October is National Pumpkin Month and you can find pumpkin everything everywhere. There's pumpkin coffee at Starbucks, pumpkin blizzards at Dairy Queen and pumpkin pancakes at many restaurants.
Pumpkin is high in Vitamin A and low in fat so it's good for you too, according to Self Nutrition Data. Canned pumpkin is also very good for you so whether you use fresh or canned pumpkin in your recipes, the results will be a healthier you.
Here are some pumpkin recipes to add to your October plans. The first recipe is found at MarthaStewart.com. The photo is from my niece, whose food creations always look as great as they taste.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling
Cookies
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cloves
2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups pumpkin puree, chilled (you can replace with canned pumpkin)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Filling
3 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat, set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and cloves: set aside. In another large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and oil until well combined. Add pumpkin puree and whisk until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk until well combined. Sprinkle flour mixture over pumpkin mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
Using a small ice cream scoop, drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Transfer to oven and bake until cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of each cookie comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on pan.
Sift confectioners' sugar into medium bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth. Add cream cheese and beat until well combined. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla, beat just until smooth. (Filling can be made up to a day in advance. Cover and refrigerate; let stand at room temperature to soften before using.)
Assemble the whoopie pies. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Trasnfer filling to a disposable pastry bag and snip the end. When cookies have cooled completely, pipe a large dollop of filling on the flat side of half of the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing down slightly so that the filling spreads to the edge of the cookies. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate cookies at least 30 minutes before serving and up to 3 days.
Enjoy this recipe for pumpkin muffins from Cooks.com.
Easy Pumpkin Muffins
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 eggs
1 lb. can pumpkin
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Measure all ingredients in a big mixing bowl. Beat together well for 5 minutes. Pour into cupcake pans, filling more than halfway full. Bake at 400 F. for 20 minutes.
Note: These muffins are great with miniature chocolate chips added to the batter.
I have used a similar recipe for many years to make pumpkin bread.
Pumpkin Bread
3 1/3 cups flour
2 1/2 cups suger
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
2 cups pumpkin, fresh or canned
4 eggs
2/3 cups nuts, optional
1 1/3 cups raisins, optional
Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl. Add oil, water, eggs and pumpkin. Mix well. Pour into 2 greased and floured loaf pans or 6 baby loaf pans. Bake at 325 F. for about 1 1/4 hours for loaf pans or 45 minutes for baby loaf pans.
Turn your favorite cheese ball recipe into the perfect October party food by adding a jack-o-lantern face and handle made from a stalk of celery.
From pumpkin pie to pumpkin bread and everything in between, October is a great month to add pumpkin to your diet. It's high in Vitamin A and tastes yummy.
Your kids will love helping make these easy recipes and everyone will enjoy eating the results of your baking. Plan a pumpkin party during the month of October.
Use a pumpkin theme, make pumpkin crafts and serve pumpkin foods. Decorate small pumpkins with markers to keep them fresh until Halloween.
Pumpkins are also great for decorating your porch or yard for Halloween. That spooky day will be here before you know it so pick up enough pumpkins for your recipes and your yard at your local pumpkin patch this month.
