I think one of the reasons I love pumpkin *everything* once October and November roll around is because we never eat pumpkin at any other time of year. It’s an interesting thing. All the other seasonal fruits have migrated into our year-round routines except pumpkins. And maybe big squash. (Just to clarify before we go any further — I love pumpkin everything EXCEPT pumpkin pie, which I cannot stand.) My point is, pumpkin is special because it is exclusive to a certain time of year!
One of my favorite things to do during this pumpkin-focused season is take a white or yellow cake mix, add a can of pumpkin, and bake it without adding any of the other ingredients. The pumpkin replaces the eggs and water and oil and makes a yummy pumpkin dessert that is as easy as it is delicious.
Add a quick drizzle of pumpkin glaze (powdered sugar and a couple tablespoons of pumpkin out of the can) and you have a dessert to serve for any fall occasion. Put it in a pumpkin bundt pan for extra “wow” factor. If the idea of a pumpkin bundt pan gets you excited like it did me, you need to check out our list of TEN awesome pumpkin pans for baking.
Pumpkin foods are one way my family and I celebrate the fall harvest and Thanksgiving, so gathering a list of some of our favorite and must-try pumpkin recipes was fun!
6 Fabulous Pumpkin Recipes For Fall Celebrations
1. Pumpkin Pancakes
I don’t know about your family, but I’m pretty sure my kids would be thrilled if I made them pumpkin pancakes for breakfast or supper. Making these is super easy with this pumpkin pancakes recipe from Food.com.
2. Pumpkin Smoothie
Another thing we are big fans of here is smoothies – so this pumpkin pie protein smoothie from Sally’s Baking Addiction is a no-brainer.
3. Pumpkin Cookies
One of my absolute favorite things to make for the kids in October and November are these yummy soft pumpkin cookies from Very Best Baking. I usually top them with the pumpkin glaze I mentioned earlier!
4. Pumpkin Biscuits
This pumpkin biscuits recipe from Taste of Home is a must-try. My family and I have only just recently started enjoying flavored biscuits so this one is going on our list! (And we are also huge fans of Taste of Home recipes too.)
5. Pumpkin Hummus
Oh my goodness – we are huge hummus fans here so the idea of making this pumpkin flavored hummus from the Daring Gourmet is so intriguing!
6. Pumpkin Soup
Every year we say we are going to make and serve this yummy looking pumpkin soup from Pioneer Woman served in a pumpkin shell. Of course, we somehow never get around to it. This is the year!!!
One of the things I didn’t realize until recently is that consuming pumpkin actually has benefits. I should have figured this out sooner. (It’s a God-made food, so it does stand to reason.) Here are some of the benefits of eating pumpkin yumminess.
The Benefits of Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a Low-Fat Food
First of all, pumpkin is a very low-fat and low-calorie food that is easy to add to your daily diet regimen. Whether you are trying to eat fewer carbs, lower calories, or cut back on your fat, pumpkin is a great option. In fact, it is often used as a substitute in cakes and cupcake recipes because it contains excellent nutrition but less fat than some of the other ingredients in these sweet treats. In addition to being low in fat, pumpkin is also high in fiber, making your food easier to digest throughout the day.
Pumpkin may be Good For Your Blood Pressure
Pumpkin seeds happen to be a good food for you if you suffer from high blood pressure. In the pumpkin seed is a type of oil that contains phytoestrogens. These have been shown to possibly help with high blood pressure, also called hypertension (diastolic and systolic blood pressure both benefit). As an added bonus, pumpkin may help with high cholesterol levels as well.
Pumpkin might Improve Your Vision
A unique benefit of eating pumpkin that many people don’t know about is that it can help improve your vision. Pumpkin is an excellent source of vitamin A, which is known to help with proper vision. It can also help to slow the progression of vision-related conditions, including degenerative eye diseases. Vitamin A may help in many other ways, from bone strength to healthy skin and hair. For enough vitamin A from pumpkin to improve your vision, you should aim for about a cup of pumpkin a day. That’s a lot of slices of cake, so maybe a pumpkin soup or pumpkin smoothie is in order.
Pumpkin may Help With Insomnia
Do you have insomnia or a fatigue condition? If so, give pumpkin a try! This yummy and seasonal vegetable also has an amino acid called tryptophan. This nutrient helps you sleep, especially during the holiday season when you tend to overeat, such as on Thanksgiving. Have some pumpkin seeds or a slice of low-fat pumpkin pie after your Thanksgiving meal, and maybe you will get a nice long nap. (Turkey has tryptophan too.)
Pumpkin may also help boost your mood, which is a nice added benefit of eating it. Pumpkin also includes omega-3 fats, zinc, and magnesium.
Leave a Reply