Pumpkin Bars and Spinach Artichoke Dip

Hi Ladies!

It was a great day at MOPS today. I hope all had fun getting to know each other a little better with our Connect Four game.

I just thought I would feature a few of my favorite dishes from this morning's brunch. I loved all of the food, but the things that stood out to me were the Spinach Artichoke Dip (Traci H) and the Pumpkin Bars (Melissa H). Don't you just love fall food?

• Pumpkin Bars
• 
  
• 4 eggs
• 1 2/3 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
•  
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir into the pumpkin mixture until thoroughly combined.
3. Spread the batter evenly into an ungreased 10x15 inch jellyroll pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in preheated oven. Cool before frosting.
4. To make the frosting, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Stir in vanilla. Add confectioners' sugar a little at a time, beating until mixture is smooth. Spread evenly on top of the cooled bars. Cut into squares.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

1- 14oz can artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
1- 10oz box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
10oz jar Alfredo sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
4oz (1/2pkg) cream cheese softened
1 tsp minced garlic
1 cup shredded parmesean romano cheese blend

Preheat oven to 35 0degrees. Mix all these ingredients in a mixing bowl:
Drain and chop artichoke hearts (keeping them somewhat chunky)
Take thawed spinach and squeeze out any excess water
Add Alfredo sauce
Add 1 cup shredded parmesean romano cheese blend
Add 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
Add softened cream cheese
Add minced garlic
Mix until well blended and place in a oven safe casserole bowl or dish
Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
Place in 350degree oven for 15-20 minutes
Serve warm with sliced French bread, tortilla chips, or crackers.

Enjoy!