Fresh Pumkin

I bought some pie pumpkins at the pumpkin patch last week.  I love fresh pumpkin and it is a pretty easy process.  I paid a $1.50 per pie pumpkin so it is also cheaper than buying can pumpkin.  I would not recommend doing this with a regular carving pumpkin.  I think the pumpkin turns out to stringy but not so with pie pumpkins. 

                                       These are the pumpkins I bought minus one. 

                                                            First you break the stem off.

                                                      Cut the pumpkin in 1/2.

Scoop out the pulp and seeds.

     Wrap the pumpkin in saran wrap and cut a little slit in it.  Place the pumpkin in the microwave for approxitmaly15 minutes.  Your time may vary I don't have a very good microwave.  Cook until the inside of the pumpkin is soft. 

It is so hot when you take it out so be careful.  Let cool a bit.  This is what it looked like when I took it out of the microwave.

                                         This is what it looked like when I started scooping it out. 

This is it when I was done.

This is what it looks like out of the pumpkin.  I did mash it a bit with a potato masher.  Or you can run it   through a blender or food processor.  I did not think it really needed it.

I measured out 2 cups and placed in a baggie to freeze.  I did 2 cup portions since that is what most canned pumpkin you buy at the store comes in.

                            The 4 pumpkins gave me 7 bags of pumpkins filled with 2 cups each. 
It is so worth it.  I think it taste so much better than the canned pumpkin.  Let me know if you have ever done this before. 

Blessings

Crystal