Our first year at Betty Cornhill garden
Story and Photo: Jo Kirwan (Canberra Organic - Spring 2019)
Our first year at the Betty Cornhill community garden has been a very fruitful one. The question posed to myself as autumn was coming to an end was what to do with almost 40 pumpkins? Many of them weighing 15+ kgs! Thankfully pumpkin is my all-time favourite vegetable.
I trawled the internet and every recipe book I own (I could seriously open a cookbook library) for ideas on how to consume this gorgeous vegetable. They have also been foisted onto friends and family until they are refusing any more. I looked and looked but I have not found a recipe book actually dedicated to the noble pumpkin. Maybe I should write one myself as we aim to grow a similar amount next year. I have been incredibly successful in my search and now almost every meal contains pumpkin. are a few of our favourites.
Pumpkin and apple scones
300g steamed/cooked pumpkin
1 large apple grated
3 tbsp macadamia oil (or whatever
oil you bake with)
2 cups wholemeal self-raising flour +
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp mixed spice
½ tsp ground ginger
2 tbsp milk of your choice
½ cup pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds or mixture of both
Preheat oven to 180⁰.
Mix all the ingredients, except the milk and seeds together.
Knead the dough and add a bit more flour if it is too sticky.
Roll out on a lightly floured surface. I make a large circular scone about 2 cm thick and mark 6 pieces.
Brush with milk and press on the seeds.
Bake for about 20–25 minutes or until golden.
Pumpkin and date muffins
300g steamed/cooked pumpkin, pureed
1 2/3 cup self-raising flour + ½ tsp baking powder
½ cup coconut, shredded
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp mixed spice
1/3 cup oil (grapeseed, vegetable or canola)
2 eggs
¼ cup honey
2/3 cup milk of your choice
6 dates, finely chopped
Preheat oven to 200⁰.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Divide mixture into muffin tins and bake for 15–20 mins or until golden.
This recipe can be altered to feature chocolate chips, chopped dried apricots and almonds. Just remove dates and mixed spice. All work really well – they have been tested and given the tick of approval!
