Pumpkin ideas

Pumpkin ideas

It’s hard to imagine that pumpkin is actually a food and can be used to feed your LO a good source of vitamin A, bête carotene, potassium, iron and a good source of protein. It’s not just a decorative ghoul filled with candles put in the window on the 31st October.  They are part of the squash family (butternut squash, cucumbers), so can be cooked in the same manner as the butternut squash. Adding cinnamon to pumpkin enhances it into a sweet, warming flavor so ideal also for desserts.

If you are carving a pumpkin and don’t want to throw away the flesh try the following recipes:

Baby Purees/stage 1

Pumpkin and apple

Pumpkin and peaches

Pumpkin and sweet potato

Pumpkin and carrots

Pumpkins and banana (banana does not need to be cooked)

Roast the pumpkin flesh on a medium heat for about 30=40 minutes until soft, cook the chosen ingredients ready to puree, roast, boil or steam then add the pumpkin (or can cook together) and allow to cool before serving. Blend to the desired consistency for your LO. Can be frozen for upto one month or kept in the fridge for 3-4 days.

For stage two weaning the above can be mashed to allow a lumpy texture.

Stage 3/older kids/the adults

Pumpkin soups

Pumpkin pie

Pumpkin Risotto

Soup:-

Fry a little garlic and an onion in a large pan, add 1.5 pints of water (enough to almost fill the pan). Add a baby/salt free stock cube (chicken or vegetable flavor). Throw in a mix of thickly cut chunky vegetables, such as carrots, butternut squash pieces, sweet potato, (can add lentils if desired) and of course the flesh from the pumpkin. Add a spoon of Nutmeg, cinnamon and a sprinkle of black pepper.  Bring to the boil then slowly simmer until the vegetables are soft and the water reduced. Add approx 200mls of double cream or sour cream and stir in well (it will look like it will curdle at first but keep stirring). You can serve thick and chunky or blend to make creamy without chunks.  A lovely family meal for Halloween.

Roasted Pumpkin pieces can be given as finger foods, you can leave it plain or add a sprinkle of cinnamon before roasting.

Enjoy!

PS- we are thinking about trying a pumpkin pie (for the adults and big kids), I'll let you know how it goes!