Secret Recipe Club - Caramel Maple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

A smoothie that is like "dessert in a cup"... I'm sold! and hooked on the blog I was assigned to for this month's Secret Recipe Club. I was assigned to Averie's blog, Love Veggies and Yoga. This was an incredible blog. Love veggies? Check. Love yoga? Check. A healthy living blog and one I am happy to start following.

This smoothie isn't really a "smoothie". It's thick, creamy, and rich. It very well could be a smoothie with more milk added in. I choose not to. I enjoyed this with a large spoon and two very eager taste testers. This was enjoyed by everyone. It is what I consider to be the best part of the pumpkin pie... the filling and whipped cream. It was suggested that this would be perfect served with some graham crackers for dipping. I can't wait to make this again and again.

I think this would even be a great dessert idea for Thanksgiving if you're not the traditional pumpkin pie kinda folks. This dessert is dressed up with a big ol' scoop of whipped cream, drizzled with caramel sauce, and sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon. Beautiful presentation and dinner guest worthy.

Caramel Maple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie 

Love Veggies and Yoga

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup frozen pumpkin puree
• 1 medium banana, frozen, cut into chunks
• 1 tbsp maple syrup, or to taste (optional)
• 1 tbsp caramel sauce, or to taste (optional)
• 1 tbsp brown sugar, or to taste (optional)
• 1/8 tsp pinch pumpkin pie spice
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon, or to taste (optional)
• pinch of other seasonings such as nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves, or to taste (optional)
• 1/8 tsp vanilla extract, or to taste (optional)
• splash of milk, cream, nut milk, water (optional and only use as needed if you need something to help get the blending process going if your mixture is too thick otherwise)

And Action:

Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend well. Serve immediately. Optional: Garnish with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.

Haven't had your fill of pumpkin yet? Check out what else Averie has:

• Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
• "Pumpkin" Board on Pinterest

Thank you Averie for the great recipe and for letting me have a peak into your kitchen!

Chocolate Sheet Cake with a Quick Caramel Pecan Frosting

Halloween morning I set out with my Mickey Mouse Steelers loving fan and headed to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to pick up a 15"x10" jelly roll pan to make a cake. I only had a 13"x9" pan in the house and being the amateur baker that I am I did not realize that I could use that size and just adjust my cook times. Plus it was an excuse to take the Mouse out of the house and show him off and get a new kitchen toy. After searching the two baking aisles no jelly roll pan in the size I needed was found. Kinda bummed I left the store with my other purchases, a set of mesh strainers, a glass pitcher, and a green platter. I'll just Yahoo! it or call my mom who is my go to for every cooking question imagineable.

I must have missed the memo in my inbox for how easy it is to make a cake and forever put an end to my "oh I'll just turn the batter into cupcakes" kick I was on. Chocolate cake, you do not intimidate me any longer. Caramel sauce, you still had me scared until I concurred you. I had horrifiying thoughts of Mr. Sideline Chef being called into the emergency room for third degree burns caused from a sticky pecan substance stuck on the victims forearms.

In any case, if you have missed the memo as well, be scared no more! Chocolate cake and a quick caramel frosting are easy peasy lemon squeezy! Lame. I know. Moving on... After the chocolate cake cooled on the wire rack the frosting was spread on and I'd like to say it went on smooth but it was caramel and my frosting spreading skills are nonexistent.

I flubbed and forgot to add the vanilla extract to the cake and just decided to double the amount in the frosting. It still worked out and the cake was incredibly flavorful. That was a close one. I also had a few moments where I had to run away from the stovetop from my "constant" stirring to quickly reposition a baby out of 2 two year olds war paths, breakup a toddler dispute, and even let the dogs out on the porch a couple of times and nothing was burnt. It could have gone bad.

I ate chocolate cake for dinner. I had a big lunch and it was justified. I shared a slice with my son and we both inhaled it. My stomach must now be ultra sensitive to too much sugar because after having what they consider a "serving size" my stomach ached. I decided to cut the servings in half for today and see if that would be enough to satisfy my chocolate tooth and not have my stomach aching.

Mr. Sideline Chef who is not a cake fan thought it was, "Good", with a smile on his face and the itty bitty chanted my chocolate cake before dinner praises! Yea... I can be that kind of mom on occasion. I've never made cake before so this was a rule breaking moment in the Pretend Chef household. The mama of the other two children was practically licking the cutting board clean of the caramel frosting when she came to pick them up and said it smelt good from outside. Yes, I am the neighbor cooking up what you wish you were enjoying. Knock on the door next time and you might get lucky. Only on occasion am I stingy and draw the blinds so no one can see in and know what's cooking. I honestly did this yesterday for the Chipotle Spiced Macaroni and Cheese when a known "serial-knock-on-the-door-right-as-dinner-is-ready" neighbor walked by.

If a birthday is coming up or another occasion make this for someone special!

Chocolate Sheet Cake with Quick Caramel Pecan Frosting

MyRecipes.com and Southern Living's September 2005 issue

Makes 15 servings

Stars of the Show: Chocolate Sheet Cake

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup cocoa - I used Hershey's naturally sweetened cocoa powder.
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt

And Action:

1. Cook the first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth, remove from the heat.
2. Beat buttermilk and the next 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer, beating until just blended. (Batter will be thin.) I am glad the directions stated this because this is when I'd be calling my mom or Yahoo!-ing how my batter should look. Pour into a greased and floured 15x10 inch jelly roll pan. *Tip: Don't use flour. Why would you want there to be white on the bottom of your cake. I don't recall which Food Network show I was watching but I picked up the trick to use the cocoa powder instead.*
3. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake completely in pan on a wire rack.
4. Pour the Quick Caramel Pecan Frosting on top spreading evenly to the edges.

Quick Caramel Pecan Frosting

Stars of the Show:

• 2 (14 oz) cans sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans

And Action:

1. Place all ingredients in a heavy 3-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, 3-5 minutes or until the mixture reaches a pudding-like thickness. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in the chopped toasted pecans.

On the recipe's website they also had a variation for a quick caramel coconut pecan frosting. Mr. Sideline Chef turns his nose up to coconut so that wasn't even going to make it into this cake's frosting. Feel free to make it this way if you want.

Just a reminder... Entry for the Gorton's / Ortega Giveaway is now open! Make sure you comment here on this post (We Have Our First Pretend Chef Giveaway!!!) and best of luck! No entries have been made yet so your chances of winning are 100%. Easy!