All Things Pumpkin

Because of its short season, many home chefs don’t cook with pumpkin very often. But there are tons of tasty dishes that let this gourd shine, from savory to sweet. Whether you start from scratch or use a time-saving canned version, cooking with pumpkin is a surefire way to get into the spirit of fall.

 

Cooking with Fresh Pumpkin

What makes a good jack-o-lantern pumpkin doesn’t necessarily make a good cooking pumpkin. That’s because the biggest pumpkins tend to be tough and bland. Instead, grab a small cooking pumpkin (aka a sugar pumpkin) for your culinary adventures.

Cut the pumpkin into quarters and scoop out all the strings. Then roast it in the oven at 400F until it’s nice and tender. Once it’s soft, you can blend it into your own homemade pumpkin puree to add to pies, oatmeal, or pumpkin bread.

You can also cut up your pumpkin into 1” pieces to add to soups and stews. Or roast your chopped pieces and add to pasta dishes, like pumpkin risotto.

Make sure to save the seeds for roasting! Not only are they a delicious snack, but pumpkin seeds are also full of magnesium, manganese, and lots of antioxidants.

 

Cooking with Canned Pumpkin

When you reach for that can of pumpkin, make sure to read it carefully! Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling are not the same. Pumpkin puree is simply that — plain pumpkin. But pumpkin pie filling has been sweetened and spiced, ready to add to a pie crust. You definitely don’t want to confuse the two!

Use canned pumpkin for a simple addition to savory fall recipes, like this Pumpkin Pasta with Sausage & Apples. And save the pumpkin pie filling for sweet treats like pumpkin truffles, muffins, or milkshakes!

 

Pick up all the supplies for your pumpkin recipes at Foodtown! Don’t forget to view our Weekly Circular & download our Digital Coupons for all the latest savings!