Pumpkin Whole Wheat Pancakes

I love the fall season and the flavor of pumpkin and spice.  I came up with a recipe for pumpkin pancakes using whole wheat pastry flour instead of white flour.  I found that by using whole wheat pastry flour mixed with oat bran I was able to achieve a lighter texture and the taste I was hoping for.  This recipe yields about 5 servings at 345 calories per serving.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes
1 1/4 cups 1% milk (or preferred milk)
2 eggs
3/4 cup solid pack pumpkin
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup oat bran (I used Bob's Red Mill)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
2 Tablespoons sugar or preferred sweetener
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In a separate bowl combine milk, eggs, solid pack pumpkin, vanilla and vegetable oil and whisk until smooth.

Whisk together dry ingredients including whole wheat pastry flour, oat bran, baking power, sugar or preferred sweetener, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, salt and chopped pecans.

Fold mixture into dry ingredients and stir together to combine.

Preheat griddle at a low temperature and spray or grease surface to prevent batter from sticking.  Add 1/4 cup batter or to preferred size.

Cook until bubbles form on the surface and flip when the edges are dry.

Place on a serving plate and serve immediately.

Top with additional pecans if desired.  Enjoy!!

Cucumber Salad with Blueberries, Walnuts and Feta Cheese

I came up with a cucumber salad recipe containing blueberries, walnuts, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.  This recipe contains approximately 4 servings at 244 calories per serving when using fat free Feta cheese and 1/4 cup of the prepared dressing.  Note that if the fat free feta cheese is replaced, the calories per serving increases to 265.  This is a great salad to serve with a light dinner or have as a light lunch.

Cucumber Salad with Blueberries, Walnuts and Feta Cheese

3 cups cucumbers, washed, peeled and sliced.  I used 6 mini cucumbers.
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed and drained
1 pint cherry tomatoes, rinsed and cut in half (approximately 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, or to taste

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin Olive oil
1 garlic clove
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Wash, peel and slice cucumbers.

Rinse and drain the fresh blueberries.

Rinse and drain the cherry tomatoes.

Cut each of the cherry tomatoes in half.

Coarsely chop the walnuts.

Toss the cucumbers, blueberries, cherry tomatoes and chopped walnuts.  Next add the feta cheese.

Combine Olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, garlic clove, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes.  Place dressing ingredients in a screw top jar or cruet and shake to combine.  Adjust seasonings to taste. Finally add Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing to taste (I used 1/4 cup), mix ingredients together and serve.  Sprinkle with additional feta cheese or walnuts if desired.

Enjoy!