Roasted Pumpkin Coconut Soup

It’s that time of year, to cook all of the gourds in your slow cooker, and to make soups! This recipe is for making a creamy pumpkin soup out of an actual pumpkin. For those of you looking to use canned pumpkin, I will have another recipe for you coming up soon. This version is for those of you that want to turn a small (3 to 4 pound) pie pumpkin into some soup, or just as an excuse to have some pumpkin seeds to roast.

The cutting and cooking of the pumpkin definitely takes more time that using a can. I decided to make a recipe using the whole pumpkin because, well, some people have whole pumpkins they want to eat!

1 small pie pumpkin, mine was 4 pounds even. I used 4 cups of cooked pumpkin flesh, go ahead and add more for a thicker soup.1 tbsp of ghee or grass fed butter.2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped roughly.1 small bartlett pear, peeled, cored, and chopped.4 cups of chicken stock.1 can of coconut milk.2 tsp cumin.2 tsp cinnamon.1 tsp ground ginger.1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional).4 to 6 quart slow cooker.Baking pan with 1/2 cup water.Immersion blender, blender, or food processor.Preheat your oven to 350°F.Carefully cut the top off of your pumpkin and then cut it in half. Large serrated knives can be easier. Then cut the pumpkin into quarters.Do remember to save the seeds for later if you enjoy roasting them.Coat the inner surfaces of your pumpkin sections with your ghee or butter, partially melted works best.Place your pumpkin shell side down in your baking pan with 1/2 cup water and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. You are looking for the pumpkin to pull away from the shell.Allow your pumpkin to cool and then use a large fork to pull it from it’s shell, place it in a large bowl and mash it.Add 4 cups of mashed pumpkin to your slow cooker, along with the rest of your ingredients.Cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours.Use your immersion blender to puree your soup as desired, or transfer the contents of your slow cooker to your food processor or blender.Optional: garnish with pumpkin seeds (pepitas) and enjoy!Note: I’m giving away an immersion blender in this new giveaway.Category: Soup, Veggies

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How to Make The Best Pumpkin Pie

One of the best things about fall of the year is the food. Pumpkin cider and pies are some of the most notable when it comes to food choices. The smell of pumpkin entices all eaters' noses, and of all the pumpkin foods to choose from, pumpkin pie has to be by far the best.

Making the perfect pumpkin pie is not easy but it can be done by following a few simple guidelines. A great pumpkin pie will not only look great, but will have a great texture as well as being fluffy, and have the most important factor, amazing taste. To achieve this, you will have to make the entire pie by hand. No prepackaged foods store items will be acceptable. This all will be made from scratch.

In order to make the perfect pumpkin pie, you will need to accomplish these four tasks:

*Concoct a recipe for a flaky and fluffy crust

*Commit to using fresh ingredients for your filling

*Decide on a topping (Whipped cream, streusel, etc.) that compliments your ingredients

*Devise a way to bake or combine all three to ensure the finished product is without error.

The best crust will be made from ground ginger, cinnamon, sugar, and a pie crust of your choosing. Having a pie crust that isn't already made is important. Even if it is a just add water crust or the dough for it, those will allow you to add the other ingredients easily in order to ensure the great taste. While the crust isn't the focus of the pie, it is a complimentary part that can make or break it.

The filling is the focal point of the pie and should be made with flavor in mind. There are many different options for having great taste, but my suggestion is to use a real ingredient such as a real pumpkin or, this may surprise you, sweet potatoes which can be a great substitute for pumpkin. However, I would stay away from ingredients like Pumpkin puree or pie fillings as many are made with preservatives that take away from natural taste. Once you have decided on that, it is easy to find a recipe that helps you combine this ingredient into other ones needed to make a tasty filling.

If cooking from scratch is a different kind of cooking than you are used to, then you might need some practice before you are able to achieve the perfect pumpkin pie, but with the right ingredients and some practice you will be able to produce a pie to outdo any you have ever eaten before.

Hello all, my name is Janice. I am a retired writer living out my days by the seaside.Homes With Care provide an all new service which helps keep people informed on the availability of assisted living retirement homes offering integrated close care, close care, extra care and independent living. Be sure to read the latest industry news available at the Homes With Care blog.

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