Creamy Pumpkin Bars

Creamy Pumpkin Bars
These are sweet, simple, creamy and the perfect ending to a Thanksgiving meal.  They are surprisingly addictive so double the recipe if you have a big family!
I happen to love anything with pumpkin, so try these bars this year instead of the usual pumpkin pie.

Ingredients:
Crust

• 3 Cups Vanilla Wafers
• ¼ tsp Salt
• ½ tsp Cinnamon
• 4 Tbls Butter, melted

Pumpkin Filling

• 1 ½ Cups Pumpkin Puree
• 4 oz Light Cream Cheese, room temperature
• 2 Eggs
• ¾ Cup Sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• ½ tsp Salt
• ¼ Tsp nutmeg
• ½ Tsp Ginger
• ½ tsp Cinnamon
• Whipped Cream and Cinnamon for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350˚.
2. Use a food processor or rolling pin and Ziploc bag to crush vanilla wafers until they are finely crushed, add cinnamon, and melted butter. Evenly mix until mixture is moist from butter.
3. Press into a 9 inch square baking dish and bake for about 10 minutes, cool on a wire rack.
4. While crust bakes, use a hand mixer to beat pumpkin and cream cheese together until smooth. Next add the remaining ingredients, except whipped cream.
5. Pour filling into cooled crust and bake 30-35 minutes until it is no longer giggly in the middle. Cool on a wire rack.
6. Spread whipped cream over the cooled pumpkin bars and sprinkle with cinnamon if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese

The picture does not do this dish justice.  This was some seriously good Macaroni and Cheese.  Much to Zach's dismay, I don't make Mac and Cheese that much for obvious reasons-fattening, carbs, no nutritional value-BUT when I do, I go all out.  This was one of those times, and I suggest you make it for Thanksgiving-I know I will!! 

Smoked Gouda is a delicious, smoky cheese that can be found in the deli section of most grocery stores.  It gives this mac and cheese a totally grown up flavor, but kids will still love it.
You can even make this ahead of time and then bake it off before the big feast.
Obviously you can use any pasta shape you prefer, but the shells really hold lots of the yummy cheese sauce.

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients

• 14 oz Pasta Shells, not jumbo
• 1 ½ Cup Smoked Gouda, shredded
• ½ Cup Mozzarella, shredded
• ½ Cup Parmesan, grated
• 3 Tbls Butter
• 4 Tbls Flour
• 2 ½ Cups Milk
• ¾ Tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp pepper
• ½ tsp Ground Mustard
• ¼ Tsp Cayenne Pepper, optional
• ½ Cup Bread Crumbs
• 2 Tbls butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350˚.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt the water liberally, then add in pasta. Cook until al dente, it should still have a bite to it.
3. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat then add in flour. Whisk the flour into butter until lumps are gone and cook for about 2 minutes.
4. Next pour in milk slowly while whisking to incorporate the flour and butter mixture into the milk.
5. Allow the milk mixture to cook about 8-10 minute until thickened. Add in mustard, salt, pepper, and cayenne to season. Turn off heat and add in gouda and provolone, stir until melted.
6. Toss cheese sauce with cooked pasta shells and place in a baking dish. Top with parmesan, bread crumbs, and melted butter.
7. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly.