Breakfast
I’ve always loved the idea of making something special for breakfast on the weekends. It’s a good time to experiment. Try new things. Not be afraid of a flop because you have the extra time to recreate breakfast anyways. 😉
I kind of played it safe this morning by going with an oldie-but-goodie that I haven’t made in ages: Pumpkin Oat Cakes! 😀 This could easily be put together during the weekdays too, because (and please keep this hush-hush) it’s really not that “special” at all. It takes all the same ingredients that you already have and it comes together in a flash. 😀
- 1/2 c. oatmeal
- 1/4 c. whole wheat flour
- 1/4 c. canned pumpkin
- 1/2 c. milk
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
Stir it all together in a bowl and let it sit while you heat up a pan. Top with peanut butter & coconut. I always, always heat up a mashed banana on the side for dunking. You could just throw it on top of the cakes, but then things get soggy from that point on.
Chatting With This Gal
Nicole was busily cooking up a storm at her house (stirfries and pies and soups…oh my!) and I went to help/watch. Who needs Rachael Ray entertanment? I’ve always said that Nicole could be the next Rachael Ray anyways. The French-Canadian version. 😉
I spent some time with this guy too. 😉
Green (kind of) Monster
I had the urge to recombobulate my Green Monster mix. Not that I haven’t been lovin’ it, but it needed an upgrade. 😀 I think these proportions were just right.
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 c. milk
- 3 icecubes
- 2 c. spinach
- 1/4 c. pumpkin
- 2 T. Natures Path Pumpkin Flax Granola
The pumpkin adds a whole new and unexpected level of smooth creaminess! It was sooo frothy and whippy.
Sometimes I like having major plans for the weekend and other times I simply enjoy having nothing–absolutely nothing–to do. It felt nice to not wear makeup today, spend my morning in pj’s and finish up on some homework. Feeling refreshed! 😀
Question: Favorite way to use canned pumpkin? I love it in overnight oats. I think it makes such a creamy breakfast that resembles pumpkin pie. 😀
Running To Slow Things Down 
Those pumpkin cakes look so fluffy and tasty, yum!
I don’t think pumpkin in oats could go out of style at any time of year
I love pumpkin and have just begun using them in my morning oats, yum-o.
My other favorite way to use pumpkin is a recipe that I got from the “hungry girl” website a couple of years ago. Mix one can (15oz ) of pumpkin and 1 box of brownie mix. Stir to combine – batter will be lumpy. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 – they are so dense and moist that no one will know that there is pumpkin in them.
Oh yum! That sounds awesome…will definitely be trying this at some point. 😀
I also LOVE Saturdays with not much in the plans. It’s so nice just to do what you want for a whole day.
Actually, because of YOU, my favorite way to use pumpkin is also overnight oats. I love the texture it creates. I also love pumpkin in soups to thicken it up. 🙂 I haven’t seen much pumpkin in the grocery stores lately, I’m looking forward to it’s return!
The pumpkin cakes look great!! My favorite way to use canned pumpkin would prob be in some type of dessert lol like pumpkin cookies 😀
Cute kitties!!! 🙂
I’m going to have to try pumpkin in my Grn Monster. That sounds so good.
Ooh! Special breakfasts always puts me in a good mood.
I don’t actually usually use canned pumpkin…I like the fresh kabocha!
AWESOME OAT CAKES! ahhh pumpkin! i LOVE it in oats too! ive never tried it in overnight oats but that sounds aweosme-id love that!
I used canned pumpkin for a lot of things, but I really like using it in breakfast parfaits and pumpkin chili.
ahhh…i love chatting with my sisters too! i wish they didn’t live so far away. although, if we lived in the same city, we might not miss each other and fight a lot more 🙂
I love the addition of natures path pumpkin granola to the green monster. It might just be my favorite granola 🙂
I love pumpkin! I want to try some canned squash some time too. I’ve only used it to bake and to mix with greek yogurt which comes out deliciously!
Katherine
I’m going to try those pumpkin cakes for sure since pumpkin has always been one of my favorite veggies (and I have grand plans of planting several winter squashes in the garden that I will need to find innovative uses for!
I agree completely that weekends are especially for special breakfasts, and I’m in such desperate need of a day when I don’t have to do anything in particular that I’m thinking of taking tomorrow off from my day job to just chill and cook….
BTW: who is that beautiful black kitty in the picture? S/he looks very much like Jaco, one of our “Panache cats”.
That would be Highstreet! 😀 He’s a shelter kitty and is such a lovebug. And he also knows how gorgeous he is…he loves to prance and show off. 😉
Highstreet is gorgeous! All four Panache Cats are rescues, and you can meet them if you like by visiting this page: http://www.panacheorchestra.com/moreofus.php.
The black and white kitty is lovely too – what a cute face!