Fall Recipe Roundup

Since today was the first day this school year that I regrettably walked out of the house without a coat, it seems like a good time to do a recipe round-up of fall recipes!

And of course, this means pumpkin. Lots and lots of pumpkin.
I keep canned pureed pumpkin in the house year-round, since it makes a good substitute in baking for some of the butter, fat, and oil (I use up to half of the amount of fat called for and for the rest I use applesauce or pumpkin). But since it is a seasonal item, I tend to stock up during these fall months. Since its just hitting the shelves, now's a perfect time to make some fall-tasting recipes and also buy some extra to hoard for the rest of the year.

*Not all of these are skinny, healthy, or low calorie, but I tried to include recipes that are somewhat good for you, or at least not terrible for you! And a treat once in a while isn't a bad thing either. You can't deprive yourself of all good things!

Skinny Pumpkin Spiced Snickerdoodles

From Skinnytaste

These look like every good taste of fall in one bite.

Pumpkin Mousse Shooters

From Eat Yourself Thin

A healthy, easy, and elegant dessert for a holiday party. Or a Tuesday night.

Crock Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte

From Urban Nester

I'm not a fan of the Pumpkin Spice Latte from a certain coffee shop. It tastes like a toddler threw together a bunch of things he likes to eat thinking it will result in the most amazing food ever and then it ends up tasting like a hot mess. (Literally.) But I could come around to this recipe.

Baked Pumpkin and Sour Cream Pudding

From Smitten Kitchen

I haven't made anything from Deb that hasn't been fabulous. This looks like it wouldn't disappoint!

Frosted Pumpkin Cake

From Cooking Light via Dwell on Joy

A healthier spin on a classic cake

Pumpkin Baked French Toast

From Minimalist Baker

Hello Saturday morning post-run breakfast!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

From Eighteen 25

Hello Sunday morning post-long-run-to-burn-a-bunch-of-calories breakfast!

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A few that embrace all good things about fall, even without the pumpkin...

Crock Pot Cinnamon Pecan Bread Pudding

From Shape Magazine

Just think about how good your house would smell waking up to this in your slow cooker!

Roasted Acorn Squash and Chai Ice Cream

From Say Not Sweet Anne

Vegetables and dessert? Shut up. Seriously. This looks amazing.

Warm Coconut Rice Pudding

From Cooking Light Magazine

Everything comforting...

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And one savory dish that screams "Falling Leaves and Football!"

Bacon Cheddar Beer Risotto

From Emily Bites

And its only 6 points per serving. What?!?!

Homemade Gatorade

My training runs are starting to get longer (I have to do nine miles tomorrow... yikes...), and I've started to determine the best ways to keep my energy consistent and stay hydrated during these longer runs.

At first I figured I would just drink water when I'm out running, but that gets a little boring and sometimes your body needs a little more than plain water. I figured this out pretty early on this summer. I was just back from a longer run on a pretty hot day. Our street is under construction and things have been pretty dusty and dirty for the last few months. When I got home, I figured that all of the grit on my face was from the construction. But no, it was dried sweat and saltiness. (Sorry, TMI?) I realized that I needed to replenish my vitamins and minerals a bit more during and after runs. But not wanting to drink lots of artificial flavors, colors, and something with rosin, I hunted for a homemade recipe which you'll see below!

Homemade Citrus Gatorade
Based on WellnessMama.com
Click here for Printable Recipe

Ingredients
1 Quart Liquid (warm water, brewed tea, coconut water)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed calcium magnesium tablets
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon lime juice
2 Tablespoons orange juice
1-2 Tablespoons honey

Directions
Add salt and crushed tablets to base liquid and stir until dissolved.

Add juices and honey, stir until completely mixed together. 

Cool and store in the fridge until ready to use.

Note #1: A warm base liquid will help salt/tablets and honey to better dissolve. Just try stirring honey into cold iced tea sometime. Its a mess.
Note #2: You can use any juice to play around with the flavoring. Just make sure it adds up to 1/4 cup juice to replace the lemon, lime, and orange juices in this recipe. I don't think, however, that you will find a natural substitute for "Cool Blue"...

Mile Markers and Monkey Smoothies

I have arrived - last week at Weight Watchers, I made my goal weight! Next step: maintenance. Hmm....

What maintenance means in the WW program is that I get 4 more points per day (yes...) and I have to maintain a weight within two pounds on either side of my goal weight for six weeks.

What I'm going to do here, though, is not part of the WW program, but something that I was thinking about this evening while I was running at the gym and watching "The Biggest Loser." They were taking time to reflect on their time at the ranch and look at how far they've come. So that's what I've decided to do here. Each week for the next six weeks of maintenance, I'm going to look at different Mile Markers along my weight loss journey, different events, decisions, or turning points along the way that have some significance to where I am today with my health. (Why did I choose "Mile Markers?" Check back on Thursday:)

You might be thinking to yourself, "Okay, but where's the recipe for that awesome almond-banana-chocolate protein shake that she drank when she got home from the gym?" Recipes will come, and this isn't morphing into a weight-loss blog or post all of my inner thoughts/dreams/wishes/fears blog. There is a place for those, but this will stay about the food I eat. But the way I approach the food I eat has changed so drastically, not only in the last 33 weeks, but the last year or so as well.

So look for my first Mile Marker later this week. I hope you'll stick with me, and maybe come away with something to buoy your own pursuits as well! What are the Mile Markers on your journey, finished or not?

Oh, okay. Here's the recipe.

Its not a "points-bargain" but it is a good, filling post-workout recovery snack.

Monkey Smoothie

my very own invention!

Ingredients

3/4 cup skim milk

2 bananas, frozen (peel then freeze; won't get goopy)

1/4 cup plain fat free greek yogurt

2 Tablespoons organic or natural chocolate syrup

2 Tablespoons almond butter (I like Justin's Almond Maple Butter)

Directions

Put it all in a food processor and let 'er rip! Let it go for about 1 minute, until all banana pieces are well blended and mixture is frothy and full.

Yield: 3 servings (5 points per serving)

Short and Sweet {Tea}

Short post.
Sweet tea.
Short and sweet!

Just like the recipe.

We drink a lot of this during the warmer months - its cheap, its easy, and there's not a lot of extra stuff in this tea. Play around with what tea you like best, but know that whatever flavor you choose, it'll be extra-concentrated. Fruit tea, like raspberry zinger, comes out tasting a lot like fruit juice, but you could probably get away with no sugar if you use it. Black tea is a little more bitter but goes great with the added sugar and lemon. 

Whatever tea you choose, enjoy!

Iced Tea
Borrowed from Paula Deen and Friends

Ingredients
Water
7 tea bags
1/2 cup sugar

Directions
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. In a heat-proof glass bowl, combine the boiled water with the tea bags. Steep for 1 hour, then stir in sugar. Mix in 4 cups of cold water. Refrigerate and serve over ice with mint and/or lemon slices.

Makes  8 cups

Photo borrowed from wikipedia. I needed a pic for a pin. :)