Pumpkin Enchiladas

Melissa let me guest post on this recipe. I’m responsible for a lot of the savory dishes on the site and while they don’t get as much attention as my wife’s amazing sweet treats, “we all gotta eat.” I’ve been wanting to try a savory pumpkin dish for the fall, and this recipe just popped in my head one day so here it is: Pumpkin Enchiladas. This pumpkin enchiladas recipe is a bit involved, but well worth it.

pumpkin enchiladas watermark

We used a dairy free cheese sauce for this recipe, so these enchiladas are vegan. 🙂  I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Pumpkin Enchiladas

Pumpkin Enchiladas

Prep Time 9 hr Cook Time 40 min

Ingredients

    The Filling

    • 4 cup black beans (measured after soaking) This also equals about 2 cans.
    • 2 cup pureed cooked pumpkin
    • 1 sweet potato chopped
    • 6-8 vine ripened tomatoes chopped
    • 2 cups corn (please try to buy this organic)
    • 1/2 cup veggie broth
    • 2 tsp garlic powder (or 3 to 4 cloves minced)
    • 1 tsp chili powder
    • 1 tsp onion powder
    • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
    • optional: 1 jalapeno diced, seeds and all

    The Enchilada

    • (Per each one)
    • 1 tortilla
    • 3 heaping spoonfuls of filling
    • Cheese sauce
    • 1 T pistachio dust per enchilada (pistachios that have been processed into a course consistency)
    • 1-2 T diced raw red onions

    Instructions

      For the filling

      1. I soaked the black beans the night before.
      2. I also roasted my own pumpkin and pureed it myself, but pureed pumpkin in a can would also work.
      3. Add everything to the crock pot .
      4. Turn on high and walk away for 6-8 hours or so.
      5. To put together the enchilada, pick a tortilla of your choice, lay it flat, and put three good sized spoon fulls of the filling slightly off-center in a line. We used Food for Life tortillas.
      6. Next add the cheese sauce . I didn’t put an amount because really this is personal taste. Add as much to your heart’s cheese-loving content. We used our cashew cheese sauce , but you could also use real cheese.
      7. Lastly, add the red onion.
      8. Wrap the filling in the tortilla like you would a burrito or a sandwich wrap.
      9. Next, add some more cheese sauce on top.
      10. Finally, add your pistachio dust on top of the cheese sauce .
      11. I did several at once in an 8X8 baking dish and put it in the oven for five minutes or so.
      12. Remove and you are done.

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      Recipe Notes

      A tip on the filling: I did this part at night. I woke up to the most amazing smelling house. For some real heat, you can also throw in a jalapeno to really give this filling some kick. Melissa doesn’t like much spice, so I left that out of my recipe.

      The filling makes for an awesome pumpkin chili to gorge on. The pistachio dust is essential to this recipe. You can just buy pistachios and food process them until they are course. Real simple.

      Lastly, for a real cheese option, try this: melt 1 tbsp butter, 1 tsp flour- stirred till the flour smell was gone added dash of nutmeg, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup milk, whisked so it won't form lumps and once thick took off the stove and put in 1/4 cup cheese.

      I hope you enjoy. I know I sure did.

      Banana Nut Overnight Oats (Vegan & Gluten Free)

      Banana Nut Overnight OatsOvernight oats are very popular these days.  I have been having overnight oats for breakfast every morning lately.

      They are so easy and travel well too.  My husband takes them to work with him.  Readers keep asking me to create new flavors, so here are some healthy and vegan banana overnight oats to try.

       

      Banana Nut Overnight Oats

       

      I’ve been making my overnight oats with stevia lately.  I don’t notice the after taste in this recipe at all.  I love the fact that there is no sugar added.

      If you do not want to used stevia, I will put other options in this recipe as well.

      Looking for more overnight oats recipes?

      Banana Nut Overnight Oats

      Banana Nut Overnight Oats

      Prep Time 5 min

      Ingredients

      Instructions

      1. Throw all the ingredients except for the banana in a jar and mix well. 
      2. Store overnight in the fridge. 
      3. When you are ready to eat, slice the banana and mix it in.

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      Recipe Notes

      I thought putting the banana in the night before would make it too mushy. I make 5 of these at a time and store them in the fridge for easy breakfasts all week. Enjoy!

      Vegan Pistachio Truffles

      I love pistachios!  How about you?  I swear my daughter could put away a whole bag of pistachios if she didn’t have to shell them.  We bought a bag the other day and I instantly thought about doing a pistachio truffle recipe.  So that is how these pistachio truffles came about.

      Pistachio Truffles Watermark

      These truffles are date sweetened except for the small amount of sugar there is in the dark chocolate I used.  They are pretty awesome too.  Kind of reminds me of my coconut truffles a bit.  It’s a great little bite when you have a chocolate craving.  These truffles are also vegan, gluten free and paleo.

      Pistachio Truffles

      Pistachio Truffles

      Prep Time 1 hr Serves 8-10 truffles     adjust servings

      Ingredients

        For the filling

        For the chocolate coating

        Instructions

          For the filling

          1. In the food processor , pulse the pistachios into a course ground consistency.
          2. Then add the remaining ingredients until a “dough” starts to form.
          3. Roll into balls and place in the freezer to set. I put mine on a parchment lined plate. Leave them in there for about 30 minutes.

          For the chocolate coating

          1. While the balls are setting, make the chocolate coating.
          2. Using a double boiler method, melt the chocolate, coconut oil and milk.
          3. Keep stirring until the chocolate becomes thinner and smooth.
          4. Once the chocolate is ready, remove from heat and get the balls out of the freezer.
          5. Using two forks, gently roll the balls into the chocolate and set them back on the parchment lined plate.
          6. Once all the balls are coated, place them back in the freezer to firm up.
          7. They should be ready in about 30 minutes.

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          Recipe Notes

          You can store them in the fridge or freezer. Whichever is your preference. I got about 8-10 balls out of my batch. Enjoy!

          No Bake Pumpkin Pie Cookies

          I am obsessing over all things pumpkin.  How about you?  These no bake pumpkin pie cookies cookies are no exception.  They are so good.  My picky 4 year old loved them and she claims to hate pumpkin.  Lol.

          pumpkin-pie-cookies-my-whole-food-life

          These no bake pumpkin pie cookies can be made in minutes with almost no dishes to do after.  This is a super easy recipe you can make with your kids.  These pumpkin cookies are vegan, gluten free and paleo.  Can it get better?  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

          No Bake Pumpkin Pie Cookies

          No Bake Pumpkin Pie Cookies

          Prep Time 10 min Serves 12 balls     adjust servings

          Ingredients

          Instructions

          1. In the food processor , grind up the almonds, pecans, pepitas and spices. 
          2. Then add in the dates and continue to pulse. 
          3. Lastly add in the pumpkin and pulse until a dough starts to form. 
          4. When the dough is formed, roll into balls and stick in the fridge for 30-60 minutes to firm up.

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          Recipe Notes

          I rolled mine into balls and flattened then with my palm once they had firmed up. It’s an easy recipe to do with your kids. I got about 10-12 balls out of my batch. Store them in the fridge or even freeze them for longer storage. Enjoy!

          Special Birthday Cookies

          On the 24th, my daughter Meadow turned 4.  She goes to pre-school and they celebrate birthdays.  So I made some special birthday chocolate chip cookies to take to her class. Let me say that there is some processed sugar in these.  Not much, but I bent my normal rules because it was her birthday treat.  I do allow my children to have treats once and a while, and a birthday is an occasion where a healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe that bends the rules a little is in order.

          Birthday Cookies watermark

          This healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe would be a great transition for those looking to eat healthier versions of sweets.  It’s sweeter than I normally would make, but if you are used to super sweet cookie recipes, this one is a great stepping stone.  Everyone loved them.  They are also gluten free and nut free!

          Special Birthday Cookies

          Special Birthday Cookies

          Prep Time 10 min Cook Time 15 min Serves 19 cookies     adjust servings

          Ingredients

          Instructions

          1. Preheat oven to 350.
          2. Mix all the dry ingredients in one bowl.
          3. Mix wet in another.
          4. Add wet to dry and mix until everything is combined.
          5. Drop cookies on lined baking sheets and bake for about 13-15 minutes.
          6. I got 19 cookies out of my batch. Enjoy!

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          Green Lentil Salad (Vegan and Gluten Free)

          Green Lentil Salad recipe.  I love cold salads.  They are just so good and easy to make.  This is one that my mother in law came up with.  She said I could share it with all of you.  I have several of her recipes on my blog.  One of them is Red Lentil Soup.

           

          green lentil salad

           

          This is another recipe that is inexpensive to make and very healthy too.  I think one of the flavors that makes this recipe great is the pomegranate molasses.  You can find it at most health food stores and also at Middle Eastern markets.

          In fact, the Middle Eastern markets may have better prices.  That is also the case when it comes to buying olive oil.

          I have also included an Amazon link for those that do not have either of those options nearby.  A little goes a long way too.  We have had the same bottle for months.

          Green Lentil Salad

          Green Lentil Salad

          Serves 3 servings     adjust servings

          Ingredients

            Salad

            • 1 1/2 cups green lentils
            • 3-4 cups water
            • 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
            • 3 green onions chopped
            • 2 cups baby spinach chopped
            • 1/3 cup flat leaf parsley chopped
            • 1/3 cilantro chopped

            Dressing

            Instructions

            1. After you wash/rinse lentils place in a large cooking pot, cover with water and bring to boil.
            2. Once it starts boiling, turn the heat down to simmer and cook until tender/soft (add more water if needed), for about 30 minutes or more.
            3. Drain lentils and set aside to cool. 
            4. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine sliced red onions, parsley, cilantro, spinach, green onions. 
            5. To this mixture add cooked lentils. 
            6. Now prepare the dressing by combining pomegranate molasses, sumac, salt, paprika and extra virgin Olive Oil.  
            7. Mix well, drizzle over lentils and greens mixture and toss them well.
            8. Keep refrigerated for an hour or two before serving.

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            Recipe Notes

            I find that this gets better the next day after the flavors have time to marinate. Enjoy!