Pumpkin isn't just for Thanksgiving, and if you're a fan of pumpkin pie, then these cookies are a real treat. Soft, chewy, and only 86 calories per serving, the recipe is vegan and also grain-free. If the cold weather inspires you to head to the kitchen for some baking, then give this easy recipe a try. Bonus: since they contain no eggs, you can lick the bowl clean!
Learn how to make these cookies after the break!
Love pumpkin pie but hate the calories? Or maybe pie just isn't your thing. Whatever the reason, Fall doesn't seem right without enjoying at least one pumpkin treat. From muffins to cookies, frozen treats to flan, we have a healthy pumpkin recipe to satisfy any sweet tooth. (Yes, even vegans!)
Pumpkin isn't just for pie. When used in skin care, it helps boost cellular turnover to brighten your complexion — a bonus during dry Fall weather. Our top choices will leave your skin smooth, flake-free, and illuminated. See what you'll be picking up in today's Beauty Review. On Kirbie: Kendra Scott earrings.
Rich in flavor yet light on the butter and cream, curried pumpkin soup is an easy Thanksgiving starter or a simple entrée that can be stored in the fridge for guests to enjoy during the holiday weekend. This particular pumpkin soup has an Indian twist with the addition of ginger, curry powder, and coconut milk; however, it is not overwhelmingly spicy or palate-burning.
While you might want to forgo using fresh pumpkin in baked goods, it's a must when making homemade pumpkin soup. Yes, it takes a while for the pumpkin to roast, but once the gourd is cooked through, the soup comes together in no time. Plus, roasting real pumpkin lets you reserve the pumpkin seeds and toast them for the topping.
The pumpkin makes the soup thick, fibrous, and slightly sweet, while the freshly toasted pumpkin seeds are fun to munch on. The Indian curry and fresh ginger make this soup plenty spicy, and a dash of cayenne heightens the fiery burn. The fluffy dollop of Greek yogurt gives the soup a tart bite and mellows out the spice.
Depending on how much parsley you use, you can consider it a "dose" of green vegetables before the indulgent Thanksgiving mains are served. I like a large handful, which wilts into an easy-to-chew, spinach-like texture. Learn how to make it.
There are hard-core beer drinkers, and those who prefer sweeter fizzy stuff — hard apple cider, that is. Cider fans who want the added bonus of a seasonal flavor: look no further than Ace Hard Pumpkin Cider ($10 for a six-pack). Ace Ciders has been around for 15 years, brewing next door to its wine-making neighbors in Sonoma County.
The fermented apple cider tastes more of green apple than it does of pumpkin, but allspice shines through, offering a hint of Fall flavor. Big, bold beer fans thought the cider was "too sweet," but others loved the cider for its syrupy sugar content. A few tasters described the flavor as "unexpected" and could imagine the cider used in a cocktail or a Halloween punch. If you are gluten-free, don't like beer, or are a sucker for sweet alcoholic beverages, then Ace Hard Pumpkin Cider is the bottle for you.
We found a pumpkin beer that you can find in stores, but here's one that actually tastes like pumpkin and spices: Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat Ale ($8 for six-pack).
There was a huge dichotomy between those who found the beer to be a good representation of a Belgian-style wheat ale and others who considered it too bitter for that brew style. Many tasters expected it to be soft and creamy like a Hefeweizen and were disappointed by its sour flavor notes.
Still, several drinkers could detect the pumpkin and the spices without the flavors overwhelming the wheat beer. Others described the beer as a "nice balance between wheat beer and pumpkin flavor"; GeekSugar editor Kelly Schwarze even suggested dipping the rim of a pint glass in cinnamon sugar and sprinkling the beer foam with nutmeg. We think that sugary-spiced goodness would help cut the bitterness and enhance the Fall-forward flavors already in the glass. Pumpkin beer latte, anyone?
I'm about to tell you something that may shock you: in culinary school, several of my instructors recommended using canned pumpkin over making homemade pumpkin puree. Many reasoned that no matter how much you process fresh pumpkin, it still has a bit of stringy, gritty fiber that can take away from the texture of your recipes, especially in baked goods. I'm of the belief that there's room in the world for both fresh and canned pumpkin puree. What matters is how and when you're using pumpkin.Learn when to use one over the other in recipes.
There seem to be a lot of pumpkin craft beers out there, but where the heck are they stocked? I've searched high and low and save for a few bigger breweries, none of the beers I've read on the web seem to be stocked at my local grocers, co-ops, or liquor stores. According to the Whole Foods near my house, the seasonal flavor is so popular right now that as soon as any pumpkin-flavored beer cases hit the shelves, they sell out in a matter of minutes. So what about us unlucky few who didn't manage to snag a coveted case of Dogfish Head Punkin Ale this year? Is there pumpkin beer hope for us yet?
Here's one that I've seen at Whole Foods, BevMo, and my local liquor shops: Buffalo Bill's America's Original Pumpkin Ale ($8 for six-pack). The amber-style ale claims it is brewed with fresh roasted pumpkins, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Plus, the large pumpkin image on the label offers a hopeful promise this ale is all about its pumpkin flavor, but find out if its marketing schemes accurately portray what's inside the bottle.
Olive oil and salt, sweet spiced, and soy sauce pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin is arguably the most prominent flavor of Fall, but when you're craving something crunchy, opt for pumpkin seeds over the tender orange flesh. Here, we offer three simple twists on roasted pumpkin seeds — and the easiest way to dress up your food with them.
Olive Oil and Sea Salt Pumpkin Seeds
A classic, toasted with olive oil and sea salt, these pumpkin seeds are great to have on hand to toss into snacks and side dishes like . . .
Keep reading for more pumpkin seed recipe ideas.
When you arrange to carve your Halloween jack-o'-lantern this month, don't you dare throw away the pulp! Pumpkin is one skin-enhancing ingredient you can find in the produce aisle and in your skin care products — and its beauty benefits are legend. See why you'll want to eat it and wear it after the jump.
