How To Cook A Pumpkin Or Squash Food

HOW TO COOK A PUMPKIN OR SQUASH

Steps:

• THE EASY WAY: Wash outside of fruit, cut in half, scrape out seeds (save for roasting into snacks) and that stringy stuff, place halves face down on a cookie sheet.
• Bake at 300 (or so) until "meat" is tender; discard shells/skin.
• Use meat as called for in pie or cake recipe.
• OR mash or blend meat until very smooth (add a bit of water), heat in a soup pot, and then ladle into clean HOT jars, seal with canning lids, and process in hot water bath or pressure cooker. Label & use for pie filling or cake recipes.
• THE HARD WAY: Cut fruit into spears, remove seeds & stringy fibers, then using a paring knife or peeler, remove skins. Cut into large chunks and cook down in a soup pot to make pie filling or roast with other autumn vegetables (balsamic vinegar & sea salt make a nice marinade!).

PUMPKIN (OR SQUASH!) PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 deg F.
• Whisk eggs; add rest of ingredients.
• Warm pie crust in oven until hot to touch, letting custard stand at room temperature.
• Pour mixture into crust and bake till center of filling seems set but quivery, like gelatin, when the pan is nudged, 35-45 minutes.
• Let cool completely on a rack before slicing!
• Refrigerate for up to one day.
• Serve cold, at room temp, or slightly warmed, with whipped fresh cream.
• ENJOY!

COOKED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Cut pumpkin into small manageable pieces and cut off pith and seeds.
• Place cut pumpkin skin side up in a large roasting pan. Add 1/4 inch of water and bake uncovered for 1 hour or until tender. Remove from oven and allow pumpkin to cool.
• When cooled, cut away skin and mash or puree. Use in any recipe that calls for canned pureed pumpkin.