Pop! Pop! Popcorn!

I swear one of the most overpriced, over complicated, over calorated (that is now a word) foods is popcorn. You don't need a popcorn popper, you don't need a microwavable bag full of crap- and believe me it is crap in that bag- all you need is a pot with a lid, some oil, and a quarter cup of popping corn. Mr Orville Redenbacher may be the most recognizable brand, but I highly encourage you to go find some popping corn from a farmer, from a Natural foods store, dry your own, trust me you will no longer need to drown it in butter. My own child won't have anything to do with bar coded popcorn because getting (fresh) is that much tastier and, wait for it, CHEAPER, significantly. Did I mention no junk added, no calories, or weird stuff that makes no sense why it has been added to popcorn. Popcorn is full of health benefits like fiber which makes it a great snack, it's when you (or the food industry) add that junk it turns from delicious and healthy to a high calorie junk food.

For fun you can get it still on the ears of corn and rub it with a bit of cooking oil, put it in a paper bag and microwave it for 45 seconds. The kids (and you) will giggle and ooh and aaah.
When that novelty where's off you can coat the bottom of a pot with cooking oil, add in popcorn kernels (no more than cover the bottom of the pot in a single layer), put  on the stove over medium-high heat and cover. In a minute or two you will hear the familiar sound of pop, pop, popping. And when the popping decreases to a couple (yes 2-3 seconds) between pops remove from heat but remain covered for 30 more seconds. Pour into a bowl and there you go! Delicious treat without any guilt. Fiber it up. Add herbs to a kosher salt and sprinkle over, or a bit of fresh grated parm, or leave as is- it's that good! Also great as a garnish to fall soups.

This post just made me want to go pop some now! Snack time!

Fall Salad, Simple Dinner

I love this salad. It's fast, it's easy, it's filling, and it is delicious.

All you need to create this fast meal:
Bacon lardons, cooked off
apple slices
spinach
blue cheese
olive oil
apple cider vinegar
(a nut would be a nice add to this- walnut or almond)

For Dressing: add 1/2 teaspoon per serving of olive oil to pan, heat. Add cooked bacon lardons. Once warmed add a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Assemble salad: spinach, apples, bacon vinaigarette, then blue cheese, optional nut. Serve immediately.

Do You Know the Pumpkin Man?

Chocolate! Pumpkin! Cinnamon! Oh MY!

Chocolate and Pumpkin- does it get any better? Add some cinnamon buttercream! Delicious! They truly just melt in your mouth with every bite. Never one of those cakey mouthfull feelings, just a bite of Autumn melting across your mouth. A great cupcake.

What your going to need for the cupcake:
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 canola oil
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk (dairy free is fine)
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
pinch ground nutmeg
pinch ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chocolate chips

To make the cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.

In a bowl mix together pumpkin, oil, sugar, milk, vanilla. Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, salt. Stir together with a fork. Do not use a mixer it will make batter gummy. Once well combined, fold in chocolate chips.

Fill liners 2/3 full and bake for 22-25 minutes. Let cool on wire rack completely before frosting.

For the Frosting:
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter (or margarine)
3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup milk (or soy creamer)

Beat the shortening and butter together until well combined and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat for 3 minutes. Add vanilla, milk, cinnamon and beat for 7 minutes until fluffy.