I woke up to a cool, rainy morning here in the North East.  The beautiful fall foliage is mostly on the ground, so it looks more like a dreary November morning.  Normally it’s perfect sleeping weather, but It also happened to be one of the few mornings Joey & I have together.  I wanted to make a quick, easy breakfast that warms you from the inside out on this chilly morning.  Nothing else wakes up a house like the smell of a delicious breakfast! The farms here in the Hudson Valley have a bountiful pumpkin crop this year & if you know me, I love my pumpkin!  I cook with the seasons, so naturally I had to incorporate pumpkin with these protein muffins.  I topped these muffins with my Toasted Pecan Glaze (recipe below).

Ingredients:

• ½ Cup quinoa flakes
• ½ Cup quinoa flour
• ½ Cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup non-dairy milk
• ½ Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ Cup brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon ground flax seed & 3 Tablespoons water.  Whisk, rest for 5 minutes
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Mix your dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Make a well in the center and add your wet ingredients.  Stir, stir, stir until combined!
3. Line your muffin tin with liners (or grease them).  Fill each cup halfway.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Toasted Pecan Glaze

While your muffins are baking prepare your toasted Pecan Glaze.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon Earth Balance
• 1 ½ Cups confectionery sugar
• 2 ½ Tablespoons non-dairy milk

Directions:

1. Heat a medium saucepan on medium-high heat.   Toast your pecans, continually stirring to prevent burning (keep an eye on your nuts!).   Add your spices (still stirring, you don’t want anything to burn).  When your nuts are coated nicely with your spices (it’s very aromatic) and toasted, turn your heat off.  Melt your Earth Balance.
2. Add your non-dairy milk and whisk in the confectionery sugar.  Mix until all is combined and cool.
3. Once your muffins are ready, remove from the baking tin & let cool.  Top each muffin with your Toasted Pecan Glaze.
4. Enjoy eating whole!