Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal!!

I could eat pumpkin pie flavored food all day, every day, but only in fall. There is something about fall that makes pumpkin much more appealing.  Who doesn't love pumpkin pie (ok there are those that don't), and who wouldn't want pumpkin pie for breakfast (yes you either love it or hate it)?  For my fellow pumpkin lovers, here is a delicious recipe for Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal.

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Ingredients 

1/2 cup steel cut oats
2 cups water
1/4 cup pumpkin purée
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp pure honey
1 Tbsp brown sugar
Splash of almond milk

Combine oats and water in small pan.  On medium heat, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until oats are fully cooked. Add pumpkin purée, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, honey and brown sugar. Cook an additional 3 minutes to incorporate flavors. Serve with a splash of almond milk and enjoy!

Curry Pumpkin Penne Pasta

I have been on a pumpkin kick lately.  Always happens around Halloween.  I buy everything in sight that is related to pumpkin or pumpkin spice.  I know there are a lot of pumpkinholics out there like me.  My love of pumpkin runs so deep, I thought, why not make a dinner that has pumpkin in it.  One thing that sounded like it would mesh well with pumpkin was curry.  I didn't used to be a fan of curry but it has grown on me over the past year.  This dish was delicious, and most importantly super easy and quick.  Enjoy!

Curry Pumpkin Penne Pasta

Ingredients

1 package brown rice penne pasta
1 Tbsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp garlic, minced
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
Chopped cilantro and lightly salted pumpkin seeds for optional toppings

In a large pot, cook brown rice penne according to package directions.

While pasta is cooking, in a large pan, heat coconut oil.  Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.  Add pumpkin puree, almond milk, vegetable broth, curry powder, cumin and salt and pepper to taste.  Cook 10 minutes to heat and incorporate all ingredients.

When pasta is done, drain and rinse the pasta (rinsing is important for brown rice pasta so it doesn't become sticky and clump together).  Add pasta back to pot it was cooked in.  Add curry pumpkin sauce to pasta and toss until pasta is well coated.  Cook on low for 5 minutes, stirring often, to heat all ingredients.  Serve immediately, topped with cilantro and pumpkin seeds as desired.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (3 different ways!!)

This is one of my favorite times of the year!  Cooler weather, family, carving pumpkins, roasting pumpkin seeds.  I've always roasted pumpkin seeds the same way, sprinkle a little salt on them and in the oven they go.  This year, I decided to try something different.  I put together recipes for roasted pumpkin seeds, 3 different ways!  Save those yummy seeds, don't let them go to waste!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Lightly Salted

Ingredients

Pumpkin seeds from one large pumpkin
Coconut oil
Salt to taste

Clean and dry pumpkin seeds from one large pumpkin.  Preheat the oven to 350*.  Place dry pumpkin seeds in a bowl and lightly coat with melted coconut oil.  Sprinkle salt to taste and toss to evenly coat.  Place the pumpkin seeds on an oiled baking sheet in a single layer.  Roast pumpkin seeds for 20-25 minutes or until they are lightly browned.  Enjoy!


Fiesta Blend

Ingredients

Pumpkin seeds from one large pumpkin
Coconut oil
1/2 Tbsp chili powder
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 pepper

Clean and dry pumpkin seeds from one large pumpkin.  Preheat the oven to 350*.  Place dry pumpkin seeds in a bowl and lightly coat with melted coconut oil.  Sprinkle seasonings over seeds and toss to evenly coat.  Place the pumpkin seeds on an oiled baking sheet in a single layer.  Roast pumpkin seeds for 20-25 minutes or until they are lightly browned.  Enjoy!


Pumpkin Pie Spice

Ingredients

Pumpkin seeds from one large pumpkin
Coconut oil
2 tsp stevia
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Clean and dry pumpkin seeds from one large pumpkin.  Preheat the oven to 350*.  Place dry pumpkin seeds in a bowl and lightly coat with melted coconut oil.  Sprinkle stevia and seasonings over seeds and toss to evenly coat.  Place the pumpkin seeds on an oiled baking sheet in a single layer.  Roast pumpkin seeds for 20-25 minutes or until they are lightly browned.  Enjoy!

Keep all seeds stored in air tight container for up to a week!

Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake...YES PLEASE!!

So along with my obsession with ranch dressing, I love me some pumpkin!  When fall arrives, so does all the pumpkin, and I am in heaven.  This morning was feeling rather fally (not sure if that word even exists, but it does for me), so I decided a nice pumpkin pie protein shake sounded good.  To all you fellow pumpkin lovers, enjoy!

PUMPKIN PIE PROTEIN SHAKE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Almond Milk
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
1-2 scoops Vanille Protein Powder
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
Ice Cubes (don't use too many or it will water down your shake)

Combine all ingredients into blender.  Blend until smooth.  Enjoy!