Pumpkin Everything!

Just because Halloween is over does not mean pumpkin season is over!  The season of autumn is synonymous with pumpkin these days. I'm not sure when the world became obsessed with pumpkin everything but you can enjoy almost anything now with a hint of this comforting, nutrient rich veggie. Of course we have Pumpkin Spice Coffee, but we also now have chipotle pumpkin simmer sauce, pumpkin yogurt, pumpkin spiced almonds,  pumpkin goldfish (what?), pumpkin ice cream (yum), pumpkin spice popcorn, pumpkin coffee creamer, and even pumpkin spice bagels. In another month or so, the pumpkin craze will be over (until next fall) so most of us feel the need to take full advantage of the pumpkin overload right now.

Why pumpkin? Pumpkin is high in Fiber, Vitamin A, Potassium, Vitamin K, Iron, and Magnesium. Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc. Canned pumpkin is also incredibly versatile and can be added to oatmeal, pancake mix, chili, sweet potatoes and even yogurt!

Beware...Cooked pumpkin itself is quite bland. It's not sweet like sweet potatoes are, and it's not savory like butternut squash.  Pumpkin spice and sugar are added to most of these delectable treats I mentioned above. 

If you love pumpkin as much as most of the world right now...I have a recipe you will enjoy. Crustless Pumpkin Pie! Why no crust you ask? Because I tried so hard to perfect a healthy version of crust and have failed every time. So I eliminated it altogether and serve it with crushed graham crackers on top instead. If it sounds weird to you...then call it pumpkin flan. What's a name anyway. I hope you enjoy trying this and adding it to your autumn repertoire of recipes. Its a perfect addition to a Thanksgiving feast if you have to bring desert!  I would love to hear from you if you give it a try.  Let me know how it goes!

Bon appetite!

Jenn