Can you live in the real world and eat a healthy diet? My quick answer is that it takes some effort. The following is an example of what kinds of things you can do if you want to move toward a healthier diet.

Our daughter, Alissa, brought a heavenly dessert to our Thanksgiving gathering. The nice thing about this dessert is that you can have a pumpkin dessert without fussing with piecrust. This dessert held it’s own over a number of pies that were available.

We so enjoyed Alissa’s dessert, but Dr. Grandpa and I try to not eat too much sugar, butter and white flour. So I made the following variation; it was extremely easy – just 1, 2, 3; no fooling around with a rolling pin and the work of making a crust.

When you see the very liquid pumpkin layer, don’t panic – it solidifies just like pumpkin pie. Move slowly as you put it into the oven – no sloshing. This recipe is ideal for those who have ‘sworn off’ white flour, saturated fat and refined sugar – a great option for those with diabetes and those striving not to get it. American-Mediterranean can include desserts.

Ingredients:

Bottom Layer:
4 cups of Dr. Grandma’s Muffins Your Way Mix
*remove 1 cup of mix and set aside.
½ cup extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
1 egg beaten (for crust layer)

Middle Pumpkin layer:
3 eggs (for pumpkin layer)
1 ½ cup sweetener of your choice
29 oz. canned pumpkin
12 oz. evaporated milk
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla

Topping:
1 cup (reserved) muffin mix
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup sweetener of your choice
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil or canola oil

Directions:
• Heat the oven to 350° F
• Spray a 9 X 13 inch baking dish with vegetable spray
• Mix the muffin mix (minus the one cup) with the oil and egg. Press into a 9 X 13 inch baking pan.
• Mix 3 eggs, sweetener, pumpkin, evaporated milk, cinnamon and vanilla.
• Pour pumpkin mixture over muffin mixture in pan.
• Mix 1 cup of dry muffin mix, cinnamon, sweetener, extra virgin olive oil or canola oil.
• Pour over pumpkin mixture.
• Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour at 350° F, until a table knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Do not over bake.

This Pumpkin Cake Dessert Doesn't Need to Wait for a Holiday.

Serve with a little whipped cream or ice cream.

Dr. Grandpa loves ice cream; a little of this helps him enjoy a treat.