It started off with a desire to make Liv some baby food,
a voluptuous glass of Malbec and a lot of gluten-free crackers,
and then this happened.
The Pilot was flying Monday night, and usually when he flies late, after Liv’s asleep I’ll either call up girlfriends to come over, catch up on blog stuff and/or enjoy a date with the DVR. The other night, I decided to roast a pumpkin. Why not, eh?
Everyone in this house loves pumpkin.
(Especially Bell)
The steps I followed are all in this post, but I wanted to share some recipes using each part of the pumpkin.
Pumpkin puree:
-Freeze some for baking/smoothies/oatmeal
(the leftover batter in the bowl? I have no idea what happened to it….)
-Pumpkin hummus:
Mix 1 C pumpkin puree with one can of drained and rinsed chickpeas (reserve a little of the can liquid), 1/4 C liquid form the can, drizzle of olive oil (or some tahini- I didn’t have any on hand, though), juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 t garlic powder, 1/2 t cumin, sea salt (to taste) and a hefty pinch of cayenne
Pumpkin seeds:
-For these ones, I melted 2 T of butter (herbed Kerrygold!) and added a huge plash of hot sauce and sea salt
As I was peeling the skin away from the pumpkin, I felt wasteful just thinking about throwing it away. In Angela’s post, she suggests using it for compost, but alas, my Arizona cacti garden doesn’t seem to need it. I remembered my chef uncle telling me that in fancy schmancy restaurants, they dehydrate fish skin and use it as a garnish for soup.
So, I tore the pumpkin skin into chip-size pieces, threw it in the dehydrator, and the results were amazing:
Skin:
Pumpkin chips: Sprinkle liberally with paprika, sea salt and chili powder, then dehydrate overnight at 115*. Don’t have a dehydrator? No worries, just bake in the oven on a cookie sheet at the lowest setting with the door slightly ajar.
So there ya go! An entire pumpkin.. and lots of treats to enjoy this week.
xoxo
Gina
PS. Hate pumpkin? Here ya go. :)
Hi, I'm Gina. Welcome to The Fitnessista! I love blogging about my adventures as a new mom, military wife and fitness instructor, as well as sharing new workouts and recipes. Check out the About page for more info - thanks for stopping by!
Pumpkin skin chips! What a fantastic idea. And answers my earlier question
sometimes…well….most times….you’re like a superhero of some insane power in the kitchen…..
Awesome use of pumpkin skins!! I never thought to do anything with those, but will definitely be trying this!! Thanks!!
Wow! Good for you. Never would I have thought to use the skin on a pumpkin!
Love the idea of pumpkin hummus! Definitely on my list of pumpkin things I need to make.
Yum, yum yum! I also saw another blogger’s pumpkin post today, pumpkin brownies! I have so many fun new pumpkin recipes to try out!
I never thought to use the skins. That seems totally doable!
Dang, I like pumpkin, but you just took it to another level! Did you use a sugar pumpkin? I ask because I know that roasting a typical large “carving” pumpkin doesn’t give the best-tasting purée.
In a high school cooking class we carved a pumpkin then roasted it for pumpkin pie, which tasted awful. I’ve since been told that for pie (and I assume any other edible pumpkin purée) you have to use a smaller sugar pumpkin for the best results.
Hey Gina, I’ve been thinking long and hard about the naturopath you used to help balance your hormones. I know it was “pricey” but that’s such a relative term. I know it’s kind of personal, but would you mind emailing me the approximate cost of your treatment just so I have an general idea of the cost? I’d really appreciate it.
madamfrost@gmail.com
Thank you so much!
I was just going to ask you for the same favor. My email I’d is: sangeethaan@hotmail.com
Thank you!
hey girl- will you email me so i don’t forget? fitnesissta at gmail
That’s such a creative idea to use the entire pumpkin! I’m going to try those dried skins. I actually love the skins of stuff. And dried fish skin actually sounds really good. Kabocha skins are great too.
You get the A++ for effort award on this one, Gina! Way to use the WHOLE thing. Love it! Those chips! I may need to dust off my dehyd for those!
You are awesome!! Especially for using every part of the pumpkin
I love pumpkin but hate pumpkin pie. My pies must be sweet potato! Definitely bookmarking that recipe!
Boy, And I thought I was the only one that liked the roasted squash skin! Great ideas–I need to save and use the seeds more.
Gina this post is simply inspiring! I see a pumpkin session in my near future. Thank you for great ideas!
I have never heard of roasting the skin, but it sounds like something I would love, I definately need to try it!
That’s such a cool idea to make chips out of the skin! I tend to always eat squash skin anyways – I’m too lazy to peel it off when I’m roasting up cubed squash!
So many fun recipes! I’ll definitely have to try some out! I love pumpkin and I’m so excited that it’s back in season!
Love this post! I can’t wait to try out those pumpkin chips! They look delicious!
This is an awesome post Gina! I’ve roasted a whole pumpkin before but I can’t remember if I kept the skin or not. I’ll definitely be making pumpkin chips next time!!
This is such a great post! I love that you used the whole pumpkin for so many different recipes
thanks forvshring! I want to try the pumpkin chips!
I can’t wait to cook a pumpkin myself! Quick question…did you use one of those pumpkin pie pumpkins that are meant for cooking? or a large regular kind, like of the carving variety?
Thanks!
i’m pretty sure it was a pie pumpkin- it was in with the regular organic produce
Ummm yep you really went for it here! LOVE it. I want those pumpkin seeds in my mouuufff.
OOO I so need to try pumpkin hummus! That sounds delish!
You can also make beer with it. I brew my own beer, my father and I brewed a spiced pumpkin ale a couple of weeks ago. We’re going to bottle it on friday. I’d be more than happy to share the recipe we used. cheers
Wow Gina! Very impressive. Great post!
So me and baby boy just got back from picking up some produce including a pumpkin!
I told my hubby about this post and that I was planning on making some baby food and chips out of the pumpkin. He thought that was pretty cool. Then I had a thought to do the same thing with butternut squash (which I also bought) and that’s when he said,”Gina doesn’t know that she’s created a monster.”
buahahaha
enjoy!!!
Incredible! I had no idea you could eat the skin! Thank you for sharing I always hated throwing away the skin as it made me feel wasteful. I love your posts with little Liv so darling! When my husband is away on business I do the same I just get creative in the kitchen and have girlfriends over to eat it all
Love and Shine CourtStar
Hey Gina! Can you explain the treadmill stretches for today’s workout? Thank you!!!
added it to today’s post- hope you got in a good stretch!
love this!! and really wish i wasn’t just now finding out about your vegan pumpkin bread
it sounds/looks amazing!!
Awesome post! I loveee pumpkin anything, especially in the fall
Growing up we always used to roast the seeds after we carved the pumpkin [for decoration] but I’ve never actually roasted a pumpkin or made my own puree… I totally wanna try!
Really fantastic post!
I’m so so so glad you posted this.. I have been looking for good instructions!
Love your photos today! Annnnd now I want some pumpkiny things!
MMmmmm get in my belly! Great job!
A dehydrator is on my wish list now
If you are using the oven method how long do you leave it in for? And was this just a regular ‘ol pumpkin?
it wasn’t a decorative one- it was in the organic produce section at sprouts
Kerrygold makes herbed butter? I love their butter! The must put something in it for it to taste so good.
Great post! I love being able to use the whole thing of something, so I don’t seem so wasteful. Definitely going to have to try this over the weekend!
That is awesome. Love the recipes fo pumpkin .. inside and out!
You went all out!! Though I’m a personal trainer, I usually don’t get overly creative with my meals. Last month, I tasked myself with coming up with interesting ways to use seasonal foods. This post is exactly what I needed to see! Chili lime pumpkin seeds on deck. My wife will be very proud!
Well you have officially motivated me to declare this SATURDAY = PUMPKIN DAY! I will buy two pumpkins and my friends and I will use the ENTIRE THING!! Oh boy! We will turn orange by day’s end! LOL!
Whoa! Intense pumpkin action going on here. Had no idea you could eat the skin! Will def try that… I always feel wasteful too.
I LOVE PUMPKIN!! My new goal is to make use of an entire pumpkin before the month is over. Yum. Pumpkin spice everything over here this time of year.
I just read a blog about a pumpkin spiced protein after run shake. Sounds ah-mazing!
You are ambitious!! That looks like a lot of fun, but a lot of work too. I love pumpkin everything, and I never thought of actually using the skin. What a great idea! I feel like this would be fun thing to do with a group of girl friends, thanks for the idea
Mmm.. That pumpkin hummus sounds de-lic-ious! Def gonna have to try that.
Ps ditto on the pumpkin chic chip bread!
I read through all of your posts and didn’t find my answer..if I don’t have a dehydrator, how long do I keep the pumpkin chips in the oven (with the door ajar) and at what temp?
Thank you! Love your ides…my whole family loves pumpkin ANYTHING!
I tried your pumpkin hummus and i was rather pleased with the outcome i did not expect it to taste as good as it was and i was able to use my left over pumpkin puree on something that was unique and delicious!
Thanks for the recipe :]
I’ve been wanting to make pumpkin hummus, looks like a great recipe!