Tailgate Tasties

I'm heading up to Columbia to watch my gamecocks take on the Auburn Tigers, and I can NOT wait. The high in Columbia is supposed to be 70--perfect football weather! And I'm meeting up with Emily and Megan, and hopefully a few of my best friends from college.

I will be enjoying my morning tailgate mimosas out of my lovely GARNET shatter-proof champagne flute.

And I'm bringing these two Tailgate Tasties.

Tasty #1:  Pumpkin Whoopie Pies  (YUM!)

Pies:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 15oz. can pumpkin

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Filling:

1 8oz.  package cream cheese, softened

1 stick unsalted butter, room temp.

1 16oz. box powdered sugar (I used less…just taste as you go)

cap-full vanilla extract

pinch or two of cinnamon (to taste)

Pies: Preheat oven to 350. Whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, salt, nutmeg, and cloves.) Set aside. Beat the brown sugar, sugar, oil, and pumpkin. Add eggs one at time, allowing each to mix in well, followed by the vanilla. Slowly, add the dry ingredients to the wet.

Using a Ziploc bag with the tip cut out, pipe circle of batter about 2 inches in diameter. Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet for 11 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Filling: Beat cream cheese and butter. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Once the pies are cooled, frost and make “sandwiches”.  Eat them right away, or chill overnight.

Tasty #2: Cream Cheese Sausage Crescents

1 lb. regular breakfast sausage, browned and drained

1 8oz. package cream cheese, softened

2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls

Add the softened cream cheese to the browned sausage and mix well. Dollop a tablespoon or two of the sausage mixture in the center of the rolled-out crescents. Roll up and bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet at 350 for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Here's to hoping the Gamecocks can make my day just a little more perfect! GO COCKS!