Sooo. This year we went for a healthier centerpiece to our Holiday table! It was a move I wasn’t too sure would go down too well with the family , but I was so pleased it was a big hit ! Growing up in the Uk Pumpkins were only ever a big deal when it came to Halloween. You carved them and that was that. Poor little unloved Pumpkins. After my move Stateside I learned just how beautiful and versitile these babies really are. And a whole new kind of love was born!
Along the way I was also taught that Pumkins are also high in vitimans A and C aswell as being a good source of beta carotene too, so who can argue with that?? I heart Pumkins….

So obviously with my new found obsession , Pumpkins were the first thing in my mind when my plant based Thanksgiving was penned .. so here’s what I did:

I choose a medium sized pumpkin. It was one of the little “pie pumpkins”. But have done similar things with very small pumkins too!

Cuteness overload….

So in keeping with the Thankgiving theme , my centerpiece had to be spectacular. I just had no clue what to fill it with. …

So I went with everything that looked pretty at the Farmers Market. Sound plan right ??

For the Pumpkin:
1 Medium Pie Pumpkin
Oil of choice for roasting. (I use Avacado)

The stuffing is as follows :

2 cups of your preferred grain or seed cooked. Some good choices are , Rice , Millet , Quinoa or Barley.
Then :
1 Carrot
1 Beetroot
1 Red onion
2 Portabello Mushrooms
A big bunch of Sage leaves
2 tbs Tahini
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of Dried Cranberries
1/2 cup of roughly chopped pecans.
Spalsh of your preferred milk or cream. I used Almond milk.
Oil of choice (I used avacado )
Optional : Honey

To Decorate : Grapes , Pumpkin seeds and fresh Sage leaves.

Put the oven onto 375°.
Then cook your grain or seed. Whils that’s cooking hollow the Pumpkin (seeds can be roasted later if you’d like ). Make sure to keep its little “lid”. Once the pumpkin is nice and empty give the inside a rub with your oil. Then pop that beauty in the oven ok a tray “lidless” to give it a head start on roasting. My pumkin took about an hour and a half total for the flesh to be nice and tender.

Right. Next onto the stuffing ! Chop the Carrot , beetroot and Red Onion into similar sizes. Chuck them in a sauté pan with a good glug of your oil. I prefer Avacado so I know it’s safe at high temperatures. Let everything cook for a few minutes until some colour is on the veg. Then add in your diced Portabello and garlic too. Once everything seems happy and is not quite fully cooked , add in you grain or seed that previously prepared.
Give everything a big stir and add in thr chopped sage , Cranberries and Pecans. Remember to season with salt and pepper too. Check for herbs and add a little more if necessary. Drizzle the Tahini over and add enough of your milk or cream to stop everything from getting too dry. (A little drizzle of Honey or a sweetner can be good here too just to enhance the sweetness of the root veggies).

Now that you have everything prep’d make sure the Pumpkin has had a good 45 minutes head start roasting.

Then … the fun bit !
Be very careful lifting the Pumpkin out and stuffing it , it’s going to be hot ! Then (using a large spoon is best) stuff away merrily!!

Pop the stuffed pumpkin back in the oven , complete with lid for another 45 minutes.

I recommend when the Pumpkin cooked you give it a little resting time to cool before carving.

At this point I popped it’s little lid off and topped with some chopped grapes amd pumpkin seeds for a fresh burst of colour and flavor.

This will definetly be on my holiday table again!!

This is definetly on my list of must have winter foods. A favourite of my best friend too! I have a complete love affair with Harissa hot, sweet and spicy. It’s my little jar of culinary heaven.

Recipe :
Two large Sweet potatoes (or three medium)
2/3 of a cup of Red Lentils
A clove of garlic
1-2tbs Honey
1-2 tsp Harissa paste.

Makes about 6 servings.

Peel and chop the potatoes , add into a pan with enough water to cover by about an inch (you may need a little more a little later if it gets too dry ) add the lentils and the clove of garlic. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer until the lentils have all but dissolved and the potato is falling apart.
At this point remove the garlic clove. Then add everything to a bender , it will already be quite “soupy” but this helps make it nice and smooth !
Add honey and Harissa to taste , with a big sprinkle of salt to pull everything together.

I garnish this with toasted Pumpkin seeds and fresh Parsley.

Enjoy !

Who said you shouldn’t eat Pizza for breakfast? Who are they and what do they know ?

This beautiful little number is a perfect way to brighten up a morning and send you off into the world with a skip in your step. I know. I’m waaayy to cheesey … but you have to admit it’s pretty right?

Not too much of a recipe per say, just a nice round of watermelon adorned with your favorite fruits and herbs. This particular concoction showcased and incredibly majestic looking dragonfruit ! I had aquired it from my local Farmers Market and was pleasantly suprised to discover it’s magenta hue when I cut into it. Just perfect….Sorry I digress.
This baby was loaded with said Dragon fruit , Mango, Blackberries , Blueberries and a lovely mix of fresh Mint and Basil.
Nothing crazy, just simply celebrating fresh fruit at its finest.

So, I have a problem . Admitting it is the first step right ? I adore all things plant related. It’s time to take my love to the next level. We’re going public baby.

 

Hope you enjoy the fruits of my labour as much as I do !