Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie

There's nothing like this classic pumpkin pie recipe from the back of the Libby's pumpkin can.  And, when you substitute organic grass-fed cream for the evaporated milk, and use lard in your pie crust, this is about as good as it gets!!

Source:  Libby's Pumpkin can

1 9" unbaked deep dish pie crust

3/4 c. white sugar

1 t. ground cinnamon

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. ground ginger

1/4 t. ground cloves

2 eggs

1 15 oz. can pumpkin

1 12 oz. can evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a small bowl.  Beat eggs lightly in large bowl.  Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture.  Gradually stir in evaporated milk.  Pour into pie shell.

Bake for 15 min.  Reduce temperature to 350 degrees; bake for 40-50 min., or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool on wire rack for 2 hours.  Serve immediately or refrigerate.  (Do not freeze as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling.

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Black Bean Soup

Be sure to add the garnishes - it makes all the difference!

Source:  Adapted from http://www.thecookingphotographer.com/

4 T. olive oil

1/2 c. onion, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 T. ground cumin

1 t. coarse sea salt

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. allspice

1/2 t. ground black pepper

1/4 t. cayenne pepper, optional

2 + 2 cans black beans (15 oz. each), drained and rinsed

1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes

1 can (16 oz.) pumpkin puree

4 c. chicken broth

salt to taste

Garnishes:

baked pumpkin seeds

cheese

sour cream

parsley

crushed tortilla chips

In a large pot, heat oil until shiny, then turn to medium low.  Add onion, garlic, cumin, salt, cinnamon, allspice, pepper, and cayenne; stir often until onion has softened, about 3-4 min.

In a food processor or blender, puree 2 cans of beans and the tomatoes.  Add the puree, pumpkin and broth to the pot.

Simmer uncovered until thick, stirring often while scraping the bottom, about 30 minutes or until desired thickness.  Add the remaining 2 cans of beans and heat.  Add salt to taste and garnish as desired.

Pumpkin Black Bean Bake

Since I didn't have any fresh jalapeno peppers, cherry tomatoes or cilantro on hand from the garden, I decided not to make the Jalapeno-Olive Relish to go along with the recipe this time.  I'll keep it in mind for early next fall!

Source:  adapted from bhg.com

1 lb. ground beef

2 c. 1/2 " pieces of peeled pumpkin or winter squash

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 c. frozen whole kernel corn

1 4-oz. can diced green chiles

1 t. sea salt (or more, to taste)

1 8-1/2-oz. pkg. corn muffin mix

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/3 c. milk

1/3 c. pumpkin puree, or canned pumpkin

Jalapeno-Olive Relish (optional, see recipe below)

Preheat oven to 400 deg.  In a large skillet, cook ground beef, pumpkin and onion over medium heat until meat is browned and onion tender, breaking up ground beef with spoon; drain fat if necessary.  Stir in black bean, corn, chiles and salt.  Transfer mixture to a 2-1/2 qt. baking dish.

In a medium bowl, stir together corn muffin mix, egg, milk and pumpkin puree until just combined.  Spoon over beef mixture.

Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cornbread topping comes out clean.  Serve with Jalapeno-Olive Relish, if desired.

Jalapeno-Olive Relish

1/4 c. halved pitted green olives

1-2 jalapeno peppers, sliced

6 cherry tomatoes, quartered

1-2 T. snipped fresh cilantro

In a small bowl, combine above ingredients.


Serves 6.

Curried Pumpkin Mushroom Soup

Source:  J. Hair/Southern Living 20th Anniversary Edition Cookbook

2 T. butter

½ c. chopped onion

1 8 oz. pkg sliced fresh mushrooms

2 T. flour

1 T. curry powder

3 c. chicken broth

2 c. pumpkin

½ t. salt

¼ t. pepper

¼ t. ground nutmeg

1 T. honey

1 12 oz. can evaporated milk

garnish: sour cream and chives

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add mushrooms and onions and cook until tender. Stir in flour and curry powder. Gradually add chicken broth and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in pumpkin and next 4 ingredients, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in evaporated milk; cook until heated. Garnish if desired.

Yield:  6-1/2 cups

Roasted Winter Squash Seeds

Pumpkins aren't the only squash that yield tasty seeds for roasting - be sure to try butternut or acorn squash as well!

Source:  allrecipes.com

1 c. winter squash seeds

1 T. olive oil

1/2 t. salt, or to taste

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil, or use a non-stick baking sheet.

After removing the seeds from the squash, rinse with water, and remove any strings and bits of squash.  pat dry, and place in a small bowl.  Stir olive oil and salt into the seeds until evenly coated.  Spread out in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until seeds start to pop.  (Pumpkin seeds may take a bit longer.)  Remove from oven and cool on the baking sheet before serving.