From low fat pumpkin bread to pumpkin smoothies, there is a pumpkin recipe here to suit everyone's palate.
You know Halloween is coming soon when the pumpkins start appearing on doorsteps, porches, at the farmer's market and the grocery store. Since I am a big fan of taking the easy way out, I don't recommend cooking the pumpkins you buy. Instead, use them for decoration and use store-bought pumpkin puree (Libby's works well) for your baking.
Pumpkin smoothies are an excellent way to start the day any time of year. But they are especially nice for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Serve them with pumpkin scones or pumpkin bran muffins for a deliciously healthy breakfast that takes full advantage of this superfood's good nutritional profile. (By the way, the pumpkin bran muffin recipe was given to me by a King Arthur Flour test kitchen chef, so you know it's great!)
Pumpkin bread and pumpkin cookies with orange glaze make delicious after-school snacks. And if you want something really decadent and delicious, try the pumpkin cookies with Raisinets. They aren't terribly low in calories, but they taste divine, and they are a bit lighter than the original Nestle recipe.
Of course, no fall meal would be complete without pumpkin pie. My favorite is frozen pumpkin pie, made with vanilla ice cream. It is loaded with vitamin A, and a cinch to make.
