dairy free pumpkin muffins

From a great website: www.eatbelive.wordpress.com

Moira says these are moist, low in sugar and make a great afternoon snack or breakfast addition. I made 12 and ate 6 :) alex and ava shared the others.

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil (canola or olive)

2 eggs

3/4 cup pumpkin puree (use 100% pure pumpkin puree- unsweetened)

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 cup flour (all purpose, whole-grain, whateva you want)

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (i used the nut,wheat,egg,dairy free)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil a 12-cup muffin pan or 24-cup mini muffin pan or use cups. Whisk together the first 5 ingredients in small bowl. Blend together flour, powder, soda, spices in med bowl. Add wet mixture and stir until just blended. Fold in nuts & chips. Spoon into pan. Bake 20-25 min Enjoy!

carrie's awesome chicken & pesto pasta

This is a dish Carrie made for us the first week we had Anna. Since then i've made it for us a few times and for a few others who have had babies. Everyone raves about how great it is!

I box whole wheat penne pasta cooked and drained (or whatever kind you want, we have done regular, and veggie pasta)

4 oz cream cheese softened (I put this in right after I drain the noodles so it will melt a little more and mix easily)

1 jar Classico Pesto Sauce

1 can diced tomatoes drained

some fresh baby spinach leaves (as little or as much as you like)

diced chicken breast cooked (I have used left over chicken, the tyson already cooked stuff in a pinch, and fresh sauteed or grilled chicken)

toss all together and put in a baking dish

top with mozzarella cheese

put in oven for about 5 mins on broil (keep a close eye on it when it starts to get a little tan spots on top take it out)

Super easy if you have cooked chicken. (It is worth the tyson for me because it makes clean up so easy).

butternut squash & macaroni casserole

I just got the Whole Foods App and have tried a few recipes. I really liked this one.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced

1 butternut squash (about 2 lb), peeled, seeded and cut into 1 in pieces

1 (15 oz.) can coconut milk

salt & pepper to taste

1 tablespoon chopped sage (i didn't have this and i thought it was still good)

3/4 pound dried elbow macaroni (i used penne b/c that's all i had)

1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Method

Prehead oven 350. Lightly oil a 9x13 in casserole dish, set aside

Heat oil in med pot over med heat. Add onions and cook, stirring often, unstil softened, 5-7 min. Add squash, cocount milk, s & p and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to med low and simmer until squash is tender, about 20 min. Stir in sage & simmer 1 min more. (This part can be made ahead, up to 1 day in advance).

Meanwhile, brin ga large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macacroni (or other pasta) and cook until tender but still firm, about 8 min. Rince in cold water, drain and transfer to a large bowl. Transfer squash mixture to bowl with macaroni. Add walnuts, s&p and toss to combine.

Transfer to prepared dish and top with bread crumbs. Bake until just golden brown and hot throughout, about 30 minutes.

Serves 8