Fall in Love with Pumpkin!
Holiday pies are considered the pièce de résistance when it comes to cooking with pumpkin (try this delicious classic Pumpkin Pie).
A little pumpkin puree, sugar and spices easily transform vanilla ice cream into a scrumptious filling. Paired with a tasty gingersnap cookie crust, it makes for a fabulous fall treat. Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie
For other pumpkin desserts, be sure to consider custards, cookies, bars and cakes—especially cheesecake. You really can have your cake and eat it, too, with this Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe, in which Neufchatel cheese and Greek yogurt combine with rich (but very low-fat) pumpkin. And if you're creating a menu calling for an elegant yet easy-to-make dessert, consider this Sugar Pie Pumpkin Crème Brulée. Roast the pumpkin a day or two ahead of time, if you like, and stir together and bake the final, impressive dessert just before serving.
For a no-bake treat, combine toasted almonds, melted chocolate, pumpkin and coffee liqueur to create Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles. Packaged thoughtfully, these would make great gifts. They'd also be a nice addition to a dessert or cheese tray.
Keep in mind that while pumpkin recipes handed down may rely on white and brown sugars, other sweeteners (like maple syrup and honey) perform beautifully in pumpkin desserts of all kinds.
Creamy pumpkin purée is a natural in breads, biscuits and muffins, contributing not only flavor and nutrition but color, too. It's easily incorporated into quick breads, like this redolent-with-spices Pumpkin Gingerbread. Warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger enhance pumpkin, especially in baked goods. Walnuts and hazelnuts are good partners, too, as are other autumn fruits, like apples and pears.
Of course pumpkin (which can often be exchanged with other winter squash) makes terrific savory dishes as well. Try it as a filling for ravioli and as an addition to grain or vegetable casseroles, partnered with celery, onion and corn. Pumpkin makes a creamy base for soups or stews, like this Spicy Pumpkin Soup, seasoned with jalapeno, cumin and garlic and topped with a dollop of chipotle sour cream. Pumpkin is perfect in potpies, pancakes and dumplings. It's even made a (very popular) name for itself in coffee beverages and beers.
You can easily bake your own pumpkin for purée, but be sure to use pie pumpkins rather than jack-o-lantern pumpkins, which are grown for their impressive size but lack flavor. You can cook enough for a particular recipe or stock up the freezer or pantry with purée for year-round enjoyment. And don't forget to roast the seeds for topping salads or stirring into nut mixes.
