Kate from Soupasana and I were recently talking about the sizes of Pumpkin Puree Cans and those are huge (540ml), so I've been trying to use it all up and I finally succeeded!! I've been looking for smaller cans for the last little while, but with no luck; although in my search for them I actually found much bigger cans. And I mean much bigger. I think if I were to buy them, I'd turn into a pumpkin.

I had a little bit of pumpkin puree left after making Pumpkin, Garlic and Chili Bread and "Pumpkin Pie" Bruleed Oatmeal and every time I opened my fridge it was looking at me and pleading to be used. First, I wanted to use it in Pumpkin Oatmeal again, but mornings are frantic with me trying to get ready for work and not be too late. I entertained the thought of making Pumpkin Lentil Soup, but the weather here in Toronto was really hot and eating a hot soup didn't sound like a good idea. Finally, I figured it out - Pumpkin Pancakes! I had some soy milk in my fridge which I wanted to use up, so after having to use that I figured that I might as well try to make the pancakes vegan. I completely made up this recipe and up until I tried the first pancake I was not sure if it would work. Oh my, those were really good!!! They had this characteristic yeasty after-taste which I adore because I decided to be fancy and used yeast as a leavening agent instead of baking powder. Apple sauce and Pumpkin made the pancakes fruity and Bran made them taste a little bit like Bran muffins, so they reminded me of dessert.

for 15-18 small pancakes

• All-purpose flour - 2/3 cup
• White rice flour - 1/3 cup
• Bran - 1/4 cup
• Brown sugar - 2 tablespoons
• Dry yeast - 1/2 teaspoon
• Salt - 1/4 teaspoon
• Pumpkin puree - 1/4 cup
• Apple Sauce - 1/2 cup
• Soy milk - 1 cup
• Oil - 1 tablespoon + more for the pan

- In a large bowl whisk together both flours, sugar, bran, salt and yeast.
- Warm the milk to about 40C (body temperature).
- Add warm milk to dry ingredients and mix.
- Add pumpkin puree, apple sauce and mix well.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Fill the sink with hot tap water, place the bowl with batter into the hot water and let stand for about 1-1.5 hours, until the batter become light and very fluffy.
- Whisk in the oil.
- Brush a non-stick pan with some oil and heat.
- Drop about one tablespoon of batter onto the hot pan for each pancake and cook 2-3 minutes on low-medium heat until bubble begin to appear on the surface of the pancakes.
- Flip the pancakes and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Serve with maple syrup.

Comments:

- Baking powder can be used instead of yeast and in this case there's no need to leave the batter to rise for an hour in hot water. I still urge you try them with yeast as the flavour is very different from normal pancakes.
- More sugar can be added if they are not served with maple syrup or jam.

My inspiration for this dish came from my friend who desperately needed to use up all the canned pumpkin and started adding it practically everywhere. The combination of oatmeal and pumpkin intrigued me to the point that I was thinking about it everyday for about a week before I finally bought some canned pumpkin and decided to try it out. The rest just came together easily since it was a no-brainer for me that pumpkin should be paired with classic Pumpkin Pie spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. The final component, or maybe it's better to call it a technique, was a spontaneous decision. I've had my Brûlée torch for quite some time and only used it twice in the last few years. I also thought that the crunch of hard, caramelized sugar would pair nicely with the soft texture of oatmeal. The result was fantastic, warm and satisfying oatmeal that can easily double as a dessert. I know it's a strange choice to use those fall flavours in May, but the temperature dropped to +5 here in Toronto over the weekend and it really felt more like autumn than spring.

For 1 large serving

• Rolled oats - 1/2 cup
• Soy milk - 3/4 cup
• Canned pumpkin puree - 1/2 cup
• Vanilla extract - 1/4 teaspoon
• Cinnamon - 1/4 teaspoon
• Ground dry ginger - 1/8 teaspoon
• Nutmeg - a pinch
• Ground cloves - a pinch
• Salt - a pinch
• Dark brown suger - 1 + 2 teaspoons

- In a small pot, whisk together the milk and pumpkin puree.
- Add all the spices and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. Heat the mixutre.
- Add the oatmeal and cook whicking occasionally for about 7-10 minutes until the oatmeal is soft and the liquid is absorbed.
- Pour the cooked oatmeal into a bowl and spread the remaining 2 teaspoons of brown sugar on top. Torch the sugar until it hardens. Alternatively, place the bowl under a broiler for couple of minutes to melt and caramelize the sugar.

Comments
- Regular milk or any other type of non-dairy milk can be used in this recipe. Water can also be used.
- Use the spices according to your taste. I don't like cloves too much and next time I am going to omit that spice.
- Canned pumpkin can be substituted for normal pumpkin, which should be baked and processed in a blender.

I really like classic combination of salty peanut butter and sweet jam. I try not to eat peanut butter and jam sandwiches because unfortunately once I start, I cannot stop. One, two, three sandwiches is never enough and although my brain knows the limit, my stomach doesn't. So, I rarely allow myself to have this simple and tasty treat. Almost a year ago I saw this recipe on a food network show and I instantly knew that I had to make it. Finally, a few weeks ago I got around to baking this delicious bread pudding for breakfast. It tasted really good, like a warm peanut butter and jam sandwich with custard. This custard, however, was also something that bothered me a little bit in this dessert. The top crusty layer of the dish was divine, whereas the custard was... well... custardy. I think that next time I'll take a bigger dish and pour the mixture in single layer so that there's less custard bits and more crunchy parts. I used soy milk in this pudding but it can be made with whole milk instead.

recipe adapted from an episode of Fresh with Anna Olson

for 6-8 servings

• Unsalted butter- 3 tablespoons
• Peanut butter- 2/3 cup
• Soy milk at room temperature- 1-3/4 cup
• Eggs at room temperature- 3 large
• Sugar - 1/3 cup
• Vanilla extract- 1 teaspoon
• Cubed baguette - 6 cups
• Raspberry jam or other fruit jam- 2/3 cup

- Preheat oven to 350°F (180C).
- Melt butter and brush pan with some of it.
- Add peanut butter to remaining melted butter and heat over low heat until fluid.
- Remove from heat and whisk in soy milk, then whisk in eggs, sugar and vanilla.
- Toss mixture with diced bread and let sit 10 minutes.
- Spoon mixture into prepared pan and dollop jam over bread, pressing in slightly to incorporate just a touch.
- Place pan in a larger dish and fill it with an inch of hot tap water.
- Bake for about 50 minutes, until golden on top and set.
- Let pudding sit for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Pudding can be served warm or chilled.

Comments
- As I mentioned above, I think it would taste better in a bigger dish with bread cubes spread in an even layer.
- Also, one more cup of bread would be fine to add to this amount of custard.
- The result is intensely peanut-buttery.
- The pudding tastes better the next day reheated.

A couple of days ago I saw a package of really cheap strawberries. What can be cheaper than 99 cents? I couldn't resist, especially because the strawberry smell was intoxicating. In the end they turned out to be quite plain, but the smell, oh, the smell! So, I ended up with a package of berries and no idea on how to use them. In the old days, I'd mix them with some yogurt, but now that I try to eat as vegan as possible (not all the time, but most of the time), that wasn't an option. And then I remembered...

I've seen a few recipes where tofu is used instead of milk or cream. To be honest, I was intrigued, but a little hesitant. I mean it's... Tofu!! I like tofu in soups or fried or even baked, but in dessert? Really?

The "milk"shake turned out amazing! Smooth, creamy, tasty, fresh, light and very filling at the same time. With no "tofu aftertaste" and very much like regular milkshake. I was surprized and amazed at the same time! What a beautiful easy and healthy treat. I made it a few times since then and I am planning on trying it with different fruit in the summer.

For 2 large glasses

• Soft silken tofu, drained - 1 package (500g)
• Icing sugar - 1/3 cup (or to taste... I even think it can be substituted with honey or maple syrup for even healthier treat)
• Strawberries, hulled - 1 package (about 18)

- Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Comments

- I'd like to note that it's quite drinkable but quite thick right out of the blender. But after a night in the fridge it becomes almost a mousse consistency and taste like those whipped yogurts! Perfect for breakfast!

Simple breakfast

What can be better for a lazy Sunday breakfast than pancakes? Blueberry pancakes, perhaps? With a drizzle of luscious sweet maple syrup. Why do Sundays only happen once a week?

recipe adapted from Breakfast by Williams-sonoma

about 16 pancakes

• Flour - 2 cups
• Sugar - 4 tablespoons
• Baking powder - 2 teaspoons
• Baking soda - 1 1/2 teaspoon
• Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
• Milk - 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons
• Eggs, lightly whisked - 2
• Butter, melted - 2 tablespoons
• Blueberries, fresh or frozen - 1 1/2 cups
• Oil for frying

- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until well mixed and make a well in the centre.
- Pour the eggs, the ilk, and melted butter in the well, then gradually whisk from the centre outward, until the ingredients are wll combined but still a little lumpy.
- Do not (!!!) overmix the batter, or the pancakes will be heavy and tough.
- Very gently stir in the blueberries. The batter will be thick.
- Preheat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Brush it with oil.
- Slowly ladle 1/4 cup of batter onto the skillet.
- When the pancakes begin to bubble in the centre and the undersides are golden, after about 2 minutes, flip them
- Cool until the second side is golden, about 1 minute longer.