Pumpkin has become one of my favorite ingredients (I recall years ago hating it!). Beginning in October my pumpkin craving starts, I try to make as many pumpkin dishes as possible, resulting in a pumpkin burnout by January!
So far this year I’ve made pumpkin mochi, pumpkin empanadas, pumpkin apple bread, pumpkin coffeecake, and pumpkin cheesecake – not to mention the pumpkin spice coffee I’ve been drinking every morning, and those delicious pumpkin breakfast bars from Trader Joe’s…
The pumpkin mochi was okay, not my favorite, a little too custardy for my taste, I’ll have to try some different recipes before sharing. But the rest, well let’s just say, my pumpkin hankering is being well met!
Today I made pumpkin coffeecake for breakfast and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert (yes, two pumpkin treats in one day). I found the recipe for the coffeecake on this delightful blog: http://gilltypleasure.com/pumpkin-coffee-cake/. It was unbelievable, the streusel topping – brilliant.
The cheesecake was from a recipe I posted last year (http://thefortuitouscook.com/?p=157), however I changed it up a little by substituting mascarpone cheese for cream cheese and making little individual servings – my daughter’s idea, who helped me out with the baking tonight.
The pumpkin empanadas, those are going to be a staple, and I’m sure many more will be made this holiday season. The recipe can be found here http://www.muybuenocookbook.com/2010/10/pumpkin-empanadas/.
The pumpkin apple-bread was a school project for my daughter. She had to design a new apple, so her creation was the pumpkin apple, brought to life by her amazing father. Her class raved about the bread and the pumpkin! http://nwfarmsandfood.com/index.php/pumpkin-apple-bread
My little pumpkin has grown up and has a couple of pumpkins of her own. Many of these delicious dishes have found their way to my table. How lucky I am on all counts.