5 Fall Pumpkin Recipes

I did a very similar post last year, showcasing some fall recipes that looked so comforting to me.

This year, I am going to try and share some new and interesting recipe ideas, which all have one main ingredient as the star:  Pumpkin.

Pumpkin and fall go together like peas and carrots, birds of a feather, Ren and Stimpy...well, you get the idea.

I know that I have confessed that I was not always pumpkin's biggest fan, but I have really grown to enjoy the flavour.

Without further ado, here are some recipes featuring pumpkin that I would like to try and I hope you will like them too. (And they are all from new-to-me bloggers!)

Source

Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies from Desserts for Two

Roasted Pumpkin Soup from Joyous Health

Pumpkin Smoothie from Peanut Butter and Peppers

Roasted Candied Pumpkin Seeds from Momtastic

Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars by Sweetly Serendipity



What is your favourite way to eat pumpkin?
Anything in cheesecake form always works for me!


Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Cranberry Almond Granola Bars

I hope you had a wonderful long weekend!

I know that it still "technically summer", but it doesn't really feel the same once September hits.

However, I must admit that I love the month of September.  It is usually still filled with warm days and the night are cool and perfect for sleeping.

It could be that I also love it because I am not a kid going back to school. ;)

I know this a busy time for year for all of us and I know you are going to be looking for something quick and healthy to tuck in your (and your kids) lunches. You are going to love these granola bars.

To be honest, these are the first of about four incarnations of bars I have been working on.  (Keep an eye out for future posts).

In the meantime enjoy these bars.  They are low in fat and super easy to make!

Cranberry Almond Granola Bars (Make. 24 Bars)

2 cups whole rolled oats
1/4 cup ground flax
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 8x8 pan with cooking spray.

Combine oats, flax, salt and cinnamon.  In a separate bowl, mix applesauce, brown sugar, oil and vanilla.  Beat in egg.

Add dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combine.  Add in almonds and cranberries.

Put dough into greased pan and press down firmly with clean hands.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until side are golden brown.

How did you feel about you or your kids going back to school today?

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Friday Favourites: Healthy Makeover Inspiration

I have had baking on the brain.

The past few weeks have been very busy and I haven't been able to spend much time in the kitchen.  As I was surfing the net this week, the only sites I found myself visiting were the ones that pertained to delicious desserts.

Source

Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Dough Balls

I hope you had a wonderful Canada Day! I am sure many of you are still celebrating with a day off today.

I had to work this weekend, but I still managed to squeeze in a little lounge time to enjoy the lovely weather.

I also managed to squeeze in a little bake time.

I wanted to create a healthy dough ball using a ripe banana that was past it's prime.  Sure, I could have made some banana bread or soft serve, but I wanted something portable that I could take with me in my travels.

These are super easy to make (only one bowl required) and turned out great. 
The secret is this: Refrigerate your dough.

I have seen this tip in quite a few blogs and it really works!  It really helps all the flavours mesh and makes the dough much easier to handle.

Healthy Cashew Raisin Granola Clusters

I almost didn't get a picture of these. They only lasted a few days in my house.

Lime Daiquiri Cupcakes with Whipped Strawberry Frosting

There are times for healthy makeovers and there are times for pure indulgence.  Today, it is time for the latter.

These cupcakes are one of the deadliest things to come out of my oven.

Friday Favourites: Easter Ideas

I am north bound shortly for three internet-free days of food, fun and frolic.

However, it is almost Easter and I could leave without sharing some of the fantastic holiday-themed ideas I have found over the last few weeks.

(Oh, and a sneak peak of my recipe coming to you next week. :)

Healthy Makeover: Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Oh, how I missed baking.  I am back and with a healthy makeover, no less. :)

I actually came across these bars while searching for a recipe to use up the copious amounts for strawberries I have in my freezer.

They are very similar to the lemon bars I made, but this time I wanted to try to make them everything free (i.e. egg free, dairy free, gluten free, vegan.)

So, what did I change?

• Reduced the sugar by approx. 75% and replaced with maple syrup
• Eliminated the eggs and replaced with flax
• Eliminated the butter, replaced with margarine and reduced by approx. 50%
• Eliminated the all-purpose flour and replaced with oat flour

They turned out rather well considering this was a first attempt.  These bars are not overly sweet and very tangy from the strawberry/lemon juice combo.  They didn't quite gel together as much as they would by using eggs, but overall I am happy with the results.

Next time I may try increasing the amount of filling by about a third so the bars are a bit thicker.

Recipe Repeat: Rosemary Almond Crisps

Some thing are worth repeating.

A day at the spa, an inspirational quote, watching old Hollywood musicals, and this recipe.

These crisps are addictive and perfectly portable.  Bring them to a party or eat them all yourself (I won't tell). 

Friday Favourites: Cupcake Recipes

I had mentioned last week that it has been far to long since I have experimented in the kitchen with cake decorating and cupcake making. 

Life is about balance and as much as I enjoy giving recipes a healthy touch, sometimes I just want something decedent.  Guilt free.

I never did get to bake last weekend, but I am going to make up for it over the next few days and have been scouring the blog world for inspiration.  It didn't disappoint.

Here are a few favourites that have made it straight to the top of my "to make" list.

Friday Favourites: Offline Activities

The week has been a busy one and my online time has been pretty limited.  I have to admit that the break was kind of nice.

Don't get my wrong, I love social media, but sometimes it is very nice to (semi) unplug.  I was only on the computer for a total of 30 minutes each day this past week, compared to the 4+ hours/day I usually spend.

I used my free time to catch up on some offline activities that have fallen off my radar.  Here are a few of my faves.

Last-Minute Holiday Baking Ideas

I did a whole lot of baking yesterday.

I love baking for the holidays.  It really puts me in the Christmas spirit.  (A little dusting of snow would also do the trick, but it doesn't look like we are going to get any this year.) :(

If you are looking for some last-minute holiday treats to bring to your family gathering or to work next week, here are some fantastic and easy ones to try!

(I promise to borrow a camera to show you some of the ones I made!)

My 3 Favourite Cookbooks

I love baking.  I love making healthy (and not-so-healthy) treats, playing with recipes and just getting dirty in the kitchen.

I also enjoy cooking and trying to find creative ways to spice up old favourites and try new ingredients. The internet has made doing this easy.  There are over 50 variations on any given recipe on blogs and websites.

However, I prefer to use a good, old-fashion cookbook.  There is just something about opening a book and trying not to get it covered with flour as I try to recreate the gorgeous recipe before me.  I don't have as many cookbooks as I would like and am really working on building up my collection.

Today, I honour the cookbook and am sharing 3 of my favourites. 

How to Make the Perfect Icing

Or frosting, as my American friends call it. :)

If you have been following me, you know that I recently signed up for a cake decorating class.  It is something I have been wanting to do for some time and I am so glad that I finally did it.

I am also very proud of my very first cake!

Have Fun, Find Joy

Yesterday, I went on an adventure.

My friend, Tina got us a few tickets to sit in the audience of Cityline.  Here we are with the lovely host, Tracy (such a great name ;).

Recipe Makeover: Sour Cream Coffee Cake

I heart coffee cake.

Jenna @ Eat, Live Run posted the most scrumptious looking recipe and I knew I had to try to make a lightened up version.

Recipe Makeover: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Brownies

I really had a craving from some brownies over the weekend.  I have madeover brownies before, but I was looking for something different.

I stumbled across a new recipe and truth be told, they are pretty madeover on their own.  Low in fat and under 100 calories per serving so I was ready to make them just the way they were and share them with you.

Recipe Makeover: Peach-Mango Cake Squares with Stevia

One of the things I mentioned in yesterday's post to help you find your inner joy is cooking.

For me, it is baking specifically.

There is just something about it that I find very relaxing and therapeutic.  Especially when I am trying to give some of my favourite desserts a healthy twist.

I decided it was time for me to try my hand at baking with stevia, although I have to admit that I have never been stevia's biggest fan.

I had always found it to be quite bitter and I didn't really like it's licorice taste.  However, lately I have found that in very small quantities (like in a smoothie) it is almost undetectable and adds that bit of sweetness I am looking for.

So with stevia in hand, I tackled this Mango Cake recipe from Food.com.  Here are some of the changes I made:

Chocolate Malt Cupcakes with Malted Buttercream Icing

Remember last week when I was in the mood for something in between healthy and decedent and I baked up those lovely Gluten Free Carrot Cupcakes?

Well, this past weekend was all about the extreme....extreme indulgence. For another child's birthday, no less.

My nephew, Bradley.

Chocolate (Not-So-Coffee) Cupcakes

Sorry for the late post today.  We were out looking at more cars this morning and alas, are still torn. (You can get in your 2 cents on this post :)

Now, for my funny baking adventure.