Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Pumpkin!

Who likes pumpkin stuff? Meeeee!!! So, I am a mean, mean mom and my children are deprived because of my cheapness. Not really, they are far from deprived. In fact, I know that I indulge them way more than I should (Pete, I can feel you nodding your head!) but that's another story!

Every year, we get pumpkins like any other American family. Then we don't carve them. I make them paint them. Why, you ask? So that I can turn them into wonderful pumpkin puree for my vast number of recipes that require it! Isn't that a great idea? I will only charge you $10 for stealing my idea. You can just mail me a check.

This year was the first year that we actually carved a pumpkin. When we went to the patch, we bought 4 pumpkins, one for each kid, plus one to carve. I think you all read the carving post.

Um, well, I kind of forgot to buy paint. I was HOPING that Abby would forget, but, of course, I was not so lucky! On October 31st, yes, on Halloween, about 3:00 in the afternoon: "Mommy, when are we going to paint our pumpkins?" OOOPS. Not so lucky me. I explained that I had forgotten to buy paint and proceeded to hand her a pack of Crayola Markers. Well, I am happy to announce that I saved the day! Or, Crayola did. Even though the markers wiped right off, it still satisfied Abby and later on Tyler.

So the pumpkins were colored instead of painted. And one was carved. It is actually molding in the driveway as we speak, waiting for Pete to have his annual rotten pumpkin chucking contest off the back deck. The deer like them. I think.

I swear, he looks forward to this holiday only for that. I try to keep his anticipation under control year round by buying huge bags of carrots at Costco, using 2 and letting the rest get all limp and gross. Again, good reindeer food. Did I just say reindeer? I meant DEER. Reindeer is what the kids call them; I know they aren't reindeer. Oh, honey, I think this weekend should be chucking weekend. Bag of carrots in the garage + moldy rotten pumpkin in the driveway = fun for Pete!

ANYWAY, the point of this was to show you how to make pumpkin puree! Sorry for the tangent. Or is it tangeant?

So, take your pumpkin. Wash off the outside to remove all dirt and Crayola Marker. Cut it in half. I like to cut it through the middle so I don't have to worry about the stem (have you ever tried cutting a stem in half? Let me know how that goes). Put it cut side down on a foil lined, PAM sprayed cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or till you can pierce the nice soft pumpkin with a fork.

See? Oh, I also cut the halves in half, leaving them side by side while cooking. It's easier to do the next step that way.

Ok. Now you have nice, soft, cooked pumpkin. Remember my Kitchen Aid friend? Well, I tried to use it's assistance but it does NOT work. I don't really know why but it basically spits everything out of the junk end. So, I ended up doing it the way I've always done!

Take a large spoon and scoop out the seeds and strings. If you want, you could separate the seeds and bake them. In this instance, I was too lazy, so into the trash they went!
Now you have a nice string and seed free 1/4 of a pumpkin. Take your spoon and start scooping out the flesh. It should be so nice and soft and easy! Discard the skin and put the flesh into a bowl or food processor.
Here is mine in my food processor. Turn it on and let 'er rip! I add water so that it purees nicely, you can get rid of that later. Keep reading. Just let it run till its nice and smoooooooth.
See? All nice and smooth.
Now you need to get rid of the water. Place a cheesecloth or in my case, a cloth diaper in a colander. Place the colander over a big bowl to catch the water. Now, pour your puree in the cloth and let it sit. I let mine sit overnight covered with the sides of the diaper. For those of you thinking "I am never touching any of Sarah's pumpkin recipes!" rest assured, I am a loyal Pampers Fan. You'll never catch me using a cloth diaper. No way. No how. Uh uh.
Go to sleep. Wake up. Find this wonderful, thick, creamy pumpkin puree! Oh, before you go to bed, you will probably have to dump the drain bowl a few times.
Doesn't that just look yummy?
Now, I get it ready to freeze. You cannot can pumpkin puree. Reason being, they (the USDA) have not established a safe processing time. Sorry girls. We're stuck with the freezer. I use Ziploc Freezer Quart size bags. I put 2 cups in each one, that is what 99% of my recipes use. You could also use Glad containers if you'd rather.

I like to squish mine flat and freeze them that way. Once they are frozen, they are super skinny and can hide between all the Coffee Mate, hot dogs and ice cream bars in your freezer. Or is that just mine? Hey they were cheap ($1 Coffee Mate big ones! 60 cent all beef hotdogs and $1 boxes of my dad's favorite Eskimo Pie Bars!)

Here they are all ready for the freezer!
I think that's enough about pumpkins for today. I have a little naked pumpkin out there that needs his mom to chase him down with a pair of pants.