admin As the weather is starting to chill, I like to include more comfort food and soups. In my meal plan I always try to incorporate vegetables that are in season, it’s as a main meal or as a side. Pumpkins are definitely one of the stars during the month of October, accompanied by green peppers (though you still can find them throughout the year), aubergines, olives and marrows.
Let’s talk about some of the benefits of pumpkins:
- Pumpkins are rich in Vitamin A ( vitamin A helps support a healthy immune system, reduces the risk of acne, supports bone health and promotes healthy growth & reproduction);
- It’s high antioxidant content may reduce the risk of chronic diseases;
- Vitamins that boost the immune system;
- Has not only Vitamin A, but also Lutein and Zeaxanthin which may protect your eye sight;
- It’s low calorie count may promote weight loss.
Are you convinced on trying out pumpkin? My favorite way to serve pumpkin is by making a Pumpkin Soup. Here is the recipe:
INGREDIENTS
- 1kg pumpkin, peeled, seeded and chopped;
- 1.5ltr meat stock;
- 40gr butter;
- 2 onions chopped;
- 2 potatoes diced;
- 1 garlic clove chopped;
- 2 day-old bread slices;
- 150gr Gruyere cheese, freshly grated;
- 200ml double cream;
- salt and pepper.
Steam pumpkin for 20minutes. Bring the stock to boil. Melt the butter in another pan, add the onions and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until softened.
Add the potatoes, pumpkin and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and pour in the hot stock and simmer for about 30minutes.
Lightly toast the bread and dice it. Mix together the Gruyere cheese, cream, bread and a pinch of pepper in a bowl. Divide mixture between four individual soup bowls and ladle in the soup.
You can also serve a side salad or some garlic bread.
Another recipe in October’s Meal Plan is the Vegetarian Chili…SAY WHAT?!
YES YOU HEARD IT RIGHT…A VEGETARIAN CHILI AND YOU CAN COOK IT IN YOUR SLOWCOOKER.
Here are the ingredients:
INGREDIENTS
- 1 can of chickpeas;
- 13oz can red kidney beans;
- 1 can black beans;
- 15oz can sweet corn;
- Tomato sauce;
- 1 can crushed tomatoes;
- Cumin;
- Crushed red pepper;
- Black pepper;
- Chili powder;
- All spice
You can place the following ingredients in a food processor if your children don’t like to see vegetables in their food.
- 1 Green pepper;
- 1 onion;
- 1 clove garlic;
- Celery
The quantities are very approximate so you can add or eliminate as you please.
Chop or puree the vegetables. Put everything in your slowcooker and cook on high for 2 – 3hrs.
October Meal Plan is full of yummy recipes which include the Traditional Maltese Soup. How do I make it? I just buy the Traditional Maltese Soup box from Mgarr Farms, chop all the vegetables and cook. I normally have plenty of leftovers for the following day.
You can download the October Meal Plan for FREE just by clicking on the image below.
