I'm cooking pie pumpkins today ...

[dave1949]

Time to harvest pie pumpkins in Maine. Between saving wildlife and inadvertently offending school bus drivers, I'm putting up pie pumpkins.

Anybody have a favorite recipe or method of preserving pie pumpkins?

I am cutting them in half, seeding them, then baking for about 2 hrs. at 350 degrees F. Supposedly, the flesh can then be scooped out of the shell and frozen for later use. I have done this before except for the freezing. Makes excellent pumpkin pie and custard. No canned taste.

Any pumkin-oligists have methods to share?

Dave.

 

[Duffster]

I am cutting them in half, seeding them, then baking for about 2 hrs. at 350 degrees F. Supposedly, the flesh can then be scooped out of the shell and frozen for later use.

That is correct, but it needs to be pureed either before or after it is frozen.

 

[polo1665]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between "pie" pumpkins and the pumpkins that are sold on the roadside for carving and whatnot? Just wondering.

Mark

 

[nmu98]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between "pie" pumpkins and the pumpkins that are sold on the roadside for carving and whatnot? Just wondering.

Mark

Texture and taste.

 

[polo1665]

Texture and taste.

No doubt a correct answer, but not quite what I was looking for

 

[nmu98]

No doubt a correct answer, but not quite what I was looking for

But that is mostly the correct answer. Also, some of the best pumpkins used for cooking are actually squash types. They are smaller 4 to 10 pound pumpkins.

The most popular kind of baking pumpkins is small pie or 都ugar pumpkin. The flesh is oranger and sweeter than carving pumpkins.

 

[dave1949]

Duffster - Thanks for the confirmation. Knew about the puree req. I think I will puree after thawing (before use).

polo1665 - You got a good answer.

My pie pumpkins are the Baby Pam and New England Pie varieties from Johnny's Selected Seeds (www.johnnyseeds.com). Maybe checking that out will give you a better idea. The Baby Pams are about 6-8 inches diameter, the New England is around 9-10".

Dave.

 

[Milton Burro]

I've never made one but I am good at eating them. Be right over,,,

 

[dave1949]

Milton Burro - Welcome!

Be careful what you wish for. The last pumpkin pie I made I forgot to put the sugar in. I realized that - after it was half baked - sooooo I tried to work the sugar into the top.

That didn't work out so well. It was compost pile fodder. Where are the feeder hogs when you need them?

Dave.

 

[Bird]

Time to harvest pie pumpkins in Maine. Between saving wildlife and inadvertently offending school bus drivers, I'm putting up pie pumpkins.

Anybody have a favorite recipe or method of preserving pie pumpkins?

I am cutting them in half, seeding them, then baking for about 2 hrs. at 350 degrees F. Supposedly, the flesh can then be scooped out of the shell and frozen for later use. I have done this before except for the freezing. Makes excellent pumpkin pie and custard. No canned taste.

Any pumkin-oligists have methods to share?

Dave.

You're doing it just the way my wife does, except she cuts them into smaller pieces and cooks them in the microwave instead of baking in the big oven, then removes the skin or shell before freezing.

 

[dave1949]

You're doing it just the way my wife does, except she cuts them into smaller pieces and cooks them in the microwave instead of baking in the big oven, then removes the skin or shell before freezing.

Hi Bird,

I never thought about the microwave, cut up I bet it doesn't take to long.
Dave.

 

[Bird]

Yeah, Dave, of course the length of time depends on how much you put in there at a time, but it doesn't take long. She said she just cooks it awhile, then checks to see when it's soft and easy to remove from the peel.

 

[dave1949]

Thanks Bird,

I think I'll try the microwave if more get ripe. Down to 37 now and frost is forecast tonight. I have some on the edge of being ready, but they could use another week or so.

Dave.

 

[Bird]

I wish we'd get a frost, so maybe I wouldn't have to keep mowing my yard every 4 or 5 days.

 

[dave1949]

I wish we'd get a frost, so maybe I wouldn't have to keep mowing my yard every 4 or 5 days.

What is your usual first date? I think the usual here would be 2nd week of September, we are actually late this year.

I like frost too, it knocks down some of the bugs. We have mosquitos still and pesky gnats that love to crawl under a sweaty head band and bite.

Dave.

 

[Bird]

Of course it can vary, but I think our first frost is usually mid-November. For many years, we used to go to Port Aransas the Saturday before Thanksgiving. A week before that (second Saturday before Thanksgiving) was when I mowed the yard for the last time for the year and turned off the water to the outside hydrants. According to the NWS, it got down to 49 in the area this morning, although my thermometer only got down to 56. I might not have to mow as frequently, but I expect to have to keep mowing the yard until nearly Thanksgiving, and maybe even after Thanksgiving.

 

[polo1665]

But that is mostly the correct answer. Also, some of the best pumpkins used for cooking are actually squash types. They are smaller 4 to 10 pound pumpkins.

The most popular kind of baking pumpkins is small pie or 都ugar pumpkin. The flesh is oranger and sweeter than carving pumpkins.

That's the answer I was looking for I would like to grow some next year, just wondered what kind to look for. Thanks for the info.

Mark

 

[dave1949]

Morning Bird,

Well, I will be plowing snow while you mow in late November probably. Hard to say when the first snow deep enough to clear comes, but around that time is normal.

We did have our first frost this morning, 27 deg. I guess summer is over

I know what you mean about fall mowing, just when will it end is what I always wondered. Here, I just mow a small area (about 30' x 60') in front of the house. The rest gets hit with the bush hog once a year.

Dave.

 

[Bird]

Dave, your 27 degrees is a bit different from our (official) 57, although my own thermometer didn't get below 62 this morning. It got up to 80 yesterday, forecast for 89 today and 94 tomorrow.

 

[dave1949]

polo1665 -

Mark, You left off some important words on your signature:
Jawohl! Sofort Mein Schatz!

Dave.