Pumpkins,Pumpkins,Pumpkins : Chili's, Soups, Desserts & More

There was a time when I thought pumpkin was only good for two things: Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Bread. However, in this modern age of Reality TV: Food Network, Martha Stewart and The Chew, I now know there are many more creative things I can do with this orange Autumn squash.

Pumpkin pie smoothie or milkshake

 Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin (chilled)

• 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk (chilled)

• 8 ounces vanilla yogurt or ice cream

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• Whipped cream, to taste (optional)

 

Directions

1. Combine pumpkin, milk, yogurt or ice cream, sugar and spice in a blender; cover.

2. Blend until mixture is smooth.

3. Pour into glasses; top with whipped cream and an additional sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Serves four.

Hearty Chicken Soup With Apples & Pumpkin

Add chopped pieces of apple and pumpkin to traditional chicken soup for a sweet and tasty treat.

• 1 whole chicken, cleaned, boiled, de-boned and shredded
• 6 cups of chicken broth or chicken stock that the chicken was boiled in
• 2 cups of chopped apples
• 2 cups of chopped, fresh pumpkin
• 1 cup of chopped celery
• 1 cup of chopped carrot
• 1 cup of chopped onion
• 1/4 cup of olive oil or real butter
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
• salt,pepper,garlic to taste as desired

1. 1. In a large soup pot, boil a whole chicken. Then cool, remove the skin, de-bone and shred
2. 2. In a skillet, saute carrots, onion and celery in olive oil or real butter with salt & pepper
3. 3. Add the carrots, celery, onion, apples and pumpkin to the broth and stock and bring to a boil.
4. 4. Add the chicken and reduce heat to a simmer.
5. 5. Add the cinnamon and season to taste with additional salt, pepper and garlic as desired

* Serve stew in clean, carved out mini soup bowl size pumpkins!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies

• 1 box brownie mix (family size)
• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1. Grease 9×13 pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Set aside. 
2. Preheat oven and prepare brownie batter according to packaged directions. 
3. Pour batter into prepared pan. In small bowl, whip cream cheese, sugar and flour until smooth. 
4. Stir in pumpkin and seasonings. 
5. Drop pumpkin mixture by the spoon full over brownies. 
6. With a butter knife, swirl cheesecake into brownies being careful not to touch the bottom of pan. 
7. Bake according to box directions, or until brownies are set (about 30 minutes for mine). 
8. Cool 10 minutes and cut into squares.

Here's one more, I really like. My mom's pumpkin cake roll with cream cheese icing. It's great cold!

.Have more ideas and recipes you'd like to share? Send me a comment!