2nd Hand Pumpkin

Well, this pumpkin isn't exactly 2nd hand but it is repurposed.

I love to carve a jack-o-lantern. It is unusual in my home if there isn't a glowing jack looking down the street on Halloween evening.  However, here in the southern United States, where the humidity clings, a carved pumpkin will literally melt in a matter of 48 hours.  In no time it seems, you'll have a nice little science experiment sitting out on the front steps.

Due to the "melting", this year I waited to Halloween day so that little Jack here would have minimal exposure and still be usable for other endeavors.  He was $4 at the grocery, he should certainly provide a little more bang for the buck.

At this point, you should know this might be disturbing to small children.  I am about to illustrate Jack-o-lantern homicide. Cue the horror film music...

 If you are working with pumpkin or winter squashes you should always work with a sharp knife. (Poor jack, he was such a happy pumpkin.)

(The carnage continues.)  Slice the pumpkin in pieces small enough to lay fairly flat in a baking pan.

Now, it's into the oven.  (Yes, he will be baked on top of being sliced into pieces.)  Use pans at least two inches deep, add about an inch of water, bake in a preheated 375 degree oven.  The bake time should be 30 to 40 minutes but this will vary depending on the thickness of the pumpkin.  The real indication that the pumpkin is done is when the tines of a fork slide easily through the pumpkin meat.  

Last, cool the pumpkin, peel the skin, and (preferably) process in a food processor or mash thoroughly with a vegetable/potato masher until you have a smooth consistency.  This is much like a pumpkin puree and should resemble baby food. Store in refrigerator or freeze, I like to freeze in 1 cup portions, for later use.

If you've never worked with fresh pumpkin, be prepared this is a much different product than the canned stuff.  Don't get me wrong, it works the same, but the color is much nicer and I think the final pumpkin product is better.

Post Script: The first photo shows the spicy pumpkin seeds I toasted in the oven.  They didn't last long.  Yummy!