Autumn has definitely arrived. The leaves are starting to change colors. Temperatures are more pleasant, with crisp mornings and sunny afternoons.
Take your family to the pumpkin patch to pick out your Halloween pumpkins. Choose pumpkins� with the stem attached, that� are brightly colored and� firm� to the touch, with no soft spots or blemishes. Choose� pumpkins for decorating and baking.
While you are out and about pick up some brightly colored leaves for� your table decorations, wreaths, and other autumn decorating. Take the leaves home and rub with a moisturizer on both sides to preserve them. Place between paper towels and weight down with a book to� keep them flat.
Fresh pumpkin has a slightly different texture and a brighter color than canned pumpkin and tastes great in your favoirite recipes.
To make fresh pumpkin for your recipes, cut pumpkin in� half. Scoop out guts and seeds, saving seeds for roasted pumpkin seeds. Place pumpkin halves on a baking� sheet and bake at 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C for one hour or until tender. Carefully remove from oven; cool slightly. Then scoop out pumpkin from shell. Measure and use in your recipes. Fresh pumpkin will keep for 2 to 3 days in your refrigerator.
These pumpkin squares are simple to make using a yellow cake mix, pumpkin, and spices.
Pumpkin Squares
Crust
In a large bowl, combine
1 package yellow cake mix (save 1 cup for topping)
1/2 cup melted margarine or butter
1 egg
Spread into 9×13 cake pan with only the bottom greased.
Filling
In a large bowl, beat together
3 cups (1 lb. 14 oz.) pumpkin
2/3 cup milk
2 eggs
3 1/2 teaspoons Watkins Pumpkin Pie Spice (Or 2 teaspoons Watkins Ground Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon Watkins Ground Ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon Watkins Ground Cloves)
Pour over crust.
Topping
In medium-sized bowl, combine
1 cup reserved cake mix
1/4 cup softened margarine or butter
1 teaspoon Watkins Ground Cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Mix with pastry blender or fork. Sprinkle over filling.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes until knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve chilled or at room temperature with a dollop of real whipped cream and a sprinkle of Watkins Nutmeg. Makes 15-18 squares.
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Eleisia Whitney has a Watkins Home Business. She enjoys cooking and baking with Watkins extracts, spices, herbs, and sauces for healthy meals. Eleisia publishes a Watkins Newsletter, “Around the Kitchen Table,†that brings you recipes, cooking and health tips, and contests for free Watkins products. Visit her at http://www.everydaynecessities.com/� or Watkins Online Catalog
More From Eleisia
I have a similar recipe and it is terrific, like pumpkin pie without the crust getting in the way.