Food Talk And Fabulous Finds - I bought a can of pumpkin....

....and now I don't really know what to do with it! I know I could just add some pumpkin pie spices and splenda and eat it like that but what else do you guys do with it? Anybody have a recipe for "pudding" or any other dessert type thing?

http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/crustless_pumpkin_pie.html
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/pumpkin_custard.html
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/pumpkin_bake.html

Not sure what plan you're on....these are Atkins friendly recipes and are delicious:drool:

My sister and I use it to make "muffins"

1 Can pumpkin
1 box of any kind of cake mix (we use a fat free dark chocolate)
Just mix the two together and bake in a muffin tin at what ever temp the cake mix calls for

they dont rise much so you want to fill the pan. We like to store them in the fridge and then eat them with a bit of ff cool whip. They are really good and really help with my cravings for chocolate.

thanks for the ideas!

I also saw a recipe for a no-bake pumpkin cheesecake in the recipe section, I LOVE pumpkin cheesecake! It seems a little labor intensive though and has orange juice and orange zest in it....not sure about that....

The pumpkin bake recipe is actually pretty much a pumpkin cheesecake & is fairly easy to make:)

Here are a couple of easy recipes:
Easy pumpkin pudding: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2185436&postcount=15
Baked pumpkin custard: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2098561&postcount=6

Here's a thread that might give you some ideas:
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143477&highlight=pumpkin+custard

my whole family loves these http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Whole-Wheat-Pumpkin-Applesauce-Muffins/Detail.aspx

If you aren't set on wanting a dessert recipe and if it's not too warm there yet, this is wonderful

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49436

Pumpkin Chili Mexicana

I just finished having a snack with pumpkin, that I got the idea from off of a ricotta thread that was somewhere on this site recently. I mixed together:

1/2 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup lite ricotta
cinnamon
nutmeg
splash of vanilla

It was delicious! I was prepared to add some honey if need be to sweeten it a little, but when I tasted it I didn't think it needed any.

You can also stir in some pumpkin into oatmeal. Makes it really yummy. I like to add a little cinnamon too.

I like to add it to sugar-free, fat-free vanilla pudding with some pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon. Yum! I haven't make it in a while and can't remember the exact amounts of everything, but you can probably do an internet search.

If you're willing to try using pumpkin in a main dish rather than dessert, try pumpkin turkey chili! I know it sounds weird but it's excellent, and a healthy chili option, too. You'll find the recipe, 'pumpkin turkey chili', at allrecipes.com. It's more of an autumn-y type of food, I guess, but I make it year-round.

you can make waffles or pancakes with whole wheat flour--you can also make muffins--I like the idea of newleaf--congrats on choosing pumpkin--1 of the 14 superfoods--canned is even better nutrient wise--ounce for ounce --for you than fresh

well I ended up making a sort-of pumpkin cheesecake but I think my efforts to make it more healthy just made it not so good (using fat free cream cheese, splenda and egg substitute) lol!

But thank you all for the great ideas! I think I'm going to get another can or 2 to keep on hand so I can try some of these. I know I'd love the pumpkin in oatmeal, I already add tons of "weird" stuff to my oatmeal, it's one of my favorite foods!

Baked Pumpkin Custard (from Meg here at 3fc) - I've had this instead of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, I love it so much!

1 large can pure pumpkin (29 oz)
1 1/2 cups low or nonfat cottage cheese
1 1/2 cups Splenda
1 1/2 cups Eggbeaters
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt

Process all in the food processor until well-mixed and smooth. Spray six custard cups with PAM. Divide mixture equally in cups. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

Nutrition Info per serving

110 calories
1 g fat
12 g carbs
13 g protein

Easy Pumpkin Pudding

1 package instant fat free, sugar free pudding
1 cup pumpkin
1 1/4 cup skim milk
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice


Mix everything together with a whisk, then divide into four single-serve tupperware containers and refrigerate until set (a couple of hours).

Makes four servings at about 75 calories each. I like to stir crushed gingerbread cookies into it. Yum!

If you don't have a use for the whole can at once, you can freeze it. I use pumpkin to make Meg's Fiber One Muffins (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2067764&postcount=2) (instead of the applesauce) but the recipe only calls for 1/4 cup. So I portion the rest of the can out into 1/4 cup baggies and freeze them. Then I can just take a baggie out of the freezer the next time I make muffins and it is all measured and ready to go (to get the pumpkin out of the baggie, let it defrost, then snip a corner of the baggie off and squeeze the pumpkin out of that corner).

I'm tellin y'all the pumpkin mixed with the chocolate cake mix is WONDERFUL! Freeze them in a large Ziploc freezer bag and just remove one and pop it in the microwave just till thawed and warm and you've got portion control.

Just mix the pumpkin and the dry mix. It will be very thick. I put it in paper lined muffin tins and bake at 350 until nicely done. Insert a toothpick or blade of a knife when it comes out mostly clean, its ready...it stays kinda moist. It makes a moist but dense muffin that is great as a snack or for a grab and go breakfast. 1 is a serving. Have with yogurt or a boiled egg (I usually have a few hard boiled and ready in the fridge) for protein and your set. Or add in some nuts protein powder, or peanut butter for protein.

You can use spice cake mix or try something different. Add oatmeal, bran, nuts, or fruit. Try it with the "diet" cake mix in the diabetic section or health food store. Or try these- Add natural applesauce to spice, white or yellow cake mix. Another to try is crushed pineapple added to white, yellow, or angelfood cake mix.

Fun to experiment with and great for those days when your usual bowl of oatmeal doesn't sound appealing or you're running short on time in the morning.

I once made a really delicious pumpkin smoothy... I don't remember the recipe but I'm sure google remembers if you're interested:D