Christ is in our midst!
Pumpkin season is upon us! The season of cozy layers and boots, warm tea and or red wine, various pies, and hardy vegetables like pumpkins! Pumpkin puree in a can gets sold out fast at times, especially when Thanksgiving is around the corner in November, and sometimes one is left to an abundance of fresh pumpkins. Sometimes one doesn’t know what to do with them except for home decor or feed it, like I do, to dogs as a nice snack to change it up. That someone is me.
I bought the Better Homes & Gardens on their best pumpkin recipes. Now I will know what to do with pumpkins and pumpkin puree! Muffins, streusels, waffles, pancakes, tiramisu, falafel, mac and cheese, creamy soups, chipotle sauce, yogurt pops and more!!!!! Ahhh! I am excited!
One of the magazines recipes was how to make DIY pumpkin puree! And pumpkin pie spice. For those of you who are major pumpkin pie spiced lattes fans, now you can have them all year long! Whenever a recipe calls for pumpkin pie spice, now you have it homemade. Let’s be honest. Homemade is always better.
Here are some amazing tips from the magazine. Enjoy!
Pumpkin math
2.5 lb pie pumpkin= 1 3/4 cups strained puree
3.5 pie pumpkin= 2.5 cups strained puree
One 15-oz can pumpkin= 1 3/4 cups strained puree
Recipe for Homemade Puree
Makes 7 cups
Hands on 20 minutes
Bake 1 hour at 375 F
Stand 1 hour
You will need four 2 and half pound pie pumpkins
- Preheat oven to 375 F. Using a large sturdy knife, have pie pumpkins lengthwise. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and string pulp; discard. Cut each half in half. Arrange pieces, rind side up, on a foil-lined baking pan.
- Bake, covered, 1 to 1.5 hours or until tender; cool. When cool enough to handle, scoop pulp from rind. Place pulp in a food processor or blender. Process until smooth.
- Spoon puree into a fine-mesh sieve. Let drain 1 hour. If you like, line the sieve with a double layer of 100% cotton cheesecloth. Lightly press puree to remove any additional liquid; discard liquid.
- To freeze, transfer 1 3/4 cups puree to each of four pint-size freezer containers or quart size freezer bags (squeeze air from bags; lay flat to freeze). Freeze up to 6 months. To use, thaw in refrigerator. Store thawed puree in refrigerator up to 3 days.
Recipe for Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Seeds
I personally like to save the seeds from any pumpkin or hard rind squash that I purchase. Simply reserve the seeds aside when you cleaned the inside and prepared it for its use. Enjoy them as a homemade popcorn alternative. Compared to homemade popcorn, which requires much olive oil and is a handful to clean up, pumpkin and squash seeds are easier to clean up after. Although, preparation may take some time for the pumpkin and squash seeds, it is healthier and less expensive. The seeds of pumpkin and squashes are higher in protein, potassium and magnesium.
Once the seeds are cleaned and dried, toss in olive oil and salt for about 10 – 20 minutes, or until golden 375 degrees F.
Pumpkin Pie Spice
This recipe yields about 2 tsp., a small batch, which helps the spices keep their flavor.
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
Mix these spices and store in a glass container.
Better Homes and Garden suggests making it your own by adding extra cinnamon for a softer, cozier spice blend. Amp up the ginger or allspice for a sharper flavor. Or include some black pepper for heat or cardamom for floral notes and depth of flavor. Add a little salt t boost flavor when using the blend on meats or squash.
Nutritional Healing Benefits
Pumpkin
Water: 93.69 grams Calories: 20 Total Lipids: 0.07 grams Protein: 0.72 grams Carbohydrates: 4.9 grams Total Sugar: 1.02 grams Saturated Fat: 0.037 grams Monounsaturated Fat: 0.009 grams Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.004 grams Cholesterol: 0 mg Fiber: 1.1 grams Lycopene: 0 mcg Alpha Carotene: 348 mcg Beta Carotene: 2096 mcg Retinol: 0 mcg Calcium: 15 mg Iron: 0.57 mg Magnesium: 9 mg Phosphorus: 30 mg Potassium: 230 mg Selenium: 0.2 mcg Sodium: 1 mg Zinc: 0.23 mg Vitamin A IU: 4992 Vitamin A RAE: 250 Vitamin B5 Pantothenic Acid: 0.201 mg Vitamin B6: 0.044 mg Vitamin C: 4.7 mg Vitamin E: 0.8 mg Thiamin: 0.031 mg Riboflavin: 0.078 mg Niacin: 0.413 mg Vitamin K: 0.8 mcg Folate: 9 mcg Folic Acid: 0 mcg
Pumpkin Seeds, Roasted with Salt
Serving: 1 oz
Water: 4.5 grams Calories: 446 Total Lipids: 19.4 grams Protein: 18.55 grams Carbohydrates: 53.75 grams Saturated Fat: 3.67 grams Monounsaturated Fat: 6.032 grams Polyunsaturated Fat: 8.844 grams Cholesterol: 0 mg Retinol: 0 mcg Calcium: 55 mg Iron: 3.31 mg Magnesium: 262 mg
Phosphorus: 92 mg Potassium: 919 mg Sodium: 575 mg Zinc: 10.3 mg Vitamin A IU: 62 Vitamin A RAE: 3 Vitamin B5 Pantothenic Acid: 0.056 mg Vitamin B6: 0.037 mg Vitamin C: 0.3 mg Thiamin: 0.034 mg Riboflavin: 0.052 mg Niacin: 0.286 mg Vitamin K: mcg Folate: 9 mcg Folic Acid: 0 mcg
Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
Allspice, Ground
Serving: 1 tsp
Water: 8.46 grams Cal
Total Lipids: 8.69 grams Protein: 6.09 grams Carbohydrates: 72.12 grams Saturated Fat: 2.55 grams Monounsaturated Fat: 0.66 grams Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.36 grams Cholesterol: 0 mg Fiber: 21.6 grams Retinol: 0 mcg Calcium: 661 mg Iron: 7.06 mg Magnesium: 135 mg Phosphorus: 113 mg Potassium: 1044 mg Selenium: 2.7 mcg Sodium: 77 mg Zinc: 1.01 mg Vitamin A IU: 540 Vitamin A RAE: 27 Vitamin B6: 0.21 mg Vitamin C: 39.2 mg Thiamin: 0.101 mg Riboflavin: 0.063 mg Niacin: 2.86 mg Folate: 36 mcg Folic Acid: 0 mcg
Cardamom, Ground
Serving: 1 tsp
Water: 8.28 grams Total Lipids: 6.7 grams Protein: 10.76 grams Carbohydrates: 68.47 grams Saturated Fat: 0.68 grams Monounsaturated Fat: 0.87 grams Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.43 grams Cholesterol: 0 mg Fiber: 28 grams Retinol: 0 mcg Calcium: 383 mg Iron: 13.97 mg Magnesium: 229 mg Phosphorus: 178 mg Potassium: 1119 mg Sodium: 18 mg Zinc: 7.47 mg Vitamin A IU: 0 Vitamin A RAE: 0 Vitamin B6: 0.23 mg Vitamin C: 21 mg Thiamin: 0.198 mg Riboflavin: 0.182 mg Niacin: 1.102 mg
Cinnamon, Ground
Serving: 1 tsp
Water: 9.52 grams Total Lipids: 3.19 grams Protein: 3.89 grams Carbohydrates: 79.85 grams Total Sugar: 2.17 grams Saturated Fat: 0.65 grams Monounsaturated Fat: 0.48 grams Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.53 grams Cholesterol: 0 mg Fiber: 54.3 grams Lycopene: 29 mcg Alpha Carotene: 0 mcg Beta Carotene: 39 mcg Retinol: 0 mcg Calcium: 1228 mg Iron: 38.07 mg Magnesium: 56 mg Phosphorus: 61 mg Potassium: 500 mg Selenium: 1.1 mcg Sodium: 26 mg Zinc: 1.97 mg Vitamin A IU: 280 Vitamin A RAE: 14 Vitamin B6: 0.31 mg Vitamin C: 28.5 mg Vitamin E: 0.95 mg Thiamin: 0.077 mg Riboflavin: 0.14 mg Niacin: 1.3 mg Vitamin K: 31.2 mcg Folate: 29 mcg Folic Acid: 0 mcg
Ginger, Ground
Serving: 1 tsp
Water: 9.38 grams Total Lipids: 5.95 grams Protein: 9.12 grams Carbohydrates: 70.79 grams Total Sugar: 3.39 grams Saturated Fat: 1.94 grams Monounsaturated Fat: 1 grams Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.31 grams Cholesterol: 0 mg Fiber: 12.5 grams Lycopene: 0 mcg Alpha Carotene: 0 mcg Beta Carotene: 88 mcg Retinol: 0 mcg Calcium: 116 mg Iron: 11.52 mg Magnesium: 184 mg Phosphorus: 148 mg Potassium: 1343 mg Selenium: 38.5 mcg Sodium: 32 mg Zinc: 4.72 mg Vitamin A IU: 147 Vitamin A RAE: 7 Vitamin B6: 0.84 mg Vitamin E: 18.02 mg Thiamin: 0.046 mg Riboflavin: 0.185 mg Niacin: 5.155 mg Vitamin K: 0.8 mcg Folate: 39 mcg Folic Acid: 0 mcg
Nutmeg, Ground
Serving: 1 tsp
Water: 6.23 gramsTotal Lipids: 36.31 grams Protein: 5.84 grams Carbohydrates: 49.29 grams Total Sugar: 28.49 grams Saturated Fat: 25.94 grams Monounsaturated Fat: 3.22 grams Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.35 grams Cholesterol: 0 mg Fiber: 20.8 grams Lycopene: 0 mcg Alpha Carotene: 0 mcg Beta Carotene: 16 mcg Retinol: 0 mcg Calcium: 184 mg Iron: 3.04 mg Magnesium: 183 mg Phosphorus: 213 mg Potassium: 350 mg Selenium: 1.6 mcg Sodium: 16 mg Zinc: 2.15 mg Vitamin A IU: 102 Vitamin A RAE: 5 Vitamin B5 Pantothenic Acid: mg Vitamin B6: 0.16 mg Vitamin C: 3 mg Vitamin E: 0 mg Thiamin: 0.346 mg Riboflavin: 0.057 mg Niacin: 1.299 mg Vitamin K: 0 mcg Folate: 76 mcg Folic Acid: 0 mcg
Sources
Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, Autumn 2023
Pauling. (1968). Orthomolecular . Retrieved October 12, 2023, from http://orthomolecular.org
A Spiritual Steward 
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