TWENTY SIX 2 quart bags of frozen pumpkin puree in my freezer. Am I nuts...

[annfaulkner]

Two questions on one day. Must be a weather thing....
We bought 3 big pumpkins to decorate our antique shop for fall and I can't stand to waste food. Hubby is not a fan of pumpkin pie, so I am looking for other ideas.
A spice cake with cream cheese frosting was a hit, but I've made it twice already...Any ideas??? Thanks, Ann
PS if you live near ST Louis I may be able to bring you some.....

[LeroyT]

Pumpkin butter? Cook it down with spices like for apple sauce.

[annfaulkner]

AMAZING!!!! I am frantically copy/pasting!!!! Really great thread...Love the risotto idea......I've done this before, but never in the volumn......Whopppie pies today. Soup MOnday........Thanks, Ann

[goodhealthgourmet]

in case you need more ideas:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/805550
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/811754
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/766063
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/819777
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/446761
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/558454
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/570180
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/532525
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/446761
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/558454
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/570180
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/532525
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/648005
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/812680
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/648005
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/451352
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/446761
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/558454
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/570180
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/532525
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/648005
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/815932
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/446761
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/558454
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/570180
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/532525
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/648005
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/464108

[nomadchowwoman]

Stir some into a classic risotto; it will be delicious and beautifully colored.
As someone else suggested, pumpkin ravioli--mix the pumpkin w/goat cheese or ricotta, and some thyme (or sage) and parmesan for the ravioli filling. Sauce w/brown butter.
I make several versions of pumpkin lasagne: I like to layer it w/pecorino romano and mozzarella between sheets of spinach pasta; you could add some prosciutto or pancetta between the layers, too; or w/wild mushrooms and parmesan and sage; or with goat cheese and thyme. Toasted hazelnuts or buttered breadcrumbs sprinkled over the top offer a lovely crunchy touch.

I also love pumpkin and goat cheese enchiladas, topped w/green salsa and roasted pumpkin seeds.
Someone also mentioned pumpkin bread pudding--the pumpkin really is lovely mixed into the usual custard.
Another sweet option--pumpkin gingerbread; there is a good recipe somewhere on CH, but I can't find it.
That should get you through 2 or 3 qts-- ; )

[magiesmom]

I'm assuming you tasted this before you froze it all, because it may well have no taste at all!

[blue room]

You have 13 gallons of pumpkin puree, maybe you should accept that some will be wasted if you don't give some away -- maybe check with local shelters, etc. ?

Even if you determine how long the pumpkin will stay nice while frozen, and use it up regularly and faithfully, it's a lot of pumpkin!
I like it just mashed up with butter salt and pepper.

[melpy]

I make a pasta sauce with pumpkin purée and crumbled sausage. Pumpkin chocolate chop cookies are addictive.

[AsperGirl]

Omg that is an amazing idea!

[Leepa]

I made a pumpkin trifle over the holidays that was great. It uses 1 can pumpkin (or your equivalent), 1 envelope gelatin, 1 cup sugar (I used 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar), appropriate spices of your choice, and 1 pint heavy whipping cream to make the pumpkin mousse. The mouse is good enough to serve on its own. I layered the mouse with a spice cake in a trifle bowl and sprinkled the top with candied pecans and served with a warm brandy sauce. Very good! In retrospect, I would have incorporated some chopped crystallized ginger in there somehow - perhaps when layering - but I had none available on that particular day.

If you aren't familiar with using powdered gelatin and making the mousse, I can step you though that if you'd like.

[debbiel]

I really like to add a quarter cup of pumpkin puree (and some spices) to my single serving of oatmeal in the morning. I add it before I bring the water to a boil.

Pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli,

Like a couple of others, I was wondering if these were pumpkins suitable for eating.

[hotoynoodle]

plus however many on those giant ornamental pumpkins being food pumpkins?

i have made pumpkin/goat cheese quiche and pumpkin coconut custard, with coconut milk, instead of cream. both use up quite a bit of coconut, but i have only used libby's canned.

[AsperGirl]

Pumpkin oatmeal is a great idea, too. Love this thread

[AsperGirl]

Thai spiced pumpkin soup is good, too. Pumpkin puree + chicken or veg stock, coconut milk, red curry paste, fresh thai basil, other ingredients as desired... Takes an incredibly short time to make.

Pumpkin gnocchi is a good way to make a "dumpling" with the puree. You can substitute, with some adjustments for liquid and fat, pumpkin puree for part of the flour in things like pancakes, crepes, gnocchi & pasta. So, you can add it as a superfood nutrition boost, as part of your everyday cooking. That might be the way to go if it's not a particularly tasty eating-pumpkin.

[debbiel]

That Thai soup sounds good AsperGirl. Thanks for the idea.

[tcamp]

Do you have dogs? A spoonful of puree added to their dish at mealtime is very healthy.

[MunchkinRedux]

We liked the Pumpkin and Shrimp Bisque at EpiCurious: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

[dfrostnh]

When you do recipe searches, you can easily substitute pumpkin puree for winter squash puree. Curried squash soup with apples is one of our favorites. I did not have a surplus of winter squash this year so I haven't tested out recipes for gnocci either made from squash/pumpkin or in a squash/pumpkin sauce with sage.
Pumpkin/squash biscuits and yeast rolls are a favorite of ours. I'd make pumpkin bread, too.

[Jay F]

probably

[Cheez62]

You may not be nuts, but you could be out of your gourd...

[iL Divo]

"so I am looking for other ideas"
reintroduce yourself to favorite neighbors :)
my husband and I drove through St Louis the 24th... darn

cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
pumpkin bread
pumpkin pancakes
hot potato pumpkin soup with sour cream dollop and slivered scallions

[Emme]

Ice Cream - with a graham cracker swirl, maybe even some chopped roasted pumpkin seeds too

I do a caramelized onion, pumpkin and sage sauce for over fish

Pumpkin Butter - as suggested above, but it's a lovely addition to oatmeal

Pavlova
Macarons ( a nice filling component)
Mixed in with an israeli couscous salad
Pumpkin Crepes - sweet or savory
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Added to the liquid for a strata - savory or sweet

[rtms]

how about curried pumpkin soup, ginger pumpkin scones, pumpkin butter?

[rtms]

also, if you have a dog, a tablespoon of pumpkin puree is a great occasional meal supplement because it has so much fibre.

[sunshine842]

but do beware -- pumpkin puree is the dog equivalent of ExLax -- and a spoonful is a VERY moving experience for most dogs.

[todao]

Are your "pumpkins" the eating kind or the "decorating" kind? If they're not specifically grown for using as a food, that may be why your hubby doesn't like pumpkin pie.
Pumpkin spice cookies are quick and easy, they keep for a long while and go well with a cup of good coffee. Scones, a breakfast treat around my house, also give a lift to a chilly morning.

[agoodbite]

The pumpkin whoopie pies from the Baked cookbook were a great use for my leftover halloween pumpkin a couple years ago. They didn't turn out looking like the picture in the attached link - probably because big halloween pumpkins tend to be watery (baked up in large, round but flatter disks), but they were delicious nonetheless.

http://www.marthastewart.com/344826/p...

[perk]

My friend had a lot of pumpkins from her garden this year. We made pumpkin risotto one night that was terrific. Made it again Christmas Eve.