Autumnal Stuffed Pumpkin Dessert Food

STUFFED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the top off the pumpkin or squash and use a metal spoon to scoop out the seeds. Get rid of any pithy bits but keep the seeds for another time (see our pumpkin seed recipe ideas). Put the pumpkin on a baking tray, rub with 2 tbsp of the oil inside and out, and season well. Roast in the centre of the oven for 45 mins or until tender, with the 'lid' on the side.
• Meanwhile, rinse the wild rice well and cook following pack instructions, then spread out on a baking tray to cool. Thinly slice the fennel bulb and apple, then squeeze over ½ the lemon juice to stop them discolouring.
• Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan. Fry the fennel seeds and chilli flakes, then, once the seeds begin to pop, stir in ½ the garlic and the fennel. Cook for 5 mins until softened, then mix through the apple, pecans and lemon zest. Remove from the heat. Add the mixture to the the cooked rice, then stir in the chopped parsley and taste for seasoning.
• Pack the mixture into the cooked pumpkin and return to the oven for 10-15 mins until everything is piping hot. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining lemon juice with the tahini, the rest of the garlic and enough water to make a dressing. Serve the pumpkin in the middle of the table, topped with pomegranate seeds and the dressing.

AUTUMNAL STUFFED PUMPKIN DESSERT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Mix spice mix together by combining the first five ingredients.
• Cut the top of the pumpkin off leaving a lid but enough room to stick your hand in and clean out the seeds and stringy pulp.
• Mix 2 tablespoons butter and ½ of the spice mix into a paste and rub it all over the inside of the pumpkin and pumpkin lid.
• Bake the pumpkin with the lid on for 15 minutes on a cookie sheet.
• In the meantime, coarsely chop the apples and pears, then mix with the last of the spice mix, butter (cut into chunks), and remaining ingredients.
• Stuff the pumpkin tightly with the mix and place the lid back on. The inside stuffing will bake down a bit as the apples and pears soften.
• Bake for 45 minutes and check for doneness based upon how soft the flesh is when pierced with a fork. Continue baking until pumpkin is cooked, covering the top loosely with foil if it starts to blacken.
• Cool with the lid off for 20 minutes and serve scoops of the pumpkin flesh and stuffing next to vanilla ice cream and a slice of pound cake.

PRALINE PUMPKIN DESSERT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°.
• Grease bottom and sides of 13x9” baking dish, with shortening.
• Beat pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice in medium bowl with wire whisk until smooth.
• Pour into pan.
• Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture.
• Sprinkle with pecans.
• Pour melted butter evenly over top of dessert.
• Bake 50-60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool slightly.
• To serve, cut dessert into 4 rows by 3 rows.
• Serve warm or chilled with dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice.
• Store covered in refrigerator.