Now that Halloween is just one, short week away, I only have one thing on my mind- Pumpkin. No one can deny that EVERYTHING is better with pumpkin- even those cute, ready to bake sugar cookies with the pumpkins simply on them taste better (speaking of those cookies, I am heartbroken that I can't find them anywhere this year!) So I searched all my favorite food blogs to find what I think would be the perfect day, which means pumpkin for breakfast, lunch/dinner, and most importantly, dessert. Let me begin by saying that this was not an easy task, and I suggest that within this next week you look at some of these food blogs because they all have a really unique take on traditional recipes. It was hard to pick just three, but these stuck out to me as the perfect balance of traditional with a new, innovative twist!
BREAKFAST
BREAKFAST
Autumn Harvest Bread with Maple Cream Cheese Icing
Everyones had the traditional Pumpkin Bread, but this bread combines all the amazing flavors of autumn and puts it into one delicious bread! Did I mention it's topped with a maple cream cheese icing (as if it couldn't have gotten any better!). This recipe comes from one of my favorite baking and pastry blogs, The Vanilla Bean Blog. If you haven't gotten the chance to check out this blog yet then I beg you to take ten minutes out of your day and skim through some of the recipes. You will probably end up like me and spend hours with your mouth watering, looking at all the pictures and reading all the funny stories, so don't say I didn't warn you! I think this bread would be a perfect start to a chilly, fall morning, so click the link or any of the pictures above to see this delicious recipe.
LUNCH/DINNER
Everyones had the traditional Pumpkin Bread, but this bread combines all the amazing flavors of autumn and puts it into one delicious bread! Did I mention it's topped with a maple cream cheese icing (as if it couldn't have gotten any better!). This recipe comes from one of my favorite baking and pastry blogs, The Vanilla Bean Blog. If you haven't gotten the chance to check out this blog yet then I beg you to take ten minutes out of your day and skim through some of the recipes. You will probably end up like me and spend hours with your mouth watering, looking at all the pictures and reading all the funny stories, so don't say I didn't warn you! I think this bread would be a perfect start to a chilly, fall morning, so click the link or any of the pictures above to see this delicious recipe.
LUNCH/DINNER
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Growing up my favorite food was cheese. I could eat eggs topped with cheese, grilled cheese, and mac & cheese (and trust me, I did). In fact my mom used to tell me I needed to stop or I was going to turn into a block of cheese. Going to college and eating easy mac at least two nights a week has given me a new found appreciation for really good, homemade mac & cheese. So, from the second I saw this recipe I have been obsessed, because they took my two favorite things, cheese and pumpkin, and combined them! i am a food blog was also named one of the top food blogs of 2014, so definitely check it out because I spent a whole night simply bookmarking recipe after recipe. I think this would make the perfect lunch or dinner, because nothing is better than warm, cheesy, baked goodness on a beautiful fall night.
DESSERT
Growing up my favorite food was cheese. I could eat eggs topped with cheese, grilled cheese, and mac & cheese (and trust me, I did). In fact my mom used to tell me I needed to stop or I was going to turn into a block of cheese. Going to college and eating easy mac at least two nights a week has given me a new found appreciation for really good, homemade mac & cheese. So, from the second I saw this recipe I have been obsessed, because they took my two favorite things, cheese and pumpkin, and combined them! i am a food blog was also named one of the top food blogs of 2014, so definitely check it out because I spent a whole night simply bookmarking recipe after recipe. I think this would make the perfect lunch or dinner, because nothing is better than warm, cheesy, baked goodness on a beautiful fall night.
DESSERT
Marshmallow Meringue Pumpkin Pie
We have all had a slice of pumpkin pie, but have you ever had pumpkin pie topped with marshmallow meringue? This recipe caught my eye because its the perfect mix of a traditional fall favorite with a unique spin! Its actually pretty genius because its basically sweet potato casserole in pie form (aka Heaven)! I got this recipe from The Broken Bread Blog, which is a really unique, different blog because she separates the recipes based on seasons. Each recipe includes fruits, vegetables, and flavors that are specific to that particular season. As it states on the website, "Each dish has a story of its own, and here I want to share my stories with you." So, if your looking for the perfect warm winter casserole or fresh summer salad, The Broken Bread Blog has exactly what you've been looking for!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
The world of pumpkin recipes is vast, and there are SO many amazing recipes worth sharing. So here are a few that almost made my perfect pumpkin meal cut! Click on the pictures below to be taken to the recipe, and I hope I inspired you to make something delicious, and of course, pumpkin!