Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins
Everyday Food, November 2010
Makes 12

10 T (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
3 C all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
2 1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1 t coarse salt
1/2 t ground nutmeg
1/4 t ground allspice
1/3 C buttermilk
1 1/4 C pure pumpkin puree
3/4 C light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 C granulated sugar
2 1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 C (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Heat over to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 12 standard muffin cups.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and allspice. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions pumpkin mixture and beat to combine.

Spoon 1/3 cup batter into each muffin cup and bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Let muffins cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Working with one at a time, remove muffins from pan, brush all over with butter, then toss to coat in sugar mixture. Let muffins cool completely on a wire rack.

One Pan Chicken = Awesome

Yesterday, I was looking for an EASY and TASTY dinner option that did not require a trip to the grocery store.  Rachel Ray's "one pan chicken" fit the ticket.

Here's the original recipe. 

Here is what I did to make it "my own"...
Ingredients:
- 3 large boneless chicken breasts
- "Large" teaspoon of minced garlic
- Entire yellow onion (Barry requested more, but I think this was plenty)
- Handful of mini carrots (cut in 1/2) - wish I would have added more
- Handful of celery slices
- 5 yellow potatoes (sliced as Rachel Ray recommended)
- Thyme springs and ground thyme
- Olive oil
- Salt/Peppter

Directions - Just as Rachel recommended:

1. Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 425°. Place the chicken in a large roasting pan, rub with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss the potatoes, carrots and parsnips with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Place the vegetables around the chicken and scatter 8 thyme sprigs on top. Roast until the vegetables are tender and the chicken juices run clear when a leg is pricked, about 40 minutes. Pick the leaves from the remaining 2 thyme sprigs and sprinkle on top.

This dinner was so easy to make, tasty and on the healthy side of things. A five star meal and one that I'll replicate in the future.

I'll also be checking out more options from Rachel Ray's website.