Pumpkin Pleasures
|
Email Page
Print Page
|
|
|
Extras
|
Add Photo to Journal
|
|
| Photo Credit: Elizabeth Kneller |
| When making pumpkin puree, first scoop out the seed and stringy flesh. |
Fall means pumpkins. It also means Thanksgiving and other holiday delights. When the two are combined we have an opportunity to create one of the best meals we have all year. In preparation for our great holiday feasts, we go to the farmers’ market and get a load of sweet baking pumpkins. We compile our recipes for soup, breads and desserts. Then we invite 10 of our closest friends over to share a fabulous dinner in which every dish on the menu is made with fresh pumpkin puree.
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) can be substituted in recipes that call for winter squash or sweet potato, and many spices – including sage, nutmeg, curry, allspice, coriander, cinnamon and saffron – pair nicely with it. Making puree from this versatile fruit is pretty straightforward:
- Cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seed, as well as the sticky, stringy flesh that contains the seeds. Leave all the solid flesh attached to the skin.
- Cut the pumpkin into slices and put onto a baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour, or until the flesh is soft. (Use a fork to check for tenderness.)
- Let cool, peel the softened flesh out of its skin, and puree the pumpkin in a food processor or with a mixer.
|
| Warnings |
- For a good shelf life, pumpkins need a small stem, so be careful not to carry pumpkins by their stems.
|
| Tips |
- When harvesting your pumpkins, use gloves (the vines can be prickly) and pruning shears, leaving about 3 inches of stem intact to prevent premature rotting.
- Protect your pumpkin vines from frost late in the season by covering them with plastic.
|
| Facts |
- Pumpkins are ready for harvest when they’ve hardened and have a full color.
- Baking pumpkins tend to be smaller and sweeter than carving pumpkins.
|
| Resources |
- Visit the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Extension Service Website for more fun pumpkin information and recipes.
Read More...
|
|
|
Page 1 of 2
|
Next Steps
|
Articles
-
Five Exceptional Heirloom Pumpkins
Tired of the usual orange, round pumpkin? Heirloom squash offers a unique twist to the seasonal classic, taking fall decorating and cooking to new heights.
|
|
|
|
|