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puree

Pumpkins from fall decor also make delectable food

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By Julia Howard

Otrembiak Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett, 2018

In the fall, pumpkins adorn everything from front steps to tabletop centerpieces. Unfortunately, while an uncarved pumpkin can remain edible 8-12 weeks after being picked, many decorative pumpkins end up in the trash, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are many great uses for whole pumpkins in the kitchen.

Pumpkins are versatile to cook and bake with and offer a world of culinary exploration. They are eaten year-round in different cultures across the globe. In America, pumpkin is famously used in pumpkin pie. But a quick Google search will reveal a variety of recipes worthy of exploration: soups and stews, dips, pancakes, gnocchi, dessert bars, pasta dishes, bread, muffins, cakes, ice cream, smoothies, pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds), and many more.

Squashville Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

When cooking and baking with pumpkin, many recipes call for pumpkin puree. Before you add canned pumpkin puree to your grocery list, try making your own. It’s easy and requires little effort with a big return. Roasting 1-2 small pumpkins can yield 5-6 cups of puree.

Also, wonderful on their own – are pumpkin seeds. Simply scrape out seeds, rinse and remove major chunks of flesh, boil for 10 minutes in salted water, drain, and coat with olive oil and seasonings. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Pumpkin seeds are a fun and healthy snack.

If you don’t have leftover pumpkins you can buy them directly from farmers at the farmers’ market, ask them which pumpkin works best for your needs.

This week’s recipes: Easy Pumpkin Puree & Pumpkin Muffins with Honey Butter

Pumpkin Muffins with Honey Butter

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Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Tieghan Gerhard, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 16

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

For the muffins:
● 12 Tablespoons (3/4 cup) salted butter, melted
● ¾ cup packed brown sugar
● 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
● 2 eggs*
● 1 cup pumpkin puree*
● ¼ cup milk*
● 2½ cups all-purpose flour
● 2 teaspoons baking powder
● ½ teaspoon baking soda
● 1 teaspoon cinnamon
● 1 teaspoon nutmeg

For the streusel:
● ¾ cup all-purpose flour
● ½ cup packed brown sugar
● 1 teaspoon cinnamon
● 6 Tablespoons cold salted butter, cubed
● 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 16 cubes

Cinnamon honey butter:
● 4 Tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
● 2 Tablespoons honey*
● ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
1. For the muffins: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 16 muffin tins with paper liners. In a large bowl, mix together the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Add the pumpkin and milk. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix on low speed until just combined, being sure the batter is completely mixed.
2. To make the streusel: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the butter and use your fingers to mix the butter into the flour until crumble forms.
3. Divide the batter among the prepared pan. Push 1 cube of cream cheese into each muffin. Evenly sprinkle the streusel over the batter. Transfer to the oven, bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. Meanwhile, make the cinnamon butter. In a small bowl, combine the butter, honey, and cinnamon.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature smeared with cinnamon butter.

Easy Pumpkin Puree

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Prep time: 10mins
Cook time: 45-60mins
Makes 5 to 6 cups pumpkin puree

Make your own pumpkin puree at home. It’s easy and works perfectly in your favorite pumpkin recipes. Try making puree from leftover pumpkins from Halloween. If buying directly from farmers at the farmers’ market, ask them which pumpkin works best for your needs. This method works with most winter squashes — like butternut, acorn, honeynut, and other varieties.

Pumpkin puree, AdobeStock

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 1-2 small pumpkins*
● Fine sea salt, optional

Instructions
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Rinse and pat dry the pumpkin. Before cutting the pumpkin in half, if it doesn’t sit steady to cut safely, slice asmall bit away from the bottom so that it does. Cut the pumpkin in half. With a spoon or a scoop, scrape out the seeds and pulp from the center. You don’t have to be too thorough with this.

Lightly season the inside of the pumpkin halves with salt then place cut-side-down onto the baking sheet. Bake until the pumpkin(s) can easily be pierced with a knife in several places and the flesh is pulling away from the skin, 45 to 60 minutes. Cool until you can safely handle the halves then scoop out the soft flesh into a food processor — depending on how large the pumpkin is, you may need to do this in two batches. Process until very smooth, 3 to 5 minutes.

Tips
● Place all the seeds into a bowl so that you can roast them later for a healthy snack.
● If you don’t have a food processor, a blender will work if you add a little water. Or you can simply mash with a potato masher, or move through a potato ricer, or process through a food mill.
● If the puree is overly watery, you should strain it on a cheesecloth or over a fine mesh strainer to get rid of some of the liquid. This will be especially helpful for baking purposes.
● Make-ahead: Store homemade pumpkin puree in food-safe containers in the fridge for up to 1 week. To freezer, spoon about 1 cupful of pumpkin into plastic storage bags. Seal the bag with a small opening remaining, then use your hands to flatten out the puree inside the bag and push out the air. Store in the freezer until you need them or up to 3 months.

Pumpkin Dip

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Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Nicole Cunningham, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Makes: 5½ cups

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
● 1 teaspoon nutmeg
● 1 teaspoon cinnamon*
● 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
● 2 cups pumpkin puree (see puree instructions below)
● Apple slices*, graham crackers, ginger snaps, or tea cookies* for serving

Instructions
Mix together the sugar and spices. Whip together with the cream cheese and pumpkin puree. Refrigerate until firm. Serve with apple slices, graham crackers, or ginger snaps.

Notes: Sift the confectioners’ sugar to avoid lumps.

To make your own pumpkin puree: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut a medium-sized pumpkin in half from top to bottom, remove the seeds and pulp. Place the halves cut-side down on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Roast until easily pierced, 45 to 60 minutes. Turn over the pumpkin and continue to cook for another 30 minutes. Allow to cool enough to handle. Scoop out the flesh and puree in a food processor. Drain puree in a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl for 1 hour or more. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to four days.