Pumpkin Pancakes or Muffins Infused

Pumpkin Pancake

Think of the word pumpkin and images of jack-o-lanterns and whipped cream covered Thanksgiving pies will probably pop into your mind. Pumpkin is traditionally considered a holiday food and is a staple in our kitchen pantries and freezers during that festive time of the year. However, did you know that pumpkin now heralded as one of the ‘Super Foods?’

According to Dr. Steven Pratt, author of Super Foods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life, “Well, pumpkin is one of the most nutritionally valuable foods known to man. Moreover, it’s inexpensive, available year round in canned form, incredibly easy to incorporate into recipes, high in fiber, low in calories, and packs an abundance of disease fighting nutrients.”

Why is pumpkin so good

What exactly makes pumpkin so super? The powerful antioxidants known as carotenoids give this food its super status. Carotenoids have the ability to ward off the risk of various types of cancer and heart disease, along with, cataracts and macular degeneration. Dr. Pratt mentions many other disease fighting super foods in his book as well, but we are most interested in pumpkin because of the year-round availability and ease of use in canned form.

How can we add this wonder food to our diets through out the year? Take advantage of the benefits and great taste of pumpkin with the following delicious Pumpkin Recipes.

Recipe # 1

Infused Pumpkin Pancakes

2-1/2 cups flour

1 cup of infused canna-buttermilk

1 tsp. salt

2-1/4 tsp. soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup of pumpkin

Measure flour into bowl and add dry ingredients. Stir in buttermilk and add pumpkin. Mix Well. Cook on hot griddle or skillet until golden brown.

Infused Pumpkin Spiced Muffins

1/3 cup canna-butter or margarine, softened

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1/4 cup milk

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl cream butter with brown sugar. Beat in eggs, then mix in Pumpkin and milk.

In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, spices, salt and baking soda. Add to the creamed mixture. Place 2/3rds full in a greased muffin pan for muffins. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool another 20 minutes and Enjoy!

Recipe # 2 – Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Ingredients:

1. Preheat oven to 350° and line muffin tin with liners or grease pan well. Make crumb topping: In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugars, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir in melted butter until crumbs form.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Add pumpkin, eggs, butter, sour cream, and vanilla, and mix until combined.
3. Divide batter into muffin liners. Top each with crumb topping.
4. Bake until muffins are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let muffins cool in pan, then serve. Enjoy