Five Yummy Pumpkin Alternatives To Pie

Executive Pastry Chef Gale Gand Serves Up Recipes For Other Types Of Thanksgiving Goodies Using Pumpkin

(CBS) 

Orange Pumpkin Bread Pudding with White Pepper Cream

Makes 6-8 servings

1/2 pound Brioche or Challah
1 cup orange marmalade
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups heavy cream
1 pinch salt
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
6 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup pumpkin purée
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Confectioner's sugar

For the white pepper cream
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup crème fraiche
2 teaspoons sugar
fresh, finely-ground white pepper to taste

Cut the crusts off the bread and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. You should have about 3-1/2 cups of cubes. Arrange on a baking sheet and toast in a 400 degree still or 350 degree oven until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Place in a baking dish and drizzle with the marmalade.

In a saucepan, heat the half-and-half, cream, salt, and vanilla bean over medium heat, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer (do not let it boil), turn off the heat. Set aside to infuse 10 to 15 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together. Whisking constantly, gradually add the hot cream mixture then the pumpkin purée and cinnamon. Strain into a large bowl to smooth the mixture and remove the vanilla bean. Pour over toasted bread cubes and let soak over night, covered and chilled or at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the baking dish in a pan of hot water to make a water bath. Bake until set and golden brown on top, about 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or chilled, dusted with confectioner's sugar and a dollop of white pepper cream if desired.

To make the cream whip all the ingredients together till stiff and keep chilled.

North Grand High School Pumpkin Cookies

Makes 4 dozen

2 1/3 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1-1/4 teaspoon ginger
1-1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1-1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1-1/4 teaspoon cloves
1-1/4 cups butter, room temperature
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups pumpkin puree

In a mixer with a paddle attachment mix together the dry ingredients for 2 minutes. Add the butter, pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla and mix on medium speed 1 minute. Chill one hour. Scoop dough with a medium size ice cream scoop or a teaspoon onto a parchment paper lines sheet pan. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Cool.

Pumpkin-Maple Trifle

Makes 6-8 servings

1 1/2 cups heavy cream, whipped
1/2 vanilla bean, split
1/2 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup egg whites
1/2 teaspoon gelatin
1 tablespoon cold water
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 recipe any spice cake or carrot cake, cut into cubes
1/2 cup toasted chopped nuts such as hazelnuts or pecans

Whip the cream with the scrapings from the vanilla bean till stiff and chill. In a small saucepan boil the maple syrup to soft ball stage or 238 degrees on a candy thermometer. Meanwhile, Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water and let it sponge. Also, place the whites in a clean dry bowl and with a whip attachment whip then till almost stiff, then hold them with the whip turning on low till the maple syrup is up to temperature. When it reaches 238, take it off the stove and, with the mixer on high, drizzle it down the wall of the mixing bowl into the whites. Warm the sponged gelatin in the microwave and drizzle it into the whites also. Continue whipping till the meringue (Italian Meringue) is cooled. Fold in the pumpkin puree and the whipped cream and pipe or spoon into tall dessert glasses, alternating layers with the cubed up spice cake, ending with the pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle with some toasted nuts if you have them. Chill till ready to serve.

[chloemontague]

The GM genocide: Thousands of Indian farmers are committing suicide after using genetically modified crops.

When Prince Charles claimed thousands of Indian farmers were killing themselves after using GM crops, he was branded a scaremonger. In fact, as this chilling dispatch reveals, it''s even WORSE than he feared.''

This can happen to USA, Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa, NZ etc ---------------GM SEED USE MUST BE STOPPED.---------------------

Indian Ministry of Agriculture..confirms ..a HUGE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, more than 1,000 farmers kill themselves each month!!!!!!!!

Prince Charles is setting up a charity, the Bhumi Vardaan Foundation, to help those affected and promote organic Indian crops instead of GM. India''s farmers are also starting to fight back. As well as taking GM seed distributors hostage and staging mass protests, one state government is taking legal action against Monsanto for the exorbitant costs of GM seeds.

PLEASE READ and Tell Friends and Family- http://tinyurl.com/6ehp3z

[estabwary]

Remember when Bush broke that pumpkin?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBTSthVMa2E

[johnstossel]

I''m disappointed that nobody has posted an anti-bush comment!!!