Nug's Corner: Pumpkin Squares

   These pumpkin squares are pretty ridiculous. Not only are they free of added sugar and regular flour, they are so deceitfully delicious that I even let Nug eat them for breakfast. You could also make them vegan by using 3 Tbsp chia seeds soaked in 3 Tbsp water to replace the egg, and I'm sure they would be just as delicious. I would have gone that route if I could find where I put my chia seeds....

   But beware, you may just want to double recipe if you have a serious sweet-toother around (Like your husband or your father or your son or yourself.........)

Recipe:

4 Medjool dates, pitted (sulfite free)

4 prunes (preservative free)

4 tbsp. organic Thompson raisins

1/2 cup water

1 cup pumpkin purée (BPA Free can, I use Farmer's Market brand)

1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. fine sea salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 cups extra thick rolled oats( to be ground into a flour)

1 organic free-range egg

1/2 cup unsweetened cranberry juice with 1 packet stevia

1/4 cup virgin coconut oil

1 tbsp. organic raw apple cider vinegar (I use Bragg's)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
 

1.) Place pitted dates, prunes, and raisins  in a measuring cup and cover with 1/2 cup water. Set aside for an hour.

2.) In a food processor, combine soaked fruit mixture with pumpkin, egg, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and cranberry juice (with stevia mixed in already).

3.) In a high powered blender, grind oats into flour by starting on a low speeding working your way up to high for less than one minute until blended well. 

4.) Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Slowly add this mixture into the food processor until well mixed with wet ingredients. 

5.) Lightly spray two small glass Pyrex dishes with coconut oil spray (I use Spectrum). Pour batter into dishes and disperse evenly. Bake in oven for 45 hour. Remove and let squares cool before cutting. 

6.) Pumpkin Squares will be dense and taste great after they have been refrigerated. They are a great breakfast treat for kids ( and husbands)!

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