Dietitian on a Mission: You know it's true love when...

...your husband buys you 36 lbs of canned pumpkin for Christmas (and you as the recipient also happen to really love pumpkin). AND he gives you a guide on how to use it (see picture below). AND he does all this with the understanding and willingness that he himself will also have to eat a whole lot of pumpkin in the coming months. We have approximately 18 months left in Italy. I have 10 additional pounds of pumpkin in my pantry. So, based on our calculations: 18 months left in Italy divided by 46 lbs of pumpkin = we will need to consume an average of 2.5 lbs of pumpkin per month. I can commit to that! Especially with the awesome cookbook he bought me to go along with the gift.

Who needs jewelry when you can have the gift that gives all year?
(half serious)

First on the list? BBQ chicken thighs. Pumpkin is used in the BBQ sauce to enhance the sweetness of the molasses and brown sugar, as well as the tangy-ness of the vinegar, juice and mustard. See? There is a great big world out there beyond pumpkin pie. Here's the sauce recipe:

Spicy Pumpkin BBQ Sauce
(makes about 2 cups)

3/4 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbs molasses*

1/2 tsp hot sauce

Whisk all ingredients together. If using right away, brush both sides of 8 chicken thighs with sauce and cover and marinate at room temperature for 30 mins, before grilling, baking, or pan-frying. With remaining sauce, bring to a boil in a small saucepan. reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Sauce will keep for up to a month in a covered jar in the refrigerator.

*Molasses is one of those ingredients which previously caused me to avoid recipes that called for it; thinking "I'll buy a whole bottle of it, use 2 Tbs, and then never touch it again." WRONG! I have used it so many times this past fall/winter for marinades, cookies and, my personal fave: gingerbread waffles. Yum! Besides, it stays good forever practically.