Fall and pumpkins go hand in hand! Boost your fall spirit with fun activities such as visiting a pumpkin patch, picking out your own pumpkins, and carving or painting them with spooky and silly faces. Pumpkins are also wonderful for fall-flavored cooking and baking.
Types of Pumpkins:
Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkins
The Jack-O-Lantern variety of pumpkin is the most common type of pumpkin for carving. The inside of carving pumpkins are edible, but have a more stringy pulp. Try roasting the seeds of your carving pumpkin with some classic fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar for a sweet treat. You can also make savory pumpkin seeds with spices such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder.
Sugar or Pie Pumpkins
If you choose to use fresh pumpkin for your pumpkin recipes, choose a sugar or pie pumpkin. They are usually smaller than carving pumpkins, less stringy, and are perfect for using in recipes.
How to prepare pumpkins for your recipe:
- Wash the pumpkin like you would any other fruit or vegetable
- Carefully cut the top and bottom of the pumpkin off, then cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds. Save the seeds for roasting!
- Place the pumpkin halves on a baking sheet with the flesh down and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, or until the inside of the pumpkin is tender.
- Cool the pumpkin for 10 minutes and scoop out the inside to use for recipes! Store in the refrigerator up to 1 week in a covered container or freeze for 1 month or longer.
Try out your fresh pumpkin with this delicious recipe!
Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Muffins
Ingredients:
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup quick oats
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/2 cup quick oats (for topping)
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar (for topping)
• 1 Tbsp melted butter (for topping)
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, quick oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.
- Break egg into a small bowl. Add pumpkin, milk, and oil to egg. Mix well.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.
- Mix topping ingredients. Sprinkle topping evenly over muffins. Bake muffins at 400 degrees F for 15-18 minutes or until evenly browned.
Sources: unl.edu
minimalistbaker.com
