Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin Seeds from one Pumpkin
• 2 TB of Vegetable Oil
• Chili Powder to Sprinkle
• Salt to Sprinkle

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Spread oil on a brownie pan.
• Lay seeds in one layer.
• Sprinkle with chili powder (I used ichimi, a Japanese chili powder) and salt.
• Bake in the oven for 45 minutes (or thereabouts!), checking every 10 minutes and stirring seeds.

Pumpkin Muffins

From Scratch -- The Photos

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cups Flour
• 2 TSP Baking Powder
• 3/4 TSP Salt
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 1/2 TSP Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 TSP Grated Nutmeg
• 4 TB Butter
• 1 EGG
• 1/2 Cup Mashed Pumpkin Flesh
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 1/2 Cup Golden Raisins

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Combine flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and spices in one bowl.
• In the microwave melt the butter in the milk (in mine, it takes about a minute and a half)
• In a second bowl, break eggs and add mashed pumpkin and raisins, stir well.
• Add milk and melted butter slowly while stirring.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
• Pour into the butter cups of a 12 cup muffin pan.
• Bake for approx. 20 minutes

Ideas:

Pour the batter into the bread pan of a bread machine. Using the "bake" setting results in a beautiful and tasty, sweet pumpkin bread.

Experimenting with Cheese (Ricotta)

Ricotta Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 Quart Whole Milk
• 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1 1/2 TB Lemon Juice

Prep: Line a large sieve with a layer of cheesecloth and place over a mixing bowl.

On the stove:

• Bring whole milk, heavy cream and salt to a rolling boil in a 6 quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
• Add fresh lemon juice.
• Reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly, until the mixture curdles.
• Pour the mixture in the lined sieve and let drain 1 hour.
• Discard liquid, chill Ricotta, covered. It will keep for 2 days. Will produce 1 cup.

Ideas:

• Divide into 2 dessert bowls and serve with honey and cinnamon.
• Bake on top of pizza.
• Crumble on top of pasta.
• Mix with herbs or garlic and a little olive oil and spread on top of bread.