini and
normal size)
1 3/4 cup of All-Purpose Flour

Cream Cheese Filling:
8 ounce package of Cream Cheese (softened)
1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1 tablespoon of All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup of Sugar

Crumble top:
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/4 of Old-Fashioned Oats
4 Tablespoons of Salted Butter (melted)

1 Muffin pan that yields 12 muffins/cupcakes

Optional:
12 Pecan Halves (not toasted)
1 tablespoon of Maple Syrup

I preheat my oven to 400 degrees and spray my muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. I use the Pam with Flour to yield the best results.

I start by mixing all my wet ingredients in a bowl. I then drop the ingredients in my mixer's bowl and incorporate for 20 to 30 seconds.



I then add the toasted Pecans and Chocolate chips.



In another bowl, I mix the flour and baking soda and baking powder. On low, I begin to incorporate the dry ingredients with the wet mixture until everything is just mixed.



I take my muffin pan and fill the cups but leaving enough room so I can add the cream cheese filling and topping.



To make the filling, just take all ingredients and mix until incorporated. If the cream cheese is not soft enough, a 10 to 15 second intervals in the microwave will fix that right up.



Add the filling to your muffin batter. You can choose to have a center of cream cheese to your muffin or even a cream cheese top, or get creative and make a marbling. I was in a hurry so I plopped and went with a "at home" look, so the cream cheese stayed where it landed! :)



I then add more of the pumpkin batter to cover the cream cheese.



To make the crumble top, it is as easy as the filling. Incorporate all the dry ingredients and then mix in the butter until you have crumbles. Add the crumble to your muffins.



I added a Pecan half to each muffin to give them that Autumn look. This is optional.

I put the muffin pan in the oven and let it bake at 400 for 15 minutes and then cover with foil and let it bake between 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until a toothpick comes clean. If you notice that 2 muffins come clean when tested but one is not playing nice, sometimes the cream cheese can be deceiving so I always go with the majority rule and pull them out than over bake them. You notice the Pecan may over brown or burn, cover with foil sooner as I know ovens vary.



Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 8 to 10 minutes and I remove them by using a chop stick or toothpick to assist in pulling the muffin out without destroying or knocking off the topping. I then place the muffins on a rack to finish cooling. Have family that is impatient when you bake? You can eat these semi-warm so after 10 to 15 minutes, they can go at them!

Now, you will notice my pecan is shiny and that is because when I remove the muffins from the pan and onto a rack, I then take my finger and softly touch the pecan with maple syrup. Gives the nut flavor and it cools looking pretty.



Options: You can add dried cranberries, raisins, or even substitute the nut for one more to your liking. You don't have to toast the nuts if you are short on time, I just do it because it gives the pecans a better flavor. You could also add butterscotch chips......make it your own as I have no rules!



You will notice you may have 2 to 3 muffin worth of pumpkin batter left and some cream cheese. I believe in not wasting so I take a couple ramekins and created a swirl by using both the batter and filling. Once cooled, you can cover with ganache and again this is even something you can do to make the muffins :) Have fun!

Orgullosa: Pruebalo & te Entcantara Party (Try & You Will Love It) Procter & Gamble event

I was fortunate to be able to share with friends another wonderful party kit, which was supplied by Orgullosa, a Procter & Gamble program. We are a P&G household and supporter because I truly am very happy with how their products perform, plus the company really stands behind their family of brands. This party kit consisted of several items from companies that are part of the P&G family like Gain to CoverGirl. We received everything from laundry related goods to even beauty items so let's get the sharing started.......

Gain Forget Me Not Dryer Bar (http://www.ilovegain.com/)

I have tried the bars before in the dryer and they save time, plus the hunt of finding a used dryer sheet in your laundry. So many times I have slipped on pajamas to find the missing sheet in a pant leg! I also forget and even though I use fabric softener, I like that extra boost a dryer sheet or dryer bar gives my towels and linens. That being said don't think the dryer bars are just limited to the dryer. I have one in my linen closet that keeps my towels and comforters from getting that "cabinet smell", because, let's be honest, you all know what I am talking about. Clean towels and sheets that remain in their place tend to lose their fresh smell with time even though they are clean. This is where the dryer bar saves me from washing what is really clean items. Another use I have found for these bars is the "funky trashcan" problem in the kitchen. Again, stick a dryer bar in the cabinet, as I find sticking one on the lid inconvenient. Your trash will still smell but no one will be the wiser as the dryer bar masks the odor. The third place that gets a dryer bar would be the bathroom......I don't need to explain that one. Let's say the room smells fresher with it :)



Cascade Platinum with Dawn Pacs in Fresh Scent (http://www.cascadeclean.com/us/cascade/)

I had just purchased another "manufacturer recommended" brand that I found on sale but always welcome more of anything that cleans. I use the Cascade rinse agent as I found it lower in cost and better performing than my former brand, so I was curious to see if the Cascade Platinum pacs would outperform my tabs. I had one of those moments where I am glad I stocked up when it was on sale but just found a better product......oops! I love Dawn soap and so many times wish I could use it in my dishwasher without the fear of over-suds or worse, they say to not do it. I think Dawn does what it says and cuts grease so it cleans better and these did. My glasses were cleaner and this is even after "we" (aka Husband) overstuffed the dishwasher! My wonderful Husband must think we have hamsters in there that wear goggles and shower caps, all the while holding little dish-brushes to scrub our plates, because he stacks things in there with little thought on how they will get hit by water and actually be cleaned. It somehow all will work itself out and be clean in the end and only with Cascade Platinum pacs has his logic work. It's nice not to need to inspect before turning on the dishwasher!



CoverGirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast Mascara (http://www.covergirl.com/)

CoverGirl is the brand that last time convinced me that I was wasting money on $20 and $30 plus mascaras. I must admit that when you pay a high price on mascaras, that 3 month period of use you are suppose to have tends to bend a little. You convince yourself that you did not use it that much the first month and really just try to get your money's worth. The part that then gets to me that no matter the formulation, the mascara just starts drying with air exposure and time. I even try not pumping the wand so as to not add more of that dreaded oxygen to it. I stopped being nervous and over cautious about mascara when I stopped paying outrageous price points. We all want the same in the end, pretty lashes and not lashes that look like clumpy spider legs. We want them long but not so fake because we would be wearing fake ones if we wanted that over the top ultra length. I can say that the Clump Crusher is everything I want in a mascara from brush to formula and guess what, I now dispose of my mascara every 3 months or sooner because it does not cause me to go, "ouch" when I do.



Gain Fireworks In-Wash Scent Booster (http://www.ilovegain.com/)

I began to dislike the trend of making my washing chores longer or more complicated until I realized these "magic beads" are helping me in the end. From the gym clothing that made the hamper want to move out, to the yardwork clothing that we best not even speak about, these scent boosters work. You still have to wash the dirty clothes in the same amount of time but it no longer carries that odor that makes you want to separate the wash with BBQ tongs. Sheets to pillow cases just smell fresh and nice. I also feel they are great because whatever you washed with the scent booster, it also aids in making a room smell fresh. My newest non-washer use is adding some to my canister vacuum. I vacuum the entire home and I'm doing a dual job because it makes the house smell magnificent! Thursday a day where I cooked several dishes to have for the rest of the week and also the weekend so the house had that "foodie smell". I vacuumed and...problem solved. Better and cheaper than a plug-in for each room of the house!



Secret Clinical Strength "Stress Response" Deodorant in Serene Citrus Scent (http://www.secret.com/)

Girls sweat and we can call it glowing but a glow should not smell.......well, un-girly! Perfumes are great but there are those days where we move more, do more, and let's face it, worry more. It's nice to not have to worry about one more thing and that is sweaty armpits......sorry, I mean glowing underarms. There are just places I don't want telling on me and I can count on Secret on keeping things on the hush-hush level. The citrus scent is pleasant but not overpowering (no lemon girls here) and it helps control perspiration when you are trying to control everything else like that thing called L-I-F-E ;)



Puffs Facial Tissue in Basic: http://www.puffs.com/puffs-basic

 I always love having these facial tissue boxes in the bathroom but when being economical, you sometimes start skimping on things and this was one of them.  I would strategically place a tissue coming out of the box and warn everyone in the home to not dare touch it because it took me 5 minutes to make it look like I replaced the box.  With Puffs Basic you can have your tissue that people can actually touch and use.  You get a fair price and when on sale with a coupon, well I feel a little crazy for admitting I did the above. Best of all, it works. "Basic", in this case, doesn't mean "cheap-o", even if the price point is. Cool.

Orgullosa Shirts

All my guests also received something that made them, "Oooooooh", and that was these t-shirts. It says in Spanish, "Tengo la falda bien puesta, y tu?" It means I have my skirt well put on, do you? It's a play in words meaning you are prepared and ready for anything, from taking on the everyday tasks to those surprises but with a feminine touch of course. We all have our interpretation of what the saying means to us but in the end it's about being strong! That is what I adore about this program because we can still be girls but when we unite and especially for these events, we share, help, and even laugh about the things that we experience.....the good, the bad, and the not so gorgeous! I know I will be Orgullosa (proud) to be wearing my shirt.



Not required but it's something I do as Orgullosa always includes these conversation starter cards, is I posted them to my guest's party gifts. This time I gave out sour gummy bear containers and a mason jar filled with salt water taffy in several flavors.  P&G also provided us with coupon booklets, pens, notepads, in addition to the products and I encourage you to visit the brand sites as many have money saving coupons on-line. Sign-up to their newsletter also helps in getting coupon alerts to news on the latest items, and even saw loyalty programs.

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We had the party on Labor Day weekend and it was hot, I kept things simple and had a sandwich bar. Guests were able to pick and make their own sandwiches as they desire with how much they like. Some had salads on the side while others had chips but everyone was happy with this event and thank you again Orgullosa and Procter & Gamble for helping me hold this party!



Check out Orgullosa and Connect:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orgullosa


• On the Web: http://www.orgullosa.com/


• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ORGULLOSA


• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/miorgullosa?feature=results_main

I received the above products free of charge from Orgullosa.  I am not obligated in providing a favorable/positive review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the brand(s), which may differ from yours.

Peeled Snacks: Apple Clusters in Cinnamon Crunch

Apple Clusters in Cinnamon Crunch

Peeled Snacks came up with their own version of delicious clusters because we all have had that craving that can only be satisfied by something crunchy. This snack is 0% in fat and preservatives. I love the simplicity of the ingredients, as you have Organic Apples, Organic Apple Juice concentrate, Organic Potato starch and Organic Cinnamon. That is all! No fillers or fats to interrupt that apple munching. Each bag comes with 4 servings, which comes to 1/4 cup for each serving and only 60 calories. That is snacking without the penalty!



Taste and Texture:

Each ball is made up of these little squares that are made from the potato starch (as a binder) and just absorbed the apples and juice, with just a hint of cinnamon. The apple clusters come in Cinnamon and I like from the start when you open the bag, you are not overwhelmed by the spice and the cinnamon is used as it should be, to compliment the apple not drown it. The clusters are shaped into these bite size balls that are just fun to pop in your mouth. The apple flavor is intensely real and there is no "faux" anything in your mouth when you eat these clusters. I could not believe the amount of apple flavor that came from them and it was delicious and balanced well, not super sweet. You get tartness and the crunch imitates well the idea of biting into apple pieces. I liked that the balls were not hard and broke apart with one bite. No oats or grit left behind because again no fillers that get in the way of your snacking.



I would definitely buy these because I found myself popping and indulging in them as I typed this review. Most times I behave and try a product and then type but because these left my hands clean and I craved more, I sort of caught myself going back to the bag several times. The snack is very low in calories for what I now refer to as my simple apple pie bites! As with all Peeled Snacks, the product is USDA Organic, Gluten free and zero grams of fat. You get only 10 grams per serving of sugar and 0% sodium. I can already imagine this being my movie night go to snack and on Saturday these clusters will be saying, "Hello" to my yogurt and I call that having my apple pie a la mode!



Please check out Peeled Snacks and their other Clusters at:

• Available at you favorite retailer, from Amazon.com to Starbuck's, so you can get your Peeled fix at anytime


• Save 10% on your first order if you sign-up for their Newsletter, so you can keep up with Peeled Snacks adventures (also savings); http://peeledsnacks.com/


• The Fruits at Peeled Snacks also tweet, so check them out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeeledSnacks


• Very social fruit and even have a Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/Peeled


• Maybe you are into pictures and Peeled Snacks are not shy, so check them out on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/peeledsnacks/

 

I received the above product free of charge from Peeled Snacks.  I am not obligated in providing a favorable/positive review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the products, which may differ from yours.

Peeled Snacks: Paradise Found Fruit

As a few of you may recall, I tried the Peeled Fruit Mango Snacks and wrote a not too favorable review. I felt bad because going by everything the company advertised, the product was below my expectations and obviously not the common experience, so my guilt made me reach out when I launched my review.

Just like I expected the Mango to taste, is just like how the people at Peeled Snacks treated me, NICE! I received a very kind response and they sent a beautiful array of snacks for me to share with you.

You will notice that Peeled Snacks keep things simple and I like that. The less you mess with my food, the better it will taste to me and I seek these types of foods for my family. These fruits are described as "gently dried", so you don't get that dried fruit like I recall when I was a child, drenched in a sugar bath and gummy. Peeled snacks take a step further and are USDA Organic certified, Non Genetically Modified, All Natural and Gluten Free. You can see why I was lured by Peeled Snacks because the idea of food like this just tends to draw me in!

Let's get started.....



Paradise Found

The Paradise Found features a mix blend of Organic Bananas, Organic Mango and Organic Pineapple. You look at the ingredient list and it matches the contents, just the fruit and NO SUGAR added. You can see by the picture below that the fruit slices and pieces have a pleasant look and resemble exactly what they are with no artificial anything. I call it Naked Fruit!



Taste and Texture: First, you do smell a nice fruity scent that can be described as tropical so it is properly named Paradise. The banana slices are just delicious and not mushy in texture or leathery, just soft and when you chew, the taste does satisfy the craving. Great in yogurt to even cereal. I liked the bananas so much and felt they were better than the dehydrated type you usually find in markets as "cereal toppers", so I was glad with the large amount provided in the mix.

Next comes the Pineapple and one thing that always got to me with Pineapple in this manner, was that because it is a fibrous fruit, when they would dry and sugar them, you got this horrible crystallization crunch that drowned any pineapple that was left from the over-processing. Not with Peeled Snacks! The pineapple tastes and varies just like it does in nature. One bite may be sweeter and the other may have more of the bitter notes and I like that variety in my fruit.

The Mango is much better in this mix and I enjoyed how each fruit tastes like it's own even though they share a bag, they don't blend in flavors. The Mango is peeled pieces and tender when you bite. Sweet and completes the tropical blend perfectly and this is coming from someone who is not a Mango lover but more a liker:)

Stay tuned for my Peeled Snacks Apple Clusters in Cinnamon Crunch coming very soon, plus much more from this great company!

In the meantime please check out Peeled Snacks at:

• Available at you favorite retailer, from Amazon.com to Starbuck's, so you can get your Peeled fix at anytime


• Save 10% on your first order if you sign-up for their Newsletter, so you can keep up with Peeled Snacks adventures (also savings); http://peeledsnacks.com/


• The Fruits at Peeled Snacks also tweet, so check them out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeeledSnacks


• Very social fruit and even have a Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/Peeled


• Maybe you are into pictures and Peeled Snacks are not shy, so check them out on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/peeledsnacks/

I received the above product free of charge from Peeled Snacks.  I am not obligated in providing a favorable/positive review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the products, which may differ from yours.

My Response to Chobani Products and Current Recall/not a Recall Issue

So, Chobani.

No doubt you've all heard about what's going on with their "non-recall" recall. I found out from Hubby last Friday afternoon when he tried to pick up a few Flips for me only to find our local grocer actively pulling all the product from shelves and being warned not to buy it anywhere because Chobani has "recalled all their stuff". Yikes. I quickly contacted Chobani because, not only am I a fan personally, I've endorsed them for years as a quality product. And I had some in the fridge.

Put simply, Chobani's response to this has been an unmitigated disaster from a P.R. standpoint. From deleting or hiding hundreds of Facebook posts addressing this, and asking what's happening, to refusing to acknowledge a recall, to the promise of "replacing product" only to fail to respond, to finally putting out a press release almost a week later...Horrible.

Look, I know that mistakes can happen. I get it. I goof up in the kitchen all the time, and I'm not cranking out millions of pieces of product in multiple flavors and variations and shipping all around the country. But it's how you handle these problems that matters. Instead of getting out in front of this problem, acknowledging the issue and saying "Oops, we goofed!" and saying they'll make it right, they instead denied, denied, denied until they couldn't hide it anymore. Some bean-counting lawyer somewhere probably had "liability" concerns because, hey...Everybody sues nowadays, right? But how this was handled has made me decide Chobani has no place in my kitchen or fridge. I can't endorse a company that acts this way. Hubby had already moved on from Chobani almost a year ago, since he said he noticed a change in quality and consistency. He's a Fage fan, and it looks like I will be too. I liked Chobani's flavors, the variety, the mix-ins. But I don't like and will not support a company that acts as shamefully as Chobani has acted. So we're a Fage house now, and if you have printed out any of my past recipes that used Chobani, bear in mind that I don't recommend using Chobani for anything.