Probiotic Pumpkin Dip

Forget the flu shot! This year, fight back with food instead!


I'm excited to be joining the following 5 amazing bloggers in hosting a 5-week series that will arm you with recipes to stay healthy this season!

Nikki @Christian Mommy Blogger
Mindy @The Purposed Heart
Anne @Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy
Leigh Ann @Intentional by Grace
Rachel @Day2Day Joys

Come back each Wednesday as we reveal five different foods that are purported to support your immune system in the fight against the cold and flu viruses that run rampant this time of year. 


What's more, each post will be opened up to all our readers, who will be linking up their favorite recipes, with ideas for creative ways to serve them to their families!

Image by clshearin 

This week's flu-fighting food is PUMPKIN!


Pumpkin has always been one of my favorite foods. Along with the crisp, cool weather and colorful leaves, pumpkins make fall my favorite season!


Not only are they super yummy, but pumpkins also contain immunity boosters, like:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• along with other healthy components, such as essential fatty acids, protein and magnesium
• it is also a natural diuretic, aiding in flushing out body toxins

Now, onto a recipe for Probiotic Pumpkin Dip-- where you can enjoy all these amazing health benefits AND indulge your sweet tooth!

Ingredients: pumpkin puree, plain yogurt, honey, cinnamon and ginger, pumpkin pie spice

Combine pumpkin and yogurt

Add spices

Add honey

Enjoy your yummy, healthy probiotic pumpkin dip!

Probiotic Pumpkin Dip
Ingredients:

• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1 cup plain, whole milk yogurt (full of probiotics and great for overall health!)
• 1 cup honey (raw will yield even more health benefits!)
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• pumpkin pie spice, to taste (optional)

Method:
Combine pumpkin puree and yogurt. Add in spices. Stir in honey. 
Makes about 3 cups of dip. Serve with gingerbread or spice cookies.


Notes

• This dip is perfect to take to a holiday party. It tastes sweet, with just a hint of honey. Maple syrup may be an alternate sweetener, but I didn't test it. 
• You can even eat it by itself as a pudding, but you might want to cut the honey a tad. 
• Stir the dip into oatmeal or use it to spice up pancakes, muffins or breads. 

*I modified this recipe from Taste of Home's pumpkin dip recipe. 

For more information on the health benefits of pumpkins, check out this and this article.


I'm linking up with: Growing Home, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers, Works for Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Foodie Wednesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, Gluten Free Wednesday, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Simple Lives Thursday, Turning The Table Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Cooking Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Creative Juice, Things I Love Thursday, It's a Keeper Thursday, Live Renewed, Frugal Food Thursday, Frugal Friday, Fight Back Friday, Food Trip Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Friday Food, Sweets This Week, Living Well Blog Hop, Foodie Friday, Freaky Friday, Foodie Friday

Be sure to check out the great pumpkin recipes and tips shared by the other amazing homemakers hosting this series!

Pumpkin Cran Smoothie @Christian Mommy Blogger
Creamy Pumpkin Soup @The Purposed Heart
Pumpkin Pear Muffins @Day2Day Joys
How to Roast a Pumpkin @ Intentional by Grace
Pumpkin Soup @ Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy


Stacy Makes Cents also has some great pumpkin recipes--and check out my pumpkin recipe round-up from last week if you need even more ideas!

Now it’s your turn! Link up your delicious pumpkin recipes below.

There are only two guidelines for participation:

1. Your recipe must include PUMPKIN as an ingredient. Any entry submitted that does not include pumpkin will be deleted.

2. Please link your posts back to one of the hosting blogs. This way your readers can have access to all of the other great pumpkin recipes as well!

Hint for next week: Get your breakfast recipes ready!