Cool Weather Cuisine (Part 2)

It's name is derived from the Greek word "pepon"...

Certain Native American tribes called them "isquotm"...

They are related to both squash and cucumbers....

They have been used both for food and medicine...


They contain potassium, lutein and Vitamins A, C, and B-6....

You know them as pumpkins...


I usually don't do recipe series, but when I received these great ideas from some of my friends, I had no choice other than to share them with you. Do the same for someone you know via social share, e-mail, or my personal favorite, word of mouth.

So you've carved up your pumpkin & you've made a ton of pumpkin pies with it. You even fed the left over pumpkin shell to your local wildlife (deers love it!), but you still have a lot of pumpkin meat and seeds left. 

The weather is still suitable for serving cool weather fruits and veggies and you still have pumpkin meat and seeds left over.

So, what do you do with them ? 

Add them to some other dishes! Here's a collection of short recipes and mix-in ideas that will make sure you and you family can continue enjoying this delicious and nutritious cousin to the squash family. Try them out and share with family and friends!

Seeds (Pepitas)

• Preheat your conventional oven to 350-375 degrees while you wash the seeds in warm water. Pat them dry with a clean towel. Create a mixture of extra virgin olive oil (about a 1/2 cup), 2-3 tablespoons each of sea salt, thyme, and garlic powder (or you can add any combination of two or more of your favorite seasonings). Immerse your seeds in the mixture 1/3 cup at a time an allow to it to sit for 5-7 minutes. Put the seeds on a baking sheet in a cookie pan and allow to bake for up to 15 minutes (or until desired crispness). Let cool for about 15-20 minutes and enjoy.
• You can ground them up and add to a veggie, turkey, or beef burger of your choice. You can also create a (vegetarian or meat) loaf with them as well.
• The seeds can also be added to other meals as well such as a salad topping, mix in to your favorite pesto recipe (just alter your seasonings accordingly). 
• A friend of mine told me he once used the seasoned, roasted seeds as a  delicious mix-in for his plain popcorn during a movie night at home.

Puree 

• Add to your favorite hot beverage like hot chocolate or lattes. It also works well as a smoothie ingredient when you want to change up from the normal fruit ingredients. I've even heard  some people put it in a reusable teabag with their favorite tea leaves and allow them to steep together for a sumptuous winter beverage.
• Try it as a stir-in for your favorite hot cereal like oatmeal or farina.  
• Add it to your favorite pancake or muffin recipe. 
• Believe it or not, you can even create a hummus with it.
• When blended with honey, you can add it to your plain yogurt for an extra-healthy, power-packed, any-time-of-the-day treat.  

There you have it, just a few ideas to make the most of your holiday pumpkin.

Do you have any more pumpkin food ideas?

"Your Health Is Your Wealth!!"