Pumpkin Spiced Fall Medley

There’s certainly a lot of debates going on these days. Yeah, there’s that whole whose going to run the US come November, but the only one this blog feels comfortable taking a stance on is whether you love or hate Pumpkin Spice! 

It’s always great to integrate what vegetation is in season into your diet. It allows you to try new things while possibly introducing some new nutrients into your body. So, we are more than on board with adding some pumpkin into our meals this Fall! That is, if it’s the actual squash and not some chemical that a certain huge chain coffeehouse concoctes.😜

Pumpkin itself is not the greatest on it’s own. It doesn’t contain much natural sugar like sweet potatoes do so you get a very Earthy taste. That’s why it’s frequently paired with signature Fall spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. 

Ingredients: 3 medium size sweet potatoes, 1 smaller size butternut squash, 2 Granny Smith apples, 1 can of pumpkin,  1 can coconut cream, nutmeg, ground cinnamon, clove, allspice, 2 tablespoons of raw sugar, pinch of flour

Directions: Peel and cut butternut squash  in half. Seed and cube. Wash and cut apples and sweet potatoes. Spray a baking sheet and add your fruits/veggies. Bake on 350 for about 25 minutes. You may want to bake apples separately for a shorter time as they can get a bit mushy. 

Open can of pumpkin and coconut cream (I’ve only seen this at Trader Joe’s). Mixture together in food processor (use about 3/4 of can of cream). Add spices, sugar and flour. If too thin, add more flour (same with sweetness). 

Once completed, drizzle pumpkin sauce over fruit/veggies. We made this with unseasoned chicken and added the pumpkin mixture to it as well. 


This combination will definitely get you into the Fall spirit. It’s a nice break from broccoli and Brussel sprouts while still getting your veggie intake. 

Clean Baking: Carrot Cake Muffins

carrotcake

Happy Easter! Easter has to be one of the top, if not the most, sugar saturated holidays. Peeps, Cadbury Eggs, Reese’s…the list of the artificially sweetened treats goes on and on. It seems like it’s unavoidable. But, there are ways to indulge in a healthy way. That’s where these little delights come in. 

Yields: 12 muffins

Tools Needed: 6 cup muffin tin, Food Processor or mixer

Ingredients: 2 cups Whole Wheat Flour, 1/2 cup Coconut Oil, 2 cups Organic Sugar, 1 Egg, 2 Large Carrots, 1 teaspoon Baking Powder, 3 teaspoons of Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon Nutmeg, 1 teaspoon Ginger, 1 teaspoon Salt, 1/4 cup of Almond Milk

Batter: Mix together dry ingredients. Cut carrots in 1 inch segments. Boil until soft (about 20 minutes). After giving the carrots a few minutes to cool, place them in processor with oil and almond milk until smooth. Add carrot/oil with dry ingredient mixture and mix in egg until no lumps remain.

Bake: Spoon mixture into tins. Do NOT exceed the levels of each tin. The muffins will, of course, rise. Bake for about 30 minutes at 360°. Let cool for 10 minutes.

These muffins are flavorful, filling, and anything but dry. Not only do they make a great desert, but also a quick go-to for breakfast during a busy week.