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The Health Benefits of Pumpkin

Full disclosure time: I love pumpkin. Pumpkin pie is my favorite holiday season dessert. My mom makes awesome pumpkin chocolate chip cookie bars. But I don’t only love it for dessert! Pumpkin soup, pumpkin curry… I love it all. Lucky for me, pumpkin is good for you. A gal can’t live on pumpkin pie alone (or pumpkin cheesecake, or pumpkin rolls, or pumpkin bread, or…) but it’s got some real health benefits. Pumpkin is full of fiber. Yay fiber! Fiber helps you feel full, fiber helps keep the digestive system working and happy. Pumpkin is an amazing source of vitamin … Continue reading →

Beyond the Pumpkin Pie: Sweet Treats for Your Thanksgiving Dessert Table

Anyone who has hosted a few dozen guests on Thanksgiving knows that three or four traditional pumpkin pies is not going to cut it when it comes time for dessert. People have different tastes and not everyone enjoys pumpkin pie, regardless of its history with the holiday. If you are hosting a large group for Thanksgiving dinner it’s appropriate to offer a variety of different dessert options. This is especially critical if you are hosting a number of children. Most kids (my daughter not included) would much rather dine on a decadent chocolate treat than dig into a slice of … Continue reading →

Perfectly Delicious Pumpkin and Chocolate Treats

There’s no time like the present to make the most of a fall favorite: pumpkin. Of course, with Halloween upon us, chocolate is also in abundance as well. So why not marry the two ingredients in mouthwatering creations that will have your guests begging for more? The following recipes make great additions to holiday parties. Both the Chocolate Pumpkin Bars and the Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins can be made in advance and travel well. What’s more, both dishes follow standard recipes for bars and muffins, so if you’ve made either in the past, you will have no problem baking these. … Continue reading →

What To Do With Half a Can of Pumpkin

Either the people at Libby’s pumpkin are not so truly bright or they’re very genius. I haven’t decided which yet. Maybe you can help me decide. Yesterday, I made several sweet potato and pumpkin pies and other various desserts. Our church has an annual Thanksgiving dessert where we all get together and eat pie, and for the last several years, I’ve made something. I generally don’t do pumpkin because as we’ve noted, I don’t like pumpkin pie. But this year, that’s what was requested, so that’s what I did. I didn’t make plain pumpkin pie but rather things like Spiced … Continue reading →

Ten Ways to Use Your Leftover Pumpkins

Okay, Halloween is over, but what can you do with all of those leftover pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns? Actually, there is plenty you can do, from home schooling activities to feeding your family. Read on to find out ten different ways to use your leftover pumpkins. Feed them to the wildlife. Hunter routinely gather old Halloween pumpkins and use them to lure deer to hunting grounds. While we won’t be hunting in our backyard, we will be able to provide the native wildlife with a tasty snack. Donate them to a farmer. Farmers can use the leftover pumpkins to feed some … Continue reading →

Fall Cookies: Classic Pumpkin Bars & Pumpkin Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting

Canned pumpkin will soon be on sale and I admit that my pantry shelves will be lined with the stuff. Canned pumpkin is more nutritious than fresh although I have to admit that adding cream cheese frosting to a pumpkiny confection laden with almost 2 cups of sugar probably negates any health benefits. For a healthier version of this, try Lisa Pietch’s recipe. This particular recipe comes from a family friend who I’m sure got it from another family friend. . .and so on. Pumpkin Bars You Will Need: 2 c. Flour 1 3/4 c Sugar 1 tsp baking soda … Continue reading →

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie

I just recently started loving pumpkin pie. For some reason I always opted for the chocolate or peanut butter concoctions at Thanksgiving dinners. If you’re a pumpkin pie fan, or if you’re not a big fan, give this recipe a try. It combines a traditional pumpkin pie mix with a creamy layer of whipped topping and cream cheese. The flavors are mellow and lovely. Now that I know this recipe, I’ll be making it instead of the traditional pie. It’s creamy and utterly delicious. Don’t celebrate Thanksgiving without it! For this recipe you’ll need: 1 (6oz) graham cracker pie crust … Continue reading →

High-Tech Tool to Keep Trick-or-Treaters Safe

Long before Colorado authorities discovered the mutilated remains of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway in an open field, and New Jersey investigators found 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale’s body dumped in a recycling container, I never considered allowing my 8-year-old daughter to trick-or-treat alone… or even with a group of friends. In Jessica’s case, she was snatched earlier this month while making the 1,000-foot walk to her school. Late Tuesday, 17-year-old Austin Reed Sigg was arrested and charged with her horrific death. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, police recently arrested 15-year-old Justin Robinson and his 17-year-old brother for allegedly murdering Autumn in order to obtain … Continue reading →

Just Say Boo!

Halloween can be a challenging time for young children. Dressing up and collecting candy is a blast, but having to deal with spooky sights and sounds is often more trick than treat. My daughter is no exception. She’s the kid who’ll open wide to cram four fun-sized chocolate bars in her mouth at one time, but slams her eyes shut when we get anywhere near a Halloween Express store. The cacophony of cackling witches and wailing zombies, not to mention the bloody limbs, exposed guts and skeletal remains of errant pirates are enough to make any kid cringe. Author Susan … Continue reading →

Halloween Books = Amazing Alternative to Candy

Believe it or not, 100 Grand Bars, Laffy Taffy and candy corn are not the only treats that scream, “Halloween!” If you are looking for a sugar-free/fat-free/calorie-free/peanut-free/gluten-free goodie to give kids on All Hallows’ Eve, consider Mia: Time to Trick or Treat! The adorable and affordable children’s book (it retails for less than $5) is an amazing alternative to candy and can be passed out as a Halloween party favor, a prize for a costume contest, or used to spice up your kid’s bedtime story collection. There’s nothing like a little seasonal spice to get youngsters excited about reading, and … Continue reading →