So Halloween is over and you have left over pumpkins because you bought one too many for carving. How can you use your unwanted pumpkins in an earth friendly, healthy, yummy way? Believe it or not, pumpkins are a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C. There are many things that you could make with a pumpkin, using every part of it. After cutting open your pumpkins you can make delicious pumpkin seeds by toasting the seeds that you and your little ones can snack on, instead of a bag of chips. With the rest of the pumpkin you can make great-tasting low-fat pumpkin muffins to have for breakfast. How do you think you can do this? Here are a few healthy recipes that you can make with your leftover pumpkins.
Orange Pumpkin Muffins
From EatingWell.com
1 dozen muffins
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 1/4 hours (including cooling time)
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 large seedless orange, scrubbed and cut into 8 sections (peel left on)
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg white
• 2/3 cup canned unseasoned pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar or 1/4 cup Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
PREPARATION
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat 12 standard 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
3. Puree orange sections in a food processor. Add egg, egg white, pumpkin, sugar or other sweetener such as maple syrup, molasses, or agave nector, honey and oil; process until mixed. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; add the wet ingredients and dates, and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan
4. Bake the muffins until the tops spring back when touched lightly, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Loosen the edges and turn the muffins out onto a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.
