Martha Stewart Pumpkin Seed Food

SPICED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove seeds from pumpkin. Discard membranes and spread seeds on baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Toss seeds with olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste, plus cinnamon, cumin, cayenne, and honey.
• Return to oven and roast coated seeds until golden, about 15 minutes. Scrape from pan and stir seeds as they cool to prevent sticking.

SWEET AND SPICY PUMPKIN SEEDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut pumpkin open from the bottom, removing seeds with a long-handled spoon. Separate flesh from seeds, and reserve the flesh for another use (see Pumpkin Pie). Pumpkin should yield 1 cup seeds. Spread seeds on parchment in an even layer. Bake until dry, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Let cool.
• In a medium bowl combine 3 tablespoons sugar, salt, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne. Heat peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add pumpkin seeds and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Cook until sugar melts and pumpkin seeds begin to caramelize, about 45 to 60 seconds. Transfer to bowl with spices, and stir well to coat. Let cool. These may be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

MARTHA STEWART'S PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°. Place the pumpkin cut-side down on a baking pan, and roast until tender, 50 to 60 minutes.
• Meanwhile, lightly dust a clean surface with flour, and roll out each circle of dough to a 14-inch diameter. Fit circles into the plates, being careful not to stretch the dough too thin; create the edges of your choice. Using a fork, prick the dough all over. Transfer to the freezer until firm, about 15 minutes. Remove pumpkin from oven, and set aside to cool.
• Using a large spoon, scrape out and discard the seeds. Remove the flesh from the skin, and transfer it to the bowl of a food processor. Process until the pumpkin is completely pureed without any solid pieces, about 1 minute. Transfer 2 cups of the pumpkin to a large bowl. Add the sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, eggs, and evaporated milk, and mix well until well combined; set aside.
• Fill pie shell with dried beans, and bake for 15 minutes. Remove beans and bake 5 minutes more. Remove pie crust from the oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350°.
• Pour the pumpkin filling into the pie shell. Return to the oven to bake until all but the center is set, 40 to 45 minutes. (If the crust gets too dark, cover the edges with foil.) The filling will be slightly loose in the center but will firm up as it cools. Place on a wire rack until completely cool.
• Serve the chilled pie with whipped cream.

MARTHA STEWART'S PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, pumpkin puree and 3 eggs. Beat well. Add evaporated milk and combine. Set aside.
• Between two pieces of plastic wrap, roll pate brisee into a 12-inch circle. Fit pastry into a 9-inch glass pie plate; trim dough evenly along edge, leaving about a 1/2-inch overhang. Pinch to form a decorative edge. If the dough begins to soften, chill for 15 minutes.
• Make the glaze: Beat the remaining egg, and combine with heavy cream. Brush glaze very lightly on edges of pie shell. Fill pie shell with pumpkin mixture. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F, and continue baking for 30 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack.

PUMPKIN SEED CANDY

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add pepitas; toast, stirring constantly until seeds pop and become slightly golden, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Place sugar and honey in a small saucepan.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar, about 3 minutes.
• Add pepitas, and continue cooking until temperature registers 285° on a candy thermometer, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and stir in cold butter.
• Let the mixture cool to 240°, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, brush the inside of fifteen 1-inch-diameter black paper cups with melted butter, reserving 1 tablespoon.
• Spoon a scant tablespoon of the honey mixture into each cup.
• Brush a clean work surface with the remaining butter, and spoon the remaining honey mixture on it so mixture will continue to cool.
• When remaining candy is stiff and cool enough to handle, about 6 minutes, cut into 3/4-inch pieces with a greased knife.
• Wrap in cellophane.

MARTHA STEWART'S PUMPKIN SOUP IN A PUMPKIN

Steps:

• In a covered saucepan, heat the stock, cubed pumpkin, onion, garlic, salt, thyme, and peppercorns to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.
• Remove 1/2 cup of the pumpkin with a slotted spoon; reserve.
• Simmer remaining pumpkin mixture, uncovered, 20 minutes longer; transfer to a large bowl.
• Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
• Cut the top off the sugar pumpkin and remove the seeds.
• Place the pumpkin on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes; set aside in a warm spot.
• Puree 2 cups of the pumpkin mixture in a blender or food processor; return pureed mixture to the pot.
• Repeat with remaining pumpkin mixture.
• Heat pureed mixture to boiling; reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Stir warm cream and reserved pumpkin into soup.
• Place the warmed sugar pumpkin on a platter; ladle the soup in and garnish with parsley.
• Serve hot.