Fall Fest: Pumpkins Are For More Than Just Carving

Pumpkins make great jack-o-lanterns but before you toss all those stringy insides and slimy seeds, take a look at these tasty recipes that put pumpkin insides to good use.

By: Cameron Curtis

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Cooking channel's Pumpkin Patch Mash

Our season-long garden party Fall Fest 2012 welcomes food and garden bloggers to feature garden-to-table recipes and tips. We’ll feature favorite garden-to-table recipes and tips to help you enjoy the bounty, whether you’re harvesting your own goodies or buying them fresh from the market. Fresh this week: pumpkin.

Pumpkins make great jack-o-lanterns but before you toss all those stringy insides and slimy seeds, take a look at these tasty recipes that put pumpkin insides to good use.

1. Pumpkin Patch Mash (pictured above)

Skip mashed potatoes as a side dish for dinner tonight in favor of mashed pumpkin. Cook boiled pumpkin with cream, butter and brown sugar and mix until smooth. Top with crispy fried pumpkin seeds and a sprinkle of brown sugar.

2. Pumpkin and Rosemary Muffins

Lorraine Pascale's muffins don't rise much but they have a very flavorful center thanks to freshly cooked pumpkin and finely chopped fresh rosemary. They'll make a great breakfast, lunch or midday snack.

A loaf of Brown Pumpkin Bread with one slice removed that is placed on a plain white surface

Photo by: Tara Donne ©Food Network

Tara Donne, Food Network

3. Alton's Pumpkin Bread

Alton uses freshly shredded pumpkin and toasted pumpkin seeds in the batter for his moist pumpkin bread that takes just twenty minutes of prep time.

Caramelized White Chocolate and Pumpkin Cheesecake

Cooking Channel: The Voltaggio Brothers Take On Thanksgiving (behind the scenes). Bryan and Michael Voltaggio.

Ed Anderson, 2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

4. Caramelized White Chocolate and Pumpkin Cheesecake

The Voltaggio Brothers put a modern twist on classic pumpkin cheesecake and incorporate pureed roasted butternut squash or pumpkin into the pie filling.