Friday, October 17, 2014

17 Pumpkin Recipes!


How to choose a pumpkin
Look for small, round pumpkins in the produce section marked “pie pumpkins” or “sugar pumpkins.” It’s OK if they have blemishes, but pass on any that has bruises or soft spots. Smaller pumpkins are the best kind for cooking. Avoid the larger type that you might choose for carving jack-o-lanterns, which have stringy, watery flesh and very little flavor. If you can’t find a proper pumpkin for cooking, you can substitute any other type of winter squash or even sweet potato in these recipes.
How to roast pumpkins
Canned pumpkin puree makes it easy to add pumpkin flavor to your meals. Look for puree with no added spices. Add leftover puree to your Shakeology, as in the first recipe below, stir it into oatmeal, or freeze it in ice cube trays for later use. If you want to put in a little extra effort, and it’s worth it, you can easily make your own flavorful roasted pumpkin puree. Carefully cut your pumpkin in half with a large knife scoop out the seeds and pulp (save the seeds for roasting!), drizzle with 1/2 tsp of olive oil, season with salt and pepper if desired, and roast on a baking sheet in the oven at 350° for 35-45 minutes, or until the inside is easily pierced with a fork. To make purée, simply put roasted pumpkin in a blender or food processor and blend, adding a little liquid if needed to get a smooth texture.
We’ve created 17 different pumpkin recipes for you to try, but don’t stop there! Once you’ve tried these recipes, we think you’ll want to experiment with using pumpkin in all sorts of dishes. What are your favorite ways to cook with pumpkin? Tell us in the comments!

Pumpkin Pie Shakeology
Make your Shakeology taste just like pumpkin pie! This healthy smoothie has a full serving of pumpkin, and tons of fiber to keep you satisfied for hours. Get the recipe.

Pumpkin Muffins
One of our Social Media Strategists, Amanda Meixner, came up with this delicious, high-protein recipe for healthy pumpkin protein muffins that are just perfect for Fall. Let us know what you think! Get the recipe.
Healthy protein pumpkin muffins recipe

Pumpkin Spice Latte
This pumpkin spice latte has half the calories of your favorite fall treat from the coffee store chain. Get the recipe.
This pumpkin spice latte is much lower in calories than the coffee chain version

Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Lentils and Goat Cheese
This hearty salad topped with lentils and fresh pumpkin is perfect for fall and winter months. In other seasons, replace pumpkin with sweet potato! Get the recipe.
Healthy pumpkin lentil salad recipe

Pumpkin Brown Rice Risotto
Risotto is comfort food, pure and simple, but it can be loaded with high-fat ingredients. That’s why we created this delicious, lighter version with pumpkin, sage, and brown rice. Get the recipe.
Pumpkin risotto recipe made with brown rice.

Vegetarian Pumpkin Curry
Don’t be intimidated by making your own curry! Our recipe makes it easy to prepare and oh-so delicious. This simple dish of pumpkin, bell peppers and fragrant fresh basil and coconut milk is ready in just 25 minutes. Get the recipe.
Healthy vegetarian pumpkin curry recipe

Pumpkin Chili
Pumpkin is the star of this belly-warming vegetarian chili that has only 96 calories per serving! Get the recipe.

Chicken Baked with Pumpkin
This casserole with savory bites of lean chicken breast, pumpkin, and fresh herbs has a whopping 25 grams of protein per serving and only 182 calories. Get the recipe.
Chicken baked with pumpkin recipe

Pumpkin Quesadilla
This is not your average quesadilla! It is stuffed with pepper jack cheese and spiced pumpkin puree and topped with all the trimmings. All for only 269 calories per serving. Get the recipe.
Pumpkin quesadilla recipe

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
For a crunchy, salty snack, try these pumpkin seeds! Get the recipe.
Roasted pumpkin seeds recipe

Pumpkin Pizza
Create this beautiful gourmet pie for your next family pizza night and listen to the oohs and ahhs! Making fresh roasted pumpkin puree is totally worth the effort, but canned puree tastes great too! Get the recipe.
Recipe for pumpkin pizza ith kale and caramelized onions

Cauliflower Pumpkin Au Gratin 
This combination of cauliflower and pumpkin sauce has all the comfort of a creamy casserole without the fat. Get the recipe.
Cauliflower pumpkin au gratin casserole recipe

Roasted Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, and Brown Rice Pilaf
This colorful side dish packed with vegetables is hearty enough to be your main course! Get the recipe.
Sweet potato, pumpkin, kale, and brown rice pilaf recipe

Paleo-Friendly Pumpkin Bread
Warning: the scent of this paleo-friendly pumpkin bread wafting from your kitchen will make family and neighbors come running for a slice. Get the recipe.
Paleo-friendly pumpkin bread recipe

Pumpkin Coconut Custards
Step into fall with these pumpkin custards made with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and a touch of coconut extract. Get the recipe.
Pumpkin coconut custard recipe

Pumpkin Cookies
Bake a batch of these yummy pumpkin oatmeal cookies with raisins and pecans. Only 103 calories for two! Get the recipe.
Oatmeal pumpkin cookies recipe
Peanut Butter Shakeology Cups
Peanut butter and chocolate combine in a healthy version of this classic candy made with ShakeologyGet the recipe.
Shakeology peanut butter cups recipe

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Black Bean Chili Recipe

It's National Vegetarian Day! To celebrate, I'm sharing a Black Bean Chili recipe! Also 21 Day Fix friendly, this would count as 1 red, 1 green, and 1 orange per serving!


Total Time: 29 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: 19 min.
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
3 cups low-sodium organic vegetable broth
4 oz. all-natural tomato paste
1 (4-oz.) can diced green chiles (with liquid)
½ tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. chile powder
1 (16-oz.) can black beans, drained, rinsed
1 (16-oz.) can cannellini (white) beans, drained, rinsed
Preparation:
1. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until tender.
3. Add broth, tomato paste, chiles, cumin, chili powder, black beans, and cannellini beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook at a gentle boil, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
4. Ladle evenly into six serving bowls.

Friday, August 29, 2014

How to Prepare for Christmas Early

Only 17 Friday's till Christmas! Yup! The time is ticking! Here are a few tips to minimize stress & have you all prepared and organized ahead of time so you can actually relax and enjoy the holiday with your family!

1. Buy in Advance!
The most well-organized people among us do their Christmas shopping months in advance.  You don’t have to worry too much about whom the presents are for; just pick up things that could suit a number of your friends or family and start stashing them away for Christmas. There are sales all year long! Take advantage of that and just buy and stash! When it comes to buying popular kid items (like Frozen themed toys) earlier the better! You are guaranteed to get it and at a decent price. I already have Elsa and Anna dolls & Elsa gown pjs stashed for my girls :)

2. Plan your meal in advance!
The last few grocery shopping days before Christmas are like hell on earth. Planning your meal in advance can help you avoid this last minute rush to the checkout.  Prices are often marked right up at this particular time, because the stores know that you will pay it no matter what.  Buy things like flour and caster sugar for your baking a few weeks in advance – they will keep for a long time.  If you have a freezer, use it! There are certain parts of your Christmas meal that you can prepare a few days in advance and freeze, freeing up your time on the day.

3. Order cards early!
I love the site Zazzle, I can always find codes for discounts on cards. Who says you have to make or get your Christmas cards in December or November? Keep an eye out on sites like Zazzle, Snapfish, etc for deals and go ahead and get your cards ordered in plenty of time!

4. Remember what's important!
For most of us, Christmas gifts are not what make it a special holiday. It’s about good food, and quality time spent with our loved ones.  It’s hard, I know, but try not to spend too much time panicking about budgeting for Christmas.  Children only care about getting the biggest and best presents if that’s what they are used to; if you go mad buying big presents for them every year, they will expect more and more each year to come. Not only that, but they will lose sight of what Christmas is really all about.  The magic of Christmas has nothing to do with how much money you spend. Make memories, that's what matters the most! Build gingerbread houses together, bake cookies, make decorations, etc. And find at least one thing you can do as a family to help others. Volunteer at the food bank, visit the local nursing home, Salvation Army has Adopt an Angel program to buy a needy child gifts, Samaratin's Purse has Operation Christmas Child that is wonderful as well. 

May you have a blessed and wonderful holiday season this year! 




Thursday, November 14, 2013

Fun with food

Did you know you could leave secret messages on bananas? Yup, all you need is a toothpick! Simply “draw” your message or picture on the peel & over time the message will appear dark black! I put little messages on them for my girls lunch boxes or even when I pack a lunch for my husband! They love it!

Saturday, September 28, 2013

5 -Ingredient White Chicken Chili Recipe

Nothing like a delicious warm meal on a cool day! This chili is not only delicious, but it's super easy to make! This serves 2-4 so double or triple recipe so you can have plenty left over for a freezer meal.
 
Ingredients
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 2 (15-oz) cans Great Northern beans, drained
  • 2 cups salsa verde (storebought or homemade)
  • 2 tsp. ground cumin
  • optional toppings: diced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, sour cream, crumbled tortilla chips
Method
Add chicken broth, shredded chicken, beans, salsa and cumin to a medium saucepan, and stir to combine. Heat over medium-high heat until boiling, then cover and reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for at least 5 minutes. Serve warm with desired toppings.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Grilled Asparagus Salad with Lemon-Parmesan Vinaigrette

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 Min

Cook Time: 5 Min

  1. ¼ cup lemon juice

  2. ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling

  3. 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

  4. ½ teaspoon dijon mustard

  5. ¼ cup olive oil Salt and pepper

  6. 2 bunches fresh asparagus, ends trimmed

  7. ½ cup thinly sliced radishes

  8. ½ cup shredded carrots

  9. ½ cup edamame

  10. 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, cheese, garlic and mustard. Slowly stream in the oil, whisking constantly to combine. Season with salt and pepper. On a heated grill or grill pan, cook the asparagus, turning once, about 3 minutes total. In a large bowl, toss together the radishes, carrots and edamame. Top with the asparagus and bacon. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and sprinkle with parmesan.

NUTRITIONAL INFO 1 SERVING:  CALORIES 206; FAT 11.5 g (sat 5.0 g, mono 4.3 g, poly 1.0 g); PROTEIN 15.9 g; CARBS 11.7 g; FIBER 4.1 g; CHOLEST 22.0 mg; IRON 2.1 mg; SODIUM 503 mg; CALCIUM 257 mg -

Monday, July 22, 2013