Monday, November 3, 2014

Healthy Pumpkin and Sage Alfredo Sauce

We have officially entered into fall at this point, my absolute favorite season. Now is when our bodies crave heartier, denser meals that feature all sorts of seasonal produce, such as apples, potatoes, pumpkins, and squash. The reason that it feels right to eat this now is because all of these ingredients are sweet, and thus both physically and energetically nourishing. They give our bodies the necessary nutrients we crave in preparation for the winter months. Sweet foods, however, often leave us with a sluggish digestive system as they are in fact rough on our bodies to digest when eaten on their own. This is the exact reason we love herbs and spices with the deliciously sweet produce. Cinnamon and apples, sage and carrot, rosemary and butternut squash...it isn't a coincidence these all go together! While the seasonal produce gives us the nourishment we need, the herbs and spices fuel our digestive fire, providing us improved digestion and circulation. 



This exact reason is why this recipe is one of my favorites. Not only is it a hearty, warm, stick-to-your-ribs meal, but it is also almost entirely plant based, utilizing seasonal produce to boot, but it also creates the lovely fusion that fall provides us-- wonderful nourishment and a strong digestive fire!  Plus...who doesn't like a good Alfredo sauce?? The cauliflower and sunflower seed cream create a luxuriously creamy and velvety sauce that almost perfectly mimics the cream and cheese filled classic version, and the pumpkin, sage and cinnamon give it a wonderfully subtle sweet and spicy twist. All around a lovely and healthy fall recipe to try out! This one takes a little planning ahead however, so be prepared!