Ideas for Pumpkins

u can cut the top most portion and then use it as a bowl or use it for decorating but it will be temporary.......

its better for halloween decoration.. its a very scary thing, for kids!! and a very nice decoration!!!

How to Roast a Pumpkin

You can only do this with a freshly carved pumpkin! Do not use on a pumpkin that has been carved and sitting out for several days. To bake a fresh 6 to 7 pound pumpkin, halve the pumpkin crosswise and scoop out the seeds and strings. Place halves, hollow side down, in a large baking pan covered with aluminum foil and add a little water. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until fork-tender. Remove. When cool, scrape pulp from shells and puree, a little at time, in food processor or blender. Mix with a little salt.

To freeze pumpkin puree, put 1-2 cups in freezer bags along with spices and use in pies.

To use pumpkin puree for recipes: Line a strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth or a flour sack dish towel and let the pumpkin sit to drain out the extra moisture BEFORE cooking with it. Pumpkin is very moist, so in order for your recipe to come out correctly, you MUST strain it.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Boil seeds in water for 5 minutes. Drain well. Sprinkle with salt or seasoned salt. Place a thin layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 250 degrees . Stir after 30 minutes. Bake 1/2-1 hour more or until crunchy. *Squash seeds may also be used.

Pumpkin Smoothies

1/2 cup pumpkin
3/4 cup milk or vanilla yogurt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. brown sugar
4 ice cubes
whipped cream (optional)
sprinkles (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into 2- 3 glasses. Serve with a small amount of whipped cream on top. You may also add orange sprinkles if you like. Serves 2-3.

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 cups flour
2 Tbsp. brown sugar, packed
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional)
1/2 cup pumpkin
1 large egg
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cup milk

Combine ingredients. Stir just until moistened; batter may be lumpy. Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat; brush lightly with vegetable oil. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle; cook until bubbles begin to burst. Turn and continue cooking 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with Pumpkin Maple Sauce and nuts.

Pumpkin Maple Sauce

1 cup maple syrup
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1 1/4 cups pumpkin

Mix together until well blended.

Pumpkin Bread

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup oil
1 cup pumpkin
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Mix sugar, eggs, oil and pumpkin in a bowl. Add dry ingredients and water in order given. Mix well. Stir in nuts and raisins if desired. Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or longer if needed. To test doneness put a knife in the center of the bread. If it comes out clean it is finished. Serve with Honey Butter. Makes 1 loaf.

Pumpkin Pie

1 pie crust
2 eggs
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk

Bake pie crust at 350 degrees for 1-2 minutes until crust starts to puff with small bubbles. Watch carefully. Blend all ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into pie crust and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Then turn the oven down to 350 degrees for 45 minutes. When a knife is inserted into the center of the pie and comes out clean it is done. Makes one pie.

Cut various smilies in them, I.e Nirvana smilie, scary faces etc. Get a group of you or your family/kids and make an event out of it, have some food and have some fun ^_^

Otherwise, you could always give them away to a local school/kids club and let them do the same.

Zul

Some great ideas have been posted, and we have done. What we have enjoyed is to roast the seeds and carve up the pumpkin into 1/4 inch slices. You then proceed to dry it (we use a dehydrator, however an oven can work in a pinch)Once completely dry you grind it up into flour. Careful how much you use in recipes for it has a very strong flavor. We enjoy using it in pumpkin pancakes and crepes. Enjoy.

Fill them with wild bird seed and put them out for birds and deer.
Contact a local farmer and offer them for fodder for chickens and other poultry.
Fill them with potting soil and add some mums for an outdoor Thanksgiving decoration.

bury in the garden or yard to fertilize.

Make Pumpkin Bread or Pie with the innards. Then roast the seeds with some salt over an open flame.

I'm sure you've already carved these pumpkins and taken the seeds out so basically the only thing you can do with them is to either bury them in your garden or throw them in a compost bin. If you bury them they will decompose quickly and you will have good soil in your garden next year.

PUMPKIN CANNON!, Charge people a monetary amount to shoot pumpkins at a target! Take the money and give it to a charity!

There are lot of things you can made. One of this it is the homemade Pumpkin Liqueur. You can serve it as it is, to a cocktail with vodka, Martini or anything else you like. You can cook delicious foods like chicken and rice too. Don't forget that cinnamon goes very well with the pumpkin recipes.

Why not trying something new with pumpkin? Try to make "kolak" with it, it is an Indonesian traditional dish, usually using bananas, but personally I'd prefer using pumpkins coz it will adds more "fresh" taste. Served it chill, throw a small party & invite your neighbors to enjoy a "Balinese" taste.

http://kitchenfun.withti.com/2008/09/kolak-sweet-potatoes-pumpkin-in-coconut.html

http://webspace.webring.com/people/nl/lilinah_haanat/indonesian/kolak.html

Hi there!

This is a great question! I think there are many things that you can do with your leftover Halloween pumpkins.

Here are some of my ideas:

- Make Pumpkin Pie (of course)!
- Plant the Pumpkin Seeds
- Bake the Pumpkin Seeds & coat them with Chocolate for a yummy snack!
- Make Pumpkin Muffins or Bread
- Make Pumpkin Cookies or Cupcakes
- Make Pumpkin Pasta (Yes this exists)!
- Make Pumpkin Soup (Yum)!


Here's a website I found with some great Pumpkin baking ideas:

http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/baking-with-fresh-pumpkin/Detail.aspx

Best of luck!

Kim :-)