How to use a fresh pumpkin.

So you want to make something yummy with that pumpkin, but not sure how to?  Don’t worry, its easy peasy.

First, cut the top off  and scrape out the guts with a big spoon. Make sure you get all the strings. Then, after you separate the seeds and toast them, cut the pumpkin down the sides into 4 or so big quarters. Spay a little non stick spay on a baking pan and place the pumpkin quarters down with the skin out.  Place in an oven and bake at around 300f or 180c.  Back for 45mins to 1 1/2 hr depending on the size of the pumpkin. Just check around 45 mins by poking a sharp knife in. If is slides in easy its done. The skin will also be brown. Pull out of the oven an cool.

Once cool then scape all the pumpkin flesh out into a big bowl.  If you are going to use the flesh for soup or pies, then press it through a sieve. This gets all string out and makes a nice, smooth soup. If you will be using it for cakes, breads muffins or what not, then no need to sieve.

Dont throw out the pumpkin seeds.

Roasted pumpkin seeds are yummy and very healthy. They are very easy to make, so don’t them out.

Seperate the seeds from the strings. Give them a rinse in the strainer. Take a baking sheet and add a touch of oil and spead it with a piece of paper towel to keep them from sticking.  Pour the seeds into a bowl and add just a drop of oil and mix to coat. Then put them on the tray and spread them out into one layer.

preheat oven to around 180c. Put the seeds in for about 25 mins total. Stir at around 10 mind. They should be golden brown.

Spinkle just a bit of salt when you take them out and let them cool.

Enjoy.

Creamy Pasta Shells with Peas and Bacon

I found this recipe on a site. Its from Jamie Oliver but for the life of me I cant find it again. I went out today and picked up the ingredients from memory so I hope I got it right. It sure tasted good.
What you need…

Cooked Pasta Shells. Follow instructions on the bag. I used about 3/4 of the bag for 3 of us for a full meal.
Streaky bacon (normal American bacon) Cut up about 10 slices into bits. I will admit that I used left over Italian prosciutto That we had left over. Cut up, raw ready to go.
1/2 cup of frozen peas.
Fresh shredded Parmesan cheese. About a handful
Small-ish container of creme fresh. Sour cream could be used I am sure
Mint. I used dry.

Just as the pasta was close to being finished, I put some olive oil in a frying pan and heated it up. I added the mint to the oil for a few seconds. Then I added the bacon and cooked for several mins until is was cooked through. Then I added the peas in and let that cook up a bit. I added the creme fresh and stired. Add the cheese. Stir well. (If it seems a little thick add some water from the coooking pasta. This is another trick I have seen Jamie do. Thanks Jamie) Then add the pasta and stir.

I wasnt really sure about the mint but its really nice. Its easy and not expensive at all.