Individual Pumpkin Pockets

My mother has taught me so many things.

Like how to sew…
How to make a bed…
How to love well….
How to parent young children while retaining even a modicum of self composure…

The list goes on.

Two of my favorite life lessons from her, though, have to include the following:

1. Nothing in life has to be boring.
2. Fun doesn’t have to be complicated.

And it’s with those principles in mind that I created today’s little recipe: individual pumpkin pockets.

My mom was never overly concerned with perfection, and truly – as one sometimes rather crippled by obsessive compulsive tendencies – I mean that as the greatest compliment. We ate lopsided Mickey Mouse pancakes growing up… She hung even our most awkward drawings on the fridge (you know the ones that are supposedly family portraits but look like a convention of pigs riding skateboards?)… Our enormous blanket forts and elaborate costumes (for special occasions like, Oh, Wednesday) never had to be Pinterest-worthy… And life was never boring.

And since today is her birthday (she’s 39, of course), I thought today would be a perfect day to share this little recipe. It’s fun (my kids helped me with the demo!) and oh so simple. I picked up a can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls® from Walmart, sliced them into smaller triangles, added a little 5-ingredient pumpkin filling, closed them up with a fork, and baked them.

Simple and delicious.

The filling ingredients are below, but you should know that they are basically a little pumpkin, a little cinnamon, and a little cream cheese frosting. So if you have a little leftover icing from other holiday baking, just add pumpkin and cinnamon and you’re set! If you’re feeling especially adventurous, let your kids make their own shapes using cookie cutters. They won’t be perfect… but who needs perfect? 😉

The filling is a little sweet but subtle enough to make these a perfect breakfast or afternoon snack. And for anyone who is a little over-sugared, they make a lovely slightly savory dessert.

It’s my mother’s attitude I try to capture as we head into the holidays: fun and simple. I hope you can catch it, too.

Individual Pumpkin Pockets
1 can Pillsbury Crescent Rolls®
2 oz cream cheese
2 T canned pumpkin
1/4 t cinnamon
1 T powdered sugar
1/4 t vanilla

Instructions:

Mix cream cheese, pumpkin, cinnamon, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl.
Unroll crescent rolls and slice each triangle in half.
Spoon approximately 2 teaspoons of filling onto half of the triangles.
Cover each of the filled triangles with a plain one.
Close the edges by pressing with the tips of a fork.
Bake at 375 for 9-12 minutes, until golden brown on top.

What inspires you at the holidays?