My Famous Pumpkin Roll

Two times every year I receive requests to make my pumpkin roll, the weekend of my BIL & FIL birthday dinner and Thanksgiving. I am not a pumpkin person, can't stand it actually, except for pumpkin roll. The sweetness of the filling makes up for the pumpkin. 

For the cake:

3/4 C. Flour

1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/4 Tsp Salt

3 Lrg. Eggs

1 Cup Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla

2/3 C. Pumpkin Puree

For the filling: 

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened

6 Tbsp Butter, Softened

1 Cup Powdered Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla

1/4 Cup Pecans, Chopped

Extra powdered sugar for dusting of towel & cake once finished

Cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line a pan with wax paper and then lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pie spice, and salt. Mix and set aside.

In another bowl beat the sugar and eggs until smooth. Add the pumpkin and vanilla until combined.

Finally add the dry ingredients until the batter forms. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth until there is an even layer.

Bake for 13-15 minutes.

Immediately invert the cake onto a towel that is sprinkled with powdered sugar. Roll up the cake and towel together. Cool completely.

Filling:

While the cake is cooling in the towel start the filling. 

Combine the cream cheese and butter until smooth. 

Beat in the vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. 

Once the cake is cooled, unroll it and remove it from the towel onto a clean surface. 

Spread the frosting over the cake and sprinkle the chopped pecans over top, now re-roll the cake. 

Wrap the pumpkin roll in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour before cutting. 

Easy Garlic Knots

1/4 Cup Butter, Melted

3/4 Tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 Tsp Dried Oregano

1/2 Tsp Dried Parsley Flakes

1/4 Tsp Salt

1 Tube of Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and lightly oil a cookie sheet.

In a small bowl combine the butter, garlic, oregano, parsley, and salt.

Halve each of the biscuits, making 16 pieces. Roll out each piece into 5in ropes and tie into a knot, tucking the ends under. 

Place knots onto prepared baking sheet and brush on half of the butter mixture. 

Place into oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. 

When done, remove from oven and brush with the rest of the butter mixture. 

Tips To Produce More Breast Milk

For a lot of ladies being able to produce more breast milk is mainly mind over matter. If you have faith, are confidant, and relaxed you will be able to produce more. Unlike those mom's I just mentioned others just aren't able to produce and need a little help (nothing wrong with that!).

Tips To Produce More Breast Milk

1. Nurse, Nurse, Nurse!

Infants won't overeat when they breastfeed. It's a supply & demand process. If baby is hungry or shows signs of hunger feed him/her! An infants suck is stronger then a pumps suck, they will have a better chance pulling more milk then a pump.

2. Pump

Pumping before or after a nursing session will help produce more milk as well. Just be careful not to trick your body into over supply. 

3. Relax

Make sure the environment you are in is relaxing. Infants can detect stress & will become stressed themselves. If you have other children it may be difficult but try to give them a toy to play with or something to distract them. 

4. Lactation Cookies

A recipe such as these are yummy! Eating these cookies give you the nutrition you need to support your supply. It's recommended to eat one or two cookies a day.

5. Tea

Milkmaid Tea like this is a great way to increase supply. I find that a lot of the milkmaid tea's have horrible flavor but this brand is delicious. 

7. Diet

Adding 500 calories to your diet is recommended for breastfeeding mothers. Eating healthy won't only help your supply but it will make you feel better as well! 

8. Herbs

Fenugreek is always a GREAT way to increase supply, 2 tablets three times a day. Beware though, it does transfer into your milk and often gives infants gas. So if you start taking this and baby becomes restless and gassy this may be why.

Added by the readers:

9. Water
Keeping hydrated is a great way to keep milk production up. Drink, drink, drink!

10. Skin to Skin Contact

Banana Bread

Ingredients

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter, Softened

2 Eggs

1 Cup Mashed Rip Banana's

1/3 Cup Milk

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

2 Cups Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease the bottom of a 9x5 or 8x4 bread pan with cooking spray or butter.

In a large bowl mix together the sugar and butter with a spoon until light and fluffy. Then beat in the eggs until combined. Next stir in the bananas, milk, and vanilla until blended.

In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Once mixed add all of it to the banana mixture and stir until the dry ingredients are just moistened. Pour into your greased bread pan.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, remove and cool for 5 minutes in pan before removing.

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

So I've been in a baking mood, a side affect of pregnancy. Lucky you and lucky husband of mine(: 

Suggestions are more then welcome, I love trying new things!

Ingredients

2 1/4 Cup Flour

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Cup Butter, Room Temperature

1/2 Cup White Sugar

1 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar

1 Tsp Salt

2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Large Eggs

2 Cups Chocolate Chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl whisk together the flour & baking soda, set aside.

In a mixer combine the butter and both sugars until fluffy.

Add your salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed. 

Add the chocolate chips and then the flour mixture until combined.

Scoop into balls and place about 2 inches apart of your baking sheet.

Bake until edges are brown, about 10-12 minutes.

Remove and cool!

Sugar Cookies!

I woke up this morning and needed something sweet to much on! So after breakfast and when the kids went down for naps I broke out my kitchen aid mixer and started to make some cookies! This cookies are my absolute favorite to dip in milk or coffee. Ah, yummy.  Not only are they easy to make they are super quick too.

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Extra sugar to roll dough in

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. 

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

Using your mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until combined. 

Scrape the sides then add the egg and vanilla.

Slowly blend in the dry ingredients. The dough won't form into a ball, it will remain separated after the ingredients are combined.

Roll the dough into balls, and roll in sugar. 

Place on your cookie sheet and bake 8-10 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned.

When done, remove from cookie sheet and let cool.

Enjoy with some milk or coffee! 

Pretzel Bites (bread machine style)

Not sure about you but every time I am at the mall I always end up at Auntie Anne's Pretzel Shop. The amazing butter flavor that the pretzels have is so delicious, not to mention the smell of them baking! My pregnancy cravings have been driving me insane and today I caved for one of them, soft pretzels. Here is how I ended my craving and made soft pretzel bites at home using my bread machine (that taste just as good as Auntie Anne's!)

Ingredients:

1 1/8 Cup Water
3 Cups Flour
3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Tsp Yeast

2 Quarts Water
1/2 Cup Baking Soda

Melted Butter
Kosher Salt OR
Cinnamon & Sugar


Directions:

In a bread machine combine the first group of ingredients (water, flour, b.sugar, and yeast). Select the dough setting and watch dough for the first couple mins adding flour or water, if needed, a tablespoon at a time.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and tear it into balls.

In a sauce pan bring water and baking soda to a boil. Drop the dough balls into the water, waiting 10-15sec, then remove to paper towels to drain. Place the already boiled and drained balls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 10mins or until brown (it happens fast so keep an eye on them) in a 425 degree oven.

Brush with melted butter and top with salt or roll in cinnamon and sugar. ENJOY!