Pumpkin pie is standard fare at most Thanksgiving feasts. Many of us look forward to eating it for dessert once a year. However, if you are tired of that thick, sweet piece of pie at the end of this already-filling meal, consider these interesting alternatives.
Pumpkin is a very nutritious fruit — not a vegetable as most of us believe. Its scientific name is “cucurbita maxima,” which reflects the possibility of its “maximum” size. In fact, The World Pumpkin Federation reports the largest pumpkin ever grown weighed more than 1,000 pounds! There are about 26 varieties of pumpkin, ranging in color from bright orange to pale yellow and green.
You can find pumpkin mixed into soups, salads, main dishes, desserts (other than pies) and even drinks. Here are a few different ideas to get your culinary juices flowing: pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin-chicken chili, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin muffins, scones, cookies, bars and breads, pumpkin butter, pumpkin-pecan cheesecake, pumpkin beer, pumpkin fudge,and pumpkin creme brulee. Recipes for these and many other pumpkin dishes are plentiful and readily available at your...