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Dinner in a Pumpkin

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Dinner in a Pumpkin

Baked pumpkin filled with savory meat and veggies - and best of all, you can eat the container! To call this Fall comfort food would be an understatement! Be sure to use a smaller pumpkin (4-5 lbs). If you need to serve more than 6, plan on using multiple pumpkins rather than one large pumpkin.
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Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 1 minute
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1 small to medium Pumpkin
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • 1½ to 2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
  • 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar optional
  • 1 can (4 ounces) sliced mushrooms drained (can use fresh and sauté lightly before adding)
  • 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) cream of chicken soup
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
  • 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts drained

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375º F.
  • Cut off the top of the pumpkin and thoroughly clean out the seeds and pulp. Rinse well and pat the inside dry.
  • In a large skillet, sauté the onions in oil until tender.
  • Add the meat and brown. Drain the drippings ,if any, from the skillet.
  • Add the soy sauce, brown sugar (if using), mushrooms and soup. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the cooked rice and water chestnuts. Stir to combine.
  • Spoon the mixture into the cleaned pumpkin shell. Replace the pumpkin top and place the filled pumpkin in a shallow cake pan or on a rimmed baking sheet which has been lined with foil.
  • Bake for 1 hour, or until the flesh of the pumpkin is tender and easily pierced with a fork. Depending on the size of the pumpkin - this could take up to 2 hours.
  • Put the pumpkin on a platter. Remove lid and serve the meat/rice filling. Don't forget to scoop out some of the cooked pumpkin to eat as well.

Notes

Make sure to use a rimmed baking sheet or pan as the pumpkin can get quite weepy during the baking process.  Lining it with either foil or parchment paper will aid in cleanup.
I have made this using a higher temperature (425 degrees) during the latter portion of the baking -which enabled me to bake cornbread at the same time - and had great success.  Just lightly cover the top of the pumpkin with foil to prevent browning/scorching if needed.
This meal can be made vegetarian by using a vegetable based soup, omitting the meat and adding additional vegetables - eggplant, celery, grated carrots, etc.  The vegetables will need to be sweated or sauteed before adding - to make sure that the filling isn't too moist.

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Here’s what’s Happening on the Homestead

Spring.  Just the word congers up images of blossoms and bunnies, eggs and chicks. . . . and catalogs filled with tableware, linens and all the fresh spring color imaginable. . . . so when my spring edition of the Pier1 catalog arrived – I was immediately drawn to devour every page.  The dinnerware, table settings, linens were, in typical Pier1 form, a wonderful feast for the eyes. pier1-catalog-page

But, there was one thing that especially drew my attention. . .their adorable folded napkins – especially the little bunnies in the upper right corner of the page. The catalog directed readers to log on to their website for instructions  – which I immediately did.

Upon arriving at the page, I  searched for the Bunny Fold pier-one-bunny-ears-directionsand found this.   I grabbed some cloth napkins (which happened to be from Pier1) and, following their directions, began folding.  It only took me to the 4th step to figure out that there was a real problem with the directions – they were rolling from the wrong side of the napkin. . . and by the final step – it was unmistakable.

wrong-way-bunny-napkinI had created this.  I took an unfolded napkin and the directions to my husband – who, as a builder, reads instructions for a living  . . . and his response was immediate – these are not right.  They have rolled from the long side and not the point – and used directions for a granny knot.  It needs to be an ‘overhand’ knot.  (50 plus years of scouting – he should know his knots!)

After making a few simple changes – rolling from the point and using an overhand knot – the finished product looked like the one in the Pier1 picture.  Success!    folded-bunny-napkin-perfection

 And so, as much as I LOVE Pier1, no one is infallible.  I have done my own set of instructions, including pictorials, for your use should you be wanting to try these little treasures.  Such a simple way to dress up a spring  or Easter table.

Just Click Here to go to the instructions.  Happy Spring!

Enjoy,

Kathy

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