This year is a bit different, especially when it comes to kids and school. Some kids are learning remotely, others are adjusting to the hybrid life or going back to their school full-time. Needless to say, it’s been a lifestyle change all around - kids and parents, alike.

What’s important to remember is that teaching and learning can still be fun, especially when delicious treats are involved! That’s why we dedicated the month of September to our exciting hands-on series, Kids in the Kitchen! If you didn’t catch our weekly recipes, we’re including them below. Each one features fall-themed, kid-friendly (and approved!) step-by-step directions and we did a little research on some really interesting facts on the highlighted ingredient.

Pumpkin Spiced Muffins

Did you know?

Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years. They are indigenous to the western hemisphere.

Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.

The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was in 2005 and weighed 2,020 pounds.

To make the muffins, you’ll need:

• 1 box Stonewall Kitchen Pumpkin Spiced Muffin Mix
• 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup milk

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease or line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
2. By hand, or with an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter with about 1/2 cup of muffin mix.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl if necessary. Add remaining mix alternately with the milk beginning and ending with the mix.
4. Mix until just blended.
5. Divide batter evenly into muffin cups and smooth tops of each.
6. Sprinkle contents of maple topping packet evenly over each muffin.
7. - Bake for 16 –18 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan and serve warm.

Fun-shaped Butternut Squash Ravioli

Did you know?

Early Butternut squashes were believed to have originated in the United States in the 1930’s as a natural outcrossing or mutation of the Canadian crookneck squash.

It’s loaded with potassium and is water-based, making it a hydrating vegetable.

A single cup of Butternut Squash provides more vitamin A than most people need in a day (457% of the daily value, to be exact).

Recipe can be found HERE

Sticky Buns

Did you know?

The lifespan of a maple tree is between 100 to 400 years, depending on the species.

Maple Syrup was first recorded as being produced in 1540 by Native Americans using sugar maple’s sap.

Maple is one of the fastest growing trees, growing by 4-6 feet each year.

What you need:

• 1, 1-pound ball refrigerated pizza dough
• 2 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 2 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ cup Stonewall Kitchen Pure Maple Cream
• ½ cup pecans, chopped and toasted

What to do:

1. Thaw frozen dough according to package directions.
2. Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a deep-dish 9-inch pie pan.
3. Roll dough into a rectangle approximately 10 inches by 6 inches.
4. Brush surface of the dough with melted butter.
5. Combine the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over dough.
6. Roll up the dough forming a 10-inch long roll. Carefully cut into ten rounds, each about 1-inch thick, with a sharp knife.
7. Sprinkle toasted pecans over the bottom of the pie plate. Warm maple cream in the microwave briefly and drizzle over the nuts.
8. Place the dough rounds, spiral side up about an inch apart, over the sauce. Let the dough rise in a warm place for approximately 30 minutes or until they have doubled in size. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown.
9. Remove from oven and cool 5-10 minutes. Turn pie pan over onto a serving dish. Scrape any additional sauce onto the buns and serve warm.

Apple Sauce Muffins

Did you know?

It takes the energy from 50 leaves to produce one apple.

Apples are a member of the rose family.

Apple trees take 4 to 5 years to produce their first fruit.

In colonial times, apples were called “winter banana” or “melt-in-your-mouth”.

Recipe can be found HERE