Copycat "Pumpkin Paws": Pumpkin Caramel, Pecan & Milk Chocolate Clusters

Let's talk for a minute about the {brief} bout of guilt that I felt when I made these Copycat "Pumpkin Paws." They are in no way, shape or form healthy. Like, not even debatable. And then it dawned on me that I am far too pregnant to care about such things at this moment, and I went right on with my self-indulgence. And I'm happy I did.

I know it's been "all preggo, all the time" around here as far as talk goes, so I'm trying to appease those of you who might be getting all eye-rolly on me with treats that will make you forget that I can't talk about anything else at this moment because it has taken over my life.

I've reached the highly uncomfortable portion of the show at 37 weeks. The other day, I texted one of my friends, "If you ever decide to have a baby, I highly suggest planning nothing for the final 3-4 weeks of your pregnancy. And I do mean nothing. Like, hire someone to come wave palm fronds and feed you grapes kinda nothing."

Except, I can't seem to follow my own advice. Trying to continue normal life with a 6 pound weight in your gut and ever-widening girth isn't as easy as one would think it is. I mean, aside from feeling completely off balance and like I might actually bust open at the seams, all is well. So I keep on attending events and engagements like nothing is particularly off. My RSVPs, however, have become very conditional as I have to temper my enthusiastic, "I'll be there!" with a tentative,"... If I'm not in labor." Minor annoyance.

My clothes don't fit over the belly. {See, I knew there might be a little problem down the road when I was all, "I'm barely buying maternity clothes. It's just silly.} It's even more frustrating because they fit everywhere else. It's just that midriff baring isn't as adorable with a Buddha belly. So, I basically have 3 outfits left to wear until this child enters the world. Cute.

I have also been reduced to sleeping on the couch surrounded by a nest of pillows because it is the only place I can get anywhere near comfortable. The only issue is that Farley isn't fond of mom & dad's separate sleeping arrangements; he spends half the night scaring the crap out of me checking on me or sleeping on my feet, which doesn't lend itself to much rest.

Because I don't understand the word "rest", I sent myself into a Braxton-Hicks tailspin over the weekend and had crazy contractions that lasted for 2 days straight. In a panic that this kid was going to make an early appearance, I cranked preparations into high gear and am now pretty much as ready as I'm gonna get for him to join us, so that's a plus.

It was after this incident that I decided that a little bit of candy is not going to kill me. It might actually prevent me from killing anyone else.

Since Halloween is around the corner, I thought some homemade candy might actually be fitting. But honestly, I would have justified such a thing even if it were just Groundhog's Day... because chocolate.

While lustfully browsing Williams-Sonoma's fall products a few weeks ago, I saw something that stood out to me: Pumpkin Paws. "Clusters of spiced pumpkin caramel and crunchy almonds covered in Guittard milk chocolate." I liked the sound of it.

In my own version, I swapped out the almonds for pecans, which I think taste more Fall-like. I didn't even use fancy milk chocolate. Just melted Publix chocolate chips. And guess what? They turned out pretty darn amazing.

A word of warning -- the recipe for the pumpkin caramel makes a lot. Like, enough that unless you are accustomed to eating straight up chunks of caramel on the daily {which honestly doesn't sound like a horrible thing, if we're being real}, it's going to take you a while to go through. So... I used half the leftovers to turn into homemade chewy caramels and the other half for something that you will have to see to believe. If you thought this treat was naughty, then you may want to avert your eyes. Stay tuned...

Copycat "Pumpkin Paws"
Inspired by Williams-Sonoma

Pecan halves
1/2 cup pumpkin caramel {see recipe below}
Milk chocolate, melted

On a silicone baking mat or a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet, lay out pecan halves in the shape of a paw -- I used 4 pecans going vertically and one going horizontally underneath.

When caramel sauce has cooled slightly {you don't want it to be too runny or you'll have a mess}, spoon about 1/2 a tablespoon over each pile of pecans. Allow to set completely. {This goes faster if refrigerated or put in the freezer for a little while.}

Once the caramel has set, spoon about a tablespoon of melted milk chocolate over the top of the caramel and pecans. Some people like to cover them completely, but I like to see the pecans poking out -- it's up to you how you do it.

Allow chocolate to set {again, in the fridge if you'd like to speed it up} and carefully remove from mat.

Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Pumpkin Caramel
Barely adapted from Challenge Dairy

1/2 cup butter {1 stick, 8 tablespoons}
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup light corn syrup
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk {not evaporated milk}
1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Mix in sugar and pumpkin pie spice until well combined.

2. Stir in corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk and pumpkin puree, making sure everything is well incorporated. Lower heat to medium to prevent scorching. {You'll get little dark bits throughout your caramel if this happens. Still tastes just as good, but isn't as pretty.}

3. Allow to boil until the mixture reaches 248 degrees. {As much as I hate using a candy thermometer, it's necessary in order to make sure this reaches the correct consistency. Trust me.}

The mixture will be super-duper hot. You don't want to mess with molten caramel. Don't be tempted to stick your finger in or lick a spoon -- you'll be sorry.

If using for Pumpkin Paws, allow the caramel to cool slightly {it'll start to thicken and get less liquidy} and spoon over pecans. This would also be the time to pour the caramel into a buttered or parchment-lined pan if you plan on making homemade caramels.

One the caramel cools completely, it'll hold its shape but retain a soft and chewy texture. Remove from the pan and cut into small squares; wrap individually in waxed or parchment paper.

Baby Prep: Gifts for Parents That Say, "Life Isn't Over" + Apple Cider Caramel Sauce

You know what's funny about being pregnant? People can't wait to congratulate you and swoon over the bump, but then -- in the next breath -- they will remind you that your life will soon cease to exist as you know it. They'll usually smile when they tell you this {like it's suppose to soften the blow} but they'll also make sure to follow up with further admonition just to be clear.

"No, really, though. You'll never sleep again. Get used to it."

Card from 9SpotMonk

Oh ok... um, thanks?

Whether or not you are "ready" to become a parent, there are still so many things to learn that no method of preparation will truly ever suffice. You realize this when you start opening baby gifts and -- though you proudly display your achievements and degrees in expensive frames on the wall -- you find that you have no stinkin' idea how some of those things work. A scary moment, for sure. {And for goodness sake, how many tubes and pieces are part of a breast pump??}

I was so very lucky to have not one, but TWO baby showers hosted in Cole's honor. And I can say pretty confidently that we have been stocked with most of the essentials we'll need for the first few months of his life, which is a wonderful blessing!

While many of the gifts we received were items we carefully chose and placed on our registry {car seat, stroller, baby swing, etc.}, there were also a few surprises here and there that seemed to say, "Hey, I know you're about to be a mama... but I also know you're still YOU!"

So, if you're looking for fun things to gift to parents-to-be that will help remind them that life is changing but it isn't over, here's a list of some of my favorites:

This necklace is from MangoJewels on Etsy.

Baubles. When one of my friends recently had her baby shower, I decided to get a little something just for her. At a local shop, they had an artisan creating custom jewelry right in the store, so I bought her a hand-stamped pendant sporting her new little one's initials on one of the charms {hers had a silver starfish & an aqua crystal}. There are also very pretty "teething necklaces" for moms that serve both as a statement piece AND a soothing teether for baby.

From Total Wine & More

Wine. I thought it was so cute and fitting that several of my friends gave me wine as a part of my gift! The sentiments attached ranged from "For when you need to stay zen." to "Let's plan a wine date together soon!" A creative twist on this was a friend who also attached a Starbucks gift card to the bottle with a note saying, "For the mornings... and for the evenings!"

From Toys'R'Us

Breast Milk Testing Strips. Wait... what? Well, if mom's going to indulge in a glass of wine or two, she's also going to want to make sure that her breast milk isn't giving baby a taste of Pinot too early in life. These handy little strips tell you whether or not the milk expressed is safe for baby, giving mama some peace of mind if she decides to pour herself a glass.

Gift cards for date nights.  Remember that guy that you liked a whole lot before your days were consumed by diapers and feedings? It would be nice to see him again, and not just when you're passing the baby back and forth! Gift cards for date nights to the movies, restaurants or events provide a reminder and a reason to hang up the "Mom & Dad" name tags for a few hours and try on that "Mr. & Mrs." title on for size again.

Original website not available, image found on Oh So Beautiful Paper.

"Me time." Many mamas forget to take some time to decompress, mostly because it can be hard to find that time. Gift certificates for manicures, massages, salon time or even just an "I'll watch the baby and you go grocery shopping... alone" pass could mean the difference between a calm, relaxed mom and a mother on the edge! She'll be grateful and you'll be a hero.

From Project Nursery

Comfy nursing wear. Let's be real: A new mom's wardrobe is most likely going to consist of spit up-covered tops and yoga pants that fit over her {hopefully} shrinking belly. Finding comfy, convenient pieces for her to wear post-baby will make her feel like she's slipping into Balanciaga. These modal camis and nighties from Gap Body are heavenly. {I can't yet speak for the "nursing" part, but I have a few comfy sleepwear pieces that I love.}

From ClosetCat on Etsy

Friendship, Support & Humor. I know that my "girls nights" will soon be very limited, but it makes me sad when friends act like they won't see me for the next 18 years. It's nice to know that, though you may be trading in gym time for Gymboree and fancy handbags for a well-stocked diaper bag, your girls will still be there when you need something more than baby talk. So, make sure to let your friends who are parents-to-be know that you're still on for coffee dates and wine nights whenever time allows.

Food. Never underestimate the power of food. Food can also be a great gift to give to new parents who will have little time to prepare meals for themselves once they're preoccupied with another mouth to feed. A few days ago I saw this cool idea from Once a Month Meals for a "Stock the Freezer" baby shower! How cool and useful is that?

If you haven't seen Meal Train before, it's another popular way to get friends and family to sign up for bringing over prepared meals to new parents over the first few weeks of adjusting to their new family unit. Food Tidings and Take Them A Meal are two other sites that have a similar setup for organizing food gifts.

One of the sweetest things someone can do is reassure you that you're going to be just fine and remind you that this little one on the way is opening a new, exciting chapter of your life... that is indeed a gift!

.................................................................

It's so important for parents to remember to eat properly and fuel themselves during those long days and nights. But you know what else is important? A treat every now and then.

And this Apple Cider Caramel Sauce is just the sweet treat you'll want to give to new parents, friends, family and yourself during this fall season. It is so, so good.

With just 4 ingredients {and a watchful eye}, you can make this sweet, decadent sauce that tastes like a perfect autumn day. FOUR INGREDIENTS. There are just no excuses.

What can you use it for? To drizzle over pie or cake. Dip apple slices in. Stir into beverages. Package up & give as a gift. Eat off a spoon. It's pretty ridiculous. I have a really, really good way to use it coming to you later this week, too...

But for now, let's just focus on not eating it all so we have options. It's easier said than done.

It's not terrible with a sprinkle of sea salt, either. ;)

Apple Cider Caramel Sauce

From Epicurious

4 cups apple cider* {I think what really made this taste amazing was the kind I used -- Trader Joe's Spiced Cider.}

1 vanilla bean, split & scraped

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring apple cider to a boil. Add vanilla bean seeds scraped from pod and drop in the pod itself. {You'll pull this out later.} Continue to boil until reduced by about half, about 12-15 minutes.

2. Add brown sugar and butter and stir until melted in and well incorporated. Reduce heat to medium.

3. Allow the mixture to continue to boil until the bubbling starts to slow down as the liquid becomes more thick and syrupy, about 7-10 more minutes. {You'll have to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn.} I didn't use a candy thermometer for this, but you'll want the mixture to be pourable but thickened -- it will thicken some more after it cools.

4. Carefully pour hot sauce into a heatproof container or jar and allow to cool before sealing and decorating.

Pour over everything. :)

{Flourless} Double Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Two incredibly exciting things happened the other day: 1. I noticed some bloggers posting pics of ingredients including cinnamon, pumpkin, and things with the word "spice" in the recipe title, and 2. My stats started showing an increase in views of my Ultimate Gameday Food Guide pin. These are very good signs that Fall is drawing near, bringing with it both football season and the end of my pregnancy adventure.

These days I get the question, "How are you feeling?" asked a lot, mostly due to the fact that "the bump" is now highly visible, even to the untrained eye. {i.e. The man at the FedEx store who gave me a dirty look when I picked up a shipment of wine for a blog-related project. Not to worry, I'm hosting a party at my house, not having one in my belly.}

The answer, I'm glad to say,  is "Not bad at all."

I'm entering my 3rd trimester in less than a week {!} and the only real complaint I have is that I'm no longer able to go at warp speed as I'm accustomed to. Things take a little more energy when you've got a stowaway on board. You may find yourself slightly winded from simple tasks like putting lotion on your legs after showering or taking off your jeans at the end of a long day. There are frequent pit stops to public restrooms, sometimes in the middle of what's supposed to be a "quick" trip to the store. Even sitting starts to become a challenge when you realize that you no longer bend in the middle, often forcing you into a reclined position so that your lungs have some room to expand. Several times a day, my belly begins shape-shifting as my son practices what I can only guess are his acrobatic skills. I've considered calling the circus just to prepare them for their future headliner.

Sure, it's a challenge getting used to increased weight and decreased mobility... but I'm doing my best to continue being as active as possible. This means I'm still spending time on my feet in the kitchen, which is important to me because I know that the luxury of recipe testing for hours will be coming to an end all too soon.

The great part about having less energy {yes, something positive has come of this!} is challenging myself to find and create recipes that require less time and less ingredients. Those are two bonuses for anyone, not just those with a bun in the oven!

That's how these cookies happened. It all started with a wonderful mail delivery from my friends at Peanut Butter & Co....



Dangerous things can happen when you ship 5 jars of flavored peanut butter to a pregnant woman. Luckily, Steve and I {and even Farley} have been taking turns diving into the peanut butter collection. His favorite use? In smoothies and on a spoon. Mine? Smeared on a banana or crisp apple slices. Or on a spoon. We can all agree, the stuff is great on a spoon. {Yes, even Farley.}

So all this peanut butter naturally gave way to ideas about baked goods. And believe me, there are tons to be had! But remember, I was looking for simplicity here, so the less ingredients, the better.

When I stumbled across this flourless peanut butter cookie recipe from Tina's Chic Corner, I was inspired to tweak her already fabulous recipe and make them my own. Deciding to use the Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter was the biggest struggle in making these because that's my favorite flavor and I didn't want to waste a single scoop on something unworthy. But as it turns out, they were worth the sacrifice.

I have become the queen of lazy cookies -- the kind that require little more effort than throwing a handful of ingredients into a bowl, mixing them and plopping them on a cookie sheet to bake. These would fall under this category. I'm thinking once the kid is older these types of recipes will be useful for last minute "Mom, I have to bring something in..." type moments.

For now, they're easy enough to mix up even on the days when I'm winded from tying my shoelaces. Hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do!

Disclosure: Peanut Butter & Co. sent me complimentary jars of their peanut butter for me to try. I have not been compensated for this post and the opinions written here are all my own! Thanks for the goodies, PB&Co!

{Flourless} Double Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Makes about 28 Cookies

1 cup Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup rolled oats {gluten free if you want to keep the whole recipe GF}
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
6 squares of dark chocolate, chopped into chunks {or prechopped chocolate chunks. Or chocolate chips. You get the idea.}
{Optional} Sea salt for sprinkling

1. Preheat oven to 350. Prepare a cookie sheet by lining with parchment or a silicone baking mat.

2. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients {except chocolate chunks} until thoroughly combined. Gently stir in chocolate chunks until well distributed.

3. Using a cookie scoop, drop scoops of dough onto cookie sheet, spacing about 2 to 2 1/2 inches apart {these will spread a bit}. If desired, sprinkle with sea salt for a little extra flavor.

4. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until the cookies are just set. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. {They will be quite soft right out of the oven but firm up a bit and become chewy once they're cooled.}

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Let's talk for a second about something extremely important: Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I mean, let's be real. They are the cornerstone for a proper baking education. The foundation for a well-rounded recipe repertoire. If you can't bake a decent batch of chocolate chip cookies, then your kitchen confidence may suffer.

I can't let you go through that kind of heartache, my friends. So I'm here to save the day because these are the only chocolate chip cookies you may ever need to know how to bake.

But before I go on, let me just make myself clear -- I don't do crispy cookies. No, siree. Crispy chocolate chip cookies make me sad. I bet that's how most red meat eaters feel about an overcooked steak.

As far as I'm concerned, chocolate chip cookies are baked as a mere formality. Because, as ok as it might be for you to scoop up globs of dough in your kitchen and devour them with reckless abandon, it's not cool to serve a platter of dough balls to company. {Although, that definitely depends on who you're having over.} More forbidden yet is to over bake these beauties, robbing them of all that amazing flavor, texture and moisture.

For me, there is nothing better than a CCC that's baked until it's just rigid enough to hold its shape, but immediately reveals a soft, gooey interior upon the first bite. That's ROOTO. {Right Out of the Oven.} But then there's that second, wonderful phase of cookie nirvana that takes place after the cookies are cooled {if they are still around, that is}. They sort of sink into themselves into little puddles of wonderfulness; the chocolate chips are still melty and the cookie itself gains a nice chewiness.

Pardon me for a moment while I wipe up the drool.

Here's a little secret I must confess: I've shared this recipe before under the name "Piggy Print Cookies" during one of my Tailgate Thursday posts. Recently, I realized that unless you're into Arkansas football or are looking for something bacony to make, you might not have thought to scour the post for the recipe. Plus, since then, I've played around a bit with the recipe and perfected them.

They are probably the fastest cookie you will ever make. You don't have to waste time creaming together butter and sugar or chilling dough or anything silly like that. The fact that you melt the butter, use only egg yolks and add a dash of maple syrup {you won't actually taste the maple syrup} makes these unique, and also makes them magical.

As my sister said the other day, "Well, that was the best thing I've ever eaten." I don't know if I'd go that far, but they're good. I promise.

So, I'm officially unearthing what has become my "go-to" cookie recipe any time I need to bake something quickly and still impress. I never, ever get sick of the reaction that folks have when they take their first bite of these. And I never get sick of taking the first bite myself.

Your baking education has been established. Go forth and feed the masses.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes about 28 cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks {12 tablespoons, 3/4 cup} butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a baking pan by lining with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla extract until combined and smooth. Pour into dry mixture and mix until fully combined.

4. Add chocolate chips and mix well to distribute.

5. Using a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out dough balls and place about 2 to 2 1/2 inches apart on the baking pan. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until they are puffed and the edges just begin to turn golden. Don't let them brown or they won't be as soft once they're cooled. {They bake for exactly 12 minutes in my oven for the perfect doneness.}

6. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 5-8 minutes, or until they've firmed up a bit. {Fight the urge to devour them instantly.} Carefully remove from baking pan and place on a cooling rack... or gobble them right up while they're warm and perfect!