Pumpkin Butter

This delicious topping is perfect for toast, pancakes, or waffles. It is a great source of Vitamin A and the flavor is enhanced by the sweetness of apple cider and spices.

Pumpkin Butter

1 - 29 oz. can pumpkin puree
3/4 cup apple juice or cider
2 teaspoons ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 and 1/2 cups white sugar*
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg


Combine pumpkin, apple juice, spices, and sugar in a large saucepan; stir well. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes or until thickened. Stir frequently.

Spoon hot pumpkin mixture into hot jars. Cover and refrigerate until used.

Makes five 8 oz jars.

*Natural sweeteners may be used such as: date sugar, agave syrup, Sucanat, etc.

(USDA does not recommend canning pumpkin butter)

Sweet Potato Salad

4 small sweet potatoes

1/4 cup Veganaise

1 Tbsp. mustard

4 stalks celery, chopped into 1/4" pieces

1 small red pepper, 1/4" dice

1 cup fresh pineapple, diced

2 green onions, chopped

sea salt to taste

1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Chopped fresh chives

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Wrap each sweet potato in foil and bake for 1 hour.  Remove from heat, unwrap, and allow to cool.  Then peel and cut into 3/4" pieces.

Using a large bowl, mix together Veganaise and mustard.  Add cooled sweet potatoes, celery, red pepper, pineapple, and green onions.  Season to taste with sea salt.  

Cover and refrigerate for one hour.  Then fold in pecans, sprinkle with chives, and serve.

*There are options to this recipe.  Today I microwaved the sweet potatoes instead of baking them.  It was fast and easy.  I didn't have fresh red pepper or pineapple, so I used canned paprika quarters that I chopped, and 1 can of diced pineapple.  Instead of green onions, I used finely chopped yellow onion.  And I substituted walnuts for pecans.  It turned out DELISH!  For garnish, I added sprinkles of vegan Baco-Bits and chives.

Acorn Squash Rings with Cranberries & Apples

1 acorn squash
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup cranberries
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup apple, finely diced
2 tsp. cornstarch
3 tsp. cold water

Cut squash into 1/4" rings with a sharp knife (do not peel).  Remove the seeds and discard them.  Place squash rings in a shallow casserole dish and set aside.

In a small saucepan, place olive oil, cranberries, and brown sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, until the skins have popped.  Stir in apple.

Mix cornstarch and cold water together until well mixed.  Pour cornstarch mixture into cranberry and apple mixture.  Then spoon a portion of this mixture into the center of each squash ring.

Place in 350 degree oven and bake until squash is tender (about 40 minutes).

3-Grain Crackers

1 1/2 cups flour (gluten-free blend or quinoa, millet, amaranth, etc.)
1 cup oats, blended into flour
1 1/2 cups fine cornmeal
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup walnuts
1/3 cup ground sesame seeds
1 1/2 cups water for cracker consistency


Place nuts and water in blender and mix until smooth and creamy. Place remaining ingredients into a bowl and form a well in the center. Pour the nut and water mixture into the well.


Roll dough onto a prepared cookie sheet. It should be thin. Prick with the tines of a fork.


Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 minutes. Watch carefully so they don't overbrown!

For a non-gluten free version, use whole wheat or unbleached white flour.