RECIPE THIRTY ONE: Sunday October 15th - pumpkin black bean dip

BACK STORY:
From Carrie's pumpkin cookbook I won at the pumpkin party a few years ago, I made the pumpkin black bean dip for the first time to bring to the Schmieg hayride party and Cindy and Leon's.

NOTES:
It calls for 3 cups black beans but I just used one can; conversely I used half a can of the pumpkin as my one cup. I didn't have cilantro so skipped the garnish (for better or worse); the dip was great warm from the sauteed onions and peppers, but also passable room temperature or cold. I brought tortilla chips for the party but we also ate it with pita chips at Naomi's, and I think corn chips (like Scoops) would have been good too. Overall it was easy and delicious - if pumpkin is called for, this is a great dish that isn't too pumpkin-y.

STARS: 
4 out of 5. Easy to make and a great appetizer with the right dipping chip.

RECIPE:
(This is not the exact recipe from the book, but it's the best I could mimic online without typing out the whole thing)

http://reedsburgutility.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Black-Bean-Dip-with-Pumpkin.pdf

1 and ½ teaspoons canola oil 1 jalapeno chile, seeds and membranes removed, minced (wear gloves) ¼ cup diced green pepper ½ cup diced onion 2 cloves, garlic, minced 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed, about 1 ½ cups ½ cup canned pumpkin 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice ½ teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons water ½ cup cilantro, chopped, plus a sprig for garnish Method: Heat oil in small skillet. Sauté both peppers and onion for a few minutes until starting to soften, add garlic and continue to cook until vegetables are tender. Place beans, pumpkin, lime juice, cumin, salt, water, and chopped cilantro in bowl of food processor. Pulse until blended, but not completely smooth. Add sautéed vegetables and pulse again until blended, but leave a little chunky. Makes about 2 cups. Nutrition information for 2 tablespoons: 30 calories, ½ gm fat, 0 cholesterol, 125 mg. sodium, 5 gm carbs, 2 gm fiber and 2 gm protein, as well as a good source of Vitamin A. (Recip