Tuesday, September 24, 2019

16 Delicious Things You Can Make from a Pumpkin

homemade pumpkin spice liqueur

Canned is cool, but cooking with actual pumpkins, from scratch, is better. Maybe you went pumpkin picking and ended up with a few too many. Or you carved some pretty amazing jack-o’-lanterns and now you have a pile of pumpkin innards on your table. Fear not: Here are 16 ideas to turn fall’s iconic porch decoration into something delicious. Most of these recipes start with a base of pumpkin purée (see number 1 below) that is simple to make and keeps for months in the freezer.

1. Pumpkin Purée

pumpkin puree

Shutterstock

Follow easy instructions for steaming or roasting, whichever you prefer, and pumpkin purée can be on your table in less time than it takes to walk to the store to pick up a can. Freeze it in ice trays and you’ll have cubes of homemade pumpkin flavor to add to your recipes for weeks, or freeze by the half cup for future baking projects. Get the Pumpkin Purée recipe.

Related Reading: The Best of Pumpkins: Why They’re The Ultimate Fall Fruit

2. Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

pumpkin spice cupcakes with spiced pumpkin cream cheese frosting

Chowhound

Pumpkin does two primary things to a cake batter: keeps it deliciously moist, and serves as the best medium for the kind of spices that taste perfect in cool weather (allspice, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon). Here, pumpkin and spice combine for cupcakes. Top with Pumpkin–Cream Cheese Frosting for the best of all fall treats. Get our Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes recipe.

Cupcake Stand, $19.80 on Amazon

Before eating them, take the time to show off your cupcake creations.
Buy Now

3. Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

Chowhound

Pumpkin pie will always and forever have a special place in our hearts. There are times, however, when we crave opening up our dessert squad to some new favorites. That’s when this delicious (and beautiful) cheesecake re-enters our world. Get our Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake recipe.

4. Pumpkin Tortelloni with Sage and Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Tortelloni with Sage and Pumpkin Seeds

Chowhound

San Francisco chef Thomas McNaughton taught us this next-level fall recipe. Flavorful, sweet Cinderella pumpkin (seasoned with a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cider vinegar) becomes the best pasta filling ever. A brown butter and sage sauce finishes them off beautifully. Get our Pumpkin Tortelloni with Sage and Pumpkin Seeds recipe.

5. Pumpkin Pie Flans

Pumpkin Pie Flans

Chowhound

Sour cream adds a subtle depth of flavor to this smooth custard mix, with traditional pie spices: cinnamon and allspice. Caramel in the bottom of the ramekins turns into a topping and sauce in one, when the finished custards are inverted onto serving plates. A few crumbled graham crackers make a perfect garnish. Get our Pumpkin Pie Flans recipe.

Related Reading: We Taste-Tested Some of the Wildest Pumpkin Spice Products

6. Pumpkin-Spice Liqueur

homemade pumpkin spice liqueur

Chowhound

Better than any artificial syrup you can get from a coffee chain, this booze-based fall cordial captures the earthy-sweet flavor of pumpkin and the holiday taste of sweet spices. Use a good-quality aged rum, such as Appleton or Flor de Caña. Get our Pumpkin-Spice Liqueur recipe.

7. Pepitas

nacho cheese pumpkin seeds

Chowhound

Save the seeds from jack-o’-lantern carving and spread them out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 7 minutes, checking frequently to make sure they’re not burning. Take a peek at our guide for interesting flavors to try out.

8. Smoothies

Use some of the aforementioned purée (see number 1) to add some great nutrition to a breakfast smoothie. Combine pumpkin purée in the blender with ice (or frozen banana), pumpkin pie spices, and milk (dairy- or nut-based) with a little honey or agave or maple syrup to sweeten. Get the Pumpkin Pie Smoothie recipe.

9. Pumpkin Seed and Nut Brittle

Pumpkin Seed and Nut Brittle

Chowhound

This is a great way to get some healthy nuts and seeds into dessert. Get our Pumpkin Seed and Nut Brittle recipe.

10. Pumpkin Butter

If you think apple butter’s good, wait until you try its pumpkin cousin. This recipe is loaded with seasonally appropriate spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg) and makes an amazing spread for toast. (You can make it in the slow cooker too, if you prefer.) Get the Pumpkin Butter recipe.

Related Reading: Apple Butter Beyond Toast: Uncommon Uses for Fall’s Favorite Condiment

11. Pumpkin Dip

Served in a pumpkin shaped bowl, this sweet dip looks great as a centerpiece and is a no-fuss no-bake treat you can whip together in minutes. It goes great with any kind of cookie or even apple slices. Bonus points if you serve it inside an actual pumpkin. Get the Pumpkin Dip recipe.

12. Pumpkin Bread

creative ways to use pumpkin bread this fall

Shutterstock

Banana, zucchini—why not pumpkin bread? For better flavor, use your homemade purée instead of canned. Get our Pumpkin Bread recipe.

13. Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Chowhound

Delicious tossed with olive oil and shallots or even turned into soup. Our Chowhound recipe for the latter is a great way to use up the pieces of the jack-o’-lantern you discarded in the name of art. Get our Roasted Pumpkin Soup recipe.

14. Pumpkin Fries

sweet potato fry recipe

Chowhound

Instead of sweet potatoes, make fries from pumpkin! The color is amazing and you can experiment with different seasonings like onion powder, curry, garlic, cayenne, and more. Get the Pumpkin Fries recipe.

15. Pumpkin Chips

Homemade Sweet Potato Crisps with Smoked Paprika (Barbecue Sweet Potato Chips)

Chowhound

Get rid of the guilt and make pumpkin chips your new go-to afternoon snack. Use a mandolin slicer to make them uniform and you won’t be able to tell the difference between store-bought Terra Chips and your own baked-not-fried alternative! Get the Pumpkin Chips recipe.

16. Pumpkin Pudding

View this post on Instagram

{NEW RECIPE} This Pumpkin Pudding tastes just like pumpkin pie! I actually think it might be better since you don’t have to make a crust!! It’s thick, creamy, and perfect for getting your pumpkin fix 🎃 . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This recipe is Paleo and SCD friendly! It’s free of gluten, dairy, eggs, and refined sugar! . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Click the link in my bio for the recipe! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #scd #scddiet #specificcarbohydratediet #dairyfreelife #glutenfreedessert #paleotreats #paleotreat #paleodessert #eggfree #dairyfreedessert #paleorecipes #theundiet #thenewhealthy #refinedsugarfree #wholesomefood #falldesserts #pumpkinpudding #healthytreat #kidfriendlyfood #healthyfoodrecipes #healthyfoodchoices #ulcerativecolitis #chronicillnesswarrior #autoimmunedisease #invisibleillness #nodairy #nogluten #bhgfood

A post shared by Jen 🍋 Healthy Recipes (@alifeofhappenstance) on

Use your homemade purée (see number 1) to make this simple pumpkin pudding. This comforting dessert is a homey addition to an autumn dinner party. Get the Pumpkin Pudding recipe.

Check out all the best of pumpkins on Chowhound.

Related Video: The Fastest Pumpkin Pie You’ll Ever Make



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2mSdh2G
via IFTTT
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Creamy Polenta

Creamy polenta! This light and fluffy polenta is perfect for serving with ribs, chicken, pork, lamb, or veal, and is also great with roasted veggies.

Continue reading "Creamy Polenta" »



from Simply Recipes https://ift.tt/2lijiWg
via IFTTT
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to Make Your Favorite Trader Joe’s Products at Home

Everyone knows shopping at Trader Joe’s can be an anxiety-inducing experience. The crowded after-work rush, the snaking lines, the having to shove through people to get to the refrigerated sections along the perimeter of the store, the sinking feeling when you’re a person away from checking out and just remembered that you forgot something all the way back in produce. It’s all you can do to muster the self-control to wait until you get home and crack open the Two Buck Chuck.

But we still do it, why? Because the value is incredible and so many of the products really are great. I find the ones I gravitate to the most offer easy, convenient solutions to items that fall a bit beyond my skill level (chocolate croissants and spatchcocked chicken) or standard home ingredient database (chicken tikka masala). But for those times when my nerves just aren’t up to heading to battle on the grocery store floor, I like to challenge myself to making some of my favorite TJ’s items at home. Check out these DIY hacks for some of the chain’s most popular items.

Related Reading: Keep This $3 Trader Joe’s Staple Around for Easy Weeknight Meals

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Don’t assume you have to be a wizard with a wok to master the art of making TJ’s beloved Mandarin orange chicken at home. It’s really pretty simple: Whisk together an orangey, ginger-spiked marinade, pour some over pieces of boneless, skinless chicken breast, batter the seasoned meat in cornstarch, fry in vegetable oil, and cover in the remaining sauce. Think about it, it’s like you’re hacking your takeout hack. Get the Chinese Orange Chicken recipe.

Cauliflower Rice

cauliflower rice

Chowhound

A popular item since day one, Trader Joe’s riced cauliflower continually tops the store’s annual customer choice awards and is a staple among the “Best Of” lists. And it’s easy to understand why: The veggie “rice” is a legit, genuinely tasty alternative for folks looking to keep their diet grain-free.

Sure, for less than $3 a bag, I get why you might want to just throw money at the problem and save yourself the elbow grease. But really, it couldn’t be easier to make at home. All it takes is a head of cauliflower and a food processor (or box grater, if you’re old-school), and boom, just like that, you have the base ingredient for any number of creative meals. Get our Cauliflower Rice recipe.

Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Food Processor, $38.99 on Amazon

Not only is this mini food processor easy to store, it's also easy on the wallet.
Buy Now

Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza with Cauliflower Crust

A clever riff on ways to use riced cauliflower, this flavorful, close-enough-to-the-real-thing dough is a great way to feel like you don’t have to skimp on indulgences just because you’re gluten-free. Go classic with a fail-safe marinara and cheese pie, or branch out with other favorite toppings like pepperoni or keep it all in the family, so to speak, with a medley of roasted veggies. Get the Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza with Cauliflower Crust recipe.

Easy Baked Mac & Cheese

baked mac and cheese

Chowhound

I totally get the appeal of keeping the freezer stocked with something like a box of mac and cheese for those nights when you just don’t feel like cooking. There’s a reason why people can’t get enough of TJ’s Joe’s Diner Mac & Cheese: It’s inexpensive, cooks up in less than five minutes, and delivers on the gooey, cheesy goodness you love. And don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have on hand in a pinch, but still, let’s be honest, it’ll never quite stack up to the homemade stuff. Either the pasta’s a little over, or the sauce needs a little seasoning boost, or it’s missing that great, iconic crust.

While this three-cheese version requires a little more time and effort, it’s doesn’t over-complicate things and offers helpful tips on how to keep the noodles from overcooking or becoming gluey. Plus, the texture from the crunchy, butter panko breadcrumb crust is impossible to beat. Get our Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

Related Reading: These Vegan Cheeses Are (Almost) as Good as the Real Thing

Carne Asada

carne asada

Chowhound

I get why the Carne Asada Autentica is a favorite item of the TJ’s “butcher” section, the thin strips of seasoned sirloin steak are a favorite filling for tacos or burritos, or served simply over a little cilantro-flecked rice. But the only thing between you and a homemade version are a couple basic seasonings like lemon, lime, garlic, red onion, a little brown sugar, salt and pepper, and a couple cups of light Mexican beer. Now, go ahead and treat yourself to the rest of the beer as a pat on the back for knowing how to recognize when homemade is as easy as store bought. Get our Carne Asada recipe.

Cheese Crisps

The popularity of Trader Joe’s—excuse me, Trader Giotto’s—Oven-Baked Cheese Bites proves that I’m not the only one who likes the idea of combining two favorite snack items, cheese and chips, into one. Because that’s basically what these are, chips made out of cheese. And you haven’t even heard the best part yet: The protein-rich, carb-free snack is actually pretty good for you (or at least, certainly more so than my beloved Cheez-Its or salt & vinegar chips).

A take on the Italian frico, you can keep the formula simple with by sticking to a straight cheese variety, or juje up the (fantastically easy, basic) formula with “everything” seasoning or fiery jalapeños. Get the Cheese Crisps recipe.

Pastrami Smoked Salmon

It used to be that every time I made a TJ’s run, I just had to pick up a packet of their pastrami-style Atlantic smoked salmon. And, really it’s great—lots of flavorful seasoning and perfect for my regular bagel and a schmear. Problem was, I’d find myself ready to restock almost right away, it went that quickly. Tricky, since the point was kind of to have an option less expensive than forming a habit at the neighborhood deli.

Turns out the solution is simple: Make your own smoked salmon. It’s one of those great dishes that looks impressive, rakes in the “oohs” and “aahs,” but behind the scenes requires hardly any effort and just a little patience. Not to mention it leaves me with ample supply to go beyond the basic bagel and experiment with everything from a classic benedict to hash, to a savory breakfast casserole. Get the Pastrami Smoked Salmon recipe.

Peanut Butter Cups

peanut butter cups recipe

Chowhound

I have yet to meet a Trader Joe’s regular who hasn’t wanted to gush about their Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, and understandably so. But I’d like to issue a challenge to the fans of the craveable confection: Why not try making a batch at home?

Admittedly, tempering chocolate can be a little tricky, but once you get the hang of it it’s not all that bad. Besides, think of the kudos you’ll get from your friends (and the shame you’ll be spared from having to admit to the cashier that, yes, you already went through the box you bought just a couple days ago). Get our Peanut Butta Cups recipe.

Triple Ginger Snaps

View this post on Instagram

Triple Ginger Snaps They’re so sparkly ✨True, it may be a touch early for gingersnaps but it’s been in the 70s and breezy in Northern California which means apples, cinnamon, and pumpkin. And apparently ginger. 😬 Triple ginger to be exact. Candied, ground, and fresh all mixed together with cinnamon and molasses for extra bite. They’re snappy and delicious, and even @fabiencartal, (who is skeptical of my spicy desserts since biting into an extra strong #ginger bar *on my blog*, thinking it was a brownie), was able to help me polish off this batch with ease 😉 . . . #gingersnap #gingersnaps #candiedginger #crystalizedginger #gingercookies #cookies #cookiemonster #gingermolasses #gingermolassescookies #gingersnapcookies #tripleginger #triplegingersnaps #groundginger #spicycookies #cookie #food52 #feedfeed #feedfeedbaking #thefeedfeed #tastydessert #tasty #yummy #yum #molasses #bakefromscratch #bakingcookies

A post shared by ABeeBakes🐝🍯 (@abeebakes) on

Inspired by the real deal, these homemade cookies replicate the powerful punch of spicy ginger flavor that makes the store-bought version so popular. The batter’s three-pronged approach includes mixing in not just a heaping serving of both fresh and ground ginger, but also features chunks of crystallized ginger candy throughout. And then once you’ve mastered those, you can up the ante by using the snaps as the base for sandwich cookies filled with bright, lemony icing. Get the Triple Ginger Snaps recipe.

Cookie Butter

spiced cookie butter

Chowhound

No offense to peanuts or almonds, I know you’ve been in the game a long time, but there’s just no competing with butter made from cookies. Just take it from the legions of Trader Joe’s shoppers who’ve made the Speculoos Cookie Butter a best-selling cult sensation. It’s crack. Creamy, spiced, spreadable cookie-flavored crack that’s as delicious on waffles, crepes, and toast with jam as is it is mixed into cake batter or used as a dip for pretzels and fresh fruit.

And like any good enabler, I feel it’s my responsibility to let you know that their addictive stuff is super easy to make at home. Like, throw some graham crackers in a food processor with some sugar, spices, and oil, kind of easy. Get our Spiced Cookie Butter recipe.

Cold-Brew Coffee

cold brew coffee

Chowhound

I’ll be honest, I shudder to think about what I’ve spent over the years on coffee that I could have just as easily made at home. Iced coffee in particular is a money pit. I thought switching over to coffee concentrate would help—I’m a big fan of the excellent French Roast version Trader Joe’s makes—but really, there’s no denying that the most reasonable option will always be to make your own cold-brew at home. The process is as simple as can be and doesn’t require any special equipment (just a little creativity when it comes to flavoring agents—vanilla bourbon, anyone?). Get our Basic Cold-Brewed Coffee recipe.

Related Video: We Taste-Tested Trader Joe’s Staff Picks



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2gD9EqT
via IFTTT
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)