Updated 12/24/2012 07:38 AM
Think outside the pie
Halloween may be over, but that doesn’t mean pumpkin is out of style! If you have more cans of it lingering in your cupboards, there are plenty of ways you can use pumpkin to capture the season.
Think outside the pie! Pumpkin adds a creaminess to dishes and goes well in cold weather comfort foods. Have you ever considered using pumpkin in lasagna? Try using it with ricotta and spinach, smoothed between layers of lasagna sheets and baked until crispy on top.
You could also try it in a risotto, topped with sautéed Brussel sprouts and crispy pancetta. Don’t be intimated by risotto – it’s easier than it looks! Just cook it along until the rice softens up, and then stir in your pumpkin and plenty of cheese. You can easily keep it vegetarian-friendly by using vegetable broth and skipping the pancetta.
Drink suggestion: Bump up the pumpkin factor by sipping a seasonal pumpkin ale with your dinner! Lots of breweries make their own seasonal beers that would go perfectly with these recipes.
If you have a hankering for something sweet, pumpkin goes great in lots of baked goods. Try it in muffins with cranberry, and you have a great breakfast-on-the-go!