Recipe - Cooking Pumpkin

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OVENCOOKING BAG: Cut the pumpkin in halves, quarters or large chunks.
Scrape out the seeds and strings. Place pumpkin pieces, cut side down, in a
16x10 or 14x10 oven cooking bag. Close the bag with a twist tie and make 6
(1/2") slits in the top near the twist tie. Bake at 350~ 45 to 60 minutes,
or until the pumpkin collapses. When cool enough to handle, carefully
remove the peel from the pumpkin meat, and pure the meat in a blender or
food processor. RANGE TOP: Halve the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and
fibers. Cut the pumpkin into large pieces, then peel each piece with a
vegetable peeler. Cut pieces into 1/2" cubes. Place cubes in a large, heavy
saucepan and cover with about 1" cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat
and simmer covered until tender, 10 to 15 minutes (larger pieces may take
20 to 25 minutes). Stir occasionally to prevent scorching. Drain and mash,
or process in food processor with a little cooking liquid to moisten. If
desired, add a little margarine and seasonings (salt, black pepper, dried
thyme, etc.) and heat until margarine melts. OVEN BAKING: Preheat oven to
350~. Halve pumpkin. Remove the seeds and fibers. Cut into 2" pieces and
peel. Put peeled pieces in a shallow baking dish, and brush with melted
margarine. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes, or
until tender, brushing several times with margarine. Serve as a vegetable.
MICROWAVE: Weigh pumpkin to determine the correct timing; allow 7 minutes
per pound. For a mediumsize pumpkin, cut it in half vertically, then scoop
out the seeds and fibers. Place one half, cut side down, in a 12x8
microwavable baking dish. Microwave on high, uncovered, 18 to 22 minutes,
or until tender, rotating dish once or twice during cooking time. Repeat
procedure for the other half. Cool until easy to handle. Scoop out pulp and
place in a blender or food processor. Puree at medium speed until smooth.
Like prune puree and applesauce, pumpkin puree can serve as a fat
substitute in breads, muffins and cakes, according to Sandra Woodruff,
author of Secrets of FatFree Baking. Woodruff says to increase the amount
of pumpkin as you eliminate fat. For half the butter, margarine or other
solid shortening in cookies, substitute threefourths as much pumpkin
(i.e., if a recipe calls for 1 cup butter, use One half cup butter and 4 to 6 tb
mashed pumpkin). Bake reducedfat and fatfree cookies at 275 to 300~.
NOTE: If puree is watery, simmer over low heat in a heavybottom pan
instead of draining off liquid; draining removes much of the flavor.
Source: The Houston Chronicle. MM Waldine Van Geffen vghc42a@prodigy.com.
Posted to MCRecipe Digest by "M. Hicks" nitro_ii@email.msn.com on Feb 4,
1998