Pumpkin Oatmeal

Here is another one of those pumpkin recipes. A different take on your morning cereal and an easy way to sneak a serving of vegetables in.

2 c cooked oatmeal
1 c canned pumpkin
2 tbs brown sugar
1/2 c milk

In a saucepan, stir all ingredients together over medium heat 5 minutes.

Super easy!

Apricot Ginger Pear Parfaits

Caeden has been asking for dessert. I do not usually give them a lot of sweet things, so I have been trying to come up with some "desserts" that are not so bad for us. Anything with ginger in it I am up for trying.

6 firm ripe pears
5 oz dried apricots
4 tsp finely grated, peeled, fresh ginger
1/2 c water
2-3 tbs sugar
4 strips fresh lemon zest
1 cinnamon stick
2 tbs fresh lemon juice
8 oz nonfat vanilla yogurt

Peel 4 pears and coarsely chop. Transfer to a 3-4 quart saucepan. Add apricots, ginger, water, 2 tbs sugar, zest, cinnamon stick, and 1 tbs lemon juice. Simmer, covered until pears are very tender, about 20 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and force mixture through food mill into a bowl. If desired stir in up to 1 tbs additional sugar and cool sauce.

While sauce is cooling, peel, core, and finely dice remaining 2 pears. Toss with remaining tbs lemon juice in a bowl. Divide the pears, sauce and yogurt into glasses.

Chicken with Coconut and Lime

Another thing that we have been eating a lot of lately is coconut milk. The boys really seemed to like this.

4 skinned, boned chicken breast halves
2 tbs grated zest from lime
3 tbs juice from lime
1/2 c canned coconut milk
1/8 tsp salt
garnish with 1/4 c mined scallions and cilantro

Marinate the chicken in half the lime juice, while you preheat a grill of broiler. Warm the coconut milk over low heat. Season it with salt. Add the lime zest. Add the remaining half of the lime juice to the coconut milk mixture.

Grill or broil the chicken until nicely browned and cooked thoroughly. Spoon a little of the sauce over and around the chicken. Serve with white rice.