General Chat

In a local village, Slindon, there is a place that sells all kinds of squash. They make a big display and we like to visit every year.

We generally buy a small pumpkin because we like to make a pumpkin pie. This year we have a small pumpkin and a spaghetti marrow. It is all we need.

last night Fred was telling me about California gunboats and pointing toward the television, I assumed it was something he had seen on the television, maybe about the convoys, but no. It was in that direction. Next door maybe? No, but in that direction.

The cottage ? No, but in that direction.

Having tried every place along our road, it finally turned out that a man half way along has pumpkins outside the gate for sale and did I want one?

If Fred is asking he wants to buy one. Another little duty for him and a different one as well.

Anybody want some California gunship pie? There will be plenty.

Don't suggest I make soup. Fred won't eat it if he can help it. I think it might be poofy or in some other way detrimental to his pose.

Mmm sounds interesting.... Would that be spiced?

You could always make a vegetable curry instead if the pie size was becoming too great.

Gwyn

Well, no. Curry is foreign muck and also detrimental to his pose.

Would you like my recipe for pumpkin muffins?

:-D

Yes please.

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

Mix together in a large bowl:

2 cups white sugar
1+1/2 cups vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind
1 cup cooked & mashed pumpkin
1 cup cooked & mashed apple (or use apple sauce/puree)

In a separate bowl... sift together

3+1/2 cups Plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda (bicarb soda)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon salt

Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture.

Then add...

1 cup sultanas
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped dried apricots (or dates)

Preheat oven to 180C/350F

Makes about 24 muffins......... cook about 35 mins
3 loaf pans.... cook about 45 mins

I usually make 24 muffins & freeze them, they take about 30 second to defrost in the microwave. They're nicer to eat when they're warm.

Hope you like them. :-D

Will we soon see these pumpkins crossing the channel?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-24653190

Set him adrift in a pumpkin!

Please don't tempt me.

Would I do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sharron ~

This may be of interest ~

http://food.ninemsn.com.au/recipes/360974/fabulous-pumpkin-recipes-for-halloween.slideshow

:-D

I am not fussy about pumpkin but I know we all like pumpkin pie, which isn't like that one incidentally.

Don't think Fred will eat soup if he can help it I think it might be poofy.

It will probably have to be cake or scones I think.

Thank you for finding it for me.

I looked at the recipes, they'e either ones I already make (soup & scones) or ones I'm not interested in (neither of us like pumpkin pie), but I fancy the chicken one....

CHICKEN WITH PUMPKIN & GINGER

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup sliced green onions
1 heaped tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
500g skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 2cm cubes
1kg butternut pumpkin, peeled and cut into 2cm cubes
1½ tablespoons honey
1 cup (250ml) chicken stock
Rice noodles, to serve
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

1. Heat a wok or large frying pan over moderate heat, then add oil. When hot, but not smoking, add green onions and ginger and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Then add chicken and cook for a further 2 minutes, or until golden on all sides (depending on the size of your pan, you may have to do this in batches). Remove from the wok with a slotted spoon and set aside.

2. Place pumpkin and honey in the wok and stir-fry over high heat for 2 minutes. Return chicken, add stock and bring to the boil, scraping up any browned bits. Cover the wok and simmer for 5 minutes, or until pumpkin is tender and chicken is cooked through.

3. Serve with noodles and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

My pumpkin pie is just cubed pumpkin, stewed with a bit of sugar and some sultanas. A bit of ginger if I am feeling exotic, some lemon peel if I have a lemon or even a clove or two.

That is put between two crusts and baked.

You can do it with a marrow just as well.

We were put off pumpkin pie when we lived in the US. Tried many of them, home-made, supermarket, bakery...... just not for us.

We got weird looks when we gave friends in the US pumpkin soup...... but they all liked it, and asked for the recipe!

These days we've gone off pumpkin soup..... have sweet potato & lentil soup instead.

Oh no, not sweet potato!

I have used them but just can't get my head around a potato being sweet.

Did a lovely drop of hanging soup last week. What wanted using up in the veg rack, carrot, swede, pepper, parsnip, onion, and a carton of vegetable juice that had been taking up space in the fridge for far too long.

I couldn't liquidise it because "I have been a chef for forty years" has broken my liquidiser. A bread roll would not break up so he persevered and stripped all the splines. I'll strip his bloody splines for him!!!!!