Holiday Dessert Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Joanne Leaeno, winner of the first annual Holiday Dessert Recipe Contest! Joanne submitted her recipe for Pumpkin Squares and won two tickets to the 2016 Culinary Walkabout. The dessert was served to Home Delivered and Congregate clients, and she served her winning treat to the Congregate folks at the Meridian Senior Center on December 18th.

Joanne’s Pumpkin Squares recipe came about rather by accident. Years ago, her late husband “volunteered” Joanne to prepare the food for his company Christmas party. What was served to 300 people at that party in 2005 has since become a holiday tradition. 

Thank you Joanne for making the holidays a little brighter and a lot sweeter for the seniors served by Metro Meals on Wheels!

PUMPKIN SQUARES RECIPE

Crust:
cup flour        
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup quick oats        
½ cup butter

Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and butter – mix until crumbly. Press into the bottom
of  a 9” x 13’ pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Filling:
1 can evaporated milk    
2 eggs
1 cup sugar        
½ tsp. salt
2 cups pumpkin puree    
1 tsp. pumpkin spice

Blend pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, salt and pumpkin spice. Mix well and pour over the crust. Bake for 20 minutes.

Topping:
½ cup chopped nuts
1 yellow cake mix
1 stick butter (melted)

Sprinkle the cake mix and nuts over the top of the filling. Pour butter over all the cake mix, making sure it is moist. Bake 20 minutes and cool in pan. When cool, cut into 2 inch squares.

Enjoy!