Sweet & Savory Pumpkin Dip

My new favorite! My sister-in-law whipped this up one day and it disappeared. I've made it twice since. Would be perfect on Thanksgiving as an appetizer. I'm planning on making it for my family. Can I also say for the record that I HATE pecans? The only exception is this recipe.

-1 (8oz) block cream cheese, softened
-1/2 cup pumpkin butter (Williams-Sonoma or Trader Joe's)
-4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
-1/2 cup chopped pecans
-3 green onions, diced

**Combine cream cheese and pumpkin butter; mix well with a whisk or fork. Stir in bacon, pecans and green onions. Serve with crackers and apple slices.

If you make this the day before, I'd hold off on adding the green onions until you're ready to serve.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread

I doctored up a recipe I found using instant apple cinnamon oatmeal. I didn't have any, and threw in a couple of extras. My version turned out really good. I used my mom's homemade applesauce I had in the freezer. She makes the best... just chunky enough and very sweet and cinnamony.

Bread

-1/4 cup butter, softened

-1 cup sugar

-1 1/2 cups applesauce

-2 eggs

-1 tsp vanilla

-3/4 cup quick cooking oats

-1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

-1 tsp baking soda

-1 tsp cinnamon

-1/4 tsp salt

Topping

-1 tbsp quick cooking oats

-1 tsp sugar

-1 tsp cinnamon

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, applesauce and vanilla and mix well. Add oatmeal, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. Pour in a loaf pan and top with more oats, sugar and cinnamon. Bake in loaf pan at 350 for 60-65 minutes.

Chili .... Hold the Beans

Chris and Mason love chili, but they hate beans. So I worked up this little beanless number and it was a hit.

3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves chopped garlic
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
2-3 tablespoons chili powder
28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
2 cans Campbell's tomato soup
1 cup plain bread crumbs (optional)
Cumin - to taste
Salt - to taste
Pepper - to taste
Hot Sauce -to taste

Cook garlic in the olive oil over low heat. Keep an eye on it - doesn't take long. Add in ground beef and brown.

Spray Crock-Pot with non-stick cooking spray. Add beef and garlic mixture. Add all remaining ingredients except the bread crumbs. Stir well. Keep on low for about 10 hours, stirring occasionally. Add in the bread crumbs only if you like a thicker chili.

And for goodness sake - please top this with sour cream and cheese!!