Tag: pumpkin puree

Dairy-Free, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Instant Pot, Italian, Lightened Up, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish, Slow Cooker

Comfort Food: Meatballs & Potatoes Edition (Instant Pot)

Annie

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I love this recipe for Italian Meatball Stew over Smashed Potatoes. I haven’t had it in a few years, but this is one that my mom made regularly in the slow cooker. I decided to switch things up and use meatballs instead of chicken Italian sausage after spotting meatballs when doing a last-ditch quarantine preparedness run at Wegman’s. (Let me just interject that their prepared beef meatballs are mini and cute and delicious.) I made the potatoes extra creamy using mascarpone instead of EVOO. Using an Instant Pot allows for a much faster simmer compared to a stovetop or a slow cooker. This is quite aromatic and your kitchen will smell amazing during while cooking this stew, only adding to its maximum comfort level during this crazy self-quarantining and social distancing time. If you’re feeling industrious, trying making bread to pair!

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Bread, Breakfast/Brunch, Dairy-Free, Italian, Lightened Up, One Pot Dish, Side, Vegan, Vegetarian

Savory Rosemary Pumpkin Bread (No Knead!)

Annie

This No-Knead Rosemary Pumpkin Bread could be a savory addition to your Thanksgiving table. I love this with dinner as a side or in the morning as toast. I made this recipe last winter at a ski house and a few times at home. It seems complicated because you have to let the dough rise twice, but there’s no kneading involved. Because the dough is so wet and sticky, the theory is that the gluten doesn’t need help forming via kneading; instead the dough comes together on its own. The hardest part of this is planning because you have about 3 hours of time where the dough needs to sit. The original recipe for this calls for a spiced version with walnuts and cranberries, but I prefer the addition of whole wheat flour and fresh rosemary. I’ve baked this as one round loaf, two smaller loaves, and in a Dutch oven. I love all three, and recommend a Dutch oven if you prefer your bread perfectly crisped and crunchy on top with a soft center.

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Dairy-Free, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Italian, One Pot Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

A Creamy, Tomatoey, Pumpkiny Sauce

Annie

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Need a break from marinara sauces, pumpkin sauce or creamy, Alfredo-like sauces? Look no further. This Creamy Tomato Pumpkin Sauce is the perfect blend of garlic, tomatoes and “cream.” When I was little, it would be the dead of summer, and my mom would harvest tomatoes from our tiny garden. She’d chop up tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic, sauté the three into an easy sauce, and sever over pasta; I think this is where I got my inspiration. With leftover pumpkin and yellow squash, a simple sauce emerged fresh heirloom tomatoes (those colors!), carrots and a little garlic. A splash of almond milk (or whatever milk you prefer) adds a new dimension to the sauce to perfectly prepare it for pasta.

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Entrée, Gluten-Free, Lightened Up, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish

A Risotto Recipe to Warm You Up

Annie

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I can’t believe I haven’t posted this yet! This risotto is so yummy and comforting now that it’s getting cold. I made this right after the NCLEX — the boards to become a registered nurse — and it was a welcome distraction. There’s something so therapeutic about making risotto with all the stirring and mixing. I had this idea for a pumpkin leek combination and something about it seemed like it needed some bacon. For a curve ball, I used a dry red wine (since that’s what I had), but I think it adds some depth of color to this fall dish. I should also admit I’m not sure if it made a true 7 or 8 cup batch between all my “tastings” oops. . . Here’s a recipe for Pumpkin Leek Risotto with Turkey Bacon to soothe your soul and warm you to your toes.

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Breakfast/Brunch, Dairy-Free, Dessert, Lightened Up, Snack, Vegan, Vegetarian

Piece of Cake Donuts: Only 2 Ingredients

Annie

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Happy Saturday! What’s a better way to celebrate the weekend than with freshly baked donuts? It went from summer weather (I ran in shorts and a t-shirt on Monday) to winter creeping in (I may have broken out the scarf and gloves later this week). These Two Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Donuts are surprisingly easy! You just need a donut pan, canned pumpkin and a boxed cake mix. I chose a spiced cake mix to complement the pumpkin spice theme, but you can use any cake mix. Although these donuts may be comparable in carbs and sugar, the fat content is reduced by baking them and using pumpkin to bind the dry ingredients together. They’re best hot out of the oven and with a cup of coffee! At least in my opinion, these donuts are a piece of cake — pun intended.

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Dairy-Free, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

Craving Some Curry Pumpkin Soup

Annie

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Happy meatless Monday! Here’s a fun “pumpkin” recipe that you’d never know there’s pumpkin in it: Curry Pumpkin Soup with Swiss Chard. Pumpkin purée is a great way to naturally thicken a soup, make it heartier and add a bit more nutrients to it. I’m a curry fan Red Swiss chard was on sale at Whole Foods and it just looked too pretty not to add. I only had less than a cup of arborio rice, which is normally used for risotto (from vegetable risotto), and I tossed it in; it makes the soup much thicker than traditional rice. Overall, this is quite filling and bursting with flavor. It’s one of those fun dump, stir and simmer recipes that’s easy to meal prep and enjoy during the week.

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Better Than Takeout, Entrée, Gluten-Free, Lightened Up, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish, Soup

Buff Chick Chili FTW #TB12

Annie

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I was debating licking my bowl since this Buffalo Chicken White Bean Chili is THAT GOOD. I love checking recipes on Skinny Taste, and this chili seemed like a good one to try during and maybe make again for Super Bowl Sunday, since everyone in New England will be anxiously watching this weekend. This chili version is packed with veggies (obviously carrots and celery and I snuck in some puréed pumpkin as well) and with all of the taste of buffalo chicken, but in a more “guilt-free” packaging. I used  a plain, organic rotisserie chicken so then I could use the remaining meat for salads, sandwiches and bowls. (I also saved the carcass to try my hand at making homemade stock! Stay tuned…)  The only downside of this recipe is that it’s on the higher end for sodium, which is why I don’t add any extra salt and chose toppings like plain, non-fat Greek yogurt and chopped celery versus cheese, but do whatever floats your boat — just indulge in moderation!

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Breakfast/Brunch, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Lightened Up, Low Sugar, Meal Prep, One Pot Dish, Vegetarian

Pure Perfection for this Fall Pumpkin Oatmeal Bake

Annie

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Happy first day of fall, y’all! Naturally I have to kick off fall with all things pumpkin. You knew it was coming — it’s that time of year. I tweaked my recipe for Oatmeal Bake and concocted this Pumpkin Oatmeal Bake as an easy breakfast and as an early celebration. Plus, it’s so easy to pop a square into a mason jar, add toppings and you have breakfast on the go. My posts may be a bit sporadic because I have my first med surg exam tomorrow and NP school is kicking into high gear. Nevertheless, I forget to keep the healthy recipes coming. Hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

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Breakfast/Brunch, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Lightened Up, Low Sugar, Vegan, Vegetarian

Paramount Pumpkin Pancakes

Annie
Pumpkin Banana Pancakes
Detox the day after Thanksgiving with some Pumpkin Banana Pancakes. A spin off of my Banana Oat Pancakes and my Chocolate Banana Pancakes, these are sure to delight. Unlike the other two versions, I used a blender (a food processor works as well) to seamlessly incorporate the pumpkin purée and effortlessly combine all the ingredients. The consistency resembles your more traditional pancakes, but is still packed with all the flavor you’d expect from a fall brunch.

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Breakfast/Brunch, Dairy-Free, Dessert, Gluten-Free, Low Sugar, Snack, Vegan, Vegetarian

Yes, Another Pumpkin Recipe: Pumpkin Parfait

Annie

Pumpkin Pie Parfait

In the wise words of my roommate, Dee, “Kiss fall goodbye because winter is coming, ya betches.” Apparently it’s crucial I post this Pumpkin Pie Parfait recipe in case we get some early snow to dash our fall dreams. Pumpkin Spice Granola over a sweetly, spiced pumpkin layer and vanilla yogurt of choice. (Do I sense a vanilla frozen yogurt could be a substitute?) As breakfast or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, this parfait is going to make you wish you stumbled upon it sooner.

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