Pumpkin Butter

So who doesn't love apple butter? Oh, I know that I do! I remember the days when my mom and dad would make apple butter and the smell was my favorite part of the whole process. Well, along with eating some tasty apple butter on some tasty biscuits. Then, one day I was traveling through the mountains and I ran across a store that sold pumpkin butter. I tried it and I was hooked. I just had to have this recipe. So, I went home and did some research and viola! I made my own pumpkin butter using fresh pumpkin from my garden.

You will need 3.5 cups of fresh pumpkin puree or one 29 ounce can of pumpkin puree

3/4 cup of apple juice

1.5 cups of white sugar

2 tsp ground sugar, 1.5 tsp ground cloves, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground nutmeg

Combine pumpkin, apple juice, spices, and sugar in a large sauce pan; stir well. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until thickened. Stir frequently. 

Transfer to sterile containers and store in the refrigerator until serving. If you make a large batch, you can water bath can to preserve your excess pumpkin butter. 

INGREDIENTS

3 1/2 cups of fresh pumpkin puree or one 29 oz of canned pumpkin puree

3/4 cup apple juice

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

INSTRUCTION

-Combine pumpkin, apple juice, spices, and sugar in a large sauce pan; stir well. 

-Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until thickened. 

-Stir frequently. 

-Transfer to sterile containers and store in the refrigerator until serving. 

-Makes 5 half pint jars

How to Bake a Fresh Pumpkin

This year we decided to grow pumpkins in our garden and they turned out great! There is nothing better than fresh pumpkin....WAIT!!! Yes there is! Fresh pumpkin pie! OHHHHHHHHH SO YUMMY! So this is for those of you who would love to know how to bake a fresh pumpkin to use in many many recipes.

Step 1: Pick your pumpkin!

Step 2: Use a carving knife to cut a square into the top and the bottom of the pumpkin

Step 3: Use a sawing motion with your carving knife to carefully cut the pumpkin in half

Step 4: Use a metal spoon and scrape out the pulp and seeds

Step 5: Place the two halves face down into a baking dish (lined with tin foil) with a 1/2 inch of water

Step 6: Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour 1/2 up to two hours. Notice the skin...it should start to shrivel 

Step 7: Separate the pumpkin flesh from the skin and place into a bowl

Step 8: Blend the pumpkin with any method you choose

Step 9: Blend until creamy

Step 10: Scoop out one cup at a time

Step 11: Store in any way you choose