Thursday, November 3, 2011

Early Morning Healthy Pumpkin Recipes (plus archives of fall favorites)


Please pass the pumpkin and pass the pumpkin pretty please.  My husband isn't a big fan of pumpkin.  What is wrong with him? I am still trying to win him over every year by creating tempting pumpkin dishes.  But the rest of us eat it up as soon as the calendar turns over to the fall months.


 I have two recipes to share for early morning ways to break the fast with full pumpkin flavor!  These are healthy and nutritious for added bits of bonus...

In winter months it is extremely convenient to prepare oatmeal in the crockpot the night before on low.  When you rise and shine in the morning, the entire house smells so cozy and just so YUM.  After you pour your oats and water in, you can get creative and add nearly anything you want to your crockpot!

For busy parents, seeing this sight right before bed ensures a good night's sleep...I promise. 

 For this autumn hot cereal I added a can of pumpkin puree, steel cut oats, water, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, a dash of salt, and a little bit of almond milk.

 
Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Cups 


Use mini spoons to encourage slower eating and smaller bites (thanks Mom for this tip).





For this next breakfast meal, I discovered a super cool secret online (of course).
  This genius idea was to use coconut milk for whipped cream topping!  
Wow...coconut whipped cream!

Simply put a can of coconut milk in your fridge and when you open it, you get white, fluffy cream to top your favorite breakfast dishes with! You can save the coconut liquid that settles at the bottom of the can to use in smoothies and in cooking.  Thank you Nutty Kitchen for teaching me this.  Just one more reason why I love the internet.



I used coconut whipped cream to twirl on top of this:
Pumpkin Power Protein Shake


You just need to add ice, truvia, almond milk, water, pumpkin puree, cottage cheese, vanilla protein powder, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon to a blender.  Did you know that you can add a bit of xanthan gum or some banana to your shakes to make them the perfect frothy consistency?   I learned that from one of of my healthy cooking books recently and it works perfectly.


 A glass of power to start your good day...



One more tiny tip: 
Try baking your breads in different dishes rather than just a loaf pan.  Variety makes old traditions sparkle.  It is also fun for kids to have their OWN personal sized bread loaves.  This pumpkin bread was baked in little squares and my boys felt extra special knowing that they each got to pick their own loaf.  I even left them in charge of covering their extras and saving them in a safe place to finish later.  I found one dish stuck sideways in the fridge, one hidden at the back of the pantry shelf, and one left on the table.  I'm pretty sure the one left one the table was from little Titus who is used to having everyone else help him. {wink}



 I am beginning to have a little-big collection of fall recipe baked goodness on this little blog.
 For more ideas, check the archives:

- Pumpkin shaped bundt cakes
- Pumpkin shaped cheese ball
- Apple muffins and spiced applesauce
- Stenciled Designed Pumpkin Ribbon Cake
- Tiny Pumpkin Pudding Cups
- Mini Personal Pumpkin Pies

 Cozy up and enjoy,
 
This post is linked to: DIY FALL Festival, Under the Table & Dreamin, Think Pink Sundays, Seasonal SundaysMet Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, DIY Design, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff,   Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up  DIY by Design

The DIY Show Off

26 comments:

Kristin said...

It all looks so warm and comfy! I want to come to your house.

Karen said...

pumpkin oatmeal sounds great!

Blondie's Journal said...

This is an excellent post...I learned a lot! I'd love to make oatmeal in the crockpot, what an easy idea! I never thought to make bread in anything but a bread pan but think of all the cool shapes you can get using different dishes!! Thanks so much!

XO,
Jane

caveman said...

Sigh. Why can't Fall be focused around Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream instead of pumpkin? However, the smoothy was pretty scrumptious. And I admit that pumpkin does make the house smell wonderful.

Anonymous said...

What a "pumpkin patch" of great recipes!! Thank you so much!

Heather said...

WOW these look great!! And thank you SO much for the coconut milk tip! We just discovered my husband is lactose intolerant & now that whipped cream is out the door, I've been needing a substitute!!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Jenny said...

I am SOOOOO coming to your house for breakfast! Is tomorrow okay?

Julie said...

Yum! I love pumpkin! And I love your galvanized tray. I just bought the same one from PB this week!

Christina at I Gotta Create! said...

Yummy, nutrition, and simple. Wouldn't have thought of crockpot cookin' for breakfast!

nicolette {momnivores dilemma} said...

Great ideas! This is actually the first year I've ever liked pumpkin anything.

Here's a quick tip to make your oatmeal more digestible: Soak it overnight before you crockpot it the next day. Add a teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar to reduce the phytic acid {which blocks our mineral absorption}.

I made pumpkin pie oatmeal this morning...and your pictures are eye candy...

Nicole [The Lovely Poppy] said...

I'm going to try the pumpkin cups in the morning. i'm stopping by from tatertots and jello and would love for you to stop by my blog and checkout the huge giveaway going on. http://thelovelypoppy.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-follower-giveaway.html xoxo nicole

Jenn said...

Oh I love pumpkin!

Kelly Miller said...

Loving that slow cooker recipe. You add all the ingredients the night before?

Trying that coconut trick, too!

Jill said...

The oatmeal looks great - where is the recipe? I can't find it anywhere!!!

Unknown said...

Looks great! Thanks for sharing ,good ideas, Joann

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com said...

What a warm and cozy post that makes me want to curl up with some tummy warming pumpkiny recipe!

By the way, I'm so excited to hear you've taken up knitting! I can't wait to see all of the awesome wintery projects you make!

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com

Barbara F. said...

Lisa, I really enjoyed this post! I love pumpkin anything. I am trying the oatmeal and shake and mini pies, can't wait! Visiting from Seasonal Sundays and am now following. xo,

b. said...

such a cozy post and the pictures are so fresh! happy fall! xo.

Grace @ Sense and Simplicity said...

My mouth is watering at the thought of waking up to pumpkin porridge in the crockpot. I need to look up how to make that.

Carrie said...

You make healthy look GOOOOOD! I would be delighted if you would link this up to Spa{ahhh} Sundaze!
(http://www.projectpossessed.com/spaahhh-sundaze/spaahhh-sundaze-116/)

Your newest follower,
Carrie
http://www.projectpossessed.com

Evie said...

Mmmm...that first recipe looks sooo good. I think I'm going to have to try making that for my kids in the morning. Thanks for sharing!!
Btw - your pics are stunning!! : )

evie @ brown paper packages

Susan said...

My husband LOVES pumpkin! And oatmeal, so I'll definitely have to give the pumpkin oatmeal a try. Actually he loves protein shakes too so this post is perfect for us!

LeAnn said...

Wow, all kinds of great ideas here! I have lost of people staying with us on Thanksgiving and so I am going to give the pumpkin oatmeal a try. Love it all though!

The Average Consumer said...

Clicked on your site from tatertotsandjello. I would love to make your breakfast oatmeal - can you give me the measurements of how much of everything else besides the can of pumpkin you put together? I'm one of THOSE people - LOL. Looks so yummy definitely would love to have that one morning over the holidays with my company!

Marilyn said...

Wow..Great spread.. Everything looks soo yummy..Your set up looks amazing..Perfect turn out and soo festive for the season.. I would LOVE for you to please share it via my thanksgiving linky party pweease. - http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com/2011/11/thankful-for-food.html?showComment=1321294226362#c4607478653202832991 TY -- wishing you an amazing start to your week..

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