How to Use Every Bit of Your Pumpkin

Recently my article was published in the Cherry Health newsletter about reducing your waste while simultaneously getting some extra nutrients from your pumpkin!

A good way to get your money’s worth in addition to being earth-friendly and reducing your food waste is to use as much of your food as possible. When we buy a pumpkin with the intent to carve it for a spooky jack-o-lantern we don’t always have a use for all the other parts. Here are some ways you can utilize all of your pumpkin:

  1. Carve the pumpkin for your family-fun jack-o-lantern! While carving, harvest all of the innards and seeds and store in your refrigerator until further use as soon as you can.
  2. Toast the pumpkin seeds as a snack!
  3. Use the pumpkin guts for a pie. Pumpkin is rich in fiber and protein for feeling full longer, and beta-carotene and potassium that help your muscles and eyes work their best.

Pumpkin pie:

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups mashed, cooked pumpkin
  • 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ t. ground cinnamon
  • ½ t. ground ginger
  • ½ t. ground nutmeg
  • ½ t. salt
  • Pre-made pie crust OR homemade

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
  • Prepare pie crust or simply place into pie pan
  • In large bowl, beat pumpkin with evaporated milk, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt with an electric mixer or immersion blender.
  • Pour into prepared crust
  • Bake 40 minutes or until a knife is inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean.

More information available here.

To view the published article click the link below:

https://www.cherryhealth.org/2019/10/how-to-use-every-bit-of-your-pumpkin/

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