Cooking Lessons and Pumpkins Galore

Hello Lovelies!!!

In this last year, I have been cooking almost everyday.  The practice has made me a really confident cook especially because I rarely cook the same thing twice.   Its also “sad” to say that I have cooked most of the meals pinned on my Pinterest board.

On this cooking journey, I have learned how to do things wrong and sometimes how to do things right.    Here is a snippet of some of things I learned along the way…

• I learned I do not like cooking or eating a whole chicken no matter how badly I want the bones for bone broth.
• I learned to love Dijon mustard and I can put it on anything.
• I learned I do not really like balsamic vinegar. ( too sugary taste)
• I learned its exciting when you cut open the PERFECT avocado.
• I learned how to cook a roast.
• I learned that baked chicken tastes better than pan fried chicken. (Click here to see the BEST way to cook chicken.)
• I was on a mission to find the best homemade enchilada sauce and I found it!!
• I am an expert in making homemade cream of mushroom because I refuse to buy canned.
• I learned arugula has a kick and I don’t like eating raw..but it’s tolerable kind of.
• I learned that home-made pesto is the BEST thing ever.
• I learned I can go a little garlic happy. :0
• And last….I learned that everything is better homemade.

Not only have I learned a lot, but my recipe box is packed full and overflowing and I want nothing more than to share with everyone my favorites! So I will be posting about a few of my TOP favorite recipes and categorizing by focusing on one super food in the recipe.  If you have any requests for super food features, please leave a suggestion below!

To start, I am going to share about PUMPKIN!! I am getting excited for fall weather and nothing is better to eat in the fall than pumpkin!!

Pumpkin Facts:

1. Pumpkin’s bright orange color is an easy way to tell that this squash is high in carotenoids. Carotenoids support healthy eyes to make your eyes bright and protect against cataracts and macular degeneration.

2. Pumpkin’s carotenoids, vitamin C&E, and potassium all help with anti-aging and protect against wrinkles.

3. Pumpkins are high in fiber and a low glycemic food which helps stabilize blood sugar.

4. Don’t forget the pumpkin seeds!! These make a great snack.  The seeds are packed full of zinc, magnesium, and vitamin e.

Pumpkin Recipes:

1. This recipe I shared on my Facebook page awhile back.  It can be made both gluten free and dairy free. I had never tried pumpkin before besides in a dessert…so I decided to venture out.  I was extremely nervous to try this in fear of tasting like winter squash.  Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised and is now one of my go-to comfort recipes!

• Gluten-free/Dairy free Pumpkin Pasta

2. This recipe is very rich and decadent.  But oh so delicious.  I never realized how good eating pumpkin as the main-dish would be.  The roasted pecans make it almost seem like a dessert.  This is a must-try for any foodie!

• Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

3. And of course I cannot leave out my favorite dessert! The best way to eat pumpkin.  These pumpkin cupcakes are basically mini-pumpkin pies with no crust!  When buying the ingredients, I made sure that all dairy ingredients did not have carrageenan.  This is a toxin that I refuse to eat. Read more here.  I could not find evaporated milk without carrageenan so I replaced it with coconut milk.  I also made my own homemade whipped cream! mMm  Just buy some whipping cream add 1/4 cup sugar and whip it until it makes peaks.

• Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

4. If I buy a fresh pumpkin, I make sure never to waste one of the best parts.  The seeds! Pumpkin seeds are a quick simple snack.  I just pop them in the oven with a little sea salt.

What is your favorite pumpkin recipe?  Have you tried a non-dessert pumpkin recipe before?

If you try one of these recipes, I would love to hear about! Please drop a comment below or comment on my Facebook page!

Have a lovely rest of the weekend,

XOXO,

Chelsea Jolene