Easy Ways to Cook Pumpkin

Pumpkins serve more than a decorative purpose---they are also very easy to prepare and very nutritious. So if you have any extra pumpkins lying around outside the house, don't leave it for the squirrels---bring it into the kitchen and fire up the stove!

There are many ways to make a pumpkin. My mother-in-law, Sara, taught us first to prepare it by cleaning out the insides and cutting it up into blocks or wedges and boiling it on the stove until it was soft. She would then add butter and brown sugar to it when she served it in bowls.

You could also cook in an oven and bake it with butter and sugar on top. I also like to add maple syrup, cinnamon and nuts (walnuts or peanuts) I think it's probably at 350 degrees for about 45 mins to an hour if I remember correctly. The children all enjoy eating a sweet bowl of steaming, buttery pumpkin that is perfect for the cold, fall evenings.

Sometimes I would take a little sugar pumpkin (the smaller kind for pies) and throw it in the crockpot to make healthy homemade baby food. It was so easy to do and soft for little babies to eat. You can throw the leftovers into the freezer and divide them into sections using ice cube trays for later use.

I prepare all varieties of squashes the same way. There are many times I have been surprisingly stopped in the squash section of the supermarket with someone asking me how to prepare a squash. I think I just assumed more people ate squash in America and knew how to prepare it. But I like to prepare squash the same way. Especially if I can fit it into a crockpot I am happy as a clam! I also like to add craisins to the finished product sometimes if I have them handy. My favorite squash for rich texture is the butternut squash. This is not for everyone, but did you know that you CAN eat the outside skin of a squash? It is very nutritious as well, so don't be afraid to try it!

Don't forget to use the pumpkin seeds for baking. Rinse them off, coat with oil or butter and bake at 400 degrees for until brown and then add salt when you take them out. Be sure to keep an eye of these so they don't burn! A great, healthy fall snack for the whole entire family as they enjoy the cool autumn weather.


If you want to learn more about how to cook pumpkins, check out the lovely Pumpkins & Squashes Cookbook:

There is no better season to curl up with a warm and hearty dish than the fall, and no more adaptable vegetable than the pumpkins or squash. Included are a variety of dishes, from appetizers and snacks, to main meals and gourmet delights that promise to transform a humble ingredient into a mouthwatering meal!


You can find this book HERE. 

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