HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN RECIPES

PUMPKIN PIE FILLING
Here is how to make your pumpkin pie filling from scratch. Sometimes we like to do this to give it a more fresh, natural taste. usually, when the jack-O-Lantern pumpkins are ready so are the baking pumpkins.

Now, you don't use the same type of pumpkins that you use for carving Jack-O-Lanterns. You use want are called cooking or baking Pumpkins. They are generally smaller than carving pumpkins and have a smooth skin on them. These are usually available at the grocery store during October in the produce section and usually tagged "Baking Pumpkins". They also cost more then regular variety pumpkins because they are grown just for baking purposes. And, since they are relatively small you'll need at least two of them for the pumpkin pie filling mixture.

Take the baking pumpkins and cut out the top and bottom stems, about two inches around. Slice the pumpkin vertically into four or six large wedges and clean off all the seeds and stringy pulp.

Next, use a potato peeler to remove the outside skin of the pumpkin leaving you with only the flesh of the pumpkin. Dice these into smaller pieces and boil them as if you were preparing Mashed Potatoes.

When the pumpkin is very soft, drain them in a colander and let them cool down a bit. Now you can mash them just like you were making mashed potatoes. You have now made your own pumpkin pie filling from scratch just like they did in the old days! All you need to add are the spices, eggs, milk, sugar and other things that you'll find on this page.