May I just take a moment to tell you how much I enjoy sharing anything pumpkin-related with you?! I wish you could take this time of year and bottle it up for a rainy day. Pumpkins, colorful leaves, the smell of crab apples in our front yard, and the crisp evening air all make me so happy. Now is my favorite time of year to go for a walk and enjoy every morsel this season has to offer.
“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” ~ Lauren DeStefano
There is so much to share with you today, from how to make your own pumpkin bowl to a healthy soup recipe that is sure to warm you heart and soul.
Tonight we have an open house at my daughter’s preschool. It is also my son’s first violin lesson ever. He is extremely excited. Playing the violin is something he has been asking to do all on his own for a while now. As it turns out, it is a bit of a family tradition, which we didn’t know until we mentioned signing him up. My son’s great grandfather and great great grandfather both played the violin, so maybe it’s in his blood.
We picked up a rental violin a few days ago, and it has been so hard for him to keep his hands off of it. We decided to follow the recommendation not to touch it until the first lesson when you learn how to take care of it. I am slightly terrified inside my son is going to have a lot of trouble being gentle with the violin.
I also can’t help but wonder how it will all go down. Will I have to make my son practice or will he actually want to do it? We’ll see. The good news is I’m great at repeating myself so if he needs some encouragement from Mom I’ve got that covered. For now, I’ll picture my son playing me beautiful music in my head. That should get me through, right? Secretly, I’m excited and I really do hope he loves it, but I’ve learned enough as a parent now to take everything one step at a time.
Wishing you many moments of enjoyment this week, my friends!“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
How to Make a Pumpkin Bowl
Ingredients
- Sugar pumpkin, around 2.5 lbs. in size
- ½ tsp. sugar
- ½ tsp. sea salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or aluminum foil to prevent sticking.
Clean and dry the pumpkin. Using a paring knife, cut the top off the pumpkin.
Scoop out all of the seeds and stringy bits.
*Tip – you can save the pumpkin seeds for roasting, or you can do what I did… toss the seeds in a place you hope pumpkins will grow next year and keep your fingers crossed (not guaranteed to work).
Sprinkle the inside of the pumpkin and the underside of the pumpkin top with sea salt and sugar.
Place the pumpkin on the baking sheet and cook for about 25-35 minutes, depending on the size of your pumpkin.
Pat yourself on the back because you just made a beautiful pumpkin bowl!
Now what goes better with a gorgeous pumpkin bowl than a delicious, healthy soup recipe to serve inside of your pumpkin?!
Creamy Pumpkin Spinach Soup Recipe
“Hearty and delicious. Love the texture of the spinach…spicy for sure (if you add extra habanero – WI).” ~ Hubby
Yields: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ of a habanero pepper, diced (optional for added heat)
- 10 oz. (284 g) spinach, fresh
- ½ tsp. nutmeg, ground
- ½ tsp. white pepper
- 1 tsp. sea salt + 1 tsp. optional for extra seasoning at the end
- 1 quart (32oz.) Low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 – 15oz. (425g) can pumpkin puree
- 1 can cannellini beans, rinsed & drained
- ½ cup cashews, raw
- 1 cup water
Directions
In a large soup pot, add olive oil over medium-high heat.
Sauté diced onion for 3 minutes.
Add minced garlic and habanero pepper (optional), and continue to sauté for 2 more minutes.
This will make your house smell amazing!
Add fresh spinach a couple of handfuls at a time and sauté until all of the greens are wilted. It should take only a few minutes.
Season with nutmeg, white pepper, and 1 tsp. sea salt, and stir for 1 minute.
Add vegetable broth, pumpkin puree, and beans; stir to incorporate. Turn up heat to bring to a boil.
Meanwhile, in a high-powered blender, combine cashews and 1 cup of water. Blend until creamy about 1 minute.
Add cashew cream to the soup, and stir.
When the soup begins to boil, cover and turn down the heat to a simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Check the soup for additional seasoning, and add 1 tsp. sea salt if needed.
