Thursday, October 28, 2010

Chipotle Chicken & Rice Stuffed Squash

I think I'd be missing the blogging boat if I didn't post a stuffed squash recipe this Autumn! This recipe veers away from the usual wild rice or quinoa mixed with nuts, cranberries, apples, and herbs. Not that those combinations aren't perfectly comforting and festive this time of year....but I was thinking of something a little spicier.

I was snuggling my 5 year old daughter after school yesterday and at the same time was trying to think of something for dinner. We are in desperate need of a large grocery shopping trip but before I embark on one of those adventures I like to use up whatever ingredients might be lurking around our pantry and refrigerator. I had a cooked chicken breast in the fridge from a whole chicken I cooked into soup the other day and a pot of brown rice on the counter. The peppers I purchased at last Saturday's market and the kale was from our garden.

I like to use Bionaturae Strained Tomatoes any time I would generally use tomato sauce. This is because it comes in glass and not a can. Canned tomatoes are still lined with plastic and can leach potentially dangerous chemicals, such as BPA, into the tomato product. Though it is still debatable how much of these chemicals are actually present.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Making your own pumpkin puree is really very simple. But there are a few important steps to ensure a thick puree. The water content of fresh pumpkin puree and canned puree can vary widely. Cooking pumpkin with water creates a thin puree, which will then cause your breads, muffins, cookies, and pies to be overly moist. Roasting pumpkin without any added water creates a thick puree that will most likely match the consistency of canned pumpkin. Plus, freshly made pumpkin puree tastes so much better than canned. It is sweeter, smoother, and just down-right delicious! Once you have made your own pumpkin puree, you can freeze it in containers for later use or store it in the fridge for up to a week.


Homemade Pumpkin Puree

First, you'll need to begin with a fresh Sugar Pie Pumpkin. The one I used in these photos was picked today from our garden! You'll also be able to find sugar pie pumpkins at your local farmer's market or health food store.

1. To begin, place your pumpkin on a large cutting board and use a heavy-duty, sharp knife to cut it in half cross-wise.

2. Next, use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds.

3. Place the seeds into bowl to sort out later and roast if desired. Roasted pumpkin seeds with sea salt and a little coconut oil are a favorite at our house!!

4. Cut the halves into quarters and then eighths. If your pumpkin is smaller you may just need to quarter it.

5. Next, place the pumpkin pieces into a shallow baking dish, skin-side down, cover with a lid (or foil), and roast in the oven at 400 degrees F for about one hour.

6. Scoop the flesh out into a food processor fitted with the "s" blade and process until a smooth puree forms. It should take a few minutes since your pumpkin will be on the drier side.

7. Scoop the puree into glass jars or storage containers and freeze or refrigerate until ready to use!


Recipes that use Pumpkin Puree: