Pumpkin recipes.

[SunsetRunner]

                                          

So,with Halloween approaching we are organizing a Pumpkin carving contest at work and I was thinking, all that pumpkin interior from all the coworkers, is there a way to use it?

So I started digging of course for pumpkin pie recipes, found some for soups, found a lot of Ale recipes...

As in this Community we have a lot of healthy yummy food lovers I wanted to ask. 
What is your Favourite Pumpkin recipe? 

Also any secrets on Pumpkin carving? I want to Win!

[WendyB]

Make sure to buy your Pumpkin early as there is a shortage. My store was almost out.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

1 1/2 Cups Low Fat Honey Graham Craacker Crumbs (12 Whole Cookies)
2 Tablespoons Splenda
2 Tablespoons Light Stick Butter, melted
1 Tablespoon Water
2 (8 OZ) Packages Fat Free Cream Cheese Softened 1 (8 OZ) Package Light Cream Cheese (Neufchatel) Softened
1 Cup Vanilla Fat Free Yogurt
1 (15 OZ) Canned Pumpkin
1 Cup Packed Dark Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Flour
2 Eggs
2 Egg Whites
1 Teaspoon Pumkin Pie Spice

To Make the pie crust, preheat the oven to 350. Spray a 9 inch Springform pan with cooking spray. Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl and stir until moistened. Firmly press into the Pie pan and 2 inches up on the sides. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temp to 325. Add both cream cheeses and yogurt into a blender and process until smooth. Add the remaining ingredient and process until blended. Pour over the crust. Bake for 55-60 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the cake in the oven for another hour. Refridgerate at least 3 hours before serving.
NOTE: for a crunchy topping when preparing the crust make and extra 1/4 cup crumbs. Spray a small non stick skillet with cooking spray and heat the crumbs for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle over the top before serving.

SERVINGS 16; CALORIES 211; FAT 6 g; PROTEIN 9 g; CARBS 32 g;
FIBER 2g; CHOL 42 mg; SODIUM 3192 mg; CALC 112 mg

[SunsetRunner]

@WendyB Mhmhm that really sounds delicious I'll have to try it!

Thank you for the heads up on the shortage! I will make my suplies this week.

[Fido]

There are different pumpkin types.  You can probably cook a carving pumpkin but it's not as sweet and I think it's coarser.   Cooking pumpkins tend to be smaller and sweeter.   I'm NOT an expert just quoting what my mother (a gardener) told me as  I was trying to pulp a carving pumpkin.

You can eat the seeds from both types. 

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks @Fido I was not aware of that. Either way since we are doing this contest for our stations at work we can only buy small pumpkins so I think it will actually be the smaller ones. 

[EdsonFitbit]

I will be happy to reveal my secrets on Pumpkin carving after the contest! 

[SunsetRunner]

Aww come on @EdsonFitbit! Share with the Community!

[WendyB]

Now Now Kids @EdsonFitbit @SunsetRunner Lets not fight. Im not good at carving so I can not help. Good luck to both of you!

[WendyB]

Please tell me it ok to try a pumpkin Ale. We have so many brewerys popping up and offering this. but it just does not appeal to me.

I guess i just need to ask for a sample.

[MRose]

Try this Grain-free/dairy-free paleo pumpkin pie from Against All Grain! I made it as a Thanksgiving trial-run and man... level up!

INGREDIENTS:

For the crust

• 1 1/2 cup almond flour
• 3/4 cup whole pecans
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

For the filling

• 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree (or about 2 cups fresh)
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 3 eggs + 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 cup grade B maple syrup (honey for SCD)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Add the pecans to a food processor and process until they have turned into a coarse flour.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and process for 15 seconds, until a dough forms.
3. Press the dough into an 8 or 9-inch pie plate (or springform pan for easy release), spreading it up the sides and covering the bottom. Fill with pie weights or **ahem** a few shallow holes in the crust with a fork to keep it from bubbling during baking.
4. Bake the crust at 325 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove it from the oven and cool for 10 minutes, then place in the freezer for 20 minutes.
5. Whisk all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
6. Pour the filling into a frozen pie crust.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until the custard has set but is still slightly jiggly in the center. If the crust starts to brown too quickly, you can cover the edges with foil and continue baking.
8. Turn off the oven and leave it cracked open for 30 minutes while the pie cools. This will help it from cracking on the top.
9. Refrigerate until chilled, then serve with coconut whipped cream on top.

[MRose]

My friend's pumpkin... it got dropped, but it's still awesome!

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey! @SunsetRunner I don't have any recipe but I'll definitely try the ones that I found here . 

[SunsetRunner]

@WendyB Thank you! For the Ale I haven't tried it yet as I don't know which ones are good and which ones aren't, I'm looking for someone who has tried them to advise me.

@MRose that recipe also looks yummy. Also I think that pumpkin actually looks nice smashed, it adds a  scarier look to it.

@SilviaFitbit you definitely should, they look awesome!

[SantiR]

@SunsetRunner I love this time of the year because of pumpkin pie! I truly love it. Now, the pumpkin ale sounds interesting. However, I have a friend in Texas that tried it out and didn't liked it. Guess we need to try it out by ourselves. @WendyB  

If I come up with a really cool design on the pumpkin carving contest I will definitely upload a picture here.  @MRose Your friend's pumpkin is giving me some ideas. 

@Fido nice photo!  I would like to try pumpkin seeds, never imagined you can actually eat them. 

[Fido]

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds recipe   Pick 3-Ingredient Seasoning

Toss your seeds in a simple seasoning blend. You can keep it basic, go sweet or even spicy. Here are some ideas you can try. For each 1 cup of seeds, simply add:

• Basic: 2 tablespoons melted butter + ¼ teaspoon salt + ¼ teaspoon pepper 
• Italian: 2 tablespoon melted butter + ¼ cup grated Parmesan + ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning 
• Sweet: 2 tablespoons melted butter + 1 tablespoon brown sugar + ½ teaspoon cinnamon 
• Savory: 2 tablespoons melted butter + 1 teaspoon seasoned salt + 1 teaspoon white vinegar (Note: Add the vinegar after roasting.) 
• Spicy: 2 tablespoons olive oil + ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning + ½ teaspoon fresh lime zest (Note: Add the zest after roasting.)

Once the seeds are evenly coated with your desired seasoning blend, spread evenly in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Preheat oven to 350°F, and bake seeds for 25 to 30 minutes. No need to cover, stir or otherwise putz with the seeds while they cook if you keep the oven at a moderate temperature. You might notice a popping sound coming from the oven, but that’s okay! If you shorten the cook time by roasting at a higher temp, keep an eye on your seeds and stir them up from time to time. You’ll know they’re ready to enjoy when the shell is crispy, yet easy to bite through. The inner seed should only have a slightly golden appearance. They shouldn’t be brown.

[SunsetRunner]

@Fido Thank you! That is really a good recipe and the pest is that you can keep it an use it afterwards. 

Roasted Pumpkin seed go really well with green mango with lemon and salt. Also you can add this when doing a papaya/banana/milk smoothie, it will give it a subtle toasty flavor.

[SantiR]

@Fido This is just excellent! It sounds so good, I think I'll go with the Italian and the Basic to begin with. I know my mother will enjoy this a lot too! Thanks again. 

[WendyB]

Looks awesome @Fido I have never had Pumpkin seeds before but will now! Thanks for sharing!

[Mcore]

Very cool ideas in this thread and I had no idea how much there is to prepare with pumpkin.  

@SunsetRunner Ale recipes! Are you serious? That, I need to try.  And the carving contest, don't hold your hopes up my friend, hahaha! 

[SunsetRunner]

@Mcore I know there are a lot of artsy type colleagues to compete with but I can be creative too. 

We will see how it goes.