Don't just carve your pumpkins . . . Eat them!

Pumpkin is one of my favorites and recipes that include fresh pumpkin are even better.  You can easily substitue fresh pumpkin for canned.  If you need to use canned, be sure you're getting JUST pumpkin with nothing added.  Using canned pumpkin with additives such as sugar, will change the taste of your recipe quite a bit.

Pumpkin Butter, like Apple Butter, is tops in our house.  We use it every day for PB&J sandwiches; that's Pumpkin Butter & Jelly!  Check out Oh She Glows simple recipe.

Pumpkin Pancakes, oh yeah, they're perfect for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner in my book.  Mom, What's for Dinner recipe is flavorful and delicious.  If you don't have Buttermilk on hand, don't worry, Emeril's recipe is super simple to make and I use it all the time.

Pumpkin Turkey Chili sounded, well if I'm going to be honest, not so good.  I made this two weeks ago and I will attest to it's deliciousness.  Honestly, you really can't taste the pumpkin but you reap all the healthy benefits of it being in the recipe.

Pumpkin Risotto, put together in about 15 minutes, is the perfect compliment to the Chili. Southern Inlaw has an easy to follow recipe I think you'll really enjoy.

Pumpkin Pie finishes the meal with perfection.  Once you find your favorite, you won't stray, this is mine...

Click to Enlarge

Making fresh Pumpkin Puree is best from sugar pumpkins (or "milk" pumpkins as we call them here in Northern New Jersey).  They tend to be small, about the size of a smooshed medium watermelon and a light, creamy orange.  It's well worth the effort and typically you can get 2 or 3 pies from 1 pumpkin.

There are plenty of sites with instructions for making pumpkin puree; these are mine;  Scrub the whole sugar pumpkin before cutting, then cut into large slices.  Discard the stem. Bring a large pot to boil and cook until the rinds are soft.  Carefully remove the slices from the water, scrape off the pumpkin, discard the rind (be sure to compost it), and drain the pulp for an hour or so. Draining depends on how much you have.  You don't want to be able to squeeze out any water. It doesn't have to be bone dry, just as dry as you can get it. You're now ready to use the pulp in any recipe that calls for fresh or canned pumpkin.

If you love pumpkin as much as we do, check out our Pinterest Board, Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to find your favorite.

You might also enjoy our Apple Harvest board with over 650 pins of great Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner recipes, along with some adult crafts.  Let's face it, why should the kids have all the fun!

Wondering if all this is worth the trouble?  The answer is an emphatic YES!  The health benefits of pumpkin are quite amazing. Vitamin A, Fiber, Amino Acids and Potassium to name a few.  It's also easily available at most grocery stores, however, if you have the opportunity to make your own fresh puree, go for it, you won't be disappointed.