Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Halloween Guide- cook with Pumpkins


Fun Holiday Alert: Halloween is less than two weeks away!

To give you enough time to assemble that super-authentic Twilight or Glee costume AND cook some ghoulish dishes, here are some tasty recipes celebrating the pumpkin. No doubt you've already been seeing pumpkins for sale all over the place, but besides making killer jack-o-lanterns, did you know you pumpkins are actually good eats?

Pumpkins originated in North America and the oldest evidence of their existence dates back seven thousand years to seeds found in Mexico. They can be used for decorating, cooking and even chucking. Plus, they're actually healthy to eat because they're high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Fiber. Pumpkins are used in cooking across the globe, so look out for them in Italian ravioli, Thai curry, Japanese tempura, and Middle Eastern halawa.

So, without further ado, here are some simple & tasty pumpkin recipes to carry you through till Halloween or give you ideas for using Jack-o-lanterns once the flame goes out on November 1st. Enjoy!


Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Wait! Keep the seeds from any pumpkin for toasting.
Ingredients in this recipe: pumpkin seeds, olive oil, salt




Feta and Pumpkin Pastries
A Mediterranean snack with a great sweet-savory balance.
Ingredients in this recipe: butter, feta cheese, pumpkin, raisin, black pepper, all-purpose flour, phyllo dough, cinnamon powder

Avocado and Spinach Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Toasted pumpkin seeds are a great addition to any salad.
Ingredients in this recipe: avocado, olive oil, red onion, toasted pumpkin seeds, salt, black pepper, baby spinach, grapefruit juice, oregano, orange


Pumpkin Soup with Gruyere Cheese
Pumpkin makes a great soup, try this or a curry version!
Ingredients in this recipe: butter, cream, carrot, parsley, pumpkin, turnip, celery, thyme, bay leaf, salt, water, vegetable stock, Gruyere cheese, white pepper, yellow onion, dried sage


Chiffon Pumpkin Pie
Don't forget the classic pumpkin pie- great with fresh or canned pumpkin.
Ingredients in this recipe: egg, butter, cream, ginger, sugar, pumpkin, nutmeg, brown sugar, salt, milk, cinnamon, gelatin, gingersnaps


Let’s get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page!

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