Crock Pot Pumpkin Puree

Thanks to my friend Kathy from Healthy Slow Cooking I am now making the easiest crock pot pumpkin puree EVER! She had the best technique of NO work involved before cooking the pumpkin that I had ever seen. It simply requires washing the pumpkin, forking it and putting in the crock pot. That's it. Very simple.

You may be wondering what kind of pumpkin to use for this. I asked the powers that be (the people that grow the pumpkins) and they recommend the "Pie Pumpkins" or "Sugar Pumpkins". They are 6 - 8 inches in diameter and are not as stringy as the carving pumpkins we make jack-o-lanterns out of. Here is a picture of one:I was able to fit 3 - 4 of these pumpkins into a 6 quart oval crock pot. So I had a couple of crock pots going at one time to utilize the most amount of pumpkin puree as possible. Cut the stem as close to the pumpkin as possible. It will allow you more room than you think.Remove any stickers and rinse well.Poke the pumpkin with a fork in 3 or 4 places around the sides of the pumpkin.Layer as many pumpkins as you can in one crock pot (I used a 6 quart and fit 4 - 6" pie pumpkins easily).Cook on low for 8 - 10 hours.Remove the cooked pumpkins with a large serving spoon. Cut the cooked pumpkins into quarters.Remove skin (it easily pinches off with tongs), throw away and scoop seeds out with the spoon you used remove the pumpkins from the crock pot. Make sure to put the seeds to the side for roasting later.... Place all the cooked pumpkin flesh into a large bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher. If you have a food mill or immersion blender you could use either one of those also (I used a food mill for a smoother texture).Use in any recipe that calls for Pure Pumpkin or Pumpkin Puree.FYI: When a recipe calls for (1) 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree you can use 2 cups of your crock pot pumpkin puree in it's place.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

How to Make The Best Pumpkin Pie

One of the best things about fall of the year is the food. Pumpkin cider and pies are some of the most notable when it comes to food choices. The smell of pumpkin entices all eaters' noses, and of all the pumpkin foods to choose from, pumpkin pie has to be by far the best.

Making the perfect pumpkin pie is not easy but it can be done by following a few simple guidelines. A great pumpkin pie will not only look great, but will have a great texture as well as being fluffy, and have the most important factor, amazing taste. To achieve this, you will have to make the entire pie by hand. No prepackaged foods store items will be acceptable. This all will be made from scratch.

In order to make the perfect pumpkin pie, you will need to accomplish these four tasks:

*Concoct a recipe for a flaky and fluffy crust

*Commit to using fresh ingredients for your filling

*Decide on a topping (Whipped cream, streusel, etc.) that compliments your ingredients

*Devise a way to bake or combine all three to ensure the finished product is without error.

The best crust will be made from ground ginger, cinnamon, sugar, and a pie crust of your choosing. Having a pie crust that isn't already made is important. Even if it is a just add water crust or the dough for it, those will allow you to add the other ingredients easily in order to ensure the great taste. While the crust isn't the focus of the pie, it is a complimentary part that can make or break it.

The filling is the focal point of the pie and should be made with flavor in mind. There are many different options for having great taste, but my suggestion is to use a real ingredient such as a real pumpkin or, this may surprise you, sweet potatoes which can be a great substitute for pumpkin. However, I would stay away from ingredients like Pumpkin puree or pie fillings as many are made with preservatives that take away from natural taste. Once you have decided on that, it is easy to find a recipe that helps you combine this ingredient into other ones needed to make a tasty filling.

If cooking from scratch is a different kind of cooking than you are used to, then you might need some practice before you are able to achieve the perfect pumpkin pie, but with the right ingredients and some practice you will be able to produce a pie to outdo any you have ever eaten before.

Hello all, my name is Janice. I am a retired writer living out my days by the seaside.Homes With Care provide an all new service which helps keep people informed on the availability of assisted living retirement homes offering integrated close care, close care, extra care and independent living. Be sure to read the latest industry news available at the Homes With Care blog.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad