Its fall and we all know what that means, pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavors are added to our palate until the end of the holiday season. Pumpkin spice lattes are advertised all over campus and at local coffee shops, while pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread fill the dessert sections of TDR and grocery stores. But, read on to find out surprising meals you can make with the famous fall pumpkin.
1) Pumpkin Cheddar Mac and Cheese
This recipe adds the comfort and warmness of fall to comfort food. The mixture of pumpkin and cheese might sound weird in retrospect, but the flavors compliment each other to create a savory and sweet dish!
2) Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
The calories are definitely worth it for this shake! Even better, the straws are made from piecrust to add more flavor and fun to your sip. This recipe only takes five minutes so why not make it and take it on the go for an 8 P.M. class?
3) Baked Pumpkin Donut Holes
Who doesn’t love donuts? The donut holes are perfect to snack on and are healthier than regular donuts because they are baked and not fried! Sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar for an extra fall flavor and let them melt in your mouth to improve your mood in a second!
4) Pumpkin Soup with Sage and Bacon
Back to savory dishes, this one is not to be missed. Pumpkin soup is the perfect fall, light meal that warms you and your stomach up right as the spoon hits your mouth. We all know that everything is better with bacon, so sprinkle it on top to add some salty flavor to this soothing soup.
5) Pumpkin Enchiladas
Again, like the pumpkin mac & cheese, you might think this spicy Latin dish would not go well with pumpkin, but it does! The spicy enchilada sauce is calmed by the sweet pumpkin and creates a sensational taste that you will want to make more than once! Take my word for it.
6) Pumpkin S’mores Pudding in a Jar
Since it is a little too cold to gather around a campfire to make s’mores in the chilly fall, crisp air, why not make them in a jar with pumpkins? In this recipe the pumpkin flavor is incorporated in the pumpkin marshmallow crème which tastes as good as it sounds. It is one of the harder recipes to make because it does involve a torch, but it is a great way to bring the campfire inside to make a delicious dessert.
7) Pumpkin Cake Pops
We have all seen the newly invented cake-pops at local bakeries and have thought to ourselves… what a weird concept. But like many foods; the weirder the better. Try these pumpkin cake pops sprinkled with pecans for a great afternoon snack along side your pumpkin spice latte.
8) Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
We all love the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven on Sunday mornings. Think about this smell with a hint of pumpkin spice. These cinnamon rolls are super easy to make and only take ten minutes in the oven, meaning your wait for these sensational breakfast treats will be over before you know it!
9) Spiced Pumpkin Waffles
Here is another breakfast dish that is even better with added pumpkin flavor. It’s so sweet you don’t even need syrup, but for those of us with sweet tooths out there, go ahead!
10) Crunchy Pumpkin Salad
I had to finish the list with something healthy to make sure we don’t end up feeling sick all holiday season. This salad uses pumpkin seeds and cubes to add color and flavor. Also, the dressing has pumpkin spice in it to make it sweet! It’s a perfect starter to a meal that we all know will end in one of the pumpkin desserts mentioned above.
Photo Credits:
http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/pumpkin-cheddar-mac-and-cheese/
http://www.healthyfoodforliving.com/pumpkin-smores-pudding-in-a-jar/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/pumpkin-cake-pops-recipe/index.html
http://passthesushi.com/pumpkin-cinnamon-rolls/
http://www.smokedngrilled.com/spiced-pumpkin-waffles/
http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/cooking-ideas/10-delicious-ways-cook-pumpkin/slide/3