Sometimes the kids surprise me with the recipe requests from childhood

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Older son asked for the Wheaties cookie recipe I used to make. I had forgotten all about that yummy recipe. He likes coconut, which is in the recipe. Then today I got an email from my younger son asking for the stew served in a cooked pumpkin I used to make for them at Halloween. A couple of years ago older son asked for that one too. So I emailed it off today, and I thought some of you might like to try it too. You have to buy the pumpkin now because they are impossible to find after Halloween.

Here is my recipe. The size is the most
important thing, along with a nice, flat bottom that is centered. It is easy to end up with a pumpkin too big for the oven. Remember to
allow for the stem, so look for a short stem. I probably omitted the Sherry.

Beef Stew in a Pumpkin
Shell

2 pounds beef stew meat cut in 1/2 inch cubes

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 Tbsp oil

2 large tomatoes, chopped

1 large green pepper, chopped

Salt, pepper

1 tsp sugar

3 white potatoes, peeled and diced

3 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

2 c beef broth

1 medium pumpkin, about 6 pounds

Butter, melted

1/4 c dry Sherry

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

Chopped parsley--optional

In a wide pot, sautee trimmed beef with onion and garlic in the oil
until meat is browned. Add tomatoes, green pepper,
1 Tbsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, sugar, potatoes and broth. Cover and simmer 1 1/2
hours.

Meanwhile, cut top off pumpkin at a slant so that it will fit back onto the pumpkin as a lid. Scoop out seeds and
stringy membrane. Brush inside of pumpkin with melted butter and sprinkle
lightly with salt and pepper. Stir Sherry and corn into stew and bring to a boil
to boil off alcohol. Spoon stew into pumpkin shell, reserving any excess to
reheat later and replenish the pumpkin shell. Replace pumpkin top.

Place filled pumpkin in a shallow pan with sides
and bake at 325 degrees 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until pumpkin meat is tender.
Garnish with parsley. Place pumpkin on serving platter and ladle out stew,
scooping out some pumpkin with each serving. 6 to 8 servings.

Featured Answer

glenda_al

11 years ago

Fantastic recipe and surely a memory maker!

My son raves over my fried green tomatoes, so for his upcoming 50th, he will have. Plus his wife has requested I also make white chili and banana pudding.

It's a surprise as he and grandson come from a weekend of hunting, and I'll have the treats at his home. His wife has planned this.

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Comments (12)

breenthumb
11 years ago
That sounds like delicious fun. Wish I'd had it years ago, but I'll pass it on to friends with grands. Always feels good when the kids remember something you did fondly.
carol_in_california
11 years ago
Love the recioe.

And so glad your kids have such great memories.
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socks
11 years ago
Sheila, I remember first seeing a similar recipe many years ago. I always wanted to make it. Maybe this will be the year. Thanks for sharing.
sheilajoyce_gw
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I must have cut it out of a magazine over 40 years ago. It was probably Good Housekeeping. I trimmed lots of recipes from that magazine back then.

Have a great celebration, Glenda.
party_music50
11 years ago
sheilajoyce, that sounds like a very interesting flavor combo and fantastic way to prepare and serve beef stew. I must try this recipe sometime...

My siblings and I will sometimes ask my mom for an old recipe, but she always claims she doesn't remember making whatever we asked for. lol!

glenda, I've only tried one white chili recipe before... if I remember correctly, the prime ingredients were ground turkey, spinach, and cannellini beans. Care to share your recipe? :)
glenda_al
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
For party-music50: Here's white chili with my rendition:

1 can chicken broth

1Tbl olive oil

2 boneless chicken breast, chopped ****I buy rotissorie chicken and use
breast only shredded. Works great! I like mine shredded vs chopped

1/4 cup or more chopped onion

1 4 oz can green chiles, chopped ***I puree mine with my
hand blender WITH juice

1 19 oz can navy beans, undrained

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp cilantro ***I use instead 2 tsp chili
powder

1/2 tsp oregano

1/8 tsp red pepper

Saute chicken and onions 4-5 minutes in olive oil **If using rotissorie, saute onions only till translucent

Stir in spices, broth, simmer about 15 minutes, then add beans
and shredded chicken and simmer 5 more minutes, to get the flavors
blended.

We love it topped with fritos, shredded cheese, and a dollop
of sour cream
party_music50
11 years ago
Thanks for posting the recipe, Glenda. It's certainly quick and easy. I'll give it a try sometime!
User
11 years ago
I think I'd like to try both of those recipes. My oldest son has mentioned that never cook with pumpkin. I don't because most recipes call for cinnamon, all-spice, or nutmeg or something. I get headaches from that stuff. This looks doable and different, Anyway, I have two pumpkins sitting outside that I picked up out in front at Kroger. Do you think those would work or do I specifically need cooking pumpkins?

The white chili looks doable. I'm the only one who likes Fritos so I may have to substitute tortilla chips.
sheilajoyce_gw
Original Author
11 years ago
I always used the pumpkins being sold to make jack-o-lanterns. My son is going to use sugar pumpkins, used for pies. Just be sure that it will fit into your oven with the lid on it before you get started. Look for a pumpkin with a short stem. It is surprising how small our ovens are when measuring them for baking whole pumpkins!
User
11 years ago
Ok. Thanks! My kids may get an after Halloween surprise if we don't get them cut into jack-o-lanterns.
fran1523
11 years ago
Glenda's recipe for white chicken chili is the same one I make except I use 1/4 tsp of cumin instead of chili powder. I don't care for cilantro either. I use any kind of leftover chicken and cannelloni beans. Never thought of Fritos for topping. Must try.

Sometimes the kids surprise me with the recipe requests from childhood

glenda_al

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Sometimes the kids surprise me with the recipe requests from childhood

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