Simple Pumpkin Napoleons Food

PUMPKIN NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, flour and salt; stir in milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot filling into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. , Remove from the heat. Stir in the pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Transfer to a bowl. Press plastic wrap onto surface of custard. Refrigerate until cool, 2 hours., Preheat oven to 375°. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry into a 12-in. x 10-in. rectangle. With a sharp knife, cut into 15 rectangles, 4 in. x 2 in. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until puffed and golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. , To assemble, split pastries in half horizontally. Place 10 bottom layers on a work surface; spread each with a scant 2 tablespoons pumpkin custard. Top with 10 pastries, remaining custard and remaining pastries. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.

PUMPKIN NAPOLEONS WITH SUGAR SUBSTITUTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Beat first 4 ingredients in large bowl with whisk 2 min. (Mixture will be thick.) Stir in COOL WHIP. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, place wonton wrappers on parchment-covered baking sheets; brush with margarine. Combine cinnamon and sugar substitute; sprinkle over wontons. Bake 6 to 8 min. or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
• Top each of 12 wontons with about 2 Tbsp. pumpkin mixture. Repeat layers twice. Drizzle with syrup just before serving; sprinkle with nuts.

PUMPKIN NAPOLEONS WITH SUGARED PECANS AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the pecans, preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Mix the sugar and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg white and water together until frothy. Toss the pecans in the egg-white mixture to coat well. Drain, then toss in the sugar mixture. Grease a baking sheet and spread the pecans on it. Bake until dry, about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Set aside.
• To make the pastry, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Pulse the pecans and sugar together in a food processor until ground. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough out on a work surface, keeping the rest covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. Brush with butter and sprinkle with about 3 tablespoons of the ground pecan mixture. Top with another sheet of phyllo, brush with butter and sprinkle with pecans. Top with a third sheet of phyllo and brush with butter.
• Trim the phyllo layers to make a 16-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut into 16 4-by-3-inch rectangles. Divide between the baking sheets and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining phyllo, butter and pecan mixture. Set the pastries aside; you'll have extra.
• To make the sauce, place the sugar in a medium saucepan and stir in the water. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Place over medium heat and cook without stirring until mixture turns a deep caramel color. Remove from heat and carefully add the cream. Return the pan to the heat and stir until all the caramel is dissolved. Set aside.
• To make the filling, combine the pumpkin, butter, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract and cream in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until smooth and hot.
• The napoleons can be prepared ahead up to this point. Reheat the caramel sauce and the pumpkin filling. To assemble, spread the mascarpone over 8 of the pastries, using about 2 tablespoons for each. Top with another pastry and spread with about 1/4 cup of the pumpkin mixture. Top with another pastry.
• Coat 8 plates with caramel sauce. Top with the napoleons and scatter the sugared pecans around them. Serve immediately.

SIMPLE PUMPKIN NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Beat first 4 ingredients in large bowl with whisk 2 min. (Mixture will be thick.) Stir in COOL WHIP. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Place wonton wrappers in single layer on parchment-covered baking sheets. Brush with butter; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Bake 6 to 8 min. or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
• Top each of 12 wontons with about 2 Tbsp. pumpkin mixture. Repeat layers twice. Drizzle with syrup just before serving; sprinkle with nuts.

DINNER IN A PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Wash each pumpkin; cut a 4-in. circle around stem. Remove top and set aside; discard seeds and loose fibers from inside. Place pumpkins in a shallow sturdy baking pan; set aside., In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, celery and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in the soup, mushrooms, soy sauce and brown sugar. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until heated through. Fold in rice; spoon into pumpkins and replace tops. Brush outsides of pumpkins with oil. , Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or just until pumpkin is tender (do not overbake). Place on individual serving plates.