Celebrating pumpkins is about more than just making pumpkin pie and carving jack-o-lanterns. You can also make a pumpkin cake, roast pumpkin seeds, make pumpkin syrup to pour in coffee, cook up some pumpkin soup, or bake pumpkin bread.
Every year, billions of people head to their favorite coffee or beverage shop for pumpkin-flavored beverages. But they can be made at home for a fraction of the cost, and they taste so much better.
I am starting with my classic favorite pumpkin pie recipe because it is special. I use maple syrup to give it an extra layer of flavor. It also has a special mixture of spices instead of using pumpkin pie spice that makes it unique.
Who needs turkey or ham when you can make pumpkin pot roast? This tender beef is cooked to perfection in a blend of fall flavors with sweet pumpkin chunks and some tangy pineapple tossed in too. The sweet and savory tastes are great together.
You can never have too much cheese or pumpkin. This savory side dish is perfect for the holiday season. It is easy to make with canned pumpkin and a handful of simple ingredients. But its the gruyere cheese that makes it so incredible.
For a mildly sweet bread with chewy cranberries topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds, this pumpkin focaccia goes great with pumpkin soup or any kind of soup. All you need is pumpkin puree, berries, and some baking items.
I like to serve this as an appetizer, lunch, side dish, or even a hearty meal with some bread and a salad. It is thick and rich with fresh pumpkin to give it lots of nourishment. Topped with pumpkin seeds for crunch, my kids love this stuff.