Palate-Pleasing Pumpkin Picks

When we envision the joys of the winter holidays, festive treats such as egg nog, candy canes, and - of course - pumpkin pie rank high on the list of favorites. But why limit your pumpkin pleasure only to pie? This fruit (and yes, pumpkin is a fruit, not a vegetable) is ideal for all sorts of tempting concoctions, from breakfast treats to snacks to delightful desserts. High in fiber protein, and vitamins, pumpkin is worth keeping at hand throughout the year.

Here's a sampling of ways to savor the pleasures of pumpkin:

Breakfast: Mix one cup of plain Greek yogurt with one cup of canned pumpkin, 1/4 cup maple syrup, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Ideal as a topping for oatmeal or French toast.

Snacks: Prepare one box (8 servings) of instant vanilla pudding. Pour into the blender and spoon in one-half cup of canned pumpkin, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Blend at the highest level. Pour into individual "pudding pop" or plastic popsicle makers and freeze for fabulous "pumpkin ice cream" treats that will delight young and old.

Dessert: Sometimes called pumpkin "dump" cake, a fabulously rich cake can be made from just a few ingredients. You'll need a can of pumpkin pie mix intended for 2 pies, 1 box of yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, and 1 cup of melted butter. Follow the directions on the can to stir up the pumpkin pie mixture and pour into a greased rectangular baking pan (about 9 inches by 13 inches). Carefully (it's prone to spilling!) sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the pumpkin layer, then sprinkle the walnuts over that. Slowly drizzle the melted butter over the walnuts. Follow the baking directions on the pumpkin pie filling can, but check about 10 minutes before it's supposed to be done, since oven temperatures do vary. Variations include using chocolate cake mix and topping with chocolate chips or shredded coconut.