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The Pliant Pumpkin!

Pumpkin is the name of the game this time of year! I love the look, the smell, and the taste of pumpkins. They are also INCREDIBLY healthy! One ounce of pumpkin provides just 10 calories and 87% of your Vitamin A for the day! It is also high in fiber, and can easily be used in place of fat for some recipes (such as the Banana Muffin recipe I sent out last month).

Thanksgiving I like to make sure there is at least one dessert that I can enjoy. However, I have a rule that I do not eat anything I could buy at a store. That means bringing something myself. Of course I want it to be something everyone would like, and as a busy teacher and trainer, it has to be fast an easy. A few years ago I hit on this little gem and it's been a staple ever since!

Pumpkin Spice Angel Food Cake

1 15 oz can pumpkin

1 Pkg Angel Food Cake Mix

1 cup water

1 Tbs pumpkin pie spice

Mix together the ingredients and pour into a prepared bundt cake pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, until the cake is springy to the touch. Serve with a fruit glaze. Last year I had pomagranites and made a pom glaze with lemon zest and fresh orange juice and cornstarch. It was AWESOME 

Light Pumpkin Pie

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
15 oz cooked pumpkin
1 cup water
1 Ready Crust 25% Less-Fat Graham Cracker Ready pie crust
1 small package fat-free sugar-free cook and serve vanilla pudding mix

4 Egg whites

Beat eggs until they form soft peaks. Mix together cold water and pudding mix until the lumps are gone. Add spices to pumpkin and mix into pudding mix. Fold in eggs. Pour into pie shell and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve with light whipped topping. 171 calories, 7.5 g fat, 23.4 g carbs, 3.6 g protein per slice. Serves 8.

Easy Pumpkin Bran Muffins

1 box spice cake mix

3 cups Fiber One cereal

1 15 oz can pumpkin

1/3 cup dried cranberries

2 cups water

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup rolled oats

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together cake mix, pumpkin, water, cranberries, pumpkin pie spice, and fiber one.
Use muffin tin liners or Pam the muffin tin well. Pour the batter into the tins. Mix together cinnamon, oats, and brown sugar. Sprinkle on tops of muffins.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

253 calories, 6.5 g fat, 53 g carbohydrates, 4 g protein. 12 servings