Carrot, Ginger, Pumpkin, White Bean Soup

1 onion, diced
5 carrots, sliced
1/2 can leftover pumpkin
2 fennel fronds (or celery)
1 tsp cumin
1.5-2 tbls grated (fresh) ginger
cayenne, salt and pepper
1 can white beans
3 tbls vegetarian chicken stock powder (or bouillon cubes)
water to cover (2-3 cups)

saute onion in olive oil until translucent. add ginger, carrots, fennel and spices. cook 2-3 minutes. add water to cover, bring to a boil and stir in stock or bouillon until dissolved. add in beans and stir. cover and reduce heat to simmer. cook about 30 minutes, or until carrots are soft.

optional: you can puree the soup before adding the beans with your immersion blender!

original recipe here.

Pineapple Upside-Down Gingerbread Pumpkin Cake

Adapted from Epicurious.


Topping:
1/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/4 cup soy butter
1 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon molasses
1 cup frozen pineapple

Cake:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup soy butter, room temperature
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
1/3 cup canned pure pumpkin

For topping:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease with soy butter, a 9x9x2-inch baking pan. Combine sugar, butter, orange juice, and molasses in small saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, whisking until sugar dissolves and syrup is smooth; boil 1 minute. Pour evenly into prepared pan. Arrange pineapple pieces close together in a single layer in the syrup.

For cake:
Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter in large bowl. Add sugar and beat to blend. Beat in egg. Beat in molasses, then pumpkin. Beat in dry ingredients just until blended, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Beat in 1/2 cup boiling water. Pour batter evenly into pan. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40-50 minutes. Cool cake in pan 30-45 minutes. Place platter over pan and invert. Let stand 5 minutes. Gently lift off pan. Serve cake warm or at room temperature.