Pumpkin "donut" holes

http://cravingchronicles.com/2010/10/11/baked-pumpkin-spice-donut-holes/

I make these minus the butter- cinnamon/sugar mix at the end..

Pumpkin Pancakes

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Shopsins-Pumpkin-Pancakes?cmpid=fb

There comes a point every year that pumpkin something for breakfast just sounds good to me! I make these pumpkin muffins (they are supposed to be doughnuts, but they are really just muffins)... and I may have all these ingredients... so I might try these!! They look SO yummy!

Chicken & Apple- Rice Skillet

http://www.dvo.com/recipe_pages/bestchicken/Chicken_and_Apple-Rice_Skillet.html

I just posted this recipe because a friend of mine picked a ton of apples & wanted to know what to do with them. I love this dish and I make it every fall.. usually when I'm up to my neck in apples!

Lentils & Pasta

You'll need prepared ditalini pasta to toss in at the end- so whenever you want to do that... go for it!

(You'll need a very large pot)

For the Lentil Soup:

1 Large Onion (fine chop)
4-5 ribs of celery (fine chop)
4 Garlic cloves (fine chop)

1/4C- Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Saute the onion & celery in the olive oil. Then add the garlic- cook for about 2 minutes until golden but NOT brown.

Add the sautéed veggies into your large sauce pot.

Add a bag of lentils &

6C- Chicken Broth
4C- Water
Salt & Pepper

Let this simmer for 1 hour.

(This is the color it should look like when it's done)

When ready to serve combine lentil soup and toss in pasta... everyone likes this differently. I like more lentils so there is more liquid in my bowl with pasta- my husband likes more pasta with the lentil soup so it's more like PASTA and lentils... LOL! This is such a staple we can have these minor preferences... ;)

I HIGHLY recommend this- especially if you're tired of the same old chicken soup if you're sick. Either way, around here- it's a big treat to have lentils & pasta (even though it's easier than sin to make!)

Enjoy!

OH! I forgot to add- when I made this for just my husband & I- we liked to add some red hot pepper flakes... it gives it a LOVELY taste to the soup... but since we have kids, I just go as far as the ground pepper...

Ropa Vieja

http://icuban.com/food/ropa.html

Ok, so the literal translation is Old Clothes... This is BY FAR the BEST dish (in my humble opinion) that Cubans can hang their hats on. It makes me all giddy inside when it's served. I was a little nervous about serving it to my little kids... but they LOVE it.. let me repeat.. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
The only change I've done to this recipe is that it says to discard the veggies and I HATE and WON'T do it. So, I leave them in there. Ahem... better than my grandmothers....

Picadillo

I am half Cuban (the half that counts- lol) and these guys BY FAR have the most authentic Cuban recipes. I'm planning to make a few recipes of theirs that remind me of home (actually-- shhh... BETTER than home)

http://icuban.com/food/picadillo.html

Beef with Apples & Sweet Potatoes

This is a slow cooker dish

2#- Boneless beef chuck shoulder roast (cut into 2" pieces)
1 can (40oz) sweet potatoes, drained
2 small onions (I'm going to bump mine up to 1 large)
2 apples, cored & sliced
1/2C- Beef Broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tea- Salt
1 tea- dried thyme leaves
3/4tea black pepper
1/4tea- cinnamon

Add all and put on low 8-9 hours

make a slurry of:
1T- cornstarch
2T- water

mix together and add to the slow cooker after the 8 or 9 hours
Cook on high for 15 minutes until the juices thicken.

Serve sauce with beef, sweet potatoes & apples