the great pumpkin

it is nearly pumpkin time!
I know, wishful thinking, but they are starting to turn pretty colours in my garden. If you are fortunate enough to have pie pumpkins, they are the best for making the cakes, pies and custards. Just about any mild flavoured winter squash will work for the soups though!

Pumpkin soup

1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbsp butter
2 carrots cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
3 cups cooked pumpkin
salt, pepper
optional: 2 Tbsp pesto or fresh herbs (I like to add thyme & marjoram)
optional toppings: 1 Tbsp soy sour cream (or the real thing if you can eat dairy)

In a 4 quart soup pot, saute one chopped onion in butter until soft. Add a couple carrots cubed and some crushed garlic. cook just until soft. add 4 cups broth
Simmer until the carrots are soft. Crush your cooked (baked is best) pumpkin and add to soup. Blend with one of those hand mixing machines and heat until simmering. Add salt, pepper, and some pesto or fresh herbs.
serve with swirl of soy sour cream, a dusting of nutmeg or a few toasted pumpkin seeds.
This recipe can be made with any kind of mild winter squash, but old-fashioned pumpkin is delicious.

Gluten-free Pumpkin Bread

2/3 cup rice flour
1/4 cup potato starch
2 Tbsp tapioca starch
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 eggs
2/3 cup cooked, mashed pumpkin
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or raisins

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 8 1/2 x 4 1/2" loaf pan with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, starches, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, salt, and spices in a large mixing bowl.
In a second bowl, beat the eggs. Add pumpkin and mayonnaise. Pour into the flour mixture. Stir it together well. Add the nuts or raisins and pour into the prepared pan.
Bake in 350F oven for 1 hour. Test by inserting a toothpick to see if it comes out dry.

Gluten Free Note: to ensure this is gluten-free make sure all equipment and counters are very clean so you don't contaminate with flour or crumbs. You can purchase GF (gluten-free) flour mix to use instead of the rice flour & starches. Most of the major brands of baking soda and baking powder in Canada are GF, but if you are cooking for someone with allergies, be sure to check yours.

1 comment:

  1. Nice squash harvest. I had two acorn squash on my plant in a pot, but someone decided to eat one before it matured. Guess they needed it more than I did. - Margy

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