I Got A Rock

Re-watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" this year I kept thinking how little of it I actually remember from my childhood. Like the entire Red Baron sequence? I somehow erased it from my mind entirely. The reoccurring joke about Charlie Brown getting a rock instead of candy? The humor was lost on me as a kid, but grown-up me found it hilarious. 

The menu was simple, but tasty and pretty easy to put together: Great Pumpkin Deviled Eggs, Jack-o-Lantern Quesadillas, Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip & a Pumpkin Spritzer (called an audible on that last one since my bananas went bad before I could us them!)

Great Pumpkin Deviled Eggs (modified from this Delish.com recipe)

Ingredients 

6 Eggs

1/4 cup mayo

Juice from 1/2 a lemon

1 tbsp paprika

Salt & pepper to taste

Fresh chives 

 

Directions

1. First, make hard boiled eggs. Put 1 inch of water in a pan big enough to fit all the eggs in a single layer. Make sure pot has a tight-fitting lid.
2. Bring water to a boil, then gently place eggs on the bottom of the pan using a slotted spoon. Keep water at a rolling boil throughout cooking process -- 10-11 minutes.
3. Remove eggs from water and put into an egg container. Leave at room temp to cool -- I promise, this will make it SO easy to peel them later. Once at room temp, these can be stored in the fridge.
4. Mix together mayo, lemon juice, paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl.
5. Slice eggs in half and put cooked yolks into a separate bowl and mash.
6. Combine both mixtures until smooth. Then place in a piping bag and pipe into the egg white halves.
7. Cut small pieces of chives and use as garnish for the "pumpkin stem" and enjoy! 

 

Jack-o-Lantern Quesadillas

Ingredients

Flour Tortillas

Shredded Mexican Cheese

Chicken (or other protein of your choice -- optional)

Chipotle Ranch Dressing (optional)

Salsa, Sour Cream & Guacamole for serving

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut out face of Jack-o-Lantern on one of the flour tortillas and set aside.
3. On another tortilla, place your fillings: cheese, chicken and chipotle ranch (if using).
4. Top with the Jack-o-Lantern faced tortilla. Brush top lightly with oil.
5. Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and exterior is crispy and golden brown.
6. Serve with salsa, sour cream and guacamole and enjoy! 

 

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip (inspired by this recipe from the Salty Marshmallow)

Ingredients

1 8oz package of cream cheese (softened)

1 15oz can of pumpkin puree

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Ginger snaps (for serving) 

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, beat together cream cheese, brown and granulated sugars until fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
2. Fold in pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree until smooth.
3. Serve with ginger snaps, graham crackers or whatever else you'd like to dip in and enjoy! 

Pumpkin Spritzer (modified from this recipe)

Ingredients

1 can ginger ale

3 tbsp pumpkin puree

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions

1. Mix together pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice in bottom of a glass.
2. Top with ginger ale and stir. Enjoy!

Here's the final spread:

Pumpkin Deviled Eggs: 7/10

Jack-o-Lantern Quesadillas: 8/10

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip: 8/10

Pumpkin Spritzer: 7/10

Next up, a more "adult" film: "Shaun of the Dead." I know I said I didn't like gore, but this one is funny enough that it doesn't matter.