~~~PUMPKINS~~~

Yes, we carved many pumpkins on Saturday nights but we have also loved recipes with made with this colorful squash. Pumpkin contains loads of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which are converted to vitamin A in your body. It's high in fiber, low in calories, and a good source of several important minerals, including iron, potassium, and magnesium.

Pumpkin Muffins:
3 1/3 c. flour2 tsp. baking soda3 c. sugar1 1/2 tsp. salt1 tsp. cinnamon1 tsp. nutmeg1/4 tsp. ground ginger
Mix dry ingredients and add:
1 c. oil4 eggs2/3 c. water2 c. pumpkin
Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Prepare muffin tins by greasing with vegetable oil or butter and sprinkling lightly with flour. Shake out excess.
Fill muffin tins three-quarters full and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.


A great way to make use of the pumpkin seeds is to eat them, salted, and toasted. Our preference is with the shells on ~ if they are toasted properly they are wonderfully crunchy and easy to eat. It helps if you are going to eat them with the shells on that you use seeds from sugar pumpkins, somewhat smaller than the mega-sized carving pumpkins. The TRICK?? Boil the seeds in salted water first, and then toast them in the oven. You will need:
1 medium sized pumpkin
salt to taste
olive oil
1. Preheat oven to 400. Cut open the pumpkin and use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the insides. Separate the seeds from the stringy core. Rinse the seeds.
2. In a small saucepan, add the seeds to water, about 2 cups of water to every half cup of seeds. Add a tablespoon of salt for every cup of water. Bring to a full boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and drain.


And now my famous Fluffy Pumpkin DIP. This is a very creamy and yummy vanilla pumpkin dip that is served with graham crackers. I like the cinnamon graham crackers sticks best, (this year we used Scooby Doo Honey Grahams...they look like dog biscuits...lol). You can use lite whipped topping and sugar free pudding and it still tastes great.
INGREDIENTS:
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 8oz cream cheese
DIRECTIONS:.In a large bowl, mix together instant vanilla pudding mix, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Fold in the thawed frozen whipped topping.
Chill in the refrigerator until serving.
I put it in a plastic container that fits inside a pumpkin for serving.

10 Worst Snacks for Kids

"Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie." Jim Davis, 'Garfield'

While waiting for DH to get his food handlers (I got mine too....100% on the test)certificate, I found an article on the 10 worst snacks for kids. I'm sharing it because I believe it is time to take a positive step towards healthy eating habits. Obviously there aren't any surprises on it and it doesn't just pertain to kids!

10 worst snacks for kids
written by Aubrey Merrel

1. Chips. At 150 calories and 10 grams of fat per serving, chips are one of the worst snack foods. The issues compound further when kids reach three to four servings deep into the bag.

2. Doughnuts. Yes, this includes doughnut holes, mini doughnuts and anything spelled "donut." Sugar will cause your child's insulin levels to fluctuate. Add to that deep-frying, 4 grams of trans fat and you have an equation for type II diabetes.

3. Cookies. Like doughnuts, kids love the sweetness and chewy texture of a chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookie. Store-bought varieties always pack more fat and chemicals to prolong their shelf life.

4. Chicken nuggets. For some reason, children seem to love deep-fried, processed chicken. A McDonald's Kid's Meal portion not only packs four "nuggets", but 169 calories and 10 grams of fate (including 1 gram of trans fat) ***GRAND KIDS TAKE NOTE******

5. Cheese product. The title alone should deter you. Cheese product refers to cheese in a can, American cheese, cheese dips, Mac 'n Cheese, etc. Infused with emulsifiers, chemical preservatives, color additives and extra sodium, manufacturers cannot legally label cheese product as "real cheese."

6. Fruit snacks & fruit roll-ups. With the antioxidant craze of late, candy companies have jumped on the band-wagon to claim high quantities of the antioxidant vitamin C. Be careful of food labels. Fruit snacks and other fruit candies have always contained vitamin C if they were made from real fruit juice. Just because it says "antioxidants" doesn't mean it is healthy.

7. Candy. Grocery stores devote an entire aisle to it, and some pantries resemble it all too well. Sugar, the essence of candy, is one of the leading causes of obesity and type II diabetes. With the number of blue and green mouths running around, it's not wonder why obesity and diabetes rates are epidemically high.

8. White bread. Wonder bread. It really is a wonder how that five-inch square of fluffy white goodness can roll into a tiny ball. White bread, unless fortified, packs no nutritional value, but it puts the body's insulin levels on a roller coaster ride.

9. Soda & Energy drinks. One of the most terrifying aspects of my two-year waitress career was 2-year-old asking for Diet Coke on their own accord. The words, "Diet Coke" should not exist in a two-year-old's limited vocabulary. Parents complain about their kids bouncing off the walls, yet still feed them concentrated sugar and caffeine. A great deal of the childhood obesity epidemic relates to the sugar consumed by sipping soda.

10. CHIPS! Yes, chips are so unhealthy they made the list twice!