Best Stuffed Pumpkin Recipes

STUFFED PUMPKIN DINNER

Steps:

• Wash pumpkin; cut a 6-in. circle around top stem. Remove top and set aside; discard seeds and loose fibers from inside. Place pumpkin in a large Dutch oven. Fill with boiling water to a depth of 6 in.; add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin is almost tender but holds its shape. Carefully remove and drain well; pat dry. , In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain well. Cool slightly; place in a large bowl. Add rice, tomato sauce, ham, eggs, garlic, oregano, pepper, vinegar and remaining salt. , Place pumpkin in a shallow sturdy baking pan. Firmly pack beef mixture into pumpkin; replace top. Leaving pan uncovered, bake at 350° for 1 hour. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove the top; if desired, use paper towel to remove excess moisture from top of meat. Slice pumpkin into wedges.

SAVORY STUFFED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the soup, mushrooms, soy sauce and brown sugar. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the rice and water chestnuts. , Wash pumpkin; cut a 6-in. circle around stem. Remove top and set aside. Discard seeds and loose fibers from the inside. Spoon beef mixture into pumpkin; replace top. , Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Rub oil over outside of pumpkin. Bake, uncovered, until pumpkin is tender, 1-1/2 hours. Scoop out some pumpkin with each serving of beef mixture.

STUFFED PUMPKIN I

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add wild rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 hour, or until tender.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove the top of the pumpkin and scoop out pulp and seeds. Prick the pumpkin interior with a fork and rub with 1 teaspoon salt and dry mustard.
• Heat bacon grease in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the ground venison and onion. Slowly cook and stir until evenly brown. Remove from heat. Mix in the wild rice, remaining salt, eggs, sage and pepper. Stuff the pumpkin with the venison mixture. Place pumpkin in a shallow baking pan with 1/2 inch water.
• Bake the pumpkin in the preheated oven 1 1/2 hours, or until tender. Add more water to the pan as necessary to avoid sticking.

STUFFED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the top off the pumpkin or squash and use a metal spoon to scoop out the seeds. Get rid of any pithy bits but keep the seeds for another time (see our pumpkin seed recipe ideas). Put the pumpkin on a baking tray, rub with 2 tbsp of the oil inside and out, and season well. Roast in the centre of the oven for 45 mins or until tender, with the 'lid' on the side.
• Meanwhile, rinse the wild rice well and cook following pack instructions, then spread out on a baking tray to cool. Thinly slice the fennel bulb and apple, then squeeze over ½ the lemon juice to stop them discolouring.
• Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan. Fry the fennel seeds and chilli flakes, then, once the seeds begin to pop, stir in ½ the garlic and the fennel. Cook for 5 mins until softened, then mix through the apple, pecans and lemon zest. Remove from the heat. Add the mixture to the the cooked rice, then stir in the chopped parsley and taste for seasoning.
• Pack the mixture into the cooked pumpkin and return to the oven for 10-15 mins until everything is piping hot. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining lemon juice with the tahini, the rest of the garlic and enough water to make a dressing. Serve the pumpkin in the middle of the table, topped with pomegranate seeds and the dressing.

PUMPKIN STUFFED WITH EVERYTHING GOOD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with a rack set in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or use a Dutch oven that is slightly larger in diameter than your pumpkin (in which case, you will need to serve your pumpkin from the Dutch oven, as it may stick, but it will keep its shape better this way).
• Using a sharp, sturdy knife, cut off top of pumpkin, working around the top with the knife inserted at a 45-degree angle to cut off enough to make it easy to work inside the pumpkin; reserve top. Remove seeds and strings from cap and pumpkin. Season inside of pumpkin generously with salt and pepper. Place on prepared baking sheet or in Dutch oven; set aside.
• In a large bowl, toss together bread, cheese, garlic, bacon, chives, and thyme until well combined. Pack into pumpkin; it should be well filled but not overstuffed. You may need to add some bread and cheese or some of the filling may not be necessary to use. In a small bowl, stir cream and nutmeg to combine. Pour over filling; filling should be moist but not swimming in cream -- you may need to use more or less accordingly.
• Place top on pumpkin and transfer to oven; cook until filling is bubbling and pumpkin flesh is tender, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Remove top and continue baking until liquid is slightly evaporated and top of filling is browned, 20 to 30 minutes more.
• Carefully transfer pumpkin to a serving platter (or serve in Dutch oven, if using) and serve.

CHEESECAKE-STUFFED PUMPKIN BREAD

Steps:

• For the cheesecake swirl: Position an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Combine the cream cheese, granulated sugar, sour cream and egg in a large bowl and beat with a mixer until well combined; set aside.
• For the pumpkin bread: Generously spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and dust with flour. Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Whisk together the granulated sugar and pumpkin puree in a large bowl, then whisk in the oil, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and egg. Whisk in the flour mixture until just combined.
• Reserve 1 cup of the pumpkin batter. Spread the remaining batter in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the pumpkin batter, then put the reserved pumpkin batter in a line down the center of the pan. Insert the tip of a paring knife into the batter and drag it through and up to swirl 5 to 6 times.
• Bake until the top is cracked and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then carefully invert onto a platter or cake stand and flip upright. Let cool completely, at least 1 1/2 hours. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.

STUFFED PUMPKIN STEW

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add brussels sprouts, and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to ice-water bath. Repeat with green beans and snap peas. Drain.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rub inside of pumpkin and cut side of its top with 3 tablespoons oil. Place pumpkin and top on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and roast until they are tender but still holding shape, about 1 hour.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Working in batches, cook chicken until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove excess fat from skillet. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding 1 tablespoon oil to skillet with each batch. Place chicken on a baking sheet. Add stock to skillet, and bring to a boil, scraping bottom. Pour stock into a small bowl.
• Roast chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 40 minutes. Reserve pan juices.
• Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add apples, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in chestnuts, and remove from heat.
• Combine potatoes, leeks, carrots, turnips, parsnips, squash, and celery root in a large bowl. Toss with remaining 1/2 cup oil, and season with salt and pepper. Spread vegetables in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and roast until golden and tender, about 40 minutes. Add brussels sprouts, green beans, snap peas, apple mixture, and the garlic, and toss. Roast until garlic is golden brown and vegetables are heated through, about 10 minutes.
• Combine chicken, vegetables, parsley, stock, and 2 tablespoons reserved pan juices in a large bowl. Place mixture in pumpkin, and roast until heated through, about 15 minutes. Slice pumpkin into wedges. Serve each pumpkin wedge with some stew.

PUMPKIN FRENCH TOAST STUFFED WITH BLACKBERRY-CARAMEL MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Heat the cream in a small saucepan over low heat.
• Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over high heat and cook, without stirring, until amber brown, about 8 minutes. Slowly whisk in the warm cream, blackberry puree and liqueur and cook until smooth and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Let come to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put a baking sheet in the oven.
• Whisk together the eggs, sugar and salt in a large baking dish until smooth. Add the pumpkin puree, ground spices, milk, 1/4 cup of the heavy cream, vanilla and rum and whisk until smooth.
• Put 4 slices of the bread in the custard mixture and let sit for 2 minutes. Carefully turn over the slices and let sit until the bread is completely soaked through, about 2 more minutes.
• While the bread is soaking, heat 3 tablespoons of the butter and 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat until the mixture begins to sizzle. Cook the 4 slices of the bread until golden brown on the bottom, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip over and continue cooking until the bottom is golden brown, about 2 minutes longer. Remove to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Wipe out the pan with paper towels and repeat the process with the butter, oil and remaining 4 pieces of bread.
• Combine the mascarpone and remaining 1/4 cup of heavy cream in a bowl and using a stand mixer or hand-held mixer, beat until fluffy and smooth. Scrape the mixture into a bowl and fold in a few tablespoons of the blackberry-caramel sauce. Put the sauce into a small saucepan over low heat and heat or put it in the microwave for a minute or so to just warm through.
• Remove the French toast from the oven and arrange them on a serving platter. Top 4 slices of the toast with a large dollop of the blackberry-caramel mascarpone and some of the blackberries. Cover with the remaining 4 pieces of toast and drizzle each with some of the warm blackberry caramel sauce. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, garnish with fresh mint sprig and serve.

SAVORY STUFFED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut a lid off the top of the pumpkin; discard seeds and pulp. Reserve lid.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
• Heat butter in another pan over medium-high heat. Add celery and onion and saute until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir into the ground beef.
• Mix soup, cooked rice, mushrooms, soy sauce, and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Add beef mixture and stir well.
• Stuff the pumpkin with the mixture and replace the lid. Place on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pumpkin is soft, 1 to 2 hours. Serve in pumpkin. Add some of the baked pumpkin to each serving.

BAKED STUFFED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Position rack in the center of the oven.
• Cut out top of pumpkin, and set aside. Scoop out seeds with a metal spoon.
• In a large bowl, stir together the apples, walnuts, cranberry sauce, pineapple, brown sugar, raisins, and rum. Season with ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the cleaned pumpkin, and replace top.
• Set pumpkin directly on a baking stone or a thick baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until pumpkin begins to soften. Remove from heat, and stir, scraping the sides gently, so that some pieces of pumpkin fall into the apple mixture.

STUFFED PUMPKIN WITH CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut stem section from the pumpkin and remove seeds. Sprinkle inside with salt and cinnamon. Place hollowed pumpkin on a baking sheet in oven and roast for 20 minutes. Remove and fill with cornbread dressing (recipe follows) leaving 1 to 2 inches at the top for expansion. Increase oven temperature to 375 degrees. Place stuffed pumpkin in oven and bake for another 35 to 40 minutes or until pumpkin is tender, dressing is set and nicely browned on top.
• Combine cornbread, toasted bread and crackers in mixing bowl. Pour stock into saucepan and add celery and onion. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes, allow to cool. Add stock mixture to bread crumb mixture with beaten eggs, butter, sage, salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well. On the stove top, heat the oil in a large skillet until hot but not boiling. Pour the hot oil into the bowl with the other ingredients and mix well. Pour the batter into the skillet and bake for 35 to 50 minutes. Start checking for doneness after 35 minutes; it should be golden brown when done.

CHEESE-STUFFED SQUASH BLOSSOMS WITH SHAVED BABY SQUASH AND TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Steps:

• Stuff squash blossoms:
• Preheat oven to 250°F.
• Toss tomatoes with oil and arrange, cut sides up, in 1 layer in a shallow (1-inch-deep) baking pan. Bake in middle of oven until slightly shriveled but not completely dried or browned, about 1 1/4 hours. Transfer pan to a rack to cool.
• Stir together goat cheese, cream, pumpkin seeds, basil, salt, and pepper in a bowl and fold in half of oven-dried tomatoes.
• Spoon 1 rounded tablespoon of this filling into each blossom and twist ends of petals gently to close. Chill, covered, until ready to fry.
• Prepare vinaigrette and shaved squash:
• Purée vinegar, shallot, oil, pepper, and salt in a blender until smooth and emulsified.
• Slice squash paper-thin (lengthwise) using slicer, then overlap squash slices decoratively on 4 plates to cover surface.
• Make tempura batter and fry blossoms:
• Heat 2 inches of oil in a 3-quart saucepan to 350°F on thermometer.
• Set a bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water, then whisk together flour and salt in smaller bowl. Then whisk in sparkling water until combined well.
• Working in batches of 3, coat blossoms in batter, lifting each out by its stem and letting excess drip off, then fry, turning, until batter is crisp (it will not brown), 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer blossoms as fried with a slotted spoon to paper towels, drain, then season with salt.
• Assemble plates:
• Drizzle vinaigrette over squash slices, then arrange 3 fried blossoms in middle of each plate. Sprinkle remaining oven-dried tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, and basil around blossoms and season with salt and pepper.

CHEESECAKE-STUFFED PUMPKIN BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour bottoms only of two 8x4-inch loaf pans.
• In large bowl, beat Pumpkin Bread ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour 1 1/2 cups batter in bottom of each pan; set remaining batter aside.
• In medium bowl, beat Cheesecake Filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed. Spoon cheesecake filling on top of batter in pans, dividing equally.
• Top cheesecake filling with remaining batter, dividing equally between both pans and carefully spreading to cover filling.
• Bake 48 to 53 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run metal spatula around edge of loaves to loosen; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

PUMPKIN STUFFED WITH EVERYTHING GOOD

Steps:

• Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment, or find a Dutch oven with a diameter that's just a tiny bit larger than your pumpkin. If you bake the pumpkin in a casserole, it will keep its shape, but it might stick to the casserole, so you'll have to serve it from the pot-which is an appealingly homey way to serve it. If you bake it on a baking sheet, you can present it freestanding, but maneuvering a heavy stuffed pumpkin with a softened shell isn't so easy. However, since I love the way the unencumbered pumpkin looks in the center of the table, I've always taken my chances with the baked-on-a-sheet method, and so far, I've been lucky.
• Using a very sturdy knife-and caution-cut a cap out of the top of the pumpkin (think Halloween Jack-o-Lantern). It's easiest to work your knife around the top of the pumpkin at a 45-degree angle. You want to cut off enough of the top to make it easy for you to work inside the pumpkin. Clear away the seeds and strings from the cap and from inside the pumpkin. Season the inside of the pumpkin generously with salt and pepper, and put it on the baking sheet or in the pot.
• Toss the bread, cheese, garlic, bacon, and herbs together in a bowl. Season with pepper-you probably have enough salt from the bacon and cheese, but taste to be sure-and pack the mix into the pumpkin. The pumpkin should be well filled-you might have a little too much filling, or you might need to add to it. Stir the cream with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper and pour it into the pumpkin. Again, you might have too much or too little-you don't want the ingredients to swim in cream, but you do want them nicely moistened. (It's hard to go wrong here.)
• Put the cap in place and bake the pumpkin for about 2 hours-check after 90 minutes-or until everything inside the pumpkin is bubbling and the flesh of the pumpkin is tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a knife. Because the pumpkin will have exuded liquid, I like to remove the cap during the last 20 minutes or so, so that the liquid can bake away and the top of the stuffing can brown a little.
• When the pumpkin is ready, carefully, very carefully-it's heavy, hot, and wobbly-bring it to the table or transfer it to a platter that you'll bring to the table.
• Serving
• You have a choice-you can either spoon out portions of the filling, making sure to get a generous amount of pumpkin into the spoonful, or you can dig into the pumpkin with a big spoon, pull the pumpkin meat into the filling, and then mix everything up. I'm a fan of the pull-and-mix option. Served in hearty portions followed by a salad, the pumpkin is a perfect cold-weather main course; served in generous spoonfuls, it's just right alongside the Thanksgiving turkey.
• Storing
• It's really best to eat this as soon as it's ready. However, if you've got leftovers, you can scoop them out of the pumpkin, mix them up, cover, and chill them; reheat them the next day.
• Bonne Idée
• There are many ways to vary this arts-and-crafts project. Instead of bread, I've filled the pumpkin with cooked rice-when it's baked, it's almost risotto-like. And, with either bread or rice, on different occasions I've added cooked spinach, kale, chard, or peas (the peas came straight from the freezer). I've made it without bacon (a wonderful vegetarian dish), and I've also made it and loved, loved, loved it with cooked sausage meat; cubes of ham are also a good idea. Nuts are a great addition, as are chunks of apple or pear or pieces of chestnut.

STUFFED PUMPKIN II

Steps:

• Cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin and remove the seeds and pulp.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Prepare stuffing according to directions. Stuff the pumpkin.
• Bake in the preheated oven 1 hour, or until tender.

PUMPKIN-STUFFED SHELLS IN PARMESAN CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, waxed paper, or aluminum foil. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain and set shells aside on the prepared baking sheet.
• Whip ricotta cheese, pumpkin, cream cheese, shredded Parmesan cheese, sugar, egg, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl using a hand or stand mixer until creamy. Stuff each shell with filling and replace on the baking sheet.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in flour until golden and thick to make a roux. Add milk slowly, whisking constantly, followed by half-and-half and grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk until sauce thickens, 3 to 4 minutes. Season cheese sauce with salt and pepper.
• Spread just enough cheese sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to cover. Add stuffed shells and pour remaining sauce over.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned, 15 to 20 minutes.

PUMPKIN STUFFED WITH EVERYTHING GOOD

Steps:

• As written:.
• Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment, or find a Dutch oven with a diameter that's just a tiny bit larger than your pumpkin. If you bake the pumpkin in a casserole, it will keep its shape, but it might stick to the casserole, so you'll have to serve it from the pot - which is an appealingly homey way to serve it. If you bake it on a baking sheet, you can present it freestanding, but maneuvering a heavy stuffed pumpkin with a softened shell isn't so easy. However, since I love the way the unencumbered pumpkin looks in the center of the table, I've always taken my chances with the baked-on-a-sheet method, and so far, I've been lucky.
• Using a very sturdy knife - and caution - cut a cap out of the top of the pumpkin (think Halloween jack-o'-lantern). It's easiest to work your knife around the top of the pumpkin at a 45-degree angle. You want to cut off enough of the top to make it easy for you to work inside the pumpkin. Clear away the seeds and strings from the cap and from inside the pumpkin. Season the inside of the pumpkin generously with salt and pepper, and put it on the baking sheet or in the pot. Toss the bread, cheese, garlic, bacon, and herbs together in a bowl. Season with pepper - you probably have enough salt from the bacon and cheese, but taste to be sure - and pack the mix into the pumpkin. The pumpkin should be well filled - you might have a little too much filling, or you might need to add to it. Stir the cream with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper and pour it into the pumpkin. Again, you might have too much or too little - you don't want the ingredients to swim in cream, but you do want them nicely moistened. (But it's hard to go wrong here.).
• Put the cap in place and bake the pumpkin for about 2 hours - check after 90 minutes - or until everything inside the pumpkin is bubbling and the flesh of the pumpkin is tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a knife. Because the pumpkin will have exuded liquid, I like to remove the cap during the last 20 minutes or so, so that the liquid can bake away and the top of the stuffing can brown a little.
• When the pumpkin is ready, carefully, very carefully - it's heavy, hot, and wobbly - bring it to the table or transfer it to a platter that you'll bring to the table.
• Serving:.
• You have choices:you can cut wedges of the pumpkin and filling; you can spoon out portions of the filling, making sure to get a generous amount of pumpkin into the spoonful; or you can dig into the pumpkin with a big spoon, pull the pumpkin meat into the filling, and then mix everything up. I'm a fan of the pull-and-mix option. Served in hearty portions followed by a salad, the pumpkin is a perfect cold-weather main course; served in generous spoonfuls or wedges, it's just right alongside the Thanksgiving turkey.
• Storing:.
• It's really best to eat this as soon as it's ready. However, if you've got leftovers, you can scoop them out of the pumpkin, mix them up, cover, and chill them; reheat them the next day.
• Greenspan's Stuffing Ideas:.
• There are many ways to vary this arts-and-crafts project. Instead of bread, I've filled the pumpkin with cooked rice - when it's baked, it's almost risotto-like. And, with either bread or rice, on different occasions I've added cooked spinach, kale, chard, or peas (the peas came straight from the freezer). I've made it without bacon, and I've also made and loved, loved, loved it with cooked sausage meat; cubes of ham are another good idea. Nuts are a great addition, as are chunks of apple or pear or pieces of chestnut.

STUFFED PUMPKIN WITH CRANBERRY-RAISIN BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Cut off top of pumpkin, reserving lid with stem. Scoop out pumpkin seeds and pulp, and reserve for another use. Brush inside of pumpkin shell with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar. Top with lid.
• Bake at 350° for 35 minutes.
• Brush inside of baked pumpkin shell with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Stir together eggs and next 6 ingredients; spoon pudding mixture into a lightly greased 8-inch square pan.
• Bake pumpkin and bread pudding at 350° for 25 minutes. Let pumpkin cool; spoon bread pudding evenly into pumpkin shell. Serve with Lemon-Vanilla Sauce.
• Note: For individual servings, substitute 12 (1/2-pound) pumpkins. Scoop out seeds and pulp; sprinkle each pumpkin shell with 1 teaspoon butter and 1 teaspoon sugar, and bake with the bread pudding. (Do not prebake as with the larger pumpkin.) Spoon bread pudding evenly into baked pumpkin shells.
• For lemon vanilla sauce: Cook vanilla bean, water, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until smooth and thickened.

CHEESE-STUFFED PUMPKIN SLICES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease with butter.
• Cut the top of the pumpkin off with a large knife and remove all the seeds and pulp. Cut pumpkin into 3- to 4-inch wide segments. Remove skin of pumpkin with a potato peeler or paring knife. Cut into the pumpkin segments with a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter to make cylinders. Cut cylinders into 1/4-inch slices.
• Place pumpkin slices on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle with thyme leaves from 5 sprigs, sea salt, and pepper. Cover with another piece of foil.
• Roast in the preheated oven until softened, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for 5 minutes. Leave the oven on.
• Slice mozzarella cheese into 1/4-inch wide pieces and place in between 2 slices of pumpkin. Repeat with remaining pumpkin slices. Top each with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
• Return to the oven and continue to roast until cheese melts, about 10 minutes more. Place on a plate and garnish with more thyme.

STUFFED PUMPKIN WITH CRANBERRY RAISIN BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Cut off top of pumpkin, reserving lid with stem. Scoop out pumpkin seeds and pulp, and reserve for another use. Brush inside of pumpkin shell with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar. Top with lid.
• Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.
• Brush inside of baked pumpkin shell with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Stir together eggs and next 6 ingredients; spoon pudding mixture into a lightly greased 8-inch square pan.
• Bake pumpkin and bread pudding at 350°F for 25 minutes. Let pumpkin cool; spoon bread pudding evenly into pumpkin shell. Serve with Lemon-Vanilla Sauce.