For nutrition, delicious flavor, pop your pumpkin in the oven

Recipes

Pumpkin Bread

4 eggs

2 1⁄2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

1 cup cold water

1 15-ounce can pumpkin

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour

Beat eggs and stir in sugar, oil, water and canned pumpkin. Stir dry ingredients together and add to pumpkin mixture. Mix well. Divide into 2 large or 3 medium greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes or until done.

Pumpkin Cookies

1⁄2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

11⁄2 cups cooked pumpkin

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg

1⁄4 teaspoon ginger

1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 1⁄2 cups flour, less 2 teaspoons

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup raisins or dates

1 cup nuts of your choosing, chopped

1 teaspoon lemon extract

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, pumpkin, salt, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon. Blend well. Sift flour and baking powder and add to pumpkin mixture. Blend until smooth. Stir in raisins, nuts and lemon extract. Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheets and bake for 15 minutes.

Pumpkin Soup

2 cups diced fresh pumpkin, or 1 1⁄2 cups canned pumpkin

1 1⁄2 quart chicken stock

1 cup onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic

3 apples, peeled, cored and cut into pieces

1⁄2 cup celery, chopped

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1⁄2 cup uncooked rice

1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger

1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon

1⁄4 teaspoon ground clove

1⁄4 teaspoon allspice

1⁄2 teaspoon white pepper

2 whole bay leaves

1 teaspoon A1 Steak Sauce

Whipped cream for garnish

Nutmeg for garnish

Cook the raw pumpkin in a covered double boiler until soft, then mash and press through sieve (or use canned pumpkin). Bring the rest of the ingredients to a boil in a 3-quart pot, then simmer until the vegetables are soft and the rice is done, about 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaves, blend well in a blender and return to the pot. Add the pumpkin, mix well, then taste for seasoning.

Serve topped with a spoonful of unsweetened whipped cream and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg.