pumpkin on the brain

what's playing in the kitchen? 

besides Handel's Messiah?... which is stuck on repeat on my mental turntable

She & Him - Holiday

Zooey Deschanel's voice can put anyone in the mood

Spiced PUMPKIN BREAD -A favorite in my house 

Farmer Johns favorite pumpkin bread

Paula Deen's always good for something with cream cheese - (a hit at Christmas advent)

Pumpkin Cheesecake
drizzled with  
Nigella Lawson's sticky toffee sauce 
and cinnamon whipped cream

Spiced Pumpkin cream cheese

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon cloves 

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1. In a small bowl, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, and syrup til creamy.

2. Add pumpkin, spices and vanilla and beat til smooth.

3. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

Pumpkin lattes anyone?

PUMPKIN SYRUP 

Boil:  

• one cup Pumpkin Puree
• one cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 cup Water
• 2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• ½ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoons Ground Cloves
• one teaspoon vanilla

It will be delicious as is.  OR strain out spices through a coffee filter for syrup with a smoother texture.  Otherwise pour into a bottle, and keep refrigerated. Add to coffee or pour over ice cream. 

Pumpkin soup baked in a pumpkin

(you can find many different recipes for this online, including from Julia Child. Or this one from Ruth Riehl)

Here's my version.

Empty out one small pumpkin - 4-5 pound size.  Cut top off and keep it whole like a lid.  Scrape out the membrane and seeds.  Fill 1/2 way to the top with half and half.  Add 4 oz fresh goat cheese to cream and 1/2-1 cup grated asiago (or use any other grated hard cheese that you like). Add one finely grated garlic clove and freshly grated 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg into the cream.  Add one teaspoon thyme.  Season with salt and pepper. Top with cleaned lid of pumpkin.  Place on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 350degrees for 45 minutes. 

Try Roasting some for a salad:

Spiced Pumpkin Lentil & Goat Cheese Salad