We're Cooking...With Pumpkin!

'Tis the season for everything pumpkin! And the experts at Sacramento State are showing us some great and nutritious recipes using pumpkin. The school's Nutrition Program offers classes and diet analysis to student to help keep them healthy!

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
1 ½ cup All-Purpose Wheat Self-Rising Flour
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
2 cups White Granulated Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 ½ cup Canned Pumpkin
¼ cup Canola Oil
¼ cup Unsweetened Canned Applesauce
½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Ground Cloves

Instructions:
1. Mix the pumpkin, canola oil and applesauce in a large mixing bowl. Add the dry ingredients; mix well.
2. Pour into 2 prepared loaf pans or muffin tins.
3. Bake at 350 F for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
4. Cut each loaf into 16 slices. Fun idea: after slicing, use cookie cutters to make fun holiday shapes.

Optional Add-Ins: 1/2 cup raisins, nuts or chocolate chips.

Butternut Squash Casserole

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 cup Chopped Onion
2 cloves Garlic
3 cups Butternut Squash
14 fl. Oz. Light Coconut Milk (available at Trader Joe's)
¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 oz. whole wheat macaroni pasta
½ cup walnuts
½ cup plain bread crumbs

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly oil a 9 x 13 casserole dish; set aside.
2. Peel, seed and cut butternut squash into 1-inch pieces; set aside.
3. Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and garlic; cook, stirring often, until softened, 5-7 minutes. Add squash, coconut milk, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium low and simmer until squash is tender, about 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni or other short pasta and cook until tender but still firm, about 8-10 minutes. Rinse in cold water, drain well and transfer to a large bowl. Transfer squash mixture to bowl with macaroni. Add chopped walnuts, salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine. Transfer to prepared casserole dish and top with bread crumbs. Bake until browned and hot throughout, about 30 minutes.