Pumpkin Spice Granola

I am addicted to granola. Constantly eating it, trying out new recipes, and never getting bored of putting it on everything from yogurt, smoothies, to just straight- up shoving handfuls in my mouth. My go-to recipe is the granola clusters from the Oh She Glows Cookbook, but with the arrival of fall I wanted to make something festive and full of pumpkin flavour! You all know I looooove Buddha Brands Co.-- their coconut water is so pure and delish, and the coconut chips are so amazing (remember these recipes). They are launching a limited edition flavour for fall-- yes, Pumpkin Spice Coconut Chips with Turmeric! I have become slightly obsessed. They are so crunchy, so light, so packed with flavour, and so healthy! And turmeric is so, so good for you! It has great anti-inflammatory properties, and it regulates your cholesterol. I decided to take a basic granola recipe and add these in with some other fall spices to make the ultimate pumpkin spice granola for fall. It didn't last long in my house! If you saw me make it on snapchat (username: gabpacifico), you would have noticed half the pan gone as I was explaining the recipe! This recipe is a great, healthy snack and so festive. Pair it with a homemade pumpkin pie latte, or chai tea latte for a delicious snack!

The ingredient list may seem long, but feel free to substitute with what you have on hand! No rules here!

Ingredients:
makes: 1 baking tray of granola

2 cups whole grain oats
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup dried goji berries
1 tablespoon chia seeds
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/4 tablespoon nutmeg
1/4 tablespoon sea salt
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup dates (soak the dates for 20 mins in 3/4 cup water, SAVE WATER!)
5 tablespoons date water
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 teaspoons maca powder (great for females)
1 package Hungry Buddha Pumpkin Spice Coconut Chips c/o

Directions:
1. Mix together oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, goji berries, chia seeds, cinnamon, nutmet and sea salt in large bowl
2. Blend (use food processor, Magic Bullet, etc.) maple syrup, drained dates, date water, coconut oil, maca powder until a smooth texture forms
3. Add wet date mixture to dry oat mixture and stir to combine
4. Add Pumpkin Spice Coconut Chips to bowl and stir to combine
5. Place on parchment paper lined baked sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 27-30 minutes (longer if want a crunchier granola)

Want more pumpkin?!
What To Do With Leftover Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin Cookies & Pumpkin Pie Latte
Fall Themed Brunch

What to do with Leftover Pumpkin Puree

Just because Thanksgiving has come and gone (here in Canada), does not mean that I am done with all things pumpkin. You will find me embracing this veg well into the next Holiday season just in less traditional ways. You've seen my pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cookies and pumpkin pie latte, but you haven't seen how I whip up pumpkin puree in some less sweet ways.  Here are a few of my favourite ways to incorporate pumpkin into my average meals sans pie. 

Velvety Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Bowl

This smoothie is straight from the Oh She Glows cookbook and it's my absolute favourite! If you're unsure about a pumpkin smoothie, I get it. I totally was too! The banana blends with the spices and pumpkin for a rich, velvety smooth, yet refreshing taste. You can find the recipe for two servings here. Just cut all ingredients in half if you're making it for one, and skip out on the coconut whipped cream if this is your breakfast! Have you seen these Natural Delights Pecan Pumpkin Pie Spiced Date Rolls? I know I could make them just as easily, but they are so good. I add one roll into the blender and then cut one up for a topping. Since I like my smoothies thick and crunchy, I poured this one into a bowl and topped with chia seeds, almonds, raisins, pumpkin seeds and granola. Divine.


Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Cookies

Flourless and healthy? Yes please! I lather these babies with almond butter for a sweet treat after dinner or for breakfast on the go. They are made with oat flour and filled to the brim with aromatic fall spices so it's perfectly acceptable to eat these any time of day! The honey and brown sugar will satisfy your pumpkin craving and allow you to indulge without the guilt. So moist, and incredibly chocolatey. Don't forget the almond butter. Seriously. Find the recipe here.

What do you think? Will you try out any of these recipes?

Tastes of Autumn

I'm definitely one who loves the sights, tastes and sounds of autumn. The foliage changing colours, the tastes of cinnamon, spiced apple, and nutmeg, and the crisp sound of leaves crunching beneath your boots; I love it all! In light of fall's arrival last week I am rounding up some of favourite fall themed recipes on P&P that you should definitely bookmark and try out this weekend.

Treat yourself to a moist, dense, and delicious white chocolate pumpkin cookie and a homemade pumpkin pie latte on the side. Better yet, whip up a whole pumpkin inspired brunch at home complete with pumpkin pancakes, banana-almond butter bites, maple glazed turkey bacon, and those fantastic cookies and lattes you just made! Heading to the orchard sometime soon? You're bound to have countless leftover apples. I give you two options: the healthy alternative, scrumptious apple chips lightly doused in cinnamon (which I am now addicted too), or the classic caramel apple. The choice is yours!

Enjoy!

Fall Themed Brunch

Remember how I told you I have become obsessed with pumpkin? Well... the craze continues. Before I left for New York B and I had a full out "fall" themed brunch, with chocolate chip-pumpkin protein pancakes as the main event. I don't even love pancakes but I loved these. And talk about healthy/easy. We snacked on almond butter-banana bites, and maple glazed turkey bacon, sipped on pumpkin pie lattes and really just enjoyed the beginning of a lovely season. I hope this inspires you to revel in a delicious brunch this weekend, and after reading below I'm sure all you'll want to do is stay in your comfiest pjs and enjoy a lazy, but perfect, Sunday morning indoors (the delicious pumpkin/cinnamon scent that will fill the kitchen is an added bonus). Here's how to do it: 

The main: Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes

makes 6 pancakes

Ingredients:

1/3 cup pumpkin purée

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3 tablespoons chocolate chips of choice

1 heaping scoop of vanilla protein powder

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Directions:

1. In a bowl combine all ingredients in order listed above
2. Spray skillet and heat on medium 
3. Pour batter and cook on medium/low heat
4. Flip when necessary
5. *Heat oven to 200 degrees and put cooked pancakes in oven to keep warm while finishing the batch/preparing the rest of the brunch 
6. Serve with maple syrup, agave, or honey and a sprinkle of icing sugar 

The extras: Banana-Almond Butter Bites

1. Slice up 1 banana 
2. Drop a teaspoon of almond butter on top of each banana slice
3. Sprinkle chia seeds 

Maple Glazed Turkey Bacon (found in Gwyneth Paltrow's "It's All Good" Cookbook)

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees, or put on broiler
2. Wisk together 1 tablespoon maple syrup and 1 tablespoon mustard (amount for 6 slices, double measurements for more bacon)
3. Lay turkey bacon on foil lined cookie sheet and brush half the glaze onto turkey slices
4. Broil for 2-4 minutes, flip turkey and glaze other side
5. Broil for another 2 minutes, and serve immediately

A side of fresh berries and a greek yogurt parfait compliments any brunch. And, don't forget these Pumpkin Cookies and Pumpkin Pie Latte . Enjoy!

Ideas for a Valentine's Day themed brunch can be found here. 

Pumpkin Cookies

It all started when I went into work the other day confessing my addition to the new pumpkin chai tea from David's Tea. This, by the way, is completely strange for me since I have never been a fan of anything pumpkin. Candle? I'll choose vanilla. Dessert? I'd rather have apple. Crazy. I know. My colleague then proceeded to give me her grandmother's recipe for pumpkin cookies and I couldn't get home fast enough to make them. I was a little skeptical after reading the ingredients, but who was I to question Heidi's sweet grandmother. I made them that evening and was surprised by the results. They are so chewy, so soft and are the perfect mix of sweet and spice! These cookies are absolutely cakey, which is 100% different from what I expected, but still so good! I decided to pair them with a homemade pumpkin pie latte (I've also never tried a PSL if you must know!) and it seems as though I have a new favourite flavour for fall. 

Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:

{makes: 24 cookies}

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup pumpkin purée 
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• optional extras: white chocolate chunks, raisins, nuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Set aside.
3. In another bowl beat the sugar and butter until smooth. Add in the eggs on at a time. Proceed to add in the pumpkin purée until incorporated.
4. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and beat until smooth. 
5. Blend in optional extras. 
6. Chill dough for at least 2 hours (this is so important because the dough is very sticky)!
7. Roll into balls and bake for 12-14 minutes.  If you find the dough is sticking more so to your hands than actually rolling into balls, wet hands with cold water throughout the rolling process. 

Pumpkin Pie Latte

1. Microwave 2 spoonfuls of leftover pumpkin purée in coffee cup until warm. 

2. Add 1 cup of freshly brewed coffee, or 2 capsules of espresso (I use a Nespresso machine).

3. Add a dash of each cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger into coffee and stir (you can add sugar or sweetener at this point if you would like a sweeter latte). 

4. Froth 1/3 cup of milk of choice and add to coffee (warm milk will do if you are not using a machine). Spoon foam on top.

5. Sprinkle cinnamon or add a cinnamon stick on the side. 

Enjoy together for the perfect fall treat! 

Apple Picking

Saturday was a perfect fall day. I woke up to grey, foggy skies and cool weather so we headed out to Pine Farm Orchards for some apple picking. This sweater strangely reminds me of The Nightmare Before Christmas so it was only natural that I wear it for the falliday activity. I paired it with some comfy boyfriend jeans, and although it's not too form-fitting it turned out to be the perfect outfit for the activity. We started off picking some Delicious, Royal Gala, Macintosh, and Spies (for baking), then we headed inside to browse the shop and have warm apple cider and treats in the cafe. Perfect autumn date if you ask me!

{Dex sweater via Winners, Mavi jeans, Sam Edelmen boots, Coach bag}

 

Fallidays

Now that October has officially begun I am trying to embrace fall fully. September graced us with some surprisingly pleasant weather so I have been half reluctant to jump into the new season.  If you are (or have ever been) a student I'm sure you can agree that October can become overwhelmingly busy- we have Thanksgiving, Halloween, and I am already starting mid-terms this week! In hopes of embracing this fast paced month, and since I truly love the beginning of fall (when it's not too cold and you can still enjoy the crisp, clean air), I have created a large list of classic, fun fall activities. Starting with a new haircut, I am excited the list is getting smaller and I'm making progress. Here is what I'm still looking forward to doing over the next few weeks.  

{images via pinterest}

Are there any activities that truly make the season for you? What are they!