PUMPKIN RECIPE SERIES:

No. 1  GNOCCHI WITH BEER PUMPKIN CHEDDAR SAUCE AND PEAS

No. 2  PEANUT BUTTER PUMPKIN YELLOW CURRY PITA TACOS

No. 3  MALTED PUMPKIN CAKE LAMINGTONS DIPPED in CHOCOLATE 

No. 4   WHOLE WHEAT PUMPKIN PANCAKES WITH MAPLE CINNAMON BUTTER & HONEY

I’m not quite there yet guys, but I’ve almost made my peace with eating pumpkin spiced foods on a warm, sunny day. I said almost, it still kind of makes me mad/sad. Maybe by next year I’ll be completely cool with it. Speaking of warm and sunny though, it’s only early Spring and the days are feeling really pleasant so I think there is a possibility the lake might get warm enough by summer for me to want to swim. 

There are lots of lakes around here so it’s a big thing to hit the beaches in the summer but I haven’t gotten up the courage to try getting into Lago Llanquihue, which is the lake we’re closest to now. We live within walking distance of a few different beaches but I don’t know, swimming just doesn’t hold the same appeal that it used to when I had nothing else to do. I swam in Lago Ranco 3 summers ago, but I’m a cold wimp you guys, and even with that lake being further north the water was still cold to the point of pins- and-needles type pain. I still went swimming quite a bit in it, and at the time the chilling challenge added to the thrill. We used to see who could stay in the longest before calling uncle, but now I think I’d rather take pictures from sitting (very dry) on the beach. Boring, I know. Maybe this year I’ll do it. 

Okay, but now I should probably get to the part where I tell you about these adorable bite-size mini pies. I recently saw a recipe for mini pies like this called tassies and I thought the name was so cute that I immediately decided I had to make some just so I could call them tassies. It happened to fit perfectly too, because my mom had just hinted very strongly that she wouldn’t mind if I felt the need to make mini pumpkin pies. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m nuts about nuts these days! Growing up, like most kids, I wasn’t big on nuts being in things. I mean, I still ate them but I would always choose no nuts if given the choice. How many yummy things I probably missed out on because I was crazy, nuts are the bomb dot com! The salty, buttery, crunch that they add can’t be replaced. However, the type of nuts you use is pretty interchangable so feel free to replace walnuts with any other kind you like (do pecans, YES!). I happen to have a bunch of kids around that are as crazy as I was and aren’t into nuts so I did make some without. Those were still delicious of course, but the nuts seal the deal guys, so go nuts with the nuts!