Tasty Tuesday

Fall is here, time to stock up on pumpkin! We love oatmeal at our house for a healthy and filling breakfast.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

• 3 cups quick cooking oats **I used old fashioned oats**
  
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¾ cup canned pumpkin
• ¼ cup brown sugar (for the top)

In a large bowl mix together all ingredients except the ¼ cup brown sugar for the top.

Spread into a greased 9×13 pan.

Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup brown sugar on top.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

These pumpkin bars make a great treat and are very simple to make.

Pumpkin Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 4 large eggs
• 1 2/3 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (15 ounce) cans pumpkin puree
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 6 ounces cream cheese
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease and flour one glass 9 x 13 inch pan.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin.
4. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; add to wet ingredients and mix thoroughly.
5. Spread into prepared pan.
6. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
8. For the frosting: beat together the cream cheese, butter and confectioner's sugar.
9. Evenly spread over bars after they have cooled.

And what is fall without a pumpkin spice latte? Save yourself some money and make this one at home.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ingredients
1 cup milk
1 TB canned pumpkin
1/2 TB sugar
1 TB vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 shot espresso or 1/3 cup very strong coffee

Directions
In a saucepan, combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy.

Pour into a mug and pour the espresso on top.

**Jen's Notes**
I brew my espresso in a Bialetti Moka Express pot. It makes great espresso and doesn't take up a lot of space. I had mine for over a year and it's definitely paid for itself.

I froth my milk with an Ikea Milk Frother, much cheaper than the name brand and mine has held up well.