Pumpkin Balsamic Roast Up
This afternoon as I was reading some of your lovely and inspirational blogs I came across this delicious looking sandwich on Healthy San Diego Living. I knew immediately that this had to be recreated for my lunch! I used Ezikiel bread, trader joe’s peanut butter, and homemade strawberry jam. While mine doesn’t look as ooey-gooey as the original, I was pleased with the outcome. I used a tiny bit of butter on the bread to get that “grilled cheese” look. I think if the bread had been a softer variety it might have come out better. There’s always next time though to tweak the ingredients, am I right?
After lunch, I prepped the veggies and sauce. A good old fashioned “roast up” was in the making.
I used a combination of the suggestions you all had for me on a sauce to pour over the veggies while roasting. I combined the following:
- Balsamic Vinegar (a decent amount)
- Olive Oil (not much)
- Pumpkin butter (the end of the jar, probably 1.5 tablespoons?)
- salt and pepper
I really wanted to get that pumpkin flavor in there and didn’t have any canned pumpkin so the pumpkin butter did the trick. Also I didn’t have to add any more sugar to the mix since the pumpkin butter already is sweetened.
I couldn’t have been happier with the results. I kept this mixture in the oven at 400 degrees for a good 2 hours. Part of the time it was covered and the last 45 minutes or so I left it uncovered to crisp everything up.
While these were roasting away, I whipped up a quick batch of homemade cranberry sauce. This has got to be the easiest thing in the world to make. One bag of cranberries, one cup of water and about a tablespoon of agave (I like my cranberry sauce tart!). Boil the water and sugar, add the cranberries and simmer until they all break down and create a thick liquid. Not sure how I’ll be using this yet but I sometimes like to just have it on hand.
You might have thought my dinner would be focused around the veggies, but they just weren’t all that photogenic tonight. I’ll have to dress them up for lunch tomorrow 
I did have a portion on the side of my slice of cheese (Upper Crust Thursdays are the best!) though. I love the chunky tomato sauce on this pizza. Heaven.
Yay, so glad you made it!
Looks delicious and I still have to tweak mine as well–I’m thinking WAY more Peanut Butter!
The veggies look incredible, but I love that, at the end of the day, the pizza could still be the star! A day of amazing looking eats!
Wow- all of that food looks really good. I’m impressed with all your cooking despite your ankle and cold?! I hope everything is feeling a lot better this weekend!
Pumpkin butter on the roasted veggies — OMG that sounds so good! I would have never even thought to do that, but now that I read it, it just seems to make perfect culinary sense! Looks like a great day of healthy eats for you lady
Oh I love that idea – looks great and delicious!
Wow those veggies look SO GOOD. I might just have to make that for Thanksgiving dinner!
Ugh, I spot brussel sprouts!!
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The veggies look great though. Ah, I think i should give a the brussels a try again, just to be fair. I haven’t had any in about 12 years or so and tastebuds change so I might like them now
I’m glad to hear that your ankle’s better by the way.
Those veggies look so amazing!! Great idea with the pumpkin butter
I love Upper Crust
yeah, i’m working slowly to getting 80/20 paleo. peanuts are not paleo. but i like peanut butter. i’m also trying to go peanut butter free because i just have no self control around it. i just start eating it and eating it. so this is teachin me moderation/i don’t need it. erase the craving
Yeah! colds are the worst! i’m tryingot get better tho- i actually ran a bit on the treadmill today without any pain.
How are you doing?!
totally no self control around cereal and peanut butter. the best way for me is to not have that around my house as often! lol. 80/20 yeah, it’s hard. constant battle- not only me, but mom thinks im going all disordered again. yay your cold is gone and ankle healing up!
Wow that grilled PB sandwich looks like something I would do some serious harm to myself in order to get! beautiful pictures too! Will you make me one?
YUMMY! I have some brussel sprouts sitting in my fridge and an onion. I just need to get some butternut squash (but I do have a kabocha) and some fresh garlic and I can make this. Thanks for the idea! It sounds fantastic. BTW, your parfait looked mahvelous! Have a great weekend!
I will HAVE to make this pumpkin balsamic roast when i’m home over thanksgiving break! I’ve already tagged like, 10 of your recipes!! Haha
It sounds absolutely delicious and that lunch sounds fab! A pb & j can never do ya wrong.
Excuse me as I drool! Love those balsamic veggies!!
Maggie