Pumpkin Chorizo Combo

You may ask the question, "who the fuck is eating this unappetizing combo?"

But bear with me here. Remember, pumpkin is just a squash. It isn't actually sweet. We're just so used to associating pumpkin with sugared things, like pie, we don't actually realize what it tastes like without a ton of sugar...and pumpkin spice.

Yes, this is actually a recipe that uses pumpkins and not pumpkin pie spices, utilizing the tasty orange flesh as a vegetable (in cooking terms - squash is a fruit in biological terms) in it's own right and not just a womb to incubate spices.

I adjusted a recipe I found for a Pumpkin Chorizo Frittata for taste and veganized it. 

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Pumpkin Chorizo Casserole

This dish makes for a super tasty dinner by itself as a casserole, or use it as a taco filling.


Ingredients:

• 1 pound pumpkin, cut into chunks (I used half of a kabocha)
• 1 chorizo tube (I used Soyrizo brand, meatless)
• 2 cups kale, sliced finely and massaged
• 1/2 onion, diced
• Equivalent of 5 eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy cream (I used a can of whole coconut milk)

Preheat the oven to 425. Chop up all your veggies and get out a baking sheet and a casserole dish.

Dice half of an onion and caramelize in a frying pan over medium heat.

Chop up your pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Be sure to save those seeds; we'll use the in later recipes! 

I used a kabocha squash, which is a green skinned variety. I decided it's nutty flavor, and sweet potato texture would be perfect in this recipe. The skin is actually edible, but chewy, so I skinned the pumpkin using a vegetable peeler.

I roughly chopped the pumpkin into pieces about 1 inch, but you can dice if you prefer a smoother casserole. Place these on a roasting pan, either with oil, or use parchment paper for a healthier option. Roast in the oven for 5 minutes.

Open the chorizo substitute and peel off the wrapping. Usually these come in packages of two tubes. If they are large tubes, like Soyrizo, you will only need one. Mush it up with a fork and add it to the baking dish on top of the pumpkin. Return to the oven for another 15 minutes.

In the meantime, begin mixing the eggs. I used The Vegg as my egg replacer. There are two different kinds, one for baking and one for scrambled eggs or egg-wash. I used a combination of the two. Following the directions on the package, I mixed up the equivalent of 5 eggs. Whip it good.
 
Add the cream to the egg mix. I used canned coconut milk, which is quite thick, but there are also lots of heavy cream substitutes, just be sure to get an unsweetened one. Add pepper (and salt if desired) to taste. Whip it good.

Remove the pumpkin and chorizo from the oven and turn the temperature down to 350. In a casserole dish, mix together the pumpkin, chorizo, onions, and kale.

Pour the Vegg mixture over the veggies. Bake the dish in the oven for 40 minutes.

Enjoy as is, or use as a tasty taco filling.

Note: This is a loose casserole. If you prefer more of a frittata, you will need to add some flour or cornstarch to stiffen up the eggs.

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This is Day 5, in my 31 Day of Pumpkin Spice. Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice

Pumpkin Spice Lip Care

Day 4 -

Before you go think this pumpkin spice craze has gotten out of hand and are waiting for the pirates to show up, remember that the spices we're talking about were possibly used as medicine before they were used in food -- and they were probably first added to food to help retard spoiling. 

More than just great smelling, the pumpkin spice in this lip scrub and balm help keep your lips smooth and glowing.

As you remember from our into, pumpkin pie spice is made up of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. All of these spices are rich in vitamins that increase the blood flow and help regulate oxygen in the blood stream. All of these spices have anti-microbial properties, which help keep your skin clean and ward off acne and blemishes. All of these spices are antioxidants. Cinnamon and ginger are anti-inflammatory, while cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg have been long used as a skin lightener.

You may hear the term "skin whitening" and wonder what racist loons are actually worried about this. However, what it actually leads to is removal of dead skin cells giving your skin the healthy glow it should have, whatever your skin color may be, and an even skin tone.

So, all this means that pumpkin spice is great for use in any skin or hair product!

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Today, we're making lip goodies. Yes, men, you can use these too - it will certainly make you more kissable, and I won't tell anyone you use it. As with all my recipes, as I practice Responsible Debauchery, these are completely vegan.

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Pumpkin Spice Lip Scrub

I don't put anything on my lips that I shouldn't eat gobs of, and this certainly qualifies. It's very edible and very effective.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil 
• 1 Tablespoon agave nectar
• 1 Tablespoon raw(ish) sugar
• 1 Teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Note on Agave: While many people realize that you can replace honey with agave in cooking, they don't realize that they also have many of the same chemical properties. Agave nectar (or syrup) has the same anti-microbial properties that honey has, making it great in skin care products. Some beauty product makers prefer agave, even ones that use bee products. Remember that honeybees are not native to the Americas and the South American Indians have been using agave medicinally for centuries in much the same way their European counterparts were using honey.

We start with some coconut oil. You can use your favorite. I chose a solid kind that has been only slightly processed. Unprocessed coconut oil is a solid at room temperatures. 

In a bowl, mix it together with the tablespoon of agave nectar. Then comes the sugar. I used turbinado sugar in the pictures, but any large crystal brown sugar will work. Sprinkle in the pumpkin pie spice and stir until all ingredients are mixed, but stop before the sugar dissolves too much.

The mixture will fill the air with a heavenly scent, and it will call to you to press it to your lips...rubbing it all over until your lips are sticky, plump, and slightly raw from the motion. Or maybe that's just how I use lip scrub...

Enjoy the bits that fall in your mouth and wipe the rest off with a towel, along with the dead skin the scrub has removed.

Store in a small lidded jar. 

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Pumpkin Spice Lip Balm

After the invigorating scrub you need something to sooth your lips and this will do just the trick. This is not a gloss or a balm to last the whole day, but just a quick soother. If you want a gloss or a longer lasting solid, add 1 teaspoon melted wax or petroleum jelly to the mix.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 Teaspoon agave nectar
• 1/4 Teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

We start with some coconut oil. You can use your favorite. I chose a solid kind that has been only slightly processed. Unprocessed coconut oil is a solid at room temperatures, but melts quickly to the touch of warm skin. In order to make mixing easier, heat your mixing bowl by rinsing it in hot water. Stir everything together until well blended and buttery looking.

Resist the urge to pop spoonfuls in your mouth and use your finger to smooth a bit onto lips anytime your lips feel chapped.

Store in a lip balm container or a small jar.

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This blogpost is part of my 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice. Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice

Pumpkin Cider Float

Day three of 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice brings us to a tasty concoction of bubbles and sugar. I found this delicious pumpkin cider at EarthFare and had to try this recipe out.

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Pumpkin Cider Float


Ingredients:

• Ace Pumpkin Hard Cider
• Vanilla Ice Cream (So Delicious Cashew Milk)
• Whipped Topping (So Delicious CocoWhip)
• Pumpkin Pie Spice (optional)
• &
• A tall float glass

Add a couple of scoops of ice cream to your glass. Open your cider and pour into the glass, being careful to tip the glass to avoid a foamy explosion of pumpkin death. Take time to appreciate the pretty bubbles. Top off with a ridiculously large amount of whipped topping. Add a sprinkle of pumpkin spice for good measure. While this is optional, I don't feel the drink is complete without it. Enjoy!

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This blogpost is part of 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice. Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice