Questions about Pumpkin...

[sadie147]

Pumpkin season will soon be here and it's one of my favorite veggies but i've always just used the pure, canned.

I've got a pumpkin vine going at my cottage (haven't been up lately but it was doing well last time i saw it), so i'm hoping to have some fresh pumpkins int he fall. Had about 15 starting last time i saw them

My question: Are there different kinds of pumpkins for eating? the only type i have ever seen here are the jack-o-lantern type, which is what i am growing, i assume this is the regular eating pumpkin.

Can pumpkin be frozen? if so would i cook it first and freeze in chunks or just freeze it raw or maybe blanch it slightly?

[Pau]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Hi!

This is the one I eat


I usually scald it for some minutes and then freeze it in chunks.

[sadie147]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Hi!

This is the one I eat


I usually scald it for some minutes and then freeze it in chunks.

Hmm that to me looks like a pepper squash, or a cross between a pumpkin and a pepper squash? Does anyone know if a pepper squash (if that's what it is) is also like pumpkin? i've never tried one.


Here's the type of pumpkins i am growing

[not2late]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Jack-o'-lanterns are generally tasteless because they're bred to look good, not taste good. There are a few varieties that are bred for looks and taste.

You can try yours out and see what happens.

I've found that the immature pumpkins (the ones that are still very small and very young) can be eaten like zucchini. They have a pleasant flavor too.

By the way, you can always roast and eat the seeds.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Check out this recipe for "pumpkin lasagne"....of course you'd have to either leave out the bread crumbs or use low carb bread but this sounds interesting!

http://www.sundaysupper.com/pumpkin.htm

[sadie147]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Jack-o'-lanterns are generally tasteless because they're bred to look good, not taste good. There are a few varieties that are bred for looks and taste.

You can try yours out and see what happens.

I've found that the immature pumpkins (the ones that are still very small and very young) can be eaten like zucchini. They have a pleasant flavor too.

By the way, you can always roast and eat the seeds.

Oh i'll be roasting the seeds! they're my favorite snack!

i thought i had heard that about orange pumpkins before, that they're tasteless..but that's really the only pumpkin they sell here. I was wondering if they're smaller, they'll have more taste sounds like they will (and be alot easier to work with). I'm hoping mine grow well..but if not i may be stuck with the grocery store ones..i'm quite a pathetic gardner apparently LOL

MOG that recipe sounds amazing! I'm definately gonna try that one! In the picture it almost looks like a cake .

[not2late]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Look for something called a "sugar pumpkin" or a "pie pumpkin". That's the edible type of pumpkin.

I have been wondering, however, if those jack o'lanterns would make decent pumpkin chips....

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Aren't those little ones pretty high in sugar content Not2?

Sadie, the ones not2 is talking about are small--like you can almost fit your hands totally around them, and they are very dense and heavy for their size--you cannot make jack-o-lanterns out of them either, I tried one year..I was bummed.

[sadie147]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Look for something called a "sugar pumpkin" or a "pie pumpkin". That's the edible type of pumpkin.

I have been wondering, however, if those jack o'lanterns would make decent pumpkin chips....

funny i was at a farmer's market today looking at pumpkins and the lady said 'those are pie pumpkins'. I didn't buy any yet as i want to see how mine are doing up at the cottage this weekend! They looked just like a regular pumpkin to me..but smaller and a bit more orange. if my pumpkins don't do well (i'm not a very good gardner ) i will buy some from the market over the next few weeks and freeze them.

Thanks Megs!

Oh and I saw pau's pumpkin when i was there too..the lady told me it was some sort of butternut squash? I didn't buy that, looks nothing like one and honestly the way she said it she didn't sound too sure of it herself

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Hey Sadie, check this out--its a site that tells why Butternut squash is better to grow than pumpkins!
http://tomclothier.hort.net/page27.html

[mirna05]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

I buy the same that you grow, I throw it to the floor and then cut into smaller pieces, cook it in boiling water until soft, take out the seeds, smash it (in a food procesor) and pour them in plastic bags like ziplock, (2 cups in each bag because that is what i use for a pie and cake), freeze them, it have lasted in my freeze for 8 months.

[not2late]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

MoG, there are two general types orange pumpkins that are sold: the jack o'lanterns which aren't bred for eating and the "sugar" or "pie" pumpkins which are. The pumpkin in the cans of pumpkin puree are sugar or pie pumpkins.

For fresh pumpkins, I like to peel and cut it into chunks, rub the chunks with olive oil and roast them until their soft and slightly browned. Those can be served as a roasted veg or you can puree those roasted chunks and use them for soup. Delicious.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

Oh that sounds so good Megs! You guys have me craving pumpkin -- and cool weather. Now that you've got me searching the internet for pumpkin info, I found a yummy sounding Pumpkin Chowder recipe, looks good, you'd have to use low carb bread for the bread crumbs I guess, unless you could think of something else to substitute

Pumpkin Chowder -- Baked in a Pumpkin!

Makes 4 to 6 servings

1 medium Pumpkin
7 TBSP Butter, divided
1 tsp Salt, divided
2/3 cup Chopped Onion
6 TBSP Butter
1-1/2 cups fine Bread Crumbs
1/2 tsp Sage
1 pinch Nutmeg
1 pinch coarse ground Black Pepper
1/2 cup diced Swiss Cheese
2-1/4 cups canned Chicken Broth (approx. 1-1/2 cans, 14 ounces each)
1/2 cup Whipping Cream
3 TBSP chopped fresh Parsley

To prepare oven, pumpkin:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Remove top of pumpkin as you would before carving it. Remove seeds and stringy guts. Wipe inside dry. Rub with 1 TBSP butter and 1/2 tsp salt. Set aside.

To make chowder:
In large saucepan, saute chopped onion in remaining 6 TBSP butter. Cook until translucent, stirring constantly. Add bread crumbs, remaining 1/2 tsp salt, sage, nutmeg and pepper. Stir. Remove from heat. Add Swiss cheese and chicken broth.

To bake chowder:
Pour into prepared pumpkin shell, leaving 2 inches headroom for expansion of soup while baking. Put top back on pumpkin. Place in baking pan. Bake for 90 minutes. Test for doneness. (Note: If pumkin isn't fully cooked, reduce temperature to 350 degrees and cook for 30 minutes more. Remove from oven. Add whipping cream, fresh parsley and additional chicken broth, if needed.

To serve:
Place baked pumpkin on dinner plate in center of table. Serve each person a bowl of chowder, plus some pumpkin meat from inside wall.

From Cherly Bunkow column, in St. Paul Pioneer Press.

http://www.downingpumpkins.com/cooking.html

You know I was thinking, when we were growing up mom used to take the Jack o Lantern and cut it up and make pumpkin pies out of it after halloween.

[sadie147]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

These really weren't that little, probably 10 " in diameter.

I buy the really tiny ones every year at thanksgiving. they come in a little net bag, bought 8 of them. I carve out the stem in a circle the same size as a tea lite candle, then scoop out enough of the insides to put a tealite in. they look awesome in a row on a table as candleholders. I didn't know you could eat those ones though?

[sadie147]

Re: Questions about Pumpkin...

LOL everyone's posting so fast i can't keep up!

Actually MOG did you see the pie recipe on that first site you posted, the butternut squash one? does it ever sound good! and easy to low carb -- though i believe butternuts are a bit higher in carbs.

LOL i laugh everytime i read the word 'butternuts' that's my husbands nickname for our dog.