Pumpkin Mac n Cheese with Kale!

This is a splendid little lunch, that is easier than pie (pumpkin pie) duh.

Use a box of whole grain Mac n Cheese. We like Annie’s, or Kraft, or Hodgson Mill, or you could get all fancy and make some from scratch (in which case this is not as easy as pumpkin pie). So put your noodles on to boil, and saute up some Kale (that maybe you blanched and froze), and throw in some chicken sausage too while you’re at it (unless you don’t eat meat, and then don’t do that).

Once your noodles are done and you have followed the instructions to stir in cheese and milk, and salt n’ pepa (Shoop ba-doop ba-doop ba-doop). Then add in your sautéed kale and sausage, and 1 cup of canned pumpkin. STIR! Add little more milk, because it will get kinda thick. Then eat it, and be thankful for fall, and pumpkins, and husbands who made it all for you (because mine did)

Healthy Baking: Getting Ready

Since fall is officially here, I can feel the burning desire to BAKE! I love baking, love it. I like all the ingredients, I like the process, and I like the end results. One thing over the years that I have learned is that you can totally bake AND lose weight, its true. There are so many healthy options out there for even the most decadent baked good, have you ever read Chocolate Covered Katie?

Vegan Rice Crispy Treats

This winter is going to be a little harder for me, as I will be working in a cafe like atmosphere, that will be selling tons of baked goods. This just means I need to make sure I don’t feel deprived of these things at home. If I’m eating (in moderation) healthy baked goods at home, my desire to eat unhealthy ones at work will be much less (at least I’m hoping). In order to bake healthy treats though, you have to be prepared. A pantry stocked full of nutritious ingredients, and recipes ready to make! You also have to remember to portion them out, freeze leftovers, or giveaway anything that feels like something you couldn’t control yourself around.

Weight Watcher Pumpkin Cupcakes

So I figured in honor of the beginning of baking season, that I would make a shopping list, AND post some awesome websites, and recipes. (click photos for recipes)

WHAT YOU NEED TO BAKE HEALTHY:

• Canned Pumpkin (Not canned pumpkin pie filling)
• Canned Sweet Potato Puree
• Salt
• Baking Soda
• Baking Powder
• Xylitol (look it up)
• Brown Sugar
• Cinnamon
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Vanilla Extract
• Oat Flour
• Maple Syrup
• Shredded Coconut
• Agave
• Virgin Coconut Oil
• Spelt Flour
• Whole Wheat Flour
• All Purpose Flour (I like Organic Non-Bleached)
• Eggs
• Cocoa Powder
• Sugar
• Apple Sauce (unsweetened)
• Mashed Bananas
• Rolled Oats
• Quick Oats
• Nut Butter
• Chocolate Chips
• Stevia
• Walnuts
• Almonds
• Garbanzo Beans
• Pitted Dates
• Cream of Tartar
• Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
• Canned Coconut Milk
• Ground Flax Seed
• Chia Seed
• Brown Rice Syrup
• Greek Yogurt
• Powdered Sugar
• Fat Free Cream Cheese
• Fat Free Pudding Mix
• Ground Ginger
• Ground Cloves
• Honey
• Nutmeg
• Molasses
• Evaporated Fat Free Milk
• FRUIT!
• Lemon Juice
• Pam
• Cornstarch

Skinny Apple Cobbler

Lighter Apple Pie Turnover

Some great healthy baking websites:

-Chocolate Covered Katie

-The Healthy Chef

-Skinny Taste

-Averie Cooks

-Eat Yourself Skinny

-Eating Well

-The Gracious Pantry

Healthy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

Skinny Sweet Potato Pie

Oatmeal Spelt Honey Scone

 

Fall Foods: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Would you like to consume 8 million calories in one soft pumpkin flavored cream cheese filled sandwich?! Of ocurse you would! Lets get started.

I actually made these like 3 weeks ago, and for some reason have taken my sweet time posting them. Oh well, better late than never! And we still have a good few weeks before the dreaded winter devours my all too short Autumn…):

This recipe is actually really easy, kids could easily help too. The recipe originally came from this blog, and I basically followed it to a T. It says the recipe makes like 12, but mine made 24! So I dont know what kinda crazy large whoopie pies Martha was making, but this makes a ton! The only down side I found was that they stick together really bad, and then they kind of tear themselves apart if you stack them. I may have needed to cook them a little longer to “dry them out” a bit.

The cream cheese frosting was the easiest and BEST part, I really want to make Mr. Gaunt a pumpkin cake with this frosting for his birthday!

RECIPE:

3 cups of AP Flour

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 tablespoon of Cinnamon

2 tablespoons of Pumpkin Pie Spice

2 cups of light brown sugar

1 cup of vegetable oil

3 cups of pumpkin puree

2 eggs

1 teaspoon of Vanilla

Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Filing

12 oz of Cream Cheese, softened

4 oz of unsalted butter, softened

2 tablespoons of vanilla bean paste  ( I just used vanilla)

2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

To make the Cookies –

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.  In a Large bowl combine the brown sugar and oil until well mixed. Add in the pumpkin and stir to combine. Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until completely incorporated.

Using a tablespoon ice cream scoop, drop scoops on the parchment paper about 1 inch apart.  Bake for 15 – 17 minutes rotating the pans half way through. The tops should be just starting to crack or firm to the touch. Let them cool completely before filling.

To Make the Filling –

Cream together the cream cheese and the butter until they are light and fluffy. Then add in vanilla bean paste and stir to combine. Sift in the powdered sugar in 3 additions making sure to mix well after each addition. Set this aside to chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.

Using a piping bag, pipe a good amount of frosting on one cookie and top with another cookie pressing down ever so slightly. Repeat with the remaining cookies.

These were a HUGE hit at the party I went to. I even bought this cute plate at target for $3! If you have a Halloween part I definitely suggest making these!