Now, I don’t have any pie pumpkins on hand, so I used butternut squash and used the puree to make butternut squash bread, but the process is the exact same!
To start, trim the top off of your squash (or pumpkin) and cut the squash in half lengthwise like this.
Once your squash is done cooking allow it to cool enough to handle and then scoop the meat of the squash out of the skin and into a food processor.
Now, it is ready to use in your favorite recipe or be frozen for later use! I used mine to make Butternut Squash Bread from my Taste of Home cookbook. It was a new recipe for me but I am really pleased with how it turned out! It's super moist and has a pretty color. NP says it tastes like squash but I don't think so!
Recipe from: Taste of Home
Ingredients:
2 packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110 - 115 degrees Fahrenheit)
1 1/4 cup pureed butternut squash
1 cup warm milk (110 - 115 degrees Fahrenheit)
2 eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp salt
7 to 7 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Directions:
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add squash, milk, eggs, sugar, butter and salt; beat well. Gradually add 3 1/2 cups flour, beating until a soft dough forms. Knead dough for 6-8 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise until doubled. About 1 hour. Punch dough down, divide into thirds and shape each portion into a loaf. Place in greased loaf pans and let rise until doubled. About 30 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans and to wire racks to cool.
Pie pumpkins are also called sugar pumpkins and have a meatier, smoother, sweeter flesh than your typical carving pumpkin. Sometimes you can find them at groceries stores and farmers markets. This time of year look for indoor winter markets like the one that will take place in Harlan on Dec. 22. I can’t guarantee that they will have pie pumpkins but they did at the Thanksgiving Market in November!
*NOTE: Butternut squash is also considered an excellent substitute for pumpkin, so if you can’t find a pie pumpkin give butternut squash a try!
Now it's your turn! How have you/will you use your very own pumpkin puree??
Enjoy!
Brun Ko Farm