Granted, pumpkin spice everything is everywhere this time of year. But this is also a great time to explore all the possibilities of the lovely orange squash we know as the pumpkin.
I have already discussed the issue of making pumpkin things from scratch. You have to find the right kind of pumpkin, bake it for a long time, then scoop it out of the shell. At the end you're left with something which, in my opinion, is indistinguishable from canned pumpkin puree. So don't feel bad about cooking with canned pumpkin. You're saving yourself a lot of trouble!
1. Pumpkin bread
I shared my favorite recipe for pumpkin bread earlier, but here it is again. You can use pumpkin pie spice instead of all the spices listed, or you can use canned pumpkin pie mix (cut the sugar in the recipe to compensate for the extra sweetness).
This stuff is delicious, and it freezes well, not that you ever need to worry about it hanging around for too long. It tends to get eaten pretty quickly.
2. Pumpkin soup
"Soup is not a meal" is a truism that doesn't really apply to pumpkin soup. It's creamy, delicious, hearty, and remarkably filling. And so easy to make!
3. Pumpkin pancakes
This is great for those who are on a paleo or gluten-free diet. You can make pancakes out of pumpkin puree which are remarkably similar to the real thing. Make them plain and add maple syrup, or make them with pumpkin pie spice and add whipped cream. Your choice.
4. Pumpkin cupcakes
This one is great if you're pressed for time. You use a box of yellow cake mix, pumpkin pie spice, and a can of pumpkin puree. Frost those babies, add some candy corns for a little extra flair, and you will be the hit of the office break room!
Image courtesy Flickr/ukhviid
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