More Pumpkin….

So far this month we have all posted A LOT of things regarding pumpkin. This is one of my favorite things about fall, fresh pumpkin and all of the delectable treats that you can make with it. Muffins, pancakes, cakes, pies, cookies and even hummus its enough to put you into pumpkin overload. I can see it all… laid out in front of me… oh, had a brief moment of pumpkin euphoria.

In all seriousness, this is one of the most versatile of the many, many, many different gourds that are used for cooking. And despite the fear that most people have in using fresh pumpkin to cook with, it is surprisingly easy to prepare. And depending on your final use of the pumpkin it really doesn’t take much time. Check out How to Make Pumpkin Puree to get some great tips on doing this. Personally, I am a fan of the roasting method because it gives the pumpkin a sweeter and stronger flavor. One thing to remember to do if you get a wild hair and decide to make a truckload of puree, when you store it make sure to measure and label your bags before freezing. I like make 2 cup bags for easy storage and later use. Once you’ve mastered the massacre of a pumpkin, making your favorite pumpkin treats is easy.

If your using it for the traditional pumpkin pie of Thanksgiving fair you need to know that these pies will turn out to be a bright orange color instead of the muted rust color of the canned pumpkin. It’s the real sign that you have made them from scratch. It is also important to remember that the flavor of your fresh pumpkin verse the canned will be different. Fresh pumpkin puree tends to be sweeter and may require less sugar than its canned cousin. And because of the natural flavor of the pumpkin you may want to use slightly less of the complementary spices, i.e: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, all spice. You don’t want to over power the delicate and sweet flavor of the pumpkin.

As you can see I am a big fan of using fresh foods for everything and I think that pumpkin is right there at the top of my list. If prepared properly it can last a full year in the freezer and then you can have wonderful pumpkin creations year round. You can use pumpkin in almost anything and it is great food to experiment with and make your own creations. Have fun with it and don’t let this wonderful source of food merely be a decoration during Halloween.