It’s that time of the year for pumpkin!! Hooray!!!! This simple super food is so versatile with many good for you health benefits. Around this time of the year, i enjoy making homemade roasted pumpkin puree, spicy roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pancakes, soups and tasty breads with this ingredient. Today, i have a delicious recipe you can feel good about around the holidays as it is made with protein rich, gluten free almond flour, small amount of stone ground whole wheat flour for structure, lots of immune boosting spices, good for you olive oil, and of course pumpkin that is rich in vitamin A.

 

Here are some health benefits of PUMPKIN from a health and fitness page, Greatist!!Pumpkins’ bright orange color may make them a good substitute for traffic cones, but the real power behind their hue is beta-carotene, a provitamin that is converted to vitamin A in the body. Known for its immune-boosting powers, beta-carotene is essential for eye health and has also been linked to preventing coronary heart disease [1] [2]. But there’s no need to choose fresh to get the benefits of pumpkin. One cup of canned pumpkin has seven grams of fiber and three grams of protein— even more than the fresh stuff— and contains only 80 calories and one gram of fat. Plus, canned pumpkin is packed with vitamins and provides over 50 percent of the daily value of vitamin K, which may reduce the risk for some types of cancer [3]. Still, the real treasure is in the seeds. One ounce (about 140 seeds) is packed with protein, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Studies suggest pumpkin seeds provide a number of health benefits— such as blocking the enlargement of the prostate gland, lowering the risk of bladder stones, and helping to prevent depression [4] [5] [6] [7]. Plus, they contain high levels of phytosterols, which research suggests can reduce cholesterol and even help prevent some types of cancers [8] [9]. So get scooping!

 

 

Yields: 12 slices

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup almond flour

1/2 cup organic stone ground whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

2 local large eggs

1/3 cup organic sugar in the raw, or honey

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup filtered water

1/2 cup organic dark chocolate chips

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Combine flours, sea salt, baking soda, and spices in a large bowl and mix well using a whisk.

Beat eggs in a separate bowl. Add sweeteners, pumpkin puree, olive oil, and water while beating well after each addition.

Pour wet ingredients into the dry mixture; using a fork or wooden spoon until just combined. Then, just stir in chocolate chips.

Have the loaf pan lined, or greased and floured before placing the mixture inside.

Bake for about an hour, or until pick comes out clean. Once cooled, slice and serve with caramel sauce or just as is. Enjoy!

 

 

NUTRITIONAL VALUE: Calories 180; Total Fat 13g; Sodium 190mg; Total Carbohydrates 14g; Dietary Fiber 2; Protein 3.7g; sugars 3g; vitamin A 64%, vitamin C 1%, calcium 2% and iron 7%. This is very high in vitamin A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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