Autumn Harvest Blog Hop – Yes, I Murder My Pumpkin
I’m taking part in the Autumn Harvest Blog Hop!
For more information on the hop, including the other authors participating, click here.
For years now, I’ve recycled my Halloween pumpkins into pumpkin bread, muffins, and cookies. When my kids were younger I had to be sneaky about it. It upset them to see Mom carve up that jack o’lantern into pieces with the largest carving knife I had.
They soon learned to appreciate the results, however. There’s just something special about pumpkin bread made from real pumpkin—the one that sat on the front porch a few days ago, particularly.
It’s not hard to turn the pumpkin into a mash that works great for baking.
The day after Halloween I bring in the pumpkin, rinse it off in the sink, then cut it into pieces, either four or eight, depending on the size. I put the pieces skin-side down on a foil-lined pan and put them in a hot (450 degree) oven for about an hour or however long it takes for them to get soft enough that you can insert a fork with no trouble. You’ll usually see little puddles of liquid pooling the pieces when they’re ready.
I take out the pan, let it cool off, then slice off the top layer and the crispy edges. Slice the meat off the hard rind, discard the rind and crisp edges. Put the meat into a blender and mash it for a few seconds, as long as it takes to get fairly smooth. I measure it into one and two cup containers and store in refrigerator or freezer until I’m ready to use it. It freezes nicely and can be used for several months.
Here’s my favorite recipe for pumpkin bread:
Pumpkin Bread
3 cups self-rising flour (or 3 cup plain flour + 4-5 tsp. baking powder and 1 tsp. salt)
3 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups cooked, mashed pumpkin
1 cup melted butter
Sift dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
Form a well in the center and eggs, pumpkin, and butter.
Stir until moistened.
Pour into 2 well-greased loaf pans.
Bake at 350 degrees, 45 – 50 minutes.
What’s your favorite fall food?
Since this post is part of Carrie Ann’s Autumn Harvest Blog Hop, I’ll choose a winner from among the commenters here, who’ll receive their choice of one of my books, plus a few other goodies.
My favorite fall food would have to be pumpkin pie with tons of cool whip! Lol
angelheart618@gmail.com
Yum! I love pumpkin pies too. I prefer real whipped cream when I can get it, but it’s a lot of trouble.
my fave fall food is pumpkin pancakes
parisfan_ca@yahoo.com
My house is a big fan of pumpkin chili. They can eat it by the quart.
I don’t have favorite but I love anything with zucchini, pumpkins, cranberries, apples, I really love making food in autumn 🙂
swordlily_girl[at]yahoo[dot]com
Thanks for the giveaway!! Super excited for this bloghop.
I love the autumn!! I love every kind of food during the fall, from pies to turkey, corn, potatoes, apples, etc…They’re all delish.
kp_kazamei(at)yahoo(dot)com
The best thing about autumn is . . .apples! I love them and all the things they are in, applesauce, apple pie, apple fritters! YUM!
susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com
ps> Had to just say that I LOVE your books!
Autumn is my favorite season! I like all the beautiful colors outside and the weather is not that hot anymore but not freezing cold either. It’s just perfect! Thank you for the giveaway!
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
I love pumpkin pie , I can eat it morning, noon and night
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite is between Pumpkin Pie and my Mom’s dressing.
Thanks for the giveaway
crystaley73 at yahoo dot com
Mmmm pumpkin pie …. for Breakfast! Must have real whipped cream!
Thanks for the giveaway!
3girlzmama at gmail.com
I would have to say pecan pie or pumpkin cheesecake 🙂
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
Anything with pumpkin or a nice hot soup with vegetables, meat and spices.
I love reading about things that go bump in the night (with a touch of romance) this time of year. thanks for the fun!
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom
I adore autumn because of the amazing colors, bundling up in sweaters, Halloween and my birthday! Autumn also means cuddling up with a good book and a cup of cocoa!
grapeapril75(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the hops cause of all the awesome new books I find to add to my to read list!
Love the recipe! My fav fall food is a tie between candied yams and pumpkin roll!
that bread sounds great! i make a pumpkin bread with a cream cheese swirl — it’s divine!!
forgot my email:
booksconsidered[at]gmail[dot]com
Apple crisp!
Sassychassy333@gmail.com
Pumpkin icecream. Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
I love chili in the fall, and its actually Graf with pumpkin bread, which I also love. Thank you for the recipe, and for participating in the blog hop!
brendurbanist at gmail dot com
GREAT with pumpkin bread, not ‘Graf’! Dumb iPad.
Apple crisp. In the fall my mom used to make apple dumplings from scratch. They were so good. I never had the time to master that recipe. Maybe I should learn before the 2 of us get much older.
I would have to say pumpkin pie. I still haven’t tried making one from fresh pumpkin.
bituin76 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Fall means pie to me. Apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie…all sorts of yummy things stuffed into a piecrust. And I agree, fresh pumpkin makes such a difference!
dancingcelt at gmail dot com
Love pecan pie.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
I would have to say pumpkin pie. I still haven’t tried making one from fresh pumpkin.
parisfan_ca@yahoo.com
I love pumpkin bread, thanks for the recipe.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
My favorite thing about Autumn/Fall is the changing color of the leaves. They are so pretty. My least favorite thing is raking up those pretty leaves. LOL I love to curl up by the fire and read a hot romance book on a cold fall evening. Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win.
reneebennett35 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Apple cider donuts – and at the farm near us, you can buy them freshly made and warm 🙂 Thanks for being in the hop!
jochibi AT yahoo DOT com
Apple pie or pumpkin bars! Great recipe!
I love the fall because of the football games and tailgating! And of course having a campfire with roasted hotdogs! Thanks for the chance to win a great giveaway!
kacidesignsATyahooDOTcom
kacidesigns@yahoo.com
My favorite fall food is pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!
thanks for the recipe looks yummy! where i live i love to watch the mountains changing colors. thanks for joining the hop. Miriam.whitewolf@gmail.com
I love pumpkin custard pie and apple cider. Thanks for the giveaway.
mythic021@gmail.com
Yippee I got two recipes to try out for pumpkin bread…
Thanks for sharing
BeckeywhiteATgmailDOTcom
I love Autumn for the leaves. I read lots of books as it gets colder.
smurfettev AT gmail DOT com
Thanks for joining in the hop. It was great to be introduced to your work.
My favorite part about autumn is that the cool weather gives me the perfect excuse to keep my oven full of yummy deliciousness that I really can’t do during two of the three other seasons. I love the feeling of being able to have yummy stuff baking while I nestle in with a good read.
planterofhope(at)aol(dot)com
Pizza!
I love the colors in Autumn. Thanks for the giveaway!
lisarayns at gmail dot com
I love pumpkin pie!
aprilnu2003@yahoo.com
My favorite fall food is Pumpkin Pie! It is just delicious! Though that Pumpkin Bread sounds yummy too. 😉
I will have to try it.
Thank you for sharing and also for the giveaway.
trb0917 at gmail.com
Great hop! Thanks for sharing!
bacchus76 at myself dot com