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Farm Kitchen:  Pumpkins, need help..  |
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LizDarnell
True Blue Farmgirl
102 Posts
Liz
Gulfport
MS
USA
102 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 20 2006 : 06:53:25 AM
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I really want to try recipes out with pumpkin. How do I use fresh pumpkin? My Mom never did any thing pumpkin, except pies from cans. So I have no idea how to use fresh pumpkin. I have been slowly learning how to bake/cook so many different things and really enjoy learning new processes and ingredients. So my post is asking for recipes for fresh pumpkin, including how to prepare the fresh cut pumpkin for different recipes. I would appreciate any type of recipe; pie, bread, pastry, cookie, anything else you can use pumpkin for! Thanks Ladies!!!
~Liz |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2006 : 07:53:16 AM
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Hi Liz! Pumpkin is really easy, you just cut it up and bake it like squash. I always put it in a large baking dish with about an inch of water in the bottom and seal up the whole thing with
alum.foil. Bake at 350-400 for 1/2hr- 45 minutes. Uncover let cool and scoop out all that delicious pumpkin. You can freeze it chunky at this point, put it through the food processor to get it smooth for pie or soup,use a mixer to whip it w/butter, garlic,scallions like mashed potatoes.Do not leave the skin on because I think it makes the pulp taste bitter but that's just my opinion. Don't forget to roast the seeds too! If you freeze some you will always have it on hand for pies, breads and whatever pumpkin recipe your heart desires! I don't can pumpkin, I use it all up in the fall! If you have any q's, email me!
with a happy heart |
Edited by - bramble on Oct 20 2006 07:55:38 AM |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2006 : 10:21:22 AM
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Bramble do you grow a specific type of pumpkin for baking/cooking? The ones I have grown just can't be baked by the method you describe...they end up just way too watery. I just cut them up into large chunks, put them on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake slowly face up so as to evaporate some of the water in them.
Like you, I don't leave the skin on them when I prepare them for freezing. I just peel it off once it's baked, puree it and then put 2 cups of puree per freezer bag so I know exactly how much to defrost depending on what I'm baking.
This year for fun I grew some of the little "Snack Jack" pumpkins, the naked seed ones. They really do produce seeds you don't have to hull!! Not wanting to waste the pumpkin I'd cut open to retreive the seeds, I just baked it and used it as a vegetable to go with supper. It was delicious!
Di
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tziporra
True Blue Farmgirl
234 Posts
Robin
Seattle
WA
USA
234 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2006 : 1:51:07 PM
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Hi all,
I bought two sugar pumpkins at the farmer's market on wednesday, and brought them home to bake. I cut mine in half, clean out seeds and strings, then bake facedown on a cookie sheet. But the flesh of one of the pumpkins turned out all stringy! I don't like it at all. I put it in the freezer anyway, but I'm wondering if there is any hope for it. Can I still puree it?
Best,
Robin |
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julia hayes
True Blue Farmgirl
1132 Posts
julia
medical lake
wa
USA
1132 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2006 : 6:25:28 PM
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Robin, some of my sugar pumpkins are stringy and I put them through the food processor with no problems whatsoever. I measure out 1 cup blobs of purreed pumpkin on a cookie sheet and freeze them. Then I have ready made pumpkin for breads later on. For fresh pumpkin I LOVE this pumpkin rigatoni recipe.
I cut a pumpkin in half. scoop out all the seeds. cut it again and then peel the rind off. Chop it up in good size chunks. Add some carrots and a Tbsp butter and tsp sugar and thyme in a covered roasting pan. cook for 30 - 45 minutes. In the meantime cook up some andouillie sausage with onions and garlic. Sometimes I add some fresh tomatoes too..just a few... When the carrots and pumpkin are soft..even a little mashed is fine, mix with the sausage and add some cream, salt and pepper to taste..pour over rigatoni or any other pasta you have lying around! YUMMMMMMY...I'm making it for a party we're having on Sunday..delicious!!
Pumpkin is also wonderful cooked exactly like I mentioned above and pour over steamed chard/kale etc and pour a peanut sauce over it.. YUMMERS!!
let me know if you want others!!
Julia Hayes
being simple to simply be |
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Mari-dahlia
True Blue Farmgirl
269 Posts
Marianne
Hoosick Falls
New York
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2006 : 2:27:56 PM
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I have always used pie pumpkins when available but I will use any pumpkin in a pinch. There is a little difference, not enough to not cook whatever it is I'm making.
My son, who goes to the CIA, made risotto with pumpkin cut in chunks and then topped off each serving with the toasted seeds. It tasted just Amazing!
Marianne |
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Farm Kitchen: Pumpkins, need help.. |
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Pumpkins, need help..
