Pumpkins, pressure cooking, and a daily menu

On our evening walk around the neighborhood, one of our neighbors gave us two small pumpkins. He has an edible front yard - pumpkins, plums, apples, and rosemary are easily recognized, plus a variety of xeriscape-style plants rather than a lawn - and the pumpkins are starting to come in. Jax carried one of the pumpkins, the size of his head, back to our house and they're on my kitchen table awaiting dismantling. I am going to roast them and use the flesh for pumpkin chili, one of my favorite uses for pumpkin. It lends a subtle sweetness, a creamy textures, and added fiber and vitamins. What's not to love? I'll be sure to post a recipe once I make it.

Another fun kitchen find: a pressure cooker! I ordered a second-hand model and several cookbooks with birthday money and it was on my front porch when I got home yesterday. I squeeled like Christmas and tore into it, and I can't wait to cook with it. The books (Cooking Under Pressure, Complete Vegetarian Cookbook, and Whole Grains Every Day, Every Way), all by Lorna Sass, whole grain guru, are being devoured and I'm excited to try all the variations of whole grains and beans. Who knew that quick grains and beans would thrill me so?

I am currently drying peachs, plums, nectarines, and apricots for tasty oatmeal additions later in the year. I bought a food dehydrator last year and never even broke it out of the box; I bought a box of dented and bruised fruit at Sigona's Farmer's Market and figured this was the best use for it. In the cooler months, I make crockpot steel cut oats with dried fruit, and homemade dried fruit will be a welcome addition! (Dried fruit is not CORE; Points must be counted for them.)

I'll be at my mom and dad's house for dinner, so I can't post the menu yet - I don't know what we're having.

Daily Menu

Breakfast
yogurt, grapes

Lunch
Lentil tamale pie
apple

Dinner
Unknown!

WPA (Weekly Points Allowance) points used today: 0
WPA points available: 20
Activity points today: 4
Activity points this week: 12

Daily 8 - the 8 Healthy Guidelines
1. Fruits and veggies - 5+
2. Whole grains - polenta
3. Milk - yes
4. Healthy oil - yes
5. Protein - yes (lentils)
6. Limit sugar and alcohol - yes
7. Water - 8+
8. Multivitamin - yes