2nd Annual BYOP

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you will remember our BYOP from last year. 

It's a night where we have our friends over to carve pumpkins and everyone brings a pumpkin flavored dish (which you know I loved because of how much I LOVE pumpkin!)

It's such a fun, fall-themed, night. 

This year we had:

A layered appetizer of cream cheese & pumpkin butter topped with roasted, candy coated pecans. The salty crackers made for the perfect combination. 

 These pumpkin nut muffins are the perfect treat if you're looking for something not overly sweet. They made a great breakfast this morning as well ;)

 Mary Claire brought these delicious pumpkin muffins as well. The chocolate chips in these bad boys make them to die for. 

 Our pumpkin spread (minus Melissa's amazing pumpkin bread that was devoured).

Our Pumpkin Chili is the recipe I want to share:

It comes from "Primal Cravings" Cookbook 

What you need:

2 pounds ground beef (grass-fed if possible)

1 yellow onion, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce

1 4 oz. can diced green chills

1 cup beef stock

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon paprika

2 teaspoons cinnamon (Jason only uses 1 teaspoon)

1 teaspoon granulated garlic

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Salt to taste

Jason also adds hot sauce--just a few shakes

What you do:

In a large soup pot, place beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat, 

stirring occasionally until the beef if browned. 

Add the rest of the chili ingredients. 

Let simmer, stirring every so often for 15 minutes. 

Be ready to be amazed. It's so delicious and has the perfect amount of "kick" to it. 

 and so it begins...and yes, that is a power drill. My man wasn't playing around. 

 I came to the conclusion that you don't realize just how much work carving a pumpkin is when you are younger. Then, there's always the chance that you will cut out the wrong piece and well, that's the end of it! 

 I love this picture. It perfect depicts their feelings about how their carving was going. 

 The finished products. Excuse the lighting--my goal was just to get the pumpkins!

Until next year.