Mini Maple Pecan Pumpkin Pies - Recipe!

Pumpkin is huge around the Holidays - you can have virtually anything pumpkin spiced, from Lattes to Donuts.. but I decided to make mini pumpkin pies with maple pecans on top.

Absolutely amazing.

Okay, so I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I did very, very little with this 'recipe'.

There is the traditional, long way to make pumpkin pie or there is my way.

I'm posting this more for the love of pumpkin pie rather than the actual recipe. So, forgive me if you're here to learn to make Pumpkin pie from scratch because you won't learn 'the full recipe' from me.

Basically, what I did with this recipe was bought pre-made pie shells (mini sized ones) and cans of pumpkin that was already puréed. (The only reason it was done this way, was to save a lot of time! The café can get extremely busy during Holiday season)

**RECIPE**

(To make 12-16 mini pies)
2 cups of Pumpkin Purée (canned)
1 cup of double cream
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs plus the yolk of a third egg
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
(You can use cloves - I prefer not to - if you do, add 1/4 tsp ground cloves)
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp lemon zest
12 - 16 mini pie shells
12 - 16 Pecans
Maple Syrup


**DIRECTIONS**

Preheat oven to 425F
Beat eggs in a large bowl
Mix in sugars, salt, spices and lemon zest
Mix in pumpkin purée
Stir in cream
Mix together well until smooth

Pour filling into uncooked pie shells

Bake at 425F for 15 minutes

(While your pies are cooking - mix maple syrup and pecans together in a plastic container, ensure pecans are fully covered in syrup)

After 15 minutes, lower temperature to 350F

Remove pies from oven and place maple covered pecans on top

Bake for 40 - 50 minutes more

Use a knife or skewer to check the middle of the pie

If it comes out clean, your pies are ready.

Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for about 1.5 - 2 hours

(Your pies will be slightly puffed up when you remove them from the oven - this is normal - they will reduce after they've started to cool) 

Enjoy!

Baileys Toblerone Cheesecake Recipe - YUM!

Ugh - cheesecake. My love.

Now, as you may have seen from my last post - I'm on a weight loss journey but that doesn't stop me enjoying the food that I love. That includes cheesecake.

Luckily for me, I've already lost 53lbs (and counting) and with the plan I'm on, I can eat cheesecake and not feel bad about it.

I make a Baileys Toblerone cheesecake, which is the recipe I'm about to give to you.

It is divine.

Anyways, here is the recipe for my Baileys Toblerone cheesecake. It usually makes about 8 slices but I've sold them in bitesize portions at my café and they went down a treat!

Perfect with a cup of coffee after lunch.

**Recipe**

200g Digestive Biscuits (I'm sorry, Rich Tea just wont do!)
100g Butter
300g Cream Cheese (Philadelphia works best)
200g Whipping Cream

200g Toblerone

3-4 shots of Baileys

(When I say shots, I literally mean a shot glass of Baileys, popped into the mix!)


**Directions**

Crush digestives and melt butter in a pan, once melted, add biscuits and mix together

.Place mixture in an 8" spring form tin, flatten until even and firm

Empty cheese into a large bowl and beat until smooth.

Lightly whisk cream until almost stiff then add to the cheese

When you've finished mixing cream and cheese, add your shots of Baileys (taste to test)

(There are two options for the toblerone - I use the following method)
Break up toblerone into small pieces, add to mixture and mix well

(Second option - not one I've used)
Melt toblerone in a pan, once melted, add to cheese/cream mixture and mix well.

Pour the mixture onto the base, smooth out.

Bang cake tin onto a hard surface gently to ensure mixture settles.

Pop into the fridge for 2 -3 hours (preferably overnight)

Add some chocolate on top to decorate

Enjoy!

Weight Loss Journey - How I lost 53 lbs & still losing.

Hey guys! Happy New Year. 

I wanted to share my weight loss success with you all & let you in on my secret. 

I've always been a big girl until a friend told me about a programme that's designed specifically for women. I

I was reluctant at first, as you always hear of the newest fad diet or quick fix (and we all know how much I love my food!) but once I started, I was so happy that I did. 

So far, I've lost 53 lbs. I'm so happy with the results and I've only been doing this programme since September! 

I gave it my all, I was determined that It would work.

I'll share my link & you ladies can check it out for yourselves. I promise you will not be disappointed. 

http://tinyurl.com/os8pkm7

I suppose, there's always going to be a bit of doubt in the back of your mind, will it work, is it worth the money. My answer is YES, it will and YES, it is. 

Once you've entered the site, watch the video for a bit, it explains the programme and how it works. Once you've watched the video the Add to Cart button will appear, you can then purchase the programme! Although, if you'd like to purchase it a little quicker, in the bottom right hand corner of the page there's an 'Order Now' link. 

Click 'Order Now' to place your order. 

I absolutely LOVE this programme.  

The Venus Programme is designed for any body shape, size and fitness level. So, if you're like me, love food and haven't been active or done much exercise for a long time, these results are still HIGHLY attainable. I am the proof. 

My weight loss so far! 

I know we all want the perfect body - to be at a healthy weight and to feel great about ourselves. 

This programme makes that possible. As you can see from the pictures, which are all women who have used and are still using the Venus Factor programme, the results are amazing. 

The programme not only has a great nutritional component, it's also jam packed with exercise and work out videos for all fitness levels. This will not only help you lose weight but also give you a leaner, tighter and much sexier figure. (What nearly all of us desire)

Venus Factor is programmed specifically for women, targeting all of our problem areas. Which means, we can lose weight while still keeping our gorgeous curves. 

The programme also boasts one much needed component, which I think a lot of us could benefit from. Social support. It gives you access to an online support group with other women who are on the same journey as you and I. Here, you can share your journey, your struggles and your successes with everyone else. (We all need a little support sometimes, right?)

The fantastic thing about this programme is that there are no harmful medications to take, no need to starve yourself to get to your desired body. There's a great food plan and excellent work out videos - what more can you ask for? 

Be assured, this is not like those flashy celebrity diets that claim you can lose 3 stone in a week (although, if you do, FANTASTIC!) 

This will take patience, motivation and will power, now, as scary as that sounds, it's all made so much easier by the online support group, the awesome trainers in the videos and the delicious food you will be chowing down on. 

You will start seeing results within the first two weeks. 

The diet plan is easy to follow, will keep you full up and will stop all those cravings! That's not to say that you can't enjoy the things you love, like chocolate and red wine, hehe ;) 

The programme also explains all of the different hang ups women have about their bodies and how to overcome them. 

I would not recommend a programme to anyone if I didn't feel like it works. I most certainly wouldn't put my name to something and recommend others to try it if it was going to let anyone down.

This, I can and DO recommend. 

I'd also like to mention the PRICE of this programme. I was shocked by the price. I expected it to be hugely expensive when I discovered it. It seemed to good to be true, but, believe me, it's not. It's a mere $47. It's a one time payment that guarantees a fantastic weight loss. Really, $47? Yep.

I paid for mine in Euro and with tax it amounted to €50. I was more than happy to pay that for something that I felt I could trust. If you consider, a personal trainer my set you back hundreds if you go every week for 12 weeks. 

Although, if you do purchase VF and you're not 100% happy with the results, they offer a 60 day Money Back guarantee. No questions asked. My advice is to give the programme your all for the first 60 days - see the results and I can guarantee you won't be looking for a refund. 

I look forward to hearing about your success. Make sure to pop a comment below & let me know! Don't forget to subscribe, like & share!

Good Luck in your journey!! 

Here's that link again.

http://tinyurl.com/os8pkm7