Pumpkin French Toast Bake

Ingredients:
3 1/2c 1-inch bread cubes
7 large eggs
2c milk
1t vanilla extract
1 1/2t pumpkin pie spice
1/4c pumpkin puree
3-4T brown sugar

*Cut bread into 1-inch cubes, use 5-7 slices sandwich bread (I used 7).
*Spread into greased 9x13 baking dish.
*In large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree until well combined.
*Pour over bread and push down with a spoon until soaked and covered.
*Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight.
*In the morning, preheat oven to 350.
*Uncover and top with brown sugar.
*Bake 35-45 mins
*Serve immediately with syrup or honey

Pumpkin Pancakes w/ Cream Cheese Syrup

Pumpkin Pancakes w/ Cream Cheese Syrup

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons vinegar

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Cream Cheese Syrup

3/4 cup cream cheese frosting 

1/2 cup milk

1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk, or more to taste

Dana's Party Ham Rolls

Party Ham Rolls

2 pkgs. Pepperidge Farm party rolls or country white rolls (if you can’t find them you can use King Hawaiian brand rolls, but the butter ones, not the sweet ones)  Pepperidge farm rolls only available around the holidays)

1 lb. Ham (sliced) I usually use a honey ham

8 oz. Swiss cheese (sliced)

1 cup Butter

2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbs. Dry mustard

2 Tbs. Brown sugar

1 Tbs. Poppy seeds (I usually leave these out as many people don’t like them)

Slice rolls horizontally into 2 layers; do not separate into individual rolls.

Place bottom layer in 9 X 13 glass baking dish.(you may have to squeeze them into pan a tiny bit)

Arrange ham and cheese over bottom layer; replace top layer of rolls.

Combine butter, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar and ½ of the poppy seeds in saucepan.

Cook until butter melts, stirring to mix well.

Pour over rolls.  Sprinkle the remaining poppy seed on top.

Chill covered in the refrigerator overnight.

Let stand until room temperature.

Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 30 minutes.

Cut into serving size pieces.

Pumpkin Seeds

Every single year, I forget what I did to make pumpkin seeds and end up combining about 8 different recipes in an effort to "wing it."  So...

Rinse pumpkin seeds thoroughly to get all the pumpkin guts off.  Soak them in salt water overnight.  Season as you desire (I just taste test them "raw") and mix in with 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil.   Pop them in the oven at 300 degrees for approximately 45 minutes.  Yum.  :)