Pumpkin Pie - Good and Extremely Simple

This is just perfect and so very simple.  You just have to put everything in the blender and blend, pour into a crust and bake.  If you use a pastry shell, bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes and then bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  The graham cracker crust is simple to make.  Both are extremely easy and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of pumpkin puree
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can of Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 ounce)
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• Dash of Nutmeg
• 2 to 3 teaspoons of ginger (I tend to like mine more spicy)
• 1/2  teaspoon of salt
• 1 graham cracker crust

Directions:  

Place all the ingredients in a heavy duty blender and pulse on high speed.  Pour into a graham cracker crust and bake in a medium over (350 degrees) for 1 hour.  Check with a knife to see if the pie is done inside.  Cool and then top with some freshly whipped cream.

For added flavor, top with some pecans.

Try Harley Pasternak's Nutritious & Delicious Pumpkin Recipes

I was reading on People.com the other day and quite accidentally heard about Harley Pasternak.  He had an article on pumpkin recipes and that interested me.  So the more I read about this calm and serene man, the more interested I became.

 

He is the celebrity fitness and training guru to the stars. His list of clients would make anyone envious and his philosophy is different than most.  He wants you to exercise less and eat more smoothies.

 

Yes, exercise less. He stated that when people go to the gym, they are hungry afterwards and their mind sets tell them they deserve to eat because they just exercised an hour, lol.

 

He feels less exercise, more natural eating is imperative.  The way he explains this is that after going to the gym you will go to the local store and get a juice cocktail for 400 calories and a low fat muffin for 500 calories and then after supper, you will reach for the desert "Because" you worked out at the gym for 1 hour today.    He states it is better to lose 1/2 pound a week and keep it off, then to do a fast weightloss detox where you will put the weight back on later.

 

Here are a few of his recipes:  

 

Wholesome Pumpkin Pancakes

Serves 2-4

• 1 cup dry instant oatmeal (or ground whole oats)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves or allspice
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ¼ cup skim milk
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
• 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 egg whites

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
2. In another medium sized bowl, mix the wet ingredients well, then slowly add in the dry ingredients and stir just until evenly moistened.
3. Once ingredients are mixed, heat up a griddle and lightly grease with cooking spray. Pour a quarter cup of pancake batter for each pancake and cook until golden brown on each side.
4. If you like thinner batter, add a little bit of skim milk. Serve hot.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Serves 1

If you have read my book, The Body Reset Diet, or follow my PEOPLE blog, you know that I'm a huge fan of smoothies. This one tastes just like pumpkin pie, but without the feeling like you have to take a nap afterwards.

• ½ cup 100% pumpkin puree (make sure it's just pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie mix)
• ½ ripe banana, halved (frozen, if you like)
• ¾ cup non-fat greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp agave nectar or real pure maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (if you don't have ready-made pumpkin pie spice, make it yourself with 4 parts cinnamon, 2 parts ground ginger, 1 part nutmeg, 1 part allspice and just a dash of ground cloves)
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup crushed ice

Directions:

1. Blend to desired consistency. If you like your smoothies a little thinner, try adding a bit of water or nonfat milk.

 http://harleypasternak.com/

Also Read:

Speaking of Pumpkins: Recipes Galore

How to Train for your Body Weight

Harley Pasternak Shares His Healthy Spins on Pizza, Piña Coladas and French Toast

Easy Workout Tip for Busy People  

Speaking of Pumpkins - Recipes Galore

The weather is changing here.  The wind is blowing fierce today.  October is a normally windy time in my town.  I am preparing for the cold and bundling up my rooms.  Winters are very expensive here so time to stock up and save. 

Speaking of Pumpkins:

Spicy Pumpkin Pie Almonds - Healthy Party Treats: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2012/09/spiced-pumpkin-pie-almonds-healthy.html

Pumpkin Donuts Baked to Perfection: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2012/09/07/pumpkin-doughnuts-baked-to-perfection/

Very delicious vegetarian pumpkin and spinach pizza: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2012/08/very-delicious-vegetarian-pumpkin-and.html#

Pumpkin Pie Spice Mixture: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2011/11/pumpkin-pie-spice-mixture.html

Healthy Pumpkin Marmalade: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2011/11/healthy-pumpkin-marmalade.html

Homemade pumpkin pie for the holidays: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2010/10/homemade-pumpkin-pie-for-holidays.html

Homemade Luscious Lemon Meringue Pie: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2010/10/homemade-luscious-lemon-meringue-pie.html

Free Recipe for Homemade Pecan Pie: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2010/10/free-recipe-for-homemade-pecan-pie.html

How to make homemade apple pie with a flaky crust: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-make-homemade-apple-pie-with.html

How to make Peach Cobbler A'La Mode with Ice Cream Recipes Included: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2010/10/peach-cobble-ala-mode-with-ice-cream.html

How to peel, cut and shred a fresh pumpkin - recipes included: http://goodfoodandmore.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-peel-cut-and-shred-fresh-pumpkin.html

Pumpkin Recipes: Marmalade, Chutney and Smoothies

Recipes Using Fresh Pumpkins - Marmalades, Smoothies and Chutneys

The pumpkin patch is brimming full of fresh pumpkins; just ripe for the picking. There are many kinds of pumpkins and these recipes will fit them all. Traditional bright orange pumpkins, butternut pumpkins or the light brown skinned pumpkins are all delicious. 

Pumpkin Marmalade with Fresh Pumpkin 

 

Ingredients for Pumpkin Marmalade

• 4 pounds of pumpkin
• 5 cups of water
• 3 medium size oranges sliced into paper thin slices
• 3 lemons sliced into paper thin slices
• 4 inch piece of ginger minced
• 4.5 cups of sugar

How to Prepare the Pumpkin Marmalade

1. Peel the pumpkin and remove all the seeds and inside fibers.
2. Shred the pumpkin or cut into very fine pieces.
3. Place in a large sauce pan. Add the water, lemon and orange slices and the ginger. Bring to boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes and then add in the sugar. Bring the marmalade back to a boil and cook on medium heat until the marmalade is very thick and will allow a wooden spoon to stand up in the pan alone.
4. Marmalade should be very thick, but it will not be like jam. Jam has a setting point and will gel. Marmalade is more of a fruit filling. It can be used to fill a tart with, but suggest removing the orange and lemon rinds first.
5. Pumpkin is especially good for heath reasons and it makes a marvelous jam and marmalade. This recipe is very easy to make, but takes time shredding the pumpkins. Place this marmalade in Ziploc bags and freeze in the freezer for the entire winter also.

 

Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients for Smoothie

1 cup of milk or alternative
1/3 cup of the marmalade (minus the rinds of the orange and lemons)
1 frozen banana
4-6 ice cubes
Sugar or sweetener if desired
Place all in a blender and mix on high speed for one minute. Enjoy.

 

Pumpkin Chutney Recipe

Ingredients for Chutney

• 2 pounds of pumpkin
• 1 pounds of apples, peeled and cored
• 4 tablespoons of ginger thinly shredded
• 3 red chilies, sliced and seeded
• 2 tablespoons of black mustard seeds
• 3 cups of cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons of salt
• 1.5 cups of brown sugar

 

How to Make the Chutney

1. In a large saucepan place the chopped pumpkin, which as been peeled and had the insides cleaned thoroughly.
2. Add in the chopped apples, ginger, chillies, mustard seeds, and the vinegar. Bring the pot to boil and then let it simmer for 20 minutes. Cook until the pumpkin is tender.
3. Add the salt and the sugar and mix well. Cook for an additional 45-60 minutes until the chutney is thick and free of most of the liquid. Stir frequently during the cooking of the chutney.
4. Remove from the heat and ladle into hot, sterilized jars, then seal. The chutney is ready in 4-5 weeks.
5. Heat processed chutney will .last for two years.

Pumpkin chutney is served traditionally with rice, meats or cheese.

All these recipes are made with fresh pumpkin and should not be made with canned pumpkins. If there is left over pumpkin, cook the pumpkin and then place in a food processor to mash the pumpkin to puree. This puree may be used for pies, muffins and a wide arrange of pumpkin desserts.