Pumpkin Puree

Ingredients:

1 Fresh pie pumpkin (firm and bright orange, a 6-inch pumpkin should be enough for 1 pie)

Directions:

Wash the exterior of the pumpkin with cool or warm water (no soap). Cut the pumpkin in half. Scoop out the seeds and scrape the insides (you can save the seeds for planting or for roasting!).

Steam Method:

Use a steamer basket inside a large pot to steam the pumpkin. Cook until the insides are soft and easily pull away from the skin (this will probably take 20-30 minutes).

Roasting Method:

Place pumpkin halves face-down in a 9x13 casserole with about 1/2-inch of water at the bottom. Bake at 400 degrees until pumpkin meat is soft.

Scoop out the pumpkin.

Add the pumpkin to a food processor or blender to puree!

This puree made be used in recipes in place of canned pumpkin. Freezes well.

* From http://www.pickyourown.org/pumpkinpie.php