Tag: pumpkin

The Versatility of Pumpkins

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date March 6, 2006

What I like best about pumpkins is how versatile they are. Like most winter squash, it is nearly impossible to overcook a pumpkin. Because they have a mild flavor, the seasonings you use determine the taste of your dish.

Pumpkins can be found in recipes for main dishes, side dishes, desserts, beverages and more. You can serve them steamed, roasted, boiled, sautéed, baked, stuffed and added to numerous sauces, soups and more. I’ve got more than 300 recipes I’m testing for A Passion for Pumpkins.

Most people associate pumpkins with Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, but I have to admit my favorite pumpkin recipes are savory, not sweet. One of the recipes that will be featured in the A Passion for Pumpkins is a curried lentil dish with chunks of pumpkin in it. Another is a curried pumpkin soup that is the perfect accompaniment to a sandwich on a cold, winter day.

Want a little extra fiber in your diet? Add pumpkin! This may sound strange, but I’ve been giving my dog a tablespoon of pumpkin with each meal and she no longer suffers from constipation!

I made a really good stew this weekend that I think would be great with pumpkin chunks. In a slow cooker, I combined one can of low fat condensed cream of chicken soup, one packet of onion soup mix and two and a half cans (from the cream of chicken soup) water. I mixed it up then tossed in some frozen chicken thighs and some sweet potato. I let it cook on low for 8-10 hours. And boy was it ever good! Next time, I’ll try it with pumpkin. Mmmmmm, yum.

Tags pumpkin

Pumpkins Throughout the Year

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date January 22, 2006

Back in the day, Native Americans cut pumpkins into rings and hung them out to dry so that they would have a supply throughout the winter. Today, we just need to go to the local grocery store and buy a can.

I’ve tried both Libby’s and the generics, but I find that Libby’s gives me a more consistent flavor and texture.

If you’re contemplating making your own pumpkin pureé from fresh pumpkin, you can do so for a bit longer than pumpkin season. A whole pumpkin can be stored on the kitchen shelf for one month and in the refrigerator for one to four months. And, once made into pumpkin pureé, it can then be stored in the freezer for up to one year!

Tags pumpkin

All Things Pumpkin Well Stocked Pantry

Picking Your Pumpkin

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date January 4, 2006

When picking a fresh pumpkin for your recipes, chose a sugar pumpkin over the common pumpkin used for jack-o-lanterns. This pumpkin will be smaller and tends to have a more burnt orange color.

You want to look for one that is firm and has a smooth, dull, hard skin. Make sure there are no soft spots and get one with an intact stem – this will help it keep longer before you cut it.

If the pumpkin feels heavy for its size, then it will have more flesh, and therefore will make more pumpkin puree for your recipes.

Pumpkin season is October through December, but I’ve noticed that grocery stores stop selling them after Halloween. You’ll have to investigate your local grocery stores to see if they’ll have them out for longer. Or, take your business to your local pumpkin farm. You can find a listing of farms at the University of Illinois’ Pumpkins & More website.

Tags pumpkin

All Things Pumpkin Special Occasions

What to Do with Slimy Pumpkin Pulp

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date December 4, 2005

One of my favorite things about jack-o-lantern carving is pulling out the pumpkin’s pulp. I love the way the seeds squish and squirm about in my hands. I get to experience this same pleasure when preparing pumpkins, squash, and gourds for something I’m cooking. However, this festive pulp can do a real number on your plumbing if you don’t dispose of it properly (when you’re done playing with it, of course).

“The slimy pulp coats the inside walls of your pipes and garbage disposal,” says Paul Abrams, spokesman for Roto-Rooter, “then it hardens and chokes your drains.”

Roto-Rooter recommends carving pumpkins far away from the kitchen sink. Do this fun family task on a thick bed of old newspapers. Then, when your masterpiece is complete, you can just roll all the newspapers up, along with all the leftover pumpkin parts and threw it away in the trash. Never put the sticky, stringy pumpkin pulp down the drain, even if you have a garbage disposal.

Tags pumpkin, pumpkin pulp

All Things Pumpkin Flavor Blending

Pumpkin Substitution Ideas

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date October 27, 2005

Pumpkin is a winter squash and shares much in the way of interior look, feel and taste with fellow winter squashes such as acorn, butternut and buttercup squash. In fact, in savory recipes such as soups, stews, and casseroles, they are practically interchangeable. However, when it comes to desserts, such as pies, sweet bread, and cakes, you’ll want to stick to the traditional pumpkin or branch out into buttercup or butternut.

Buttercup squash

Buttercup squash is dark green, short and has a broad, stocky stem. It is also has a mild, honey-like flavor that works well with desserts. The average size is about 7 inches in diameter and the average weight is about 3 pounds, although some have been known to grow to be over 5 pounds. The flesh of buttercup squash is dense and dark yellow-orange, sometimes even approaching a deeper reddish color.

When you purchase a buttercup squash, look for one that feels heavy for its size, is free from blemishes and soft spots, and has a rind that is deeply colored. You definitely want to avoid any squash that has soft, wrinkled, or moldy spots!

Butternut squash

Another good substitution for pumpkin is the butternut squash, which you can find at most, if not all, grocery stores. It has a sweet, nutty taste that is similar to that of a pumpkin. The flesh is orange and fleshy, and the rind is tan-yellow. When ripe, this squash turns increasingly deep orange and becomes sweeter and richer.

One of the most common ways to prepare butternut squash is roasting, but soup is also quite popular.

Tags A Passion for Pumpkins, buttercup squash, butternut squash, pumpkin, winter squash