Smashing Pumpkins

John (age 3) Photo by Katina Bentley

I love pumpkins!  I love their orange skins, their round and pleasing shape and, most of all, I love how they taste.  I’ve been enjoying pumpkin spiced coffee from Trader Joe’s most mornings this month and also love their pumpkin bread.  So easy and fun with the kids.

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread.

If you’re looking for more yummy scrummy pumpkin recipes, you’ve come to the right place.  Have you ever had chocolate and pumpkin together?  I know.  It sounds a little weird.  But it is so delicious.  Shortly after Conor was born a friend brought us Martha’s Stewart’s Pumpkin – Chocolate-Chip Squares.  The sweetness of the chocolate chip was amazing when paired with the smooth pumpkin and the pie spices.  The squares were very moist.  Simply delicious and very more-ish.  We couldn’t help eating more.  I’m not sure they lasted a day in the house.

The other pumpkin recipe I love is my Aunt’s Pumpkin Sausage Soup.

Ruthie’s Pumpkin Sausage Soup

3 good quality pork sausage links (casings removed) – I like fennel

Brown sausage meat. Put off to the side. In pot you are cooking your soup
in, add 1 T oil, celery, garlic, onion. Cook until soft. Add thyme, sage,
marsala wine, salt & pepper. Reduce liquid (2/3 minutes). Add chicken broth,
pumpkin and sausage to pot. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 1
hour.

To serve, place pasta in bowl and ladle soup. Sprinkle with generous amount
of parmesan cheese.

The soup is really hearty and warming after being out in the yard raking.

Hope you enjoy the recipes as much as I do!  What do you like to make with pumpkins?  I love hearing your comments and ideas.

*If you live in an area where canned pumpkin isn’t available (like the UK), you can buy a whole pumpkin.  Roast and mash it – a can is equivalent to 16 ounces.  

Last year at the ASP Pumpkin Patch in Cohasset