Pumpkin Spice Popcorn and Dessert

It has been a while since the last posting.  I finally finished my PhD so I can now get back to whipping up some of my favorite fall recipes and share them with you.  I will be featuring 2 of my favorite fall recipes--pumpkin spice popcorn and microwave pumpkin spice "baked" apple inspired by the kitch and allrecipes.  If you haven't noticed already, we really love the flavor of pumpkin spice!

Pumpkin Spice Popcorn

The pumpkin spice popcorn came about because I wanted some popcorn for my movie date night.  However, I simply do not have the time to run out to Trader Joe's to get some olive oil based popcorn and I am not willing to settle for store brand popcorn filled with palm oil and other unknown, but "organic" ingredients.  I decided then to make my own.  So I searched the Internet and found the kitch recipe and "jazz" it up a bit for my flavor loving husband.  Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as we did!  This has become one of our movie night stables.  

Ingredients:  

1/4 cup popcorn kernels

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp olive oil (optional)

Salt and Pepper to taste (optional)

Materials:  

Brown lunch paper bag

Microwavable plate (to contain the oil that is leaking through the paper bag)

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, mix the pumpkin pie spice, olive oil (optional), and salt/pepper (optional)

2. Pour in the popcorn kernels and mix the kernels well with the above ingredients 

3. Place the brown lunch paper on a microwavable dish.

4. Pour the mixture into the brown lunch paper bag

5. Roll the brown lunch paper bag approximately 3 times to close the top

6. Place the brown lunch paper bag with the microwavable dish into the microwave

7. Microwave 2:30 to 4:00 min on high power depending on your microwave

Note:  Be sure to stand around the microwave the first time you try it and listen to the popping sound.  When the popping slows down, that is when you will need to stop the microwave to avoid burnt popcorn. 

8. Enjoy! 

Microwave Pumpkin Spice "Baked" Apples

Pumpkin pie and apple pie have been popping up everywhere--at work, at community functions, and at potlucks.  In order to keep our waistline in check during the fall season, we decided to make something that is not as calorie dense as a pumpkin pie and an apple pie.  This guilt-free indulgence is inspired by the allrecipes and is helping us fight off our sweet tooth urges.  I hope it will help you too!

Ingredients:

2 whole apples, cored

2 tsp of non-alcoholic vanilla extract

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp cinnamon spice

1 tsp agave (optional)

Material:

Deep microwave dish (for example:  Pyrex dishes)

Directions:

1. Wash the apples well.  Core the apples.  We used Golden Delicious because that is what we have in our fridge, but you can use other apples too 

2. Place the cored apples in a deep microwave dish

3. Mix the vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon spice, and agave (optional) in a mixing bowl

4. Split the mixture in 1/2 and pour 1/2 into the middle of each cored apple

5. Put some water underneath the apple (about 3 Tbsp)

6. Microwave 4 to 5 min on high power depending on your microwave

7. Enjoy!