While pie is the go-to preparation for pumpkins, we invite you to consider this recipe, adapted from Kim Serverson of the New York Times. This recipe features market pumpkins and vegetables, Murray Hollow bread, and Longview Farm’s High Rock Cheese in place of the Gruyere below. Other small winter squashes such as acorn or sweet dumpling also can be used in place of the pumpkin.
Ingredients
• 2 small pumpkins (or 6 mini pumpkins) orange or white
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 scallions (about 1/3 cup) chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
• 4 cups Swiss chard (or baby kale) stemmed and roughly chopped (about 4 ounces)
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ cup homemade bread crumbs, lightly toasted
• 2/3 cup shredded Gruyere cheese (used Homestead Artisan’s High Rock Cheese)
• ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Wash the pumpkins and remove the tops as if for a Jack-o’-lantern.
2. Scoop out the seeds and stringy insides with a spoon, leaving the flesh intact. Rinse out the cavity.
3. Melt butter in a saute pan over medium heat, then add the scallions and cook for a few minutes. Add the garlic and saute for another minute or so until fragrant. Add the swiss chard and cook until it just wilts, about 3 or 4 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, stir in the lemon juice and transfer to a bowl. Add the bread crumbs, cheese, pine nuts, and nutmeg. Mix well, and then stir in cream.
5. Divide the filling into the pumpkins and replace the tops. Rub a baking dish with olive oil and arrange the filled pumpkins in the dish.
6. Bake for 1 hour, watching to make sure the tops don’t brown too much. Test the pumpkin by piercing with a fork. If the skin doesn’t pierce easily, remove the tops and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes. Replace the tops and serve hot.
