How to Roast a Pumpkin

Last year around this time I became completely obsessed with pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin bread... you name it. It got so bad that Will actually ended up putting his foot down and telling me he wanted no more pumpkin! To which I responded with more pumpkin spice waffles. I continued with the pumpkin until finally it was time for Spring to pop up and I became obsessed with other yummy things. Well now it is that time of year again, my most favorite time- Pumpkin season! Pumpkin season means pies and homemade crusts, baking, cookie smelling candles, cozy Christmas socks (my Christmas socks make an appearance way before December) and extra blankets on the bed that make it even harder to get up in the morning. I haven't made a single batch of pumpkin waffles yet (Oh but I want to!) because I feel so bad for Will, but I have discovered that nobody in this house ever gets tired of pumpkin pie. Which I love because a lot of people I know actually do not like pumpkin pie!

I truly believe most people who don't like pumpkin pie have just never had a pie made with fresh pumpkin. It is so simple to do and tastes worlds different so I can't understand why people don't do it more often. Then I thought that maybe they just do not know how. So folks, here is how you roast a pumpkin!

Step 1- Buy a pumpkin. I found they do not carry sugar pumpkins at Stater Bros. which is just silly. C'mon Staters! How I miss the days of having a Whole Foods right down the street... But luckily Dowlings has "Jack O Lantern" pumpkins which are the little guys and those are what you want. Some people also call them sugar pumpkins. Trader Joe's has them for very cheap.

Step 2- Cut your pumpkin's little head and butt off, then cut it down the middle. Scoop out the seeds, sprinkle with some sea salt, lay it cut side down onto a tray lined with parchment paper.

Step 3- Roast your pumpkin in a 415 degree oven for about an hour. Check that it is nice and done with a fork. If you can easily stab it then it is done.

Step 4- Let it cool then scoop all of the goodness out of the skin and plop it into a food processor or powerful blender. Puree (adding a little water if necessary) until it looks like mush.

And there you have it... can you seriously buy canned after seeing how easy it is?? Plus, a can of pumpkin will cost you anywhere from $2.50-6 and I just bought 2 good sized pumpkins for under $5 that will make me twice the amount I would have gotten from 2 cans! Now all you have to do is choose from the many many pumpkin pie recipes there are out there and bake away! I like vegan pumpkin pies and Paula Deen's cream cheese pumpkin pie.