dinner in a pumpkin

This New for Us Friday isn’t really new–that’s the funny thing.

I’ve made Dinner in a Pumpkin for the last two years as our Halloween night dinner.

But when we hollowed out the extra pumpkin on Wednesday as we carved our Jack-O’-Lanterns, Maddy, Owen, and Cora said that they never, ever, ever had dinner in a pumpkin, especially not on Halloween.

You mean ‘pumpkin pie? Owen asked me.

No. Dinner in a pumpkin. Remember, meat, teeny mushrooms, rice, all cooked in a pumpkin that Mommy drew a face on? C’mon, it was soooo good. Everyone thought it was funny and strange to have our meal come out of a pumpkin. Remember?

Nothing.

Cora I can understand not remembering, but Maddy and Owen? Seriously? I bet if it was a pumpkin-shaped pizza they’d remember. Now there’s an idea for next year. . .

Dinner in a Pumpkin:

I found this recipe several years ago in the Post, and I love it. I thought the kids loved it, too, but apparently it didn’t leave much of an impression on them.

Several of my friends have asked for the Dinner in a Pumpkin Recipe, so here it is to share: pumpkin dinner recipe. Please, if you do share, link to this post and not the recipe itself. 

This dinner is easy to prepare ahead, since it is something that does take a little bit of time, and everyone knows there’s no time for cooking on Halloween night. We will actually eat this Saturday before Trick-Or-Treating.

We prepared the pumpkin on Wednesday, and Thursday, Owen and Cora watched–and tasted–as I prepared the meat filling. Button mushrooms? Yum. Water chestnuts. Double yum.

our happy little pumpkin

After it cooled, I drew a face on the meat-filled pumpkin, and Saturday I’ll throw the big guy in the oven for about 30-45 minutes to bake for the final time before we pound the pavement in search of candy.

No, they haven’t actually eaten this particular meal yet, so this New For Us Friday is a little bit backward, since Maddy, Owen, and Cora actually did have this before but just don’t remember it. Does that make it something ‘new’–I’m not sure. Kind of? Anyway. . .

I thought that I’d share it today in the spirit of Halloween and fun family traditions.
Have a great one!

Want a few more fun halloween party ideas?

• halloween class party
• more halloween class party ideas
• GHOST bingo!
• spider web craft
• pumpkin match 
• halloween word search
• halloween ghost cookies
• boo! your neighbors
• alternatives to halloween candy
• halloween joke notes
• halloween learning
• hats, cats, and pumpkin grid game
• dinner in a pumpkin
• candy experiments

 

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