Recipes Using Real Pumpkin

HOW TO COOK / BAKE / ROAST A REAL PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Cut the pumpkin in half crosswise and scoop out the seeds and strings.
• Place halves, hollow side down, in a large baking pan covered with aluminum foil and add a little water.
• Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until fork-tender. Remove.
• When cool, scrape pulp from shells and puree, a little at time, in food processor or blender. Mix with a little salt.
• To freeze pumpkin puree: Put 1/2 cups in freezer bags along with spices and use in pies.
• To use pumpkin puree for recipes: Line a strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth or a flour sack dish towel and let the pumpkin sit to drain out the extra moisture BEFORE cooking with it. Pumpkin is very moist, so in order for your recipe to come out correctly, you MUST strain it.

HOMEMADE FRESH PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Prepare pie crust by mixing together the flour and salt. Cut shortening into flour; add cold water 1 tablespoon at a time (you may need only 3 tablespoons, or up to 4 tablespoons). Mix dough and repeat until dough is moist enough to hold together.
• With lightly floured, hands shape dough into a ball. On a lightly floured board roll dough out to about 1/8 inch thickness. With a sharp knife, cut dough 1 1/2 inch larger than the upside-down 8- to 9-inch pie pan. Gently roll the dough around the rolling pin and transfer it right-side up onto the pie pan. Unroll, easing dough into the bottom of the pie pan.
• In a large bowl, beat pumpkin with evaporated milk, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt with an electric mixer or immersion blender. Mix well. Pour into a prepared crust. Bake 40 minutes or until when a knife is inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean.