OK, GardenLad, I don't know that these exactly belong on a pumpkin thread but digressing from the topic is pretty routine around the forum, so here we go. I'm including all my notes on the recipes. Both are "works in progress" so maybe my additions will be helpful too. Torta with Pesto, Tapenade & Sun Dried Tomatoes Original Source: www.fabulousfoods.com Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- Pesto 1 1/2 cups fresh basil 3 large garlic cloves 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup Pine nuts (pignolia) -- OR walnuts 1/2 cup olive oil salt and pepper -- to taste Olive Tapenade 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives 3 large garlic cloves -- peeled 2 teaspoons capers 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaf -- (or 1/4 tsp. dry) 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaf -- (or 1/4 tsp. dry) 1/8 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil salt and pepper -- to taste Sun Dried Tomato Purée 1 10-12 oz. jar oil packed sun dried tomatoes 1 large garlic clove 2 tablespoons olive oil (reserved from tomato jar) Cheese Layer 8 oz. goat cheese 2 packages cream cheese -- (8 oz.) 1 cup butter Pesto Layer: Put all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor or blender and purée. Slowly pour in the olive oil while continuing to blend. Olive Tapenade Layer: Put all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor or blender and purée. Slowly pour in the olive oil while continuing to blend. Sun-Dried Tomato Purée Layer: Drain the tomatoes, reserving 2 tablespoons of the oil. Put all ingredients, including reserved oil, in a food processor or blender and purée. Cheese Layer: Put all ingredients in a food processor or blender and purée. Line either one large (6 cup) or two small (3 cup) molds with dampened cheesecloth, leaving enough cloth hanging over the edges to later cover the top. If you don't have any molds, be creative - a flower pot works well or use small deep bowls, or even a rinsed out coffee can. If you want to be decorative, arrange whole basil leaves, whole olives and/or whole sun dried tomatoes in the bottom of your mold (this will become the top of your dish when it is unmolded). Layer in thin layers, alternating between the cheese mixture and a topping mixture until mold is filled. Cover top with the excess cheesecloth hanging over the sides. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least six hours or overnight. To unmold, unfold cheesecloth covering the top of the mold and hang it over the edge. Place a plate over the open end of the mold and invert. Carefully peel the mold off the mixture, then carefully remove and discard the cheese cloth. Serve with crackers or a fresh baguette. Changes I made: I used my own homemade pesto recipe and some California Harvest kalamata olive tapenade I had on hand. In the Sun Dried Tomato Purée I cut the olive oil to 1 T. and enhanced the tomatoes by soaking some additional plain dried tomatoes in boiling water, draining them and blending them in with the rest. Next time I might try a little added tomato paste instead. For the cheese layer I used 2 3.5 oz. Crottin Montcevri, 1 package of light cream cheese, 1 container mascarpone cheese (both 8 oz. size) and cut the butter to 1/2 cup. I used a 7-inch springform pan, but I'm going to try to freeze this. If it works, I'll make 3 2-cup molds. I also want to cut back on the oiliness of the layers. I want a bit fresher taste. I think I'll use just the oil that adheres to the tomatoes and cut the other T. plus drain the pesto and the tapenade a bit in a fine mesh sieve before using. Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Cheese Spread Recipe By : Unknown Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 8 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed -- drained 1 tablespoon oil -- (from tomatoes) 1/2 cup sun-dried tomato halves 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 4 ounces butter -- softened 1/2 cup sour cream 20 ounces cream cheese 4 cloves garlic -- peeled 1 1/2 cups basil, fresh 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup pine nuts 2 tablespoons olive oil -- OR for garlic, basil, lemon juice, pine nuts, olive oil substitute 8 oz. my own pesto base 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper -- to taste Pour boiling water over plain dried tomatoes. Let sit until soft then drain. Reserve 2/3 cup cream cheese. Place remaining cream cheese, sour cream and butter in food processor. Blend until fluffy. Place in bowl and set aside. Blend pesto base, Parmesan cheese and 1/3 cup cream cheese in food processor. Place in bowl and set aside. Scrape bowl and chop drained sun-dried tomatoes (both plain and oil). Add 1 tablespoon tomato oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 1/3 cup cream cheese. Blend until smooth. Grind in salt and pepper to taste. Put saran wrap on the bottom of 4 4-inch springform pans (or 1 7-inch springform or line a 1 1/2 quart pan or bowl). Layer 1 pan at a time. Layer 1 cream cheese mixture, layer 2 sun-dried tomato, layer 3 cream cheese mixture, layer 4 pesto, layer 5 cream cheese mixture. Cover with "sticky" saran wrap and refrigerate overnight. Finish other pans the same. When unmolded, top can be decorated with pinenuts, basil leaves, sun-dried tomato pieces if desired. Cover with foil and freeze extra pans. Yield: "5 cups" - - - - - - - - - - - - Christmas 2004: I cut butter drastically, added sour cream, elimated tomato paste and used plain sun-dried tomatoes instead, added balsamic vinegar. For tomatoes in oil I used T.J.'s 8.5 ounce jar. I divided recipe among 4 Wilton mini-springform pans; served 2 and froze 2. Small sizes are nice for buffet service.

Imagine 1 1/2 cups of refined cane sugar in one pie, Gardenlad. A Libby pie is beautiful and tasty but substituting a lovely flavorful squash from the garden wouldnÂt be excessive or unnecessary. Even if, or especially if, one reduces the refined sugar in preparation. (No guilt on gilding any lily, here ;o) As regards kabocha, I am so totally unfamiliar with growing and utilizing this squash. We have tried a couple of varieties with very limited success (season may be too short, nights too cool). Blue Hubbards have done okay but, perhaps for the same reasons, not especially well. So, we return happily each year to buttercups and harvest this season could be measured by the wheelbarrow. I realize that the terms "pumpkin" and "squash" cannot be directly related to species; as you point out, forms of several are called pumpkins. "100% pure pumpkin" says the Libby web site. Then they refer to "a special variety of pumpkin called the Dickinson." But, it looks as tho the Dickinson is a C. moschata rather than C. pepo (Jack oÂlanterns). IÂve used C. moschata butterNUTs and certainly donÂt prefer them to C. maxima butterCUPs. Taste is subjective, however. Steve Here is a link that might be useful: Llibby Llabel

Pumpkin Roll 3 eggs 1 c sugar 3/4 c flour 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger 1/2tsp nutmeg 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 2/3 c canned pumpkin 8 oz chopped walnuts Grease jelly roll pan and line with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350�. In large bowl, beat eggs for 5 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beat until light. Mix in flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, soda, salt and pumpkin, blend well. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle with nuts. Bake 15 minutes. Turn out onto clean kitchen towel, and roll up into towel. Cool. Frosting: 6 oz cream cheese 1 c powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla 2 T butter Combine all ingredients and beat until smooth. Unroll cooled cake, remove towel, spread with frosting and roll back up. Chill well, slice to serve. Hearty Pork Stew with Squash Source: Penzey�s 2/09 1\-1/2 lb boneless pork loin roast, trimmed and cubed (I used boneless chops) 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4" slices 1 medium onion, chopped 2 c peeld parsnips, cubed 1\-1/2 c butternut squash, peeled & cubed 4 c chicken broth 1 T fresh sage or 1 tsp dried 2 tsp fresh thyme or 3/4 tsp dried 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 3 T flour 3 T butter, softened In 4\-5 quart slow cooker, mix the pork and remaining ingredients except flour and butter. Cover and cook on low 6\-7 hours. OR... place in a covered pot in the oven at 350F for 2 hours. In a small bowl, mix together the flour and butter. Gradually stir into stew until blended. Increase setting to high or return to oven. Cover and cook 30 minutes longer, stirring occasionally until thickened. 6 servings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake source: Betty Crocker For the crust: 2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted For the filling: 4 pkgs. 8 oz. each cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 cup canned pumkin not pumpkin pie mix 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg Heat your oven to 300 degrees. Grease a 9 inch springform pan with shortening or cooking spray. Wrap foil around the pan to catch drips. In a small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press crumb mixture in bottom and 1 inch up sides of pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or till set. Cool 5 minutes. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with mixer on medium speed just till smooth and creamy, do not overbeat. On low speed, gradually beat in sugar. On low speed, beat in eggs, one at a time, just till blended. Spoon 3 cups of cream cheese mixture into pan over crust. Spread evenly. Stir pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg into remaining cream cheese mixture; mix with wire whisk until smooth.Spoon over top of mixture in pan. Bake 1 hour and 25 minutes to 1 and a half hours or till edges are set but the center jiggles slightly when moved. Turn off oven; open door at least 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in oven for 30 minutes longer. Remove from oven; place on wire rack to cool. Without releasing side of pan, run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen the cheesecake. Cool in pan on wire rack 30 minutes. Cover loosely, refrigerate at least 6 hours but no longer than 24 hours. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake again, carefully remove side of pan. Place cheesecake on a serving platter. Store cheesecake covered in fridge. Linda

I use a recipe similar to the Orange Raisin but I substitute apple cider for the orange juice and dried cherries for the raisins. I love that cherry flavor with the ham and it's pretty too!