Fall is officially here and the pumpkins are in! I love everything pumpkin, right down to my coffee. But I only really enjoy it during the fall/winter. After that, I'm over it until the next time it rolls around. There is just something so inviting and intoxicating about pumpkin and the spices that generally accompany this great food. Pumpkin is also a very nutritious food. Pumpkin is a low calorie food and also a source of carotenoids. Consuming a diet rich in carotenoids has been associated with a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease as well as some cancers. Sounds like an even better reason to eat pumpkins! Carotenoids are best absorbed with fat in a meal. Chopping, pureeing, and cooking also help to increase the bioavailability of the carotenoids. You can even substitute some of the fat when you are baking with pumpkin puree.

If you are interested in roasting your own pumpkins I suggest buying the "pie" pumpkins. They are much better for cooking than the big jack o lantern type pumpkins. Much easier to handle and clean, plus the actual pumpkin is less stringy and purees up smoother. This morning I roasted 2 small pie pumpkins and it yielded around 3-4 cups of pureed pumpkin. It is easy to roast a pumpkin. Just cut it in half and scoop out all of the stringy mess. Reserve the seeds, they are also great roasted! Then place the pumpkin halves in a 9 x 13 pan rounded side up (put the cut edges down on the pan). It takes around 40-45 mins @ 350 degrees. Once done, just pull out of the oven and let cool on your stove top. Then scoop out the "meat" and puree with a food processor or what I actually used today for the first time that I found even easier to use was my immersion blender (Thanks Miranda! Baby gift last year).

This pumpkin puree is so versatile. Just experiment with a spoonful here and there and you will be amazed at all the spices that complement pumpkin. For Sam I mix it into a lot of foods, or just give it to him plain, he loves it.

Sam's Pumpkin Quinoa

Cook some quinoa as directed on the package
Mix about 1 cup of cooked quinoa with 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (adjust this to suit your taste)
A few shakes of indian seasoning

It is SO good. I mixed this up for him the other night and was taking a few bites to taste test and I was thinking this would be really good to have as a side dish for mine and Austin's dinner. Except I will add more spice, saute some onions and maybe squash. Just add in whatever you have in your produce drawer, I'm sure it will be tasty!

Pumpkin Pancakes
mix up pancake mix or from scratch, however you normally make pancakes
stir in 1/4 cup pureed pumpkin
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

These are also amazing! Add more or less spice, however you may like it. Top with fresh whipped cream, or powdered sugar, walnuts, maple syrup, pumpkin butter, applesauce, whatever you prefer!

Now, I also roasted the pumpkin seeds as well. If you have older children this would be appropriate.

Cajun Pumpkin Seeds

1 cup raw pumpkin seeds (rinsed. don't kill yourself trying to get all of the pumpkin bits off of the seeds, just cook it and it will be fine)
1/2-1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
1 T olive oil

just toss all together and bake at 300 degrees for 45-60 mins. Stir a few times during the cooking process. Enjoy!

If you have some great pumpkin recipes just let me know!