Pumpkin - A Super Food!

Think of the word pumpkin and images of jack-o-lanterns and whipped cream covered Thanksgiving pies will probably pop into your mind. Pumpkin is traditionally considered a holiday food and is a staple in our kitchen pantries and freezers during that festive time of the year. However, did you know that pumpkin now heralded as one of the 'Super Foods?' According to Dr. Steven Pratt, author of SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life, "Well, pumpkin is one of the most nutritionally valuable foods known to man. Moreover, it's inexpensive, available year round in canned form, incredibly easy to incorporate into recipes, high in fiber, low in calories, and packs an abundance of disease fighting nutrients." What exactly makes pumpkin so super? The powerful antioxidants known as carotenoids give this food its super status. Carotenoids have the ability to ward off the risk of various types of cancer and heart disease, along with, cataracts and macular degeneration. Dr. Pratt mentions many other disease fighting super foods in his book as well, but we are most interested in pumpkin because of the year-round availability and ease of use in canned form. How can we add this wonder food to our diets through out the year? Take advantage of the benefits and great taste of pumpkin with the following delicious Pumpkin Recipes. Any day Pumpkin Pancakes 2-1/2 cups flour 1 cup of buttermilk 1 tsp. salt 2-1/4 tsp. soda 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 cup of pumpkin Measure flour into bowl and add dry ingredients. Stir in buttermilk and add pumpkin. Mix Well. Cook on hot griddle or skillet until golden brown. Pumpkin Spiced Muffins 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 cup pumpkin 1/4 cup milk 2 cups flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ginger 1/4 tsp. ground cloves 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. baking soda Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl cream butter with brown sugar. Beat in eggs, then pumpkin and milk. In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, spices, salt and baking soda. Add to the creamed mixture. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.