Vegan Pumpkin Pecan Pie + Coconut Oil Crust

     Halloween is just a few days away and pumpkins are everywhere! This can only mean one thing....PUMPKN PIE!!! I love pumpkin pie and every year I cannot wait to make them! This recipe is different because it has a bit of a pecan-pie topping on it! Its super delicious, totally vegan and perfect for Fall!

    Most pumpkin pie recipes call for evaporated milk and/or eggs, but this recipe doesn't need either one! It has very few ingredients, but a ton of flavor! I love the addition of pecans on the top because it has great texture to the pie! The crust is the flakiest vegan crust I've ever made or tried! Its great for pies, cobblers, or pie-crust cookies!

Ingredients:
(Crust)
1 1/4 c Flour
1 tsp Salt
1/2  cup Coconut Oil (Solid)
3-4 TBS Cold Water

(Filling)
1 15 oz Can Pumpkin Puree
1/2 c Maple Syrup
3 TBS Flour
2 TBS Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 tsp Vanilla
1/4 c Almond Milk

(Topping)
3 TBS Coconut Oil
3/4 c Pecans
1/2 c Brown Sugar
4 TBS Maple Syrup
2 TBS Flour
Pinch of Salt

     Start by making the crust. Make sure the coconut oil is fairly solid, you don't want it to be liquid at all. Mix the dry ingredients together and then use a fork to 'cut' the coconut oil into the flour-mix.

    Then, slowly add the cold water until a dough forms. Place it in the fridge while we move on to the pumpkin pie filling!

     Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix it well. The coconut oil here can be melted or at room temp.

 

     Keep in mind that, the more pumpkin pie spice you add, the darker the pie will be. I added quite a bit, so my pie is fairly dark, but extra flavorful!

     Now, its time to roll out the dough! Roll it out to fit your greased pie dish on a floured surface. Then, place the dough into the pie pan and clean up the edges.

 

It doesn't have to be perfect, rustic is pretty too! Now, pour in the pumpkin pie filling.

     You could bake it right now, but this is a pumpkin PECAN pie, so we aren't done yet! Lets make the pecan topping now!

     Melt the coconut oil, maple syrup and brown sugar together. Then add in the salt, flour and pecans. It works best if the pecans are chopped or broken up just a bit.  Add it on top of the pie as evenly as you can.

    Now its time to bake! Set the oven to 425 F and bake for 60-90 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean!

    Allow to cool before slicing! I love my pumpkin pie served warm with a cup of coffee, but most people like it cold with a scoop of ice-cream(coconut would be really good!)!

     I hope you have enjoyed this recipe post! Pumpkin pie is one of my favorite pies, so I hope you find this recipe as delicious as I did! I think the pecans add something different and really delicious to this traditional pie!

Please share this with your friends and family to make sure everyone has a great pumpkin pie recipe this season!

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I post every Friday! Have a Happy Halloween!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

H. Banana

Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

     Fall has arrived and with it comes so many delicious flavors! This fall inspired, Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cake is the perfect thing to get you in the mood for the fall season! Complete with a vegan cream cheese frosting, everyone is sure to love this easy dessert!

Pumpkin Muffins!

Fall is slowly creeping out here and its time to start thinking about pumpkin pies, Pumpkin Lattes, Pumpkin cookies...yummm.

  These muffins are the perfect way to start the day in a fall-ish way! They are a wonderful blend of Pumpkin, pecans and spices. You won't believe that they are healthy!
If you want the link to the recipe's website see the Recipe's page.

Here are the ingredients:
1 cup almond flour
½ cup coconut flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3 eggs, lightly beaten.
¾ cup canned pumpkin puree
3 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup honey
¼ cup chopped pecans

The dry ingredients:

And the wet ingredients

Mix all the dry ingredients together( Coconut flour, Almond Flour, Baking Soda, Pumpkin Pie Spice , and salt. DO NOT ADD THE PECANS!)

Then beat your eggs lightly and add them to the bowl along with the other wet ingredients (Honey, Pumpkin Puree, Vanilla, coconut oil)
Mix them together until smooth. I used a electric beater but you can use a spoon.

Now, line a muffin pan with paper liners (or you can use the silicone liners that I used. We got them at Hobby Lobby) or grease them with butter or a little coconut oil.

Take a spoon and fill the tin with the batter. Fill the cups up a little over half way.

 

Then chop the pecans up and mix in a little of the Pumpkin Pie spice (Or just cinnamon) and sprinkle the mixture on top of the muffins.

 

 

 

Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the muffins in. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

They took 25 minutes to bake for me. I used a toothpick to check and see if they were done. Just poke the toothpick in a muffin and if it comes out clean then they are done.

Take them out of the oven and let them cool a bit before removing them from the pan and putting  them on a cooling rack.

 

Don't they look delicious? I let them cool until I could pick them up with my bare hands comfortably. Take them out of the wrappers (If you used them) and place them on a plate to serve right away or in an air-tight container to store.

 

These were so yummy and easy to make. I can't believe they taste this good and are this healthy! My family rated these muffins a 10 out of 10!

If you try this recipe let me know how it goes and how you liked these Pumpkin Muffins!

Keep it healthy and SAFE,
H. Banana

 

 

Fall Inspired Vegan Puppy Chow

     This fall-flavored puppy chow is the perfect sweet snack, party dish, or on the go sweet treat! Its chocolatey, peanut buttery and (best of all) full of delicious fall flavors! This Vegan recipe is one you don't want to miss out on!

Pumpkin Muffin Tops!

These are the kind of muffin tops that you do want! :) They are healthy, soft, pumpkin-y, spiced, and delicious! Also, they can be made completely Vegan!

 

   Fall is officially here, and with it comes pumpkin flavored everything! Most of the popular Fall treats aren't that great for you, but thankfully there are some great healthy choices too! These muffin tops are the perfect example, since they are both healthy and plenty pumpkin-y to satisfy your fall cravings and keep you feeling great at the same time!

   I am calling these muffin tops because I baked them in a ( leaf and pumpkin shaped) whoopee pie pan, so they are a bit thinner than muffins. I love the way they turned out! Beautiful fall shapes, super moist and soft, and a great serving size to help you not over eat!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour
2-3 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice or Cinnamon
1 tsp Baking Soda
3 Tbsp Ground Flaxseeds
8 Tbsp Water
1/2 cup Coconut Oil- room tempt.
1/2 cup Honey(or Maple Syrup if you want to keep this completely Vegan)
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1/4 tsp Salt

First, we need to make our Flax Eggs! We aren't using eggs in the recipe, so that it can be Vegan( if you use the maple syrup)! If you've never made a flax egg, don't be scared of them! They are super simple!

Add your ground flax to a bowl and add in the water. Stir well- you'll notice it go really thick. Leave it to the side while we get on with the recipe.

Add the flour, pie spice( or cinnamon), baking soda, and salt to a bowl and stir to combine. Then add in the rest of the ingredients, including the flax egg.

 

Stir well, making sure to mix the flax egg in well. Then, grease a pan and spoon in your batter. If you don't have a whoopee pie pan, you can use mini muffin tins, regular muffin tins or a 8x8 baking pan.

I wanted to use my whoopee pie pan because of the fall shapes! :)

 

Make sure to press the batter into all the little corners. I like to give the pan a little tap on the counter to help it settle.
Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes for the whoopee pan and mini muffin tins. For the regular muffins or 8x8 baking pan, 12-15 minutes. To check that they're done, just stick a tooth pick in the center. If it comes out clean, they are done! Also, they will smell really good!

 

Let them cool for 5-6 minutes before removing them from the pan.

Eat them fresh from the oven, or store them in an air tight container for a few day- but I doubt they last that long! I love how festive, delicious, pumpkin-y, healthy, and cute these little muffin tops are!

I enjoyed my(1st) tasting with a warm cup of coffee and a good book! They are the perfect afternoon snack, dessert, and they are even healthy enough to have for breakfast!

I really hope you try these delicious and healthy fall treats! If you like them, please share this post with a friend and family member to help them celebrate fall on the healthy side!

Please follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett, and now on Tumblr @ Justrunningforfood.

New post every Friday!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

 

10 Essential Vegan Fall Recipes

 

 

Fall is a time of family, thanksgiving and ( most importantly) FOOD! Over the years, I have gathered quite a few delicious and vegan fall-inspired recipes! Here is a collection of my favorites, perfect for Thanksgiving, fall-parties, or simple family dinners!

Sugar and Spice Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Halloween was this week and that means lots of leftover pumpkin 'guts', leftover from jack o'lantern carving. Instead of throwing away those seeds, turn them into a delicious and healthy snack for everyone to enjoy?

Scary Pumpkin Potaotes!

Happy Halloween! 

     These is nothing scary about these adorable pumpkin sweet potatoes expect that they are Scary Delicious! They are a great way to get in the mood of the upcoming holiday, and still have something healthy!

 

   I love these pumpkin sweet potatoes because they are so easy to make, customizable to whatever flavors you want, and so healthy too! Who says Halloween 'treats' all have to be unhealthy? At first I wanted to do something sweet and healthy to celebrate Halloween, but then I got to thinking....Halloween doesn't have to be all about the sweet stuff! Lets do something savory to celebrate the holiday!
Another great thing about these sweet potatoes is that they can be made vegan, oil-free, and sodium free if you wish!

Scary Sweet Potatoes! (Yes, sweet potatoes are sweet, but more to the savory side of things!)

1 Sweet Potato
Olive Oil (Optional)
Salt and Pepper (Optional)
Seasonings of Choice( I used a Jerk Seasoning, Pumpkin Pie Spice, and a Curry Powder- separate on different slices of potato)

You can go sweet, spicy, savory, or salty with the seasonings!

Start by preheating your oven to 350 F. Then wash and pat dry a sweet potato. You can always do more than one, I was just making 1 portion at the time! :) Then, use a sharp knife and cut slices out of the potato. BE CAREFUL!

 

Then, use a smaller knife to make the pumpkin faces. You can cut all the way through the potato, or you can just cut part of the way through. Its up to you really! :) Then toss them in the oil( if using) and place them on a foil-lined sheet.

I'm sure with practice, my pumpkin faces will improve! These are so tasty, I am sure I will be making them time and time again!

Sprinkle the seasonings on the slices. If you are using a powder, rub the powder in a bit. Then sprinkle on salt and pepper as desired.

Super cute! Now they are ready to bake! Place them in the oven for around 35-45 minutes. The time depends on how thin or thick you cut your slices. To check if they are done, just poke them with a fork. If they are soft, then they're done!

Of my goodness! How adorable are these? No, not a scary way to celebrate Halloween but defiantly fun and festive! And, if you don't celebrate Halloween, they still are fun and easy to use for a number of different occasions!

I hope you enjoyed the Halloween inspired blog post! If you try this recipe, let m know what you thought! Please share this post with your family and friends to spread the love of healthy living!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett. Please like and follow the blog to stay up to date on all things healthy!

New Post Every Friday! Happy Halloween!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

8k in November+ running tips

   As the weather here gets cooler and the leaves begin to change and fall to the ground most people's thoughts would be on cozy fireplaces or the famous P.S.L ( for those of us who don't know what that is and had to look it up, the pumpkin spice latte) maybe pumpkin pie, but not me! ( Well that's not totally true, I do think about those things a little bit!...) I am preparing to run a 8k the end of November with my family! It will be on the morning for Thanksgiving, and its called the Turkey-Trot.

Training for this consists mainly of running up and down our quarter mile long drive way, most of the time pushing a stroller!
Here are just a few tips I have found useful. I don't have links to the pins where they came from because a lot of them are just various here and there tips I found.
1. Make sure your hair is pulled back. Running with hair in your face is no fun!
2. Don't run on a full stomach. Stomach cramps are no fun either!
3. Get some music going! Running to music feels like you have your own theme song! (Be looking for a post about my favorite running songs soon!)
4. Run outside! Running outside is so different to running on a treadmill, and it never gets boring!
5. Breath! Keeping your shoulders back can help you take deeper breaths!
6. Don't be afraid to take a breather every little bit! No use getting hurt just to finish quicker. Stop and take a few breaths and then get right back out there. (Of course be mindful of your own health and never keep going if you have continuous pain.)
7. Don't forget to have fun! Grab some friends or get some crazy music to make your run (Or any workout) fun! If it isn't fun it will get boring and you won't want to do it any more!
Hope you find these tips helpful!
Keep it real, and BE SAFE!
H. Banana

5 Tips for Staying Healthy During the Holidays

     The Holiday season is upon us! Thanksgiving is in a few days and not long after that is Christmas and the New Year! This means a constant flow of desserts, treats, sweets, indulgent meals and lots of it! And while this food is delicious and fun to enjoy, after several weeks of indulging because 'its the holidays', you probaly aren't going to be feeling very festive!

     If you strive to eat fairly healthy, as I am sure you do, seeing as you are reading this blog, then the Holiday season might be a bit stressful for you. You might worry about hurting your friend's or family's feelings by turning down their desserts, cheeseballs or candies. What about all those parties and special gatherings you are sure to be invited to? You could just put your healthy lifestyle on hold for the holidays, which is expected by most people and completly understandable..or you might deicde to tough it out and stick to your ideals as much as possible.  I am a vegan, which, to me, isn't a 'diet' that I turn off and on, but its a lifestyle change, which means I am going to eat vegan during the holidays. How am I going to do this? Keep reading to find out!

#1 Learn to Cook!
    Makeing your own food is a sure way to insure that you will be eating the way you want to. Make your own cookies, cakes, breads and candies (or don't) to fit your diet, and enjoy those when your friends and family are enjoy theirs! Offer to bring a dish to a dinner party or potluck ( don't be shy! This is often a blessing to the host or hostess!) or at least ask the host/hostess if there will be any dishes suited for you at the gathering. If so, rejoice! If not, then plan to bring your own dish! Its really not that diffiucult, it justs takes some planning! I have several great recipes that are perfect to make during the holidays and share with your friends and family!

Vegan Pumpkin Pecan Pie
Brownie Batter Balls
Sweet Potato Casserole
Easy Holiday Truffles
Harvest Salad
Pumpkin Muffin Tops
Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

#2 Practice Moderation!
     One thing about the holidays is, they don't last forever..so, if you want to indulge a little, let yourself...just in moderation. Having a small piece of pie or one cookie every few days or so isn't going to hurt you! On Thanksgiving Day, when people usuing gorge themselves with a huge feast, just practice portion control and you will be just fine! Take a small serving of the dishes you like and you will have a delicious, well portioned meal and feel much better afterwards than if you had eaten multiple portions of everything! This can be applied to any meal really. If don't want to miss out on the food, then just eat a small bit of it and enjoy it!

# 3 Stay Active!
     There is nothing better to do during the holidays then getting some exercise! No matter what your diet is, or whether you are sticking to it during the holidays or not, being active is never a bad idea! It helps with digestion after a big meal and burn off some of those extra calories! You don't even have to spend a lot of time working out either! A simple jog or walk around the neighborhood, or doing some home exercises like pilates or yoga is enough to be beneficial! It can be fun too! If you have family or friends staying with you (or you are staying with them) invite them to come along with you! Company always makes exercising more fun!

 

Here are a few links to my blog posts where I have great workouts, link to workouts and exercising ideas!

Fall in Love with Fitness
Everyday Activities+Workouts 
'Love Yourself' Workout 
Pilates 
Daily Workouts 
Workout Video 



#4 Be Verbal!
     You can't expect people to underand your food choices if you don't explain it to them! Let people know that you are trying to eat healthier, have smaller portions, cut out certain foods or have a food allergy. This way, they know what to make when they ask you to a meal, or even help you find food to eat at a party or potluck. I have found this helpful so many times! If you tell people how you like/need to eat, then most likely they will make sure you always have something to eat, and will understand when you refuse certain foods!

#5 Eat at Home
     When you are vegan (or are following any other diet or lifestyle) it can be difficult to find things to eat at restuarants, parties and other people's houses. If you know you can't eat at a cetain place, or you aren't sure, then I suggest eating ahead of time. Instead of sitting there, hungry and wishing you could eat something, you can be full and able to participate joyfully! Don't let this make you feel left out! Accept that you eat differently that other people, and move on!  Also, I wouldn't suggest making a big deal about it either! This can make people( especially the host/hostess) feel bad or even kind of angry! Make yourself some delicious food, suited to your needs, and eat it at home before you go to the party (or where ever you are going) and enjoy yourself without stressing about the food situation!

     I hope these tips have helped you! I know that I find them pretty helpful! Eating healthy during the holidays doesn't mean your a snob or that you don't care about the holidays, it just means that you prize your health over a cookie or piece of pie! Apply these tips during the holiday season and you won't have to lose your 'holiday weight' or get back on track come January!

Share this post with your friends and family to help everyone staying healthier during the holidays! Sharing this post and my blog will help spread the message of living a healthy lifestyle, so please share to inspire others to live a healthier life!

You can follow the blog via email, Google or social media!

Twitter- SpinachisGood
Tumblr- justrunningforfood
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Happy Holidays to you and stay healthy, happy and laughing!

Hannah