Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree














So you know that stuff you buy in the can...thats been sitting in there since last years harvest? Well yeah, you can do the same exact thing with your fresh pumpkins that you have had sitting around since Halloween. Its really simple, and the pies, breads, or whatever you make from it will taste so much fresher and better than anything you can get out of a box or can.





Here are the simple steps:

Slice the pumpkin into quarters.

Pull out the seeds and the inside flesh. 













Using a spoon, scrape the stringy insides from the meat of the pumpkin. Leave the outside rind on.










You can either bake the whole slices, or a faster way is to use a double steamer and steam them until the inside is soft and you can stick a fork through it.
















Let cool and then scoop the meat off of the rind. It should be fairly easy, the meat will almost slide off.








Puree in a blender, food processor, or using a hand mixer. Do not add water!






And then you are done! Same stuff from the can, minus the seasoning and preservatives.





PS. Keep the seeds! They are super nutritious. You can save and plant for next year OR you can season and roast them, or eat raw. If you're ambitious, you can even make Pumpkin Seed Butter!