Healthy Pumpkin Recipes

When most people think of cooking with pumpkins, pie is the first thing that comes to mind. Other favorites include rolls, cookies, and muffins filled with unhealthy white flour and lots of sugar. However, it's easy to enjoy the rich flavor of pumpkin without packing on the pounds or compromising your health. Try these recipes for two healthy alternatives.

Agave Nectar Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients
2 cups agave nectar
1 cup oil
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, mix dry ingredients together. In anothe bowl, mixe wet ingredients together, then add wet to dry and mix thoroughly.

Next, add 2/3 cup milk and 1 3/4 cups mashed pumpkin. Alternate these two ingredients, adding a little at a time and mixing well before adding more.

Pour into muffin pans and bake for 20 minutes.

Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients
1 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3 cups chicken broth
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Saute onion in butter in a medium saucepan until tender. Add 1 1/2 cups chicken broth; stir well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.

Pour broth mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour this mixture back into saucepan. Add remaining broth, pumpkin, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground pepper; stir well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in whipping cream and heat through, taking care not to boil.

Ladle into soup bowls and enjoy.