Perfectly Delicious Pumpkin Dishes to Celebrate National Pumpkin Month!

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It’s National Pumpkin Month and what a great way to celebrate a new season than with healthy, delicious and festive pumpkin dishes! Did you know that pumpkin is a highly nutritious super food, rich in Vitamins A, B (folate), C and E, antioxidants (alpha and beta-carotene) making it heart healthy, lowering cancer risk and helping to protect your cells and your vision. In addition to all of these immune system boosters, pumpkin also has a super low calorie content! In fact, one cup of pumpkin packs only 49 calories and offers 2 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber and is full of minerals like, potassium, copper, manganese and iron. Pumpkin is also a super great hydrator with its 94% water content. And it’s delicious! What’s not to love!

October has to be one of my favorite months in the kitchen. Besides being National Pumpkin Month, pumpkin dishes are just a great way to celebrate the change of season with food! I love creating fun new pumpkin recipes and enjoying preparing and updating some of my old ones. For breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, I've selected a few of my favorite pumpkin delights to share with you to enjoy!

Simply click on the photos for the recipes.

Gingered Pumpkin Muffins with Dark Chocolate Glaze

Gingered Pumpkin Muffins with Dark Chocolate Glaze

Pumpkin Risotto with Fried Sage, Toasted Hazelnuts and lots of Parmigiana!

Pumpkin Risotto with Fried Sage, Toasted Hazelnuts and lots of Parmigiana!

Creamy Pumpkin Parmigiana Zita with a hint of Amaretti

Creamy Pumpkin Parmigiana Zita with a hint of Amaretti

Pumpkin Ravioli with brown butter, sage and toasted walnuts

Pumpkin Ravioli with brown butter, sage and toasted walnuts

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake, with a ginger snap and pecan crust!

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake, with a ginger snap and pecan crust!

I hope you enjoy preparing these Fun & Simple pumpkin recipes as much as I enjoyed putting them together for you! Don’t forget to share and please reach out with your comments, photos and Pumpkin Month experiences! Did you know that October is also National Apple Month? Stay tuned for lots of absolutely amazing apple dishes coming out in next week’s post! In the meantime…

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Perfectly Delicious Pumpkin Dishes to Celebrate National Pumpkin Month!

GigiWilson+PumpkinHaze+copy.jpg

It’s National Pumpkin Month and what a great way to celebrate a new season than with healthy, delicious and festive pumpkin dishes! Did you know that pumpkin is a highly nutritious super food, rich in Vitamins A, B (folate), C and E, antioxidants (alpha and beta-carotene) making it heart healthy, lowering cancer risk and helping to protect your cells and your vision. In addition to all of these immune system boosters, pumpkin also has a super low calorie content! In fact, one cup of pumpkin packs only 49 calories and offers 2 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber and is full of minerals like, potassium, copper, manganese and iron. Pumpkin is also a super great hydrator with its 94% water content. And it’s delicious! What’s not to love!

October has to be one of my favorite months in the kitchen. Besides being National Pumpkin Month, pumpkin dishes are just a great way to celebrate the change of season with food! I love creating fun new pumpkin recipes and enjoying preparing and updating some of my old ones. For breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, I've selected a few of my favorite pumpkin delights to share with you to enjoy!

Simply click on the photos for the recipes.

Gingered Pumpkin Muffins with Dark Chocolate Glaze

Gingered Pumpkin Muffins with Dark Chocolate Glaze

Pumpkin Risotto with Fried Sage, Toasted Hazelnuts and lots of Parmigiana!

Pumpkin Risotto with Fried Sage, Toasted Hazelnuts and lots of Parmigiana!

Creamy Pumpkin Parmigiana Zita with a hint of Amaretti

Creamy Pumpkin Parmigiana Zita with a hint of Amaretti

Pumpkin Ravioli with brown butter, sage and toasted walnuts

Pumpkin Ravioli with brown butter, sage and toasted walnuts

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake, with a ginger snap and pecan crust!

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake, with a ginger snap and pecan crust!

I hope you enjoy preparing these Fun & Simple pumpkin recipes as much as I enjoyed putting them together for you! Don’t forget to share and please reach out with your comments, photos and Pumpkin Month experiences! Did you know that October is also National Apple Month? Stay tuned for lots of absolutely amazing apple dishes coming out in next week’s post! In the meantime…

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GGPumpHaze.jpg
GiGi-Script-50-Grey.jpg

Honoring Mom!

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Happy Mother’s Day Weekend! I took this photo in the Versailles Garden at the Four Seasons Ocean Club some time ago.  What struck me about this beautiful sculpture is the love and devotion that is so captivating between this woman and child.

Celebrating Mom the second Sunday in May began in 1908 when Anna Jarvis had a memorial service for her mother at St. Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Anna’s Mom, Ann Jarvis, a peace activist who took care of soldiers in the Civil War (on both sides), started Mother’s Day Work Clubs that brought attention to public health issues.  Anna wanted to continue and honor her mother’s work by proposing to Congress that Mother’s Day become an official holiday. Congress rejected the idea, but Anna did not give up and in 1914, Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May, Mother’s Day, a national holiday.

We honor our Moms with cards and flowers, and a traditional Mother’s Day Brunch.  Of course, at our house, any celebration is all about the food! This Mother’s Day, I’ve shared one of my favorite Mother’s Day Brunch menu ideas with these Fun & Simple recipes.

Wouldn’t Mom love to wake up to Chocolate Covered Strawberries? So simple to prepare and so much fun for the whole family to make! Then treat her to a wonderful Mother’s Day Brunch at home with my Eggs Benedict in this luscious and lemony lobster cream sauce with a delicious side of fresh Asparagus. And, who doesn’t love chocolate? My favorite special chocolate dessert is my Chocolate Soufflé, rich and decedent, but surprisingly light! Give it a little extra special love with warm Chocolate Crème Anglaise. Simply click on the photos for the recipes!

I wasn’t blessed with children of my own unfortunately, but have so many wonderful nieces, nephews, godchildren and other special children in my life who bless me each day and always make Mother’s Day a super special day for me! You can find all of these recipes and many more of my favorites in Fun & Simple Gourmet! Get your copy today at iTunes for your iPad and other Apple devices or hardcover copy right here on the website or at Amazon.com!

Wishing you and your family a most wonderful Mother’s Day Celebration! What are your plans to make Mom feel extra special this weekend? Don’t forget to send me your photos! And of course,

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