Zucchini Stuffed Baked Pumpkin

16 12 2012

I found little baby butternut pumpkins when I was in Toowoomba the other day and they were too cute to resist. You can use the regular size ones, you will just need to cook them for a little bit longer.

Look at this cutie patootie butternut….. It is only about 10cm long, it’s just hanging out, watching the sunset…

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Pumpkin is a storehouse of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-A, vitamin-C and vitamin-E. It is rich in B-complex group of vitamins like folates, niacin, vitamin B-6, thiamin and pantothenic acid. Zucchini is low calorie and a great source of fibre. It is rich in vitamin A, flavonoid and poly-phenolic antioxidants such as carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds help scavenge harmful oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species from the body that play a role in aging and various disease process.

Butternut pumpkin, I used 2 baby ones
1 Zucchini, I used my Veggie Twister to make “spaghetti”, you could just thinly slice it into strips.
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried mint
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried oregano
1 cup coconut cream
Macadamia oil

Preheat your oven to 180C. Wash the pumpkin well. Chop the pumpkin in half lengthways and scoop out the seeds, scoop out the flesh from the other end too so you have a nice long well down the middle of the pumpkin. The flesh you have dug out you can just roast to eat another time, maybe in a salad for your lunch tmw. In a bowl, mix the coconut cream, onion, garlic and herbs until well combined. On a baking paper or foil lined tray, drizzle about a tablespoon of macadamia oil on the paper to stop them sticking and give the outside of the pumpkin a good rub with it as well. Pop the pumpkin halves into the oven on their own in the tray for about 20mins so they start to cook a bit. Remove from oven and stuff with the zucchini. Spoon over the coconut cream mix.

Here is a pic of how mine looked before they were baked….. Obviously not taken by Trav, it is a rubbish photo, but you get what I mean.

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Now you can pop them back into the oven for about 25-30mins depending on the size of your pumpkins. We ate these as a side dish with our grilled salmon.

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Coffee Oat Slice

14 10 2012

This recipe arose because we had waaaaayyy to much oats in the house. Trav made a massive bucket (I’m not kidding, it is an actual 5 litre bucket) of oats with ground flax through it then decided he didn’t actually like the texture when he made his porridge out of it….. Now we have a bucket of oats…. Prepare for a barrage of recipes involving oats in the next few weeks. Here is one to start you off. You could leave the coffee out if you didn’t want the kids all hyped up, but then it wouldn’t be Coffee Oat Slice would it? Whatever, suit yourself. If you are not real big on pumpkin in things (weirdos) you can substitute the pumpkin for apple purée. I haven’t tried it but I am sure it will work just fine. Actually, I am not sure, I would need to have tried it to be sure. Whatever, if you do it let me know, then we’ll both be sure. Enough rambling, let’s cook.

Oats are very high in a fibre called beta glucans that can help lower cholesterol, we’ve all seen the ad’s, you know why you should eat them. They are not completely gluten free but are VERY low in gluten and are a great source of energy.

300g pumpkin purée (or apple purée)
1 tbs cinnamon
1/2 tbs ground ginger
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
6 tbs instant coffee – you can substitute for raw cacao instead
2 cups coconut milk or milk of your choice
1 egg (vegan add an extra 2 tbs of ground flaxseed)
5 cups oats
1 – 1 1/2 cups water
Stevia to taste or 1 cup honey/agave/maple syrup

All in the food processor and whizz! You can add extra water if it is not wet enough. It should have a batter-like consistency. You can also add about 1/2 cup protein powder if you wanted to increase the protein content, just make sure you add more water again. Spoon into a baking paper lined tray, I sprinkled mine with some more oats on top, and bake @180C for about 30 mins. Give it a poke and see if it is done after that time, it will depend how thick you have made it, you might need to give it an extra 10mins. It is normally done when it starts to come away from the edges of the baking tray. Allow to cool then chop into squares. Store in the fridge or freezer.

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Zucchini Stuffed Baked Pumpkin

9 10 2012

I found little baby butternut pumpkins when I was in Toowoomba the other day and they were too cute to resist. You can use the regular size ones, you will just need to cook them for a little bit longer.

Look at this cutie patootie butternut….. It is only about 10cm long, it’s just hanging out, watching the sunset…

20121009-202558.jpg

Pumpkin is a storehouse of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-A, vitamin-C and vitamin-E. It is rich in B-complex group of vitamins like folates, niacin, vitamin B-6, thiamin and pantothenic acid. Zucchini is low calorie and a great source of fibre. It is rich in vitamin A, flavonoid and poly-phenolic antioxidants such as carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds help scavenge harmful oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species from the body that play a role in aging and various disease process.

Butternut pumpkin, I used 2 baby ones
1 Zucchini, I used my Veggie Twister to make “spaghetti”, you could just thinly slice it into strips.
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried mint
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried oregano
1 cup coconut cream
Macadamia oil

Preheat your oven to 180C. Wash the pumpkin well. Chop the pumpkin in half lengthways and scoop out the seeds, scoop out the flesh from the other end too so you have a nice long well down the middle of the pumpkin. The flesh you have dug out you can just roast to eat another time, maybe in a salad for your lunch tmw. In a bowl, mix the coconut cream, onion, garlic and herbs until well combined. On a baking paper or foil lined tray, drizzle about a tablespoon of macadamia oil on the paper to stop them sticking and give the outside of the pumpkin a good rub with it as well. Pop the pumpkin halves into the oven on their own in the tray for about 20mins so they start to cook a bit. Remove from oven and stuff with the zucchini. Spoon over the coconut cream mix.

Here is a pic of how mine looked before they were baked….. Obviously not taken by Trav, it is a rubbish photo, but you get what I mean.

20121009-204344.jpg

Now you can pop them back into the oven for about 25-30mins depending on the size of your pumpkins. We ate these as a side dish with our grilled salmon.

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Protein Packed Pumpkin Pie Brekkie Bars

26 09 2012

Love a muesli bar as an on-the-run snack because it is quick and easy? Ever really looked what is in it? Most likely a fair bit of cr@p and a sh*t tin of sugar. If you do happen to find some good ones I’ll bet they cost you a fortune! Why not make your own? You can make a big batch and freeze them in ziplock bags so you can grab one on the run. You can change the flavors too! Why not add some raw cacao to make a chocolate bar or some cacao and peppermint oil for a mint-Choc version?

This bar is very high in protein and will definitely quash the hunger craving. It contains NO processed sugar.

1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tbs cinnamon
About 500g pumpkin, peeled and chopped
1 cup puffed Amaranth (omit if paleo)
1/2 cup coconut butter/nut butter
Stevia to taste or 1/4 cup honey
2 eggs
1 tbs Flaxseeds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup nuts of your choice (I used walnuts)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup protein powder

On a baking tray add chopped pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg & cloves and bake for about 40mins @160C until cooked (if you can’t be bothered just steam the pumpkin until soft and add the spices when you purée it). Pop it in the food processor and purée until smooth. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. Press into a lined baking dish and bake on 180C for 15-20 mins until just starting to brown around edges. Allow to cool then cut into bars.

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Pumpkin Muffins

13 09 2012

Inspired by Mammoth Kitchens Cauliflower & Carrot Mud Muffins I thought I would attempt a recipe using said cauliflower. I know it may seem a little odd, those Mammoths are, but they do come through with the goods. If you have tried their Sour Cream & Chives Coconut Chips you will know what I mean….. Random but completely delicious. Just do it.

Cauliflower is from the same family as broccoli and cabbage, it contains many essential B-complex vitamins and loads of vitamin C. Cauliflower contains several anti cancer phyto-chemicals which have proven benefits against prostate, breast, cervical, colon, ovarian cancers. Let’s hear it for cauliflower! Pumpkin is a storehouse of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-A, vitamin-C and vitamin-E. It is rich in B-complex group of vitamins like folates, niacin, vitamin B-6, thiamin and pantothenic acid. It is also deliciously sweet negating the need for excessive sweeteners in this recipe.

1 Heaped cup raw Cauliflower
1 cup pumpkin purée
1/4 Cup Coconut Flour
1/4 cup plain protein powder (you can use an extra 1/4 cup coconut flour instead if you like)
1/4 Cup Maple Syrup/agave (or stevia to taste)
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
½ cup walnuts (optional)
½ Cup Water
1 tbs apple cider vinegar
1 tbs Ground Ginger
1 tbs Ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsps. Baking Powder
Pinch Rock/ Sea Salt

Preheat oven to 170C. Prepare your cupcake or muffin tins. I use silicone ones, i love that things don’t stick to them. Steam the cauliflower until soft and add that, the coconut oil and all wet ingredients together in a food processor and blend until smooth (you could use a stick mixer if you wanted to). Add all remaining ingredients except walnuts to the wet mix and blend until all combined. Stir through the walnuts. Spoon into the muffin cases and bake for about 30mins or until you can insert a toothpick and it comes out clean. If you eat them while they are warm (I mean who doesn’t love a warm muffin!?) they may seem a little unset or underdone on the middle. Once they cool they will firm up and if you pop them into the fridge they get a really great fudgy texture. YUM!! Once they are cool you can ice them if you like (you are mental if you don’t like) with this delicious FROSTING.

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