How can it possibly be Wednesday already? I thought, with Summer gone and Fall here, the days would seem a lot longer. It still feels like the weeks are scurrying by! Instead of working out this morning, I decided to get some extra shut eye. I just wasn’t feeling it. My body is craving a good stretch, though, so I might head to Bikram later this afternoon. We’ll see!
Today’s been pretty standard – working on a bunch of side projects and what not. I’ve been super hungry today too. Lucky me! My hunger led me to the kitchen to create a brand spankin’ new, awesome recipe. From my heart and mind to yours…
Pumpkin-Quinoa Bake with Warm Orchard Apples
Are you ready for some pumpkin?! Of course you are.On Monday afternoon, after Matty and I’s apple picking adventure, I knew it would be sacrilegious to not create a dish containing the sweet, favorite fruit of Fall. So, this morning, I got to work in the kitchen. This dish screams Fall in the best of ways. It warms your soul from the inside, thanks to pumpkin pie-inspired flavors and warm, freshly basked orchard apples. Bonus: It also fills your kitchen with the most incredible scent. Mmm mmm good. Is your mouth watering yet?
Pumpkin-Quinoa Bake with Warm Orchard Apples
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients (Serves 1-2)
- 1 tsp. coconut oil
- 1/4 cup quinoa
- 1/4 cup organic pumpkin puree (I use canned)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- Pinch of allspice
- 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp. light brown sugar (1/2 tsp. if you really love sweets)
- 1/2 apple, sliced 1/2 inch in thickness
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Cook quinoa on medium-high heat for 10 minutes.
- Drain quinoa and pour into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Add coconut oil, pumpkin, almond milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, an allspice. Stir mixture until everything is well-combined.
- Add pure vanilla extract and light brown sugar. Stir mixture until everything is well-combined.
- Taste test it to see if the sweetneess fits your personal taste buds. If it is not sweet enough, add another 1/4 tsp. light brown sugar and stir.
- Line a small baking pan with coconut oil and pour the mixture into the pan.
- Lay sliced apples on top of the mixture and garnish with extra cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden-brown and crispy.
- Enjoy!
I enjoyed a serving of this alongside a big, kale salad with hummus, nutritional yeast, hemp seeds, and Trader Joe’s eggplant-garlic spread. Kind of a strange combination but it floated my boat! I can see this being served as a side dish for Thanksgiving and it would also make a fantastic breakfast topped with chopped pecans and walnuts and served with a nice cup of coffee.That actually sounds like the most perfect idea. I think I’ve got breakfast figured out for tomorrow!
Hope you have an amazing rest of your day, guys. Don’t forget to submit your #jadorelavie moments! Tomorrow is week number two!
Stay lovely,
Heather
What an interesting combo! I have seen so many great pumpkin recipes lately. I have to remember to pick up a few cans soon. Thanks for sharing.
Mmm you were dreaming of some wonderful things this morning, BB! I also am just completely inspired by the fact that you didn’t work out this morning because you didn’t feel like it. I kinda just stopped and read that a few times and thought, “Wow, it doesn’t seem so complicated when she does it.”
looks delicious!
question for you, you use nutrional yeast in a lot of your recipes – can you give me more information on nutrional yeast? why you use it? when to use it? I saw it in the grocery store and thought about getting it but know nothing about it.
thanks so much – love your blog!
oh and forgive my bad spelling!!! must spell check before hitting “post comment”
** nutritional
Yum this looks good. I don’t usually like heated apples, but I’ve been trying to like them this season ha ha.
Can’t wait for our chat-ski tomorrow and j’adore la vie round 2! I love it:)
you had be at pumpkin and apples! two of my favorites this time of year!
did you know thats one of my favorite combos, right there. ahh, so good. And FALLish.
Heather,
I wanted to let you know that I recently found/discovered your Blog. Wonderful Blog! I love the pictures of the foods, your sharing how your day is, and recipes. I am really looking forward to taking more time to read through your recipes and posts.
I recently began my own Blog…so I’m all new to this. Do you mind “sharing” with some of your readers my site to draw more people over there? I’d really appreciate it, if you could. Thank you! It’s found at:
http://healthystuffreviews.wordpress.com/
~Amy
that looks delicious! pinned it to make later
I have an open can of pumpkin puree and was looking for something to make. Cant wait to try this!
WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW! Nice recipe, girlie <3 LOVE IT
Yay, more fall-related things!! Your recipe looks fantastic – I need more pumpkin in my life!
CRAPBALLS
and now it’s thursday.
I need to get to the store and gets me some QUINOA.
Love this recipe! I’m loving all the fall flavors on everyone’s blogs! I feel like the fall is flying by too! Can’t believe it’s already the end of September!
This is the perfect meal for a fall night! Love the combination of pumpkin and quinoa. Apples with cinnamon are to die!
I love this idea!!! I need to make it. I love quinoa, and pumpkin of course. You’re awesome. That’s all
Oh, girrrrl, YES! You absolutely have to make this stuff ASAP! YOU’RE awesome.
[...] For the Love of Kale~Pumpkin Quinoa Bake with Warm Orchard Apples [...]