what do you do w/ ur pumpkin?

**sahm2boys** · 10-22-2010, 04:42 PM

ok..i usually..cut the top scoop out its guts and throw those away and then make a face and set it outside till it rots then throw it out..

BUT frugally thinking im sure there are things to do with the guts..is that the pie filling part??

can i get tips, advice, recipes?

**HappyMama** · 10-22-2010, 05:40 PM

Regular pumpkins are usually just for jack o laterns, or animal feed. But you can roast the seeds for a snack. Take the seeds out, clean them , boil them for about 1-2 minutes, oil a cooking sheet with olive oil and toss the seeds with sea salt or any spices you want ( we use sea salt and cayeene pepper ) . Roast them at 325 for about 10-15 minutes until lightly toasted. They make great snacks.

You can also take pumpkins usually the sugar pie pumpkin ( small) or heirlooms are the best flavor for pumpkin puree. Cut in half , remove seeds, clean out stringy part and oil outside with olive oil, put on a baking sheet with a little water, and roast at 325 until knife inserts easily. Take the pulp out put in a strainer , push out extra water, then put in food processor or use an immersion blender and you will have pumpkin puree. It is not safe to can puree only chunks so you can put in fridge up to a week or freeze. With the puree you can make pumpkin pie, pumpkin butter, use for pumpkin rolls, cake, cookies , lattes, etc. Hope that helps.

You can do all the above with the regular field jack O' lantern pumpkins but they won't have as much flavor.

You can also can chunks of pumpkin according to the canning directions by ball or USDA recommendations with a pressure canner.

Hope that helps and enjoy the season.

**Libby** · 10-22-2010, 06:01 PM

You can paint the outside of your pumpkin this year instead of carving it. Once its done its job as decoration on the 31st you can proceed to carve it up for good eats

I agree with sugar pumpkins being fleshier for eating and better taste. The seeds though, I just scoop out, remove excess stringy guk and then rinse. Pat dry with paper towel/dishcloth and then lay flat on a cookie sheet in single layer. Give a light drizzle of olive oil, sprinkle w/salt & pepper and mix well on tray - bake at 350* for 45 mins or so? I like em real crunchy b/c I eat the shell too. You can also add chili powder, cumin etc whatever spices you like. I like the basic salt & pepper, sometimes garlic powder too.

**Contrary Housewife** · 10-22-2010, 06:04 PM

No, the "guts" are not for pie filling. As Happymama says, you can toast the seeds, there are lots of instructions about that on the web.

You can also save larger seeds and plant your own vines for next year.

Jack-o-lanterns are not for eating. They really don't have much flavor, and you never want to use one that has had a candle in it or has sat out on the step during trick-or-treating. Just in case you were tempted to try.

The insides and the hull can both be composted to add to your garden.

**HappyMama** · 10-22-2010, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

No, the "guts" are not for pie filling. As Happymama says, you can toast the seeds, there are lots of instructions about that on the web.

You can also save larger seeds and plant your own vines for next year.

Jack-o-lanterns are not for eating. They really don't have much flavor, and you never want to use one that has had a candle in it or has sat out on the step during trick-or-treating. Just in case you were tempted to try.

The insides and the hull can both be composted to add to your garden.

Yes thanks Contrary wife , you never want to use a pumpkin that has set out or had a candle in, etc.

I love composting mine as well and grow my own Cinderellas, and sugar pies from seed.

**sahm2boys** · 10-22-2010, 07:31 PM

Thanks everyone

**xtena** · 10-22-2010, 08:01 PM

We've painted, not cut our pumpkins in the past, though my DD wants to do a jack o lantern this year.

After the holidays, my Chinese mother in law, when she was here for Halloween, actually peeled and cubed the pumpkin (regular sized one not pie pumpkin) and would cook it in a savory sauce. by the time the whole big pumpkin was done, I was kind of sick of it but the first few days were delish. a pumpkin is just a huge squash, after all.

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 10-23-2010, 10:03 AM

DH usually carves one or two, saving the pumpkin seeds to roast for a snack. When he doesn't carve them, we'll use a sharpie marker to draw a face on them--saves the mess and the chance of cutting off part of the face you hadn't intended to!

**ladytoysdream** · 10-23-2010, 12:30 PM

We grew 42 small ones this year in our garden. Than we bought 5 big ones at $ 2 each last saturday when we went pumpkin hunting with his sister and her daughter. Went to 3 different farms. Sort of a tradition now for us. Get to see fall foilage too.
We also stop at a apple orchard the same day. This year we were late to get apples off the tree. We only wanted a couple for snacking on. He did buy a apple pie though.

I try to put a few in the freezer for pies later. I am in high hopes the chickens will help eat the leftovers. If not, they go into the compost pile. One neighbor used to feed them to his cows. Another lady feeds them to her pigs.

**Libby** · 10-31-2010, 12:08 PM

We would cook up the rest of the pumpkin as well...sauteed with garlic one night, black bean sauce the next, spicy the following, put it into soup, mash it - but this was when we used the pumpkin inside the house in the window facing out. The outside pumpkin always got trashed by the neighbourhood kids OR met the compost bin.