Pie Pumpkins and a Birthday

I roasted one of the pie pumpkins I bought at Blake's Cider Mill last week.  It was really quite easy... I cut it in half and scooped out the insides.  Then placed it cut side down on a parchment lined pan, rubbed it with oil [I used Olive Oil], pierced it in a few places with a knife and roasted it in a 350 preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until it was soft when pierced.  When cooled, the pulp separates very easily from the skin and it's ready to be pureed in a blender.  My pumpkin yielded about 4 cups of puree, which is lighter in color than store-bought/commercially canned pumpkin puree.

~ Just out of the oven ~

I've been enjoying 1/4 cup of the puree every morning with my steel-cut oatmeal, drizzled with pure maple syrup.  Yum!

Today I made pumpkin scones.  The recipe was from Teatime's Tea & Scones cookbook.  The taste and texture was very good but they didn't rise very high even though they had 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder [that wasn't expired] and one large egg.  Nor did they turn a golden brown after baking even though I brushed the tops with cream.  I think I may have to experiment with another recipe, but I can assure you these will get eaten.  ;-)

I will roast the second pie pumpkin [sometimes called a sweet pumpkin] tomorrow.  There's so much you can do with pumpkin puree and it's so nutritional.  I made white chili last week [with ground chicken instead of beef] and added pumpkin puree to it and it was very good.

I have a recipe for a creamy pumpkin sauce that I pour over mostaccioli that's good too, and who can resist Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread?  Some years back I did a 'Fun in the Pumpkin Patch' themed tea where everything on the menu contained pumpkin.  Even the tea was pumpkin flavored.  The guests enjoyed it.

Yesterday was our son Steve's 55th Birthday.  The photo below was taken the day of his Baby Dedication.  We had no idea the plans God would have for his life, but we're so thankful He called Steve into full-time ministry and he was obedient to the call.  We are blessed to sit under his ministry every Sunday.  

Fast forward 55 years to yesterday [which has passed at lightening speed].  We discreetly took his picture while he was preaching.  Who knew that active, inquisitive, and sometimes mischievous little boy would grow up to be a preacher one day.  God knew, but we didn't.

After church we went to his favorite pizza place, called "Pizza Nostalgia", with his wife, daughter, mother-in-law, and the youth pastor. 

I wanted to have them for dinner at our house tonight, but he asked if I could bring it to his house this Thursday before Halloween trick or treating begins.  For the first time in 20 years he isn't hosting his neighborhood 'open garage party' with an assortment of Crispy Creme donuts, cider, hot chocolate, and coffee, but he will have the portable fire pit out front for warmth [if it's needed] and a big cauldron of full-size candy bars for the trick or treaters to choose from.  It'll be a fun evening.

Now I'm off to make myself a cup of Harney & Son's Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea.  It doesn't have caffeine, so it won't keep me awake tonight.