Cool weather, scarecrows and pumpkins; trees full of foliage so beautiful with every color on every leaf; the smell of bonfires in the air. Fall is here. And fall cooking is fun with Fundcraft!

Ever wondered what cooking with Pumpkins is like? It’s not just all about the favorite of all – Pumpkin Pie. Fundcraft Publishing, one of the nation’s leading cookbook publishing companies, presents some great ideas. Also visit Cookbooks.com, Fundcraft’s cookbook site with the largest recipe database for your enjoyment.

Yes, it’s time to spice up your kitchen with the aroma of pumpkin, falls favorite and most popular cooking item. Whether you are cooking for a cookbook fundraising project, or just for the family, cooking with pumpkins is fun and full of diversity.

Cooking with Pumpkins

Pumpkin pie is a long-time family favorite and holiday tradition, although pumpkins offer a diverse culinary experience beyond just pumpkin pie. Early Americans were introduced to this fruit (yes, it is a fruit) by Native Americans. They used it for many dishes including soups and created tasty desserts by slicing off the top of the pumpkin and scooping out the seeds. They then filled the cavity with milk, spices and honey baking it in the hot ashes of a fire. Actually this recipe was the predecessor to today’s holiday pumpkin pie that most all of us eat each year in the fall!

Nutritional Benefits of Pumpkins

Cooking with Pumpkins is healthy cooking! Pumpkins are a nutrition-rich food full of beta-carotene which results in the beautiful orange color. Beta-carotene is an important antioxidant that turns into vitamin A in the body and provides many health benefits including a decreased risk of the development of heart disease and various types of cancers.

One cup of cooked pumpkin is a mere 49 calories and delivers protein, dietary fiber, calcium, iron and a host of other nutrients including folate and vitamins A, C and E. The oil from the pumpkin can also be used as a dietary supplement to provide healthy prostate function. In the early American times, pumpkins were used to remove freckles and cure snakebites!

Now, how about getting just one more pumpkin pie recipe to add to your collection!

Pumpkin Pie from Fundcraft and Cookbooks.com!

PUMPKIN PIE - UNBAKED PIE SHELL

1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin

1 (12 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour into pie shell. Bake 15 minutes at 425°; then reduce heat and bake 35 to 40 minutes longer at 350°.

Ever had Pumpkin Soup?

PUMPKIN SOUP IN PUMPKIN SHELL

1 small can pumpkin (15 oz.)

1/4 c. butter

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ginger

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

3 c. chicken broth

1 c. light cream

1 oz. brandy

salt and pepper to taste

4 lb. pumpkin (top cut, scooped and hollowed to form bowl)

Melt butter and sauté onion until soft. Add spices and broth; bring to a boil. Add pumpkin and return to boil. Lower heat and slowly add cream. Do not boil. When thoroughly heated, add brandy. Adjust seasoning. Pour into pumpkin to serve. Yields 6 to 8 servings.

Happy Holidays and enjoy your fall pumpkins from the nations leading cookbook fundraising company, Fundcraft Publishing and Cookbooks.com!

Visit Fundcraft.com today and find out how you can win $1,000 in the Fundcraft Hometown Recipe Contest!