What do I have in my Hand?

What do I have in my hand? It is a beautiful old expression often heard around the farm. It is meant encourage us to look at what we already have in a more creative way. There is so much around us! Everywhere we look there are common items that can be brought to new uses or perhaps brought back to their original purpose. What do you have in your hand? Look around you.

So what do I have in my hand? This time of year the answer is pumpkins! Although the thick fleshed pumpkins cultivated specifically for culinary purposes are wonderful, many people don't realize that decorative, jack-o-lantern pumpkins can be used the same way.

Pumpkins are easy to work with.
Cut it in half, remove seeds, place cut side down on a sheet pan and bake at 375F until soft

Cool, scoop out the flesh, puree in a food processor, then drain for a few hours in a colander set over a large bowl.

Once the puree is sufficiently drained it is ready to use in any recipe calling for canned pumpkin or you can freeze it to use later. Now you will never have a shortage of pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake, pumpkin butter... You get the idea!

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Cake

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh pumpkin puree
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cloves

Combine all ingredients, stir well. pour onto a buttered half sheet. Bake at 350f  for 25 min. until done.
When the cake is cool sift powdered sugar over the top and serve.