From the Kitchen; Easy-peasy Pumpkin Hand-pies

Ok just a quickie before the holidays! It's for the busy-bees or the undomestic-divas. A cheat to make a scrumptious holiday dessert.

 What you need;
- Store bought pie crust
- Can of pumpkin puree
- Pumpkin spice
- Cream of coconut
- Cool Whip
- Brown sugar

1. Roll out your pie crust and with a cookie cutter cut circles 
2. Prep your pumpkin puree with the pie spice and brown sugar (taste and add till satisfied).
3. Drop a spoon-full of pumpkin filling (depending on the width of your circle)
4. cover with another circle and close with a fork. Cut an X on the top

Don't forget to pre-heat the oven.

Pop them in for +/- 15 mins or until golden

In the mean time, mix the coconut cream, but just the white solid bit not the oil. To separate this let is stand for a bit. Add pumpkin spice to your liking. When mixed well spoon it through cool whip. Warning! This stuff is deadly delicious!! 

Et Voila! Add a dollop of your coconut spiced, whipped-cream and devour!

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Oatmeal Cookie, Ice-cream Sandwich

I made these sour cherry, white chip oatmeal cookies and to make this party complete I added ice-cream and created sandwiches.

I used this recipe ("here") and added dried sour cherries and white chocolate chips. 

Of course you could add anything you like to the oatmeal cookies like; 

Macadamia and white chips, 

Dried apricots and white chips,

Pistachio and dried cranberries, 

Pecans and dark chocolate chips.

Pick your favorite and create a summer party!

Make the basic recipe and spoon in the add-in ingredients last...

Let them cool down completely (I even popped them in the freezer).

Then scoop one scoop of half soft ice-cream in the middle of he flat side of the cookie and lightly press another on top. 

Wrap them individually in foil and pop them back in the freezer for another hour or two.

Et Voila! Serve them straight out of the freezer. Enjoy!!

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Breakfast at Fayme's in the Kitchen; Pumpkin Muffin

Belle of the ball, home before 12, these whole wheat pumpkin muffins are an healthy version of dessert or even perfect for breakfast since they are high in protein and "lower" carb.

~Happy Sunday~ 

 What you need;
- 1/2cup walnut flour (you may use all purpose flour)
- 1/2cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice (or cinnamon)
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1cup pumpkin puree (when using fresh boiled, let is sit in a cheese cloth to strain excess water)
- 1/2cup milk (or almond milk)
- 2 eggs
- 1/4cup honey
- 3/4cup quick cook rolled oats

Ok, lots of ingredients, but easy to make;

Mix all dry ingredients together and all wet ingredients together then add together and mix well. Scoop mixture into lined muffin tin and decorate with a walnut on top (you could also add chopped nuts to the mixture for extra bite).

In pre-heated oven of 180*C, pop the muffins in for +/- 25-30 mins or until toothpick comes out clean.

Et Voila! Enjoy your Pumpkin Muffins

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Breakfast at Fayme's in the Kitchen; Spiced Pumpkin Bread

Tis the season for pumpkin everything! What I miss about being in the states around fall and the holidays is that everything is available in pumpkin spice flavor (my favorite!), here in the Netherlands not so much...

Me and my undomestic self made this spiced pumpkin bread (from a pack), but I am sure "this", "this", or even "this, gluten free" recipe is as easy and yummy if your determined for your spiced pumpkin bread :)

I did however make my own thyme honey cream-cheese, to slather on top once the spiced pumpkin bread is cooled off. add some fresh springs of thyme and some toasted pumpkin seeds on top. 

Et Voila! Bon Appetit! 

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Breakfast at Fayme's in the kitchen; Home-Made Waffles & Pear Compote

Happy Saturday Morning! 

So I got this awesome old school waffle iron (check some out "here") and gave a shot at making these babies. I made brown sugar waffles with pear compote and it was scrumptious!

What you need;
-3/4 cups brown sugar
-2 eggs
-2 cups all purpose flower
-3 teaspoons baking soda
-1/8 cup vegetable oil ( I used coconut oil)
-1 1/2 cups milk

Whisk all ingredients together, pour in waffle iron (about 1/3 cup batter per time), bake each side about 2 minutes.... Et Voila!

For the pear compote;

Cut up 2 pears into small cubes, bring to a simmer with a 1/2 teaspoon of 5spice or nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and about a 1/4cup sugar.

 Bon Appetit! 

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No-bake Nutty Coconut and Date cookies

Ok I have a serious sweet tooth and if I want I can bake a batch of cookies whenever I like and eat them too! These are an healthier take on something sweet, packed with protein naturally sweet and filling, so you'll only eat one at a time (maybe).

What you need;

-Sticky dates

-Nuts (pecans, almonds or macadamia)

-Unsweetened shredded coconut

1. Pop the dates in the food processor first, then add the nuts and shredded coconut

2. I just made them by feeling the "batter", when crumby and sticks together when pressed, it's good.

3. You can make balls, patties or bars which ever you like best!

Et Voila! Your no-bake nutty, coconut and date cakes

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Smore S'mores

It feels like summer almost over, days are getting shorter, winds are picking up and fall collections are on display in the stores windows. 

Today I woke up to raindrops on my window and I'm not complaining (just yet), Fall is always so cozy and time for inside activities. If you have not gotten the chance to BBQ one last time, you have not had your S'mores fix. This cake is a take on the oh so yummy summer S'mores.

1. Bake a double chocolate cake and cut into two layers. You might have to bake two cakes and then stack 'em.

2. On one layer spread out marshmallow fluff (note; only spread in the middle, not till the edge, the weight of the cake will spread it out)

3. Another layer with double chocolate icing and chunks of graham crackers. 

4. Finally ice complete cake and decorate with crushed graham crackers and mini marshmallows.

Et Voila! Your S'mores inspired cake ready to be devoured!

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Breakfast at Fayme's X Spice Up Your Life

Recently I got the opportunity to guest post for "Spice up your life" a fun food blog by Tiara, a fellow Yu'i Korsou (Curaçao native). 

Tiara likes to experiment with different ingredients and spices. She shares all things food, from different countries and kitchens. From healthy smoothies to hearty comfort food. 

I was planning on sharing my croissants recipe I learnt in Paris, however I like things easy... and this 48 hour recipe is not exactly my everyday thing, instead I shared some other food related tips in my guest post for "Spice Up Your Life" 

 My top 3 places to eat croissants in Amsterdam; 

Croissanterie Egstrof http://www.yelp.com/biz/croissanterie-egstorf-amsterdam 

Simon Meijssen http://www.simonmeijssen.nl 

Blauwe theehuis http://www.blauwetheehuis.nl

I would like to share an easy and fun pastry fold that you could do with a store bought puff pastry.

Making a simple fold over pastry

1. Cut a "V" (about a finger width from the edge) in one corner of the square puff pastry then mirror that at the other side.
2. Fold over the outer corner from one side to the other and repeat (folding the other side over the folded side) to the other inside corner.

Et Voila! Thanks Tiara for my guest post!

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and follow Tiara's "Spice Up Your Life" food blog on Facebook "here"

Breakfast at Fayme's in the Kitchen; Blondies

We all know how we LOVE brownies, it's a fact! But what about the blondes? I have been making blondies the past few weeks and loving them! They are versatile too! You can add dried cranberries for a little zing or pistachios and white chocolate chips...yum! However I made mine with espresso salt and pecans. 

So let's put this never ending discussions to an end, try these blondes and give an opinion; Brownies or Blondies??  

What you need (for +/- 12)
-3/4c all purpose flower
-1/4tsp baking powder
-1/4tsp salt (I used 1/2tsp espresso salt) 
-3/4c packed brown sugar
-1/4c melted butter
-1 egg
-1/2tsp vanilla extract 
-Nuts, dries cranberries or chocolate chips (optional)

1. In a medium bowl mix first (all dry) 3 ingredients 
2. In bigger bowl mix butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, when mixed well add nuts/cranberries/choco chips
4. Pop in the oven 180*C/350*F for 15-20 mins

Et Voila! Your Blondies are done!

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Up-done Lemon Cake

By now you might know that I love baking, but always choose the easy way out.

This recipe is easy peasy and looks fancy pansy! 

What I did is prep a regular packaged cake mix (which required egg, butter and milk)

and then added some triple sec soaked fruit and almond slivers to up the ante. 

Perfect recipe for the weekend ;)

1. Soak the sliced pear and raspberries in triple sec (or other fruity liquor)

2. While mixing the cake mix, add some lemon zest and a squeeze of the juice in the batter 

3. in regular cake form, add half of the batter, then the fruit (don't add the access liquid that they soaked in, but keep it to brush over the baked cake) sprinkle some almond slivers and pour over the remaining cake batter

Dust with some confectioners sugar before serving... Et Voila! 

Bon Appétit

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Spiced Apple Pancakes

It's the season for apple picking, now what to do with all them apples?

How about make a scrumptious Spiced Apple (Dutch) Pancake brunch. 

This recipe is real easy (What I love most!)

What you need;

-1 apple

-1cup all purpose flower

-1cup milk plus an extra splash

-1 egg

-2 teaspoons all spice seasoning (1 cinnamon, 1/2 nutmeg,1/2 cloves)

Optional/Additional kitchen gadgets; 

-Apple corer 

-Vegetable slicer

 1. the out the core of the apple, slice 'em and season them...

in the mean time mix together 3 remaining ingredients for pancake batter

2. Bake Apples in a bit of butter till golden or soften and pour over pancake mix....

3. Serve with nuts and either light or dark maple or molasses syrup...

Et Voila! 

Home-made Spiced Apple Pancakes, Bon Apetit! 

Happy Sunday!

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