Pumpkin

[nigellas]

I have two of the large carving type pumpkins that were never carved. I know it's not *ideal* to cook with them but I hate to waste them - Can it be done...? Is there anything I can do with them besides toast the seeds?

[SpuglyRoo]

Absolutely! Some people actually prefer them to pie/sweet pumpkins. Roast them the same way that you would for a pie pumpkin. The only difference comes with how you sweeten/season whatever you use the pulp in, as well as perhaps the liquid content of the pulp (you can strain it over cheesecloth, use it as is and adjust the liquid in the recipe, or cook it until it is thicker). Since pumpkins can vary so much based on growing conditions, variety, etc. you may have needed to do this anyway with a pie pumpkin.

I did it for the first time this year (I didn't use a pie pumpkin, but rather a smaller carving pumpkin) and posted about it on my blog. I ended up using it several ways because I got so much pulp out of it, on the blog are recipes for Black Bean Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkin Bread/Cake, and Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I say go for it! You already have the pumpkins, they are soo good for you, and who knows, you might prefer them

[nigellas]

Awesome, thanks!