Those of us who grow pumpkins are often faced with the problem of what to do with them all and end up making preserves and pies with ever increasing desperation. This year our allotment society is offering to give encouragement with a range of pumpkin competitions. One of these is for the best pumpkin pie. Entries are welcome from all. Further details are on our website eagsociety.co.cc
Is there something you are supposed to do with pumpkins other than grow them to be the biggest?
I did once have a slice of pumpkin pie. It was, shall I say, prepared by an excellent chef and the pastry was delicious.
There are some vegetables, cereals and fruit which are there for one purpose only, to fill up empty bellies.
I recall decades ago. Hearing that pumpkin pie was popular in the poor south of America, then for some reason, pumpkin growing crossed the Atlantic and we had a surge of people who usually grew large leeks long (stringy) runner beansand huge marrows wanting to compete. Not for the table (growers are not always cooks)
We also got haloween. A pagan ritual which the Christian church had historically incorporated into it's Roman Catholic faith as All Souls day, then All Saint's day. So that dead sinners could be prayed for on the 31st of October so that they could enter heaven on the 1st of November. Spending the time inbetween dying that year in Limbo.
Pumpkins somehow got involved when all the religious nuts in Europe who made up their new Christian beliefs went to America. Where it seems pumpkins grew well.
Pumpkins lent them selves to having their flesh removed and the tough skins could be shaped to hold candles and give protected light to the dark processions of the winter season.
Pumpkins are great for the seasonal party parade. Good for competative 'size' growing .
Absolute rubbish for eating and take up a lot of ground space that is better used for something with far more taste and food value.
Pumpkins are something which the major supermarkets sell for the imported halloween parties they also want us to buy silly things the Americans have made their own.
We have Guy Fawkes with bonfires and fireworks. Halloween is no match for what we already have.
pumpkin pie is so yummy as is sweet potato pie
hope someone on here has a recipie becuase its one of my favorate deserts.
x sunloving
Not pumpkin pie but on Sunday I made a pumpkin cheesecake and even though I say so myself...it was very very nice topped off with whipped double cream.
It was my first attempt and will definately be having it again...when this one has all gone! ;D
Quote from: zigzig on June 03, 2009, 21:33:55
Absolute rubbish for eating and take up a lot of ground space that is better used for something with far more taste and food value.
I never grew pumpkins until last year, on the basis that something that big can't taste good, but I thought they were fantastic. The colour of the flash was so vibrant, and pumpkin soup was tremendous
also pumpkin pie was completely different from what I was expecting. I'd have perferred someone else to have made it though, so I didn't know how many calories it had ;D
Hi
Do you have a recipe for that pumpkin cheesecake Fork ?
Duke :)
Quote from: Duke Ellington on September 15, 2009, 18:26:11
Hi
Do you have a recipe for that pumpkin cheesecake Fork ?
Duke :)
I will give you the link to the recipe to save my fingers ;D
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/pumpkincheesecake_8826.shtml
Thanks Fork !! ;D
duke
I am a British subject but I am proud to say also a Canadian citizen, also is my husband of 52 years. Pumpkin pie is a must in our house.
With regard to pumpkin pie, it is an acquired taste, I would say more like a spicy custard pie, it is quite delicious IF it is made properly.
I do have a recipe for said pie, one that is made traditionally for Thanksgiving, both in Canada and America, it is also served at Christmas much the same as the English serve mince pie. if you want me to post my recipe OK, if not , your loss.
;-))) qahtan
Qahtan I would love the recipe for pumpkin pie, I have only ever had it once and it was delicious, and yours will be authentic so yes please.......
thanks
T.
Pumpkin pie.. Basic measurements are 1 cup = 8oz,
The pumpkin can be canned pumpkin or it can be fresh pumpkin or Butternut squash, or even Hubbard squash all are interchangeable , I find if we have Butternut squash with part of a meal I save the leftovers and make a pumpkin pie.
Pastry. 1 9 inch unbaked pie shell
2 cups plain flour,
1/3 cup sugar,
1 cup cold butter
1 cold egg
small splash cold water enough to bring the pastry together
Make pastry as per normal, chill shell while preparing filling. reserve remaining pastry for another pie. it also freezes well.
filling.1 1/2 cups pumpkin previously cooked and cold and mashed
1 cup brown sugar , not too dark
2 beaten eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground clove
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 2/3 cups undiluted evaporated milk
Mix all well together. pour into unbaked pie shell. it will just fit in. but only just.
bake in hot oven 425F for 15 minutes, reduce oven heat to 375 F and continue to bake ABOUT 40 minutes until an inserted knife blade comes out clean.,
cool , best served at room temperature. we like plain whipped cream on ours but ice cream is also popular... enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving.. qahtan
And then there's always pumpkin risotto ... ... ... :P :P :P :P :P
Thanks Qahtan, that looks easier than I imagined, a quiche type of recipe, I will definitely have a go at that, sounds delicious. :P :P I will think of you celebrating when I am eating it!
Thanks ever so much.
T.
QuoteAbsolute rubbish for eating
I love pumpkin. Usually manage to buy a couple the day after halloween when the shops sell off the last few misshapen ones for nearly nothing. Lots this year in the lottie.
I fry them in oil and butter, top with with tomato and cheese and mixed berbs then grill. Delicious. Onion lovers might like some added. I also roast in oven with pototoes.
Also make nice pumpin and ginger ice cream. And the roast seeds are great. Wash off the stringy bits, toss in oil, season, flavour (Chilli, worcester sauce, sugar/cinnamon, nutmeg) and then bake in the oven.
Digerro - I've made a note of your version of roasted seeds. Thanks :)
I had authentic American pumpkin pie - once. I liked neither the taste, the texture nor the pastry.
I do love savoury pumpkin dishes though - soup, roasted, baked, casseroled, risotto and stuffed in ravioli. I grow small ones such as red kuri for flavour and buy butternuts when I see them although this summer we've had enough sun to get a small crop of my own.
I think there are so many variation in pastry alone before you even get to the filling, that most times people use the same pastry for every thing. whether it be sweet or savoury filling.
And this in itself is a put off, myself I can't abide plain pastry for a sweet filling. unless it is a special pastry. Puff flaky.
My sister In Law just cannot make any kind of pastry so when she visits I usually make up a couple pound butter into pastry for her, she only ever wants plain savoury pastry.
but she uses some of it for sweet fillings, jam tarts, Bakewells etc, OMG...
I can see why many people do not like Pumpkin pie, it is an acquired taste. qahtan
Thank goodness it is not carved in stone that we have to like it.... ;-))
pumpkin pie with whipped cream yum. American style, qahtan
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/qahtan/pumpkinpie.jpg)
That looks yummy, can't wait to be able to make some, won't be long now. ;)
T.
It would seem that at least some of us are happy with their pumpkin pie. Yes they do take up a lot growing space but different varieties of pumpkins and squashes can add a lot of variety and interest to the allotment. This year we had wide range of different pumpkins and swashes grown on our site with promises of an even wider range next season.
On the cooking front we also make chutney and soup both of which can be delicious. Any of you who fancy making soup, pie or preserve will be welcome to our annual pumpkin event at Ellistown in Leciestershire on 31 October. details on our web site eagsociety.co.cc/
So that the pumpkin is not wasted we are also holding a carved pumpkin face competition.