Pumpkin EVERYTHING!

Who's ready for pumpkin everything!!? I am, I am!! Even though, I already miss summer, I have accepted that 'tis the season for crisp weather, cozy sweaters, and most importantly, PUMPKIN. Luckily, we can eat as much pumpkin as we want!! It's filled with fiber, Vitamin A, and potassium to keep you feeling full, seeing straight, and your muscles functioning at their best. Check out some (pumpkin) ideas below to make your fall the best one yet. 

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Add Pumpkin to Your Pasta Sauce
YES! It's delicious! Kick up your plain old pasta dinner by taking your store bought pasta sauce and adding pureed pumpkin to it. Check out this recipe for pumpkin meatballs with cinnamon pumpkin sage tomato sauce. 

Make Your Own Pumpkin Yogurt
Add a scoop of pumpkin puree to your favorite yogurt. Mix in your favorite fall spices like cinnamon or pumpkin spice. Top with all the goodies!! My favorite are almond butter, granola, chopped candied ginger, and a drizzle of maple syrup. If I wanna kick up the protein, I'll even add a scoop of vanilla protein powder. 

Use Pumpkin as a Healthy Replacement in Baking for Oil & Butter
Turn ALL your favorite baked goods pumpkin!! The oil ratio is 1-1, if the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of oil, replace with 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree. For replacing butter, multiply the amount of butter by 3/4. If the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, replace with 3/4 cup of pumpkin puree. 

Add Espresso Powder to Pumpkin Puree to Make it a Pumpkin Spice Latte Puree 
Hell to the yeah, this is a thing. A genius idea, that I wish I could take credit for and make millions off of. Check out this recipe from Food Network's show The Kitchen for pumpkin spice latte base. Use this base as you would regular pumpkin puree for all of the above. Just keep in mind it has sugar in it so you may have to adjust the amount in your baking recipes. Even try this base in your favorite chili! The combination of the coffee and pumpkin will blow your mind. 

Don't Forget About Your Pumpkin Beer
Add your favorite pumpkin ale to your cupcakes to make the most fluffy, moist, light cupcake you've EVER had. I swear, these are a MUST try. It's like biting into a Pumpkin Ale (if that were possible), the spices explode in your mouth. Click here for pumpkin ale cupcakes recipe. 
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You're welcome. :D