Pumpkin, Pumpkin Everywhere

Happy Thursday! Although I personally despise Thursdays they can still be happy. Especially when they are started with this fall breakfast gem. I'll hold you in suspense until you scroll through my blabbing.

As I lay here in bed, the thoughts of closing my eyes are slightly more appealing then suiting up for a run at the moment. I will hopefully make the move to get my rear in gear for the day. I love the random thoughts that always come to mind when out for a run. I hope someone else out there can feel for my quirky thoughts. Here's some examples:

1. OoO! Dryer sheets! Love that smell!

2. Of course a car would gun it on the corner that I'm vastly approaching.

3. There's other people walking. They must be watching me so I must run faster. Since I'm sure they're thinking, "Wow! What a great runner! She must be training for a marathon!"

4. Mmm! Charcoal grill! Love that smell!

5. Dear god, I hope that dog can't jump that fence.

6. I think I have to pee, great. Nope, false alarm.

You know have a glimpse into my mind. Be afraid.


Now for the moment you have been patiently waiting for...Pumpkin! I have made a handful of pumpkin recipes that have not lived up to my high expectations for anything resembling fall. Pancakes, oatmeal, lattes..but they either lacked or OD'ed on the spice which led to failure. With the last of my can left over, I was inspired to make pumpkin french toast. But not your run-of-the-mill Pinterest material. No, something much more...epic. That's right. Pumpkin PB & Fluff French Toast. Yeah, I went there, and so will you!

Sweet, creamy, pumpkin-y. Answer, E. All of the above. Alas, a pumpkin recipe to be proud of!

Pumpkin PB & Fluff French Toast
serves 1

2 slices whole wheat bread (I used Nature's Own, only 50 calories a slice!)
1 egg
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
splash of milk
1 1/2 T peanut butter
2 T marshmallow fluff

Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat, and spray with cooking spray.

Combine all egg, pumpkin, vanilla, milk, and spices in a shallow dish.

Dip both sides of a slice of bread and cook in the skillet for about 1 minute per side. Repeat for the other slice.

Transfer to a plate, and top one slice with the peanut butter, and the other with the fluff, and stack as you would a sandwich.

Top with a good drizzle of maple syrup, and some extra cinnamon.

Eat now, thank me later.

Hooray for Friday tomorrow!!

What the Fluff?!

Happy Saturday! Big plans for the day: Grocery shopping, new circuit workout, some more cooking. Exciting, I know, but try to contain yourself. Unlike the majority of the population, I actually enjoy grocery shopping. I guess my obsession with food and cooking has only led to this, but I dedicate a good chunk of time to browsing recipes, comparing store prices, and making shopping and recipe lists. I feel like one of those crazy coupon ladies who spend 20 out of the 24 hours in a day couponing or counting the boxes of cat litter they have (p.s, most don't even own a cat). But like the saying goes, "Do what you like, and like what you do". And I like food obsessing. Make a TLC show out of me.

After a deep 2 minute convo with the roomie about Southern food I wanted to try in the midst of sinking my teeth into the beloved Southern delicacy of a Moon Pie (very disappointing I might add), the topic of Fluffernutter sandwiches came up. How we got there, probably through the 7-degrees of Kevin Bacon, but we got there none-the-less. Not a Southern food, but a food my roomie, Annedra has never had the pleasure of trying. I took it upon my self to cure this dilemma, and was inspired to relive my childhood via food.

Fluffanutta Sammich!

Being the saint I am, I whipped up a Fluffernutter sandwich for the roomie, and appropriately put it in a sandwich bag. I even drew a smile face on the bag, but the camera did not want to catch this masterpiece, so my apologies. Wait, you've never had a fluffernutter sandwich either?!  You're killing me, Smalls! Follow this equation asap to avoid any further damage to your youth: 2 slices bread + 2 T peanut butter + 2 T Marshmallow Fluff = Sugary Sandwich of Joy. Problem solved. Another day, another deed.

Ready for the lunchbox. Add juice box and gushers now.

Now that we cleared that up, back to the present. If fluffernutter (just say it, it's fun) wasn't enough for you at one meal, you can now even have it for breakfast! My beloved canvas of oatmeal has now been transformed into a bowl of fluffernutter wonder.

Melted Fluff Action.

Fluffernutter Oatmeal
serves 1
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 T peanut butter
2 T marshmallow fluff.

Now I made this bowl using the overnight oat method, because when I want breakfast, I want it meow. If you want a quick make-ahead bowl, follow this recipe: Combine oats, milk, and vanilla in a bowl and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, heat oats in the microwave for 1-2 until warm. Stir in 1 T peanut butter. Top with remaining peanut butter and fluff. If you prefer you can mix in all the peanut butter, but I like a little at the top to dig in to. Also, the mixture may get a little thick, so add a bit extra milk if you please.

You can also make the oatmeal the ol' fashion way if you prefer your oats on the stove or in the microwave. If so, combine oats, milk, and 1/2 cup water in saucepan or microwave safe bowl. Cook about 5-7 minutes until done to your liking. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and 1/2 peanut butter. Top with remaining pb and fluff.

The only thing is i feel that the regular method loses some of the pb flavor for some reason. If you have different results I'd love to know, because a pipin' hot bowl of fluffernutter sounds excellent, but my experience was sub-par.

You are now free to ride a big wheel, play with barbies, and put playing cards in your bike spokes after this breakfast.

Enjoy the weekend!