Gluten Free French Toast

Hi,

The other day I made French Toast for the kids and it turned out so well that I wanted to share it with you.  The only tweak to the original recipe was using Udi's gluten free bread.  Our Costco sells it.

Here is the easy-peasy recipe for you.

Orange Cinnamon French Toast

4 Tbsp. butter, melted

2 Tbsp. honey

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3 eggs

1/2 c. orange juice

1/8 tsp. salt

6 slices of bread.

• In a bowl combine butter, honey and cinnamon.  Pour into a greased (PAM sprayed) cookie sheet (that has edges).  
• Spread honey mixture on the cookie sheet to coat. 
• In a shallow bowl, beat eggs, orange juice and salt.  Dip bread into egg mixture and place into the prepared pan.  
• Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.  
• Serve as is or with maple syrup or powdered sugar.  

Enjoy!  It's super good!

- Carol

Comfrey salve

Hi Friends,

I thought I would give a little update on Eric's collar bone.  As of the last appointment (which was three weeks ago) with the orthopedist, x-rays showed no new bone growth.  Both he and I were a little disappointed at the slow progress of the healing of this break.  We attribute it to the Prednisone that he is taking for PMR. (and the rheumatologist confirmed this.)

At the suggestion of a friend, who is very knowledgeable about herbs, I decided I would do a little research on comfrey, also known as the "bone herb".  Comfrey leaf has a long history of use to promote healing of bones and wounds.    My friend suggested a poultice that could be applied.
I looked further into that, but discovered it needs to sit on the site for 4-6 hours.  That would not be difficult if it were an ankle or some place where I could wrap some plastic wrap around to hold the poultice in place.  The collar bone is a little tricky - and the poultice is a little messy.

I decided that I would make a salve, much like the healing salve I made.  I found comfrey leaf on Amazon.
I filled a quart size mason jar half - full and then covered the herb with organic olive oil.  I know that coconut oil has so many benefits, but the downside is its low melting point.  In the end, I wanted this salve to be the same consistency no matter the ambient temperature.  Anyway,  I only used one jar because it was a trial run.
I put the jar in a crock pot filled with water on WARM for 3 days to infuse the oil with comfrey.  (I did have to refill the water level several times.  Next time I will use a pint jar that will allow me to use the lid and trap some of the moisture.)

Once that was finished. I used a strip of cheesecloth to drain the oil into a pot, straining out all the herb pieces.  I wanted only the infused oil with no bits of anything.
I added some beeswax.  I have a huge block of it leftover, so I am unsure how much I used.
I melted it all together and put it in two containers to set up.  The first time through, it was much too runny, and needed more wax.  I scraped out both containers back into the pot and added more beeswax.  Once the beeswax was melted into the oil, I again poured it back into two containers to have it set up.  I think I got it right this time.  I need it to be firm enough so it is not drippy, but soft enough so that I do not have to push hard to apply it.  (ouch!)

I am going to rub this on his collar bone twice a day, and see if in three weeks, (when he returns to the orthopedist) if we have made any progress.  

Also... prayers are always appreciated!  😌

- Carol

Candle sale!

Hi Friends!

Ooooh the holidays are here and that's so exciting, isn't it?  I have other exciting news too.

After making 100% natural candles for myself, I decided to make them available for sale here on the blog.  Just in time for the holidays.  Add ambiance to your home for the season.  Candles make great Christmas gifts for friends, lovely hostess gifts, and even perfect stocking stuffers.  Don't forget to treat yourself to some too!

I love to burn candles, but really dislike the black, toxic smoke that you get when you burn commercially made candles.  Soy wax helps with that, but still the fake fragrances are also toxic. Have you ever experienced a headache from an overpowering candle?  Ugh!

A few years ago I decided to create an all natural candle that I could feel good about burning.  I use non- GMO soy wax, pure therapeutic grade essential oils, and eco-wicks made from cotton and paper. 100% natural.  😀

These burn clean!  No toxic smoke!  Plus you get the added unique benefit each essential oil has to offer.

I've been blending and sampling essential oil scents and finally settled on four unique blends to create a "Regions" line inspired by America's coastlines.  Each coastline is so unique and beautiful in their own ways, and these scents reflect what I associate with those areas. 

"Pacific Northwest" - scented with coffee essential oil. 

Because PNW = Coffee!

"So Cal"  - scented with hints of grapefruit, orange, lemon, and spearmint.

Bright and refreshing and reminiscent of their citrus groves.

"Deer Isle"  - scented with bergamot, lavender, and fir.

A tiny island off the coast of Maine with tall evergreens and a rugged coast.   

"Sanibel" - scented with hints of sweet orange, cinnamon, and eucalyptus.  

Silky soft white sand and shell treasures everywhere on this little island off the coast of Florida.

Each 6 oz. candle [with a burn time of approximately 25 hours] is just $10 

4 oz. candles [with a burn time of approximately 18-20 hours] are just $7.50 each

Or choose a sampler of 1 of each scent
6 oz. size for $38
4 oz size for $28.

Sale Details 

Ordering:  Email me at carol@hfhco.com with your order.  I'll fill orders on a first come-first served basis, and I'll answer you with a confirmation and total.  

Delivery/Shipping:  If you are local, we can make arrangements.  If not, I am happy to ship anywhere is the U.S. 

Shipping rates:  All orders are sent USPS Priority Mail.

1 - 6  (4 oz. each)   OR 1-3 (6 oz) $ 6.80 (priority small flat rate.) 

4 - 12 (6 oz each) $ 10.80 (box A regional)
For larger quantities inquire for shipping.

Payment: 

I accept Paypal (use carol@hfhco.com), cash or personal checks, if you are local.

Salmon Chowder

Hi and Happy Monday!

Did you hear that a huge storm was forecast for the PNW this past weekend? The likes they haven't seen in a decade. They were sayin' "hurricane force winds" along the coast! 50-60 mph winds inland! And lots of heavy rain!  They warned of downed trees and widespread power outages, and flooding!  YIKES!

So we filled our 5 gallon water cooler, we got all the laundry done, cleaned the bathrooms, vacuumed the floor - not because our house has to be clean when there is a storm (ha),  but in case we lost power, and in case it stayed out for several days.

I decided that such blustery weather demanded a delicious soup for supper. Don't you think so?  I made Salmon Chowder from The Auto Immune Paleo Book. It was outstanding and I just knew you'd want the recipe! 

We adapted the recipe a little so I'm sharing my version.   :-) 

2 Tbsp. cooking fat 

1 large onion, chopped

6 carrots, chopped 

4 ribs celery, chopped 

2 large cloves garlic, minced

8 cups homemade chicken broth*

1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. thyme

1-1/2 tsp. salt

3 cans (6 oz. each) salmon, drained

1 can full fat coconut milk

In a soup pot, heat the cooking fat (I used olive oil) and add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are soft and slightly browned.  Add chicken broth, vinegar, thyme and salt to the pot and bring to a boil.  Cover and turn down to a bare simmer, and cook for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.  

Use an immersion blender to puree the soup briefly, leaving some veggies chunky.  Add the salmon and the coconut milk and heat through, but don't boil. 

Serve with crusty French bread.

So - the skies were gray and stormy. And it was blustery with large, brown maple leaves littering the sky.  And it was rainy, but the storm didn't match the forecasters' expectations, but let me tell you... this soup exceeded ours!  So good!  All the kids (even 5 year old Mary) asked for seconds!)  

* for my homemade chicken broth go here. 

If you are wanting a new soup to try this fall... this is it!  
If you try it, let me know what you think, okay?


~ Carol  


Linking with Strangers and Pilgrims, Life of Faith, and I Should be Mopping the Floor.

The Good. The Random. The Fun

Happy Monday.  Here's a little of what happened over the weekend...

The Good. 

Caleb came to visit this weekend.  It was sooo good to see him. 

The poor boy -  he nearly gets bowled over when he enters the front door as we all come to hug him, and then everyone talks at him at once as we all are so excited to see him and want his attention. There's just so much to catch up on.  It's good to know you are loved.

The Random.

I'm trying my hand at culturing some vegetables.  Starting simple with a cabbage/apple mixture from this book, which is so helpful and informative.  

And I have 2 new favorites!   

The Fun. 
From the man who said, he'd never have chickens... Actually, he'll be the first to tell that he is not getting chickens.  They will be Ellie's chickens.  She has wanted them so such a long time, and is now old enough (responsible enough) to be able to handle the chore all on her own.  

How about you?  What's goin' on?  


~Carol

I'm linking with Random-osity today.  Come join the fun.

Autoimmune recipe: Paleo Fig Energy Bites

As many of you know, Hannah has some food allergies. Her symptoms have progressed over the years from bothersome to now quite severe, which has led us to seek some new help.  After some extensive testing we discovered more allergens for her to steer clear of, and the bacterial battle going on inside her gut.   

But in spite of  being fastidious about her diet, and taking mass doses of probiotic along with grapefruit seed extract to kill off the bad bacteria, she was still feeling rather awful, in fact, I dare say even getting worse.

I found myself on my knees before the Lord crying out for wisdom and direction.  

He is so faithful to answer prayer.

I remembered a conversation I had had with a friend (about her own health struggles), Another friend who has similar issues as Hannah came to mind, and I also remembered a closing comment made by Hannah's doctor.  All of them regarding leaky gut. 

I did some internet research on leaky gut, specifically what it is, and how to address it, and I checked some autoimmune paleo cookbooks out from the library.  

We had already removed many things from her diet after her food panel results, so it didn't seem as daunting to remove a few more offenders, and if we didn't see any improvement, well, we'd have more tests done.  

She's been eating this way for about three weeks now, and she is seeing some improvement! It's small, but still encouraging.

There are still so many variables, but I am so thankful that Hannah is beginning to feel a little relief. Her doctor was happy with that too. 

With that in mind, I thought I would try to post each week about a recipe that we've tried that we really like. Maybe this will be a help to you or someone you know who struggles with gut related issues.  

Hannah found this recipe from the Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook by Mickey Trescott 

We love them.  They taste fabulous and are super fast to make. 

 Paleo Fig Energy Bites

2 c. unsulphured dried figs*
2 c. fine shredded coconut, divided**
1/3 c. coconut oil, melted
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt

Place the figs, 1-1/2 c. of the shredded coconut, coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt in a food processor and pulse on and off until a thick paste forms (you may have to stop and scrape the sides of your food processor a couple of times.) 
Form into 1" balls, then roll them in the reserved 1/2 c. of shredded coconut. 
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the coconut oil set. 

Other dried fruit can be used instead of figs such as dates, dried apples, and apricots .
Keeps for a week or two stored in the refrigerator.  Also freezes well. 

*Costco carries a 2.5 lb. bag of organic sun-dried Calimyrna figs for about $10
** We buy organic unsweetened coconut from Azure Standard.


 Enjoy!
~ Carol

Where I'm linking up...

Healing salve tutorial

Summer is a great time to get a few extra things done, that I don't often have time for during our school year.  One of those extras that was on my "hope to get done this summer" list was making some more healing salve.  It's also known as Eden's Salve or Green Salve.

This is such an easy thing to make, so I thought I would show you how. 

I bought the package of dried herbs from Bulk Herb Store.  

It's a mixture of plantain leaf, calendula flower, comfrey leaf, yarrow flower, rosemary leaf, 

echinacea leaf, echinacea root.  

These herbs are great to treat cuts, scrapes, itchy bug bites, and rashes.

The hardest part about this is that you'll need to infuse the oil using your crock pot for 3 days. 
I use my crockpot a lot - so I had to plan ahead to have it available.   

I have a 6 quart oval size crock pot. I wasn't sure what size jar to use. Only three quart jars would fit next to one another, but they were too tall to have the crock pot lid on.  (That is ok - more on that in a minute.)
I chose to use five pint jars, and I lined my crockpot with a washcloth. 

Fill your clean jars half way full with the herbs.  (The instructions printed on my bag of herbs said to fill 1/3 full.  Instructions that I kept from a previous bag said to fill 2/3 full.  So I compromised.)

Then fill the jar the rest of the way with oil of your choice.  I chose coconut oil because I think it's the best choice for a healing salve due to its antibacterial properties. 

Add water to your crockpot - enough to come up to the neck of the jar.  I added a bit more water after I took this picture.   Cover with a lid and turn on to WARM.  Let sit on WARM for three days. 
You don't want it to get too hot.  If your crockpot doesn't have a WARM setting, then use LOW and keep the lid off. 
Whether you choose to use a jar that is bigger and won't allow you to cover with the lid or you need to keep the lid off to keep it from getting too hot - be sure to add water daily to keep the water level where it should be.  (Note: add warm water down the side so as to not crack any jars.)

This is your beautiful herb infused oil. 

Next you'll need to strain out the herbs.  Cheesecloth works well, as did these  Handi - Wipes.

I lined a 4 cup Pyrex measuring cup and poured the jar contents into the center of the Handi Wipe. 

This was one jar's worth.   

Repeat with all the jars.  Holding the corners so that the oil filters through the mesh, but catches all the herbs.  
Squeeze out all the oil. Set the herbs (still in the Cheesecloth) aside in a 2nd bowl, as they will continue to drain, even though you think you got it all. 
Put your oil in a pot.  
Next add the beeswax.  I was fortunate enough to have had a friend give me some from her hive.  This sheet has been heated and strained from the previous time of making the salve. 
. 

You can use beeswax pastilles.
You would use about 1/4 cup to start.  It really all depends on the amount of infused oil you have and how soft you like your salve.  

I test a sample. 
Once the beeswax is melted, spoon some into a tin or small glass jar.  Let it set up and decide for yourself if you like the consistency.  Mine was way too soft, so I put back in the pot, melted more beeswax and tried again until I was happy. 
You can add grapefruit seed extract (1 drop for every 1 oz.) as a natural preservative to extend the shelf life.  It's easiest to add the drops to your individual containers.  My tins are 2 and 4 oz. so either 2 or 4 drops per tin.  done.

All set up

and beautiful! 

These make great gifts (especially baby shower gifts) or even stocking stuffers.  I keep one in my purse, one in my car (but in a little ziploc - because the hot car makes it melty!) one in our first aid kit.  Perfect to pack along on a hike or a camping trip.  

Between Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs you'll find everything you need to make this amazing salve.  Seriously, it's the BEST!  (In my humble, non-medical opinion.)


~Carol

Sharing here.

Natural cleaners - my review

Fresh as a daisy?

I thought I would do a review on some of the natural products that I've been trying in an effort to find ones that work well and are healthier options for my family.  

Here we go...

Laundry room: 
Detergent:
For years I used to use All free and clear, then I switched to Costco's Environmentally Friendly because it was less expensive.  Then I discovered that it received an "F" from the Environmental Working Group, which put me on the quest for something better.
I tried Seventh Generation's Natural 2x Concentrated Liquid Laundry detergent (free and clear).  It received a "C".  While it seemed to be a healthier option it also seemed to leave the whites a bit dingy - and it's expensive.
Conclusion:  I'll keep searching.  The scent of the Seventh Generation is nice.

Dryer Sheets: 
I used to use Bounce then switched to Costco's version because it was half the price, but it also received an "F" from EWG.
I've been using Mrs. Meyers Clean Day dryer sheets. (I've tried both basil and lavender scents)  it is improved only up to a "C", but it does keep static down and I like the scent.  
Conclusion:   I am going to have Ellie make some wool balls as seen here.
I can scent them with natural essential oils.  I think this will be the most healthy and cost effective option for reducing static cling.

Kitchen:
Dish Soap: Again I formerly used Kirkland Signature's Environmentally Friendly liquid dish soap. 
Can you guess the grade from EWG?  Yep, "F".  I've been using Seventh Generation Liquid dish soap - free and clear.  I like it.  It seems to work well cutting grease while not wrecking havoc on my hands.  I think it received a "C".  
Conclusion:  Dr. Bronner's and Biokleen both received an "A", so I will give each one a try to see how well they clean and what they smell like.  

Dishwasher soap:  Before all our dishwasher woes, we used Cascade Complete dishwasher gel. Our new dishwasher recommends Finish Pods.("C") Kirkland Signature Dishwasher Pods scored a little better. ("B")
Conclusion:  Even though the Kirkland brand received a "B" it is the most economical and the pods do a great job at cleaning the dishes. I also like that the wrapper is biodegradable. 
 
Seventh Generation does make a pod that scored "A" so I will order them from my next Grove Collaborative order to see how they work and figure out the cost point.  If they too expensive I can live with a "B" grade and use the Kirkland signature dishwasher pods.

Rinse Aid: - Our Bosch recommends Finish, but I've switched to Seventh Generation Rinse Aid free and clear.   It received an "A".
Conclusion:  This is an easy switch to make.  



Bathroom:
Tub and Tile cleaner:  I used to use Scrubbing Bubbles.  It worked wonderfully, but the fumes are strong.  I have tried both Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day and Method.  Both smell awful.  I don't mean strong, but clean smelling fumes - I mean like ... dog urine.  I'm sorry.  That's probably rude to say, but it's true.  It smells awful and reminds me of just that.  
Because I couldn't stand the smell of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Lemon Verbena bathroom cleaner, I tried Method Antibac, bathroom cleaner.  It also smells awful, and it didn't score well with EWG. 
Neither of them clean well.  Soap scum is building up and it doesn't feel clean.
Conclusion:  In spite of its failing grade, I am switching back to Scrubbing Bubbles. Even though the fumes are strong, the scent is not offensive, and it cleans like a champ! 


Toilet Cleaner:  I switched from Lysol Cling to Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day.  Again, I could not stand the smell!  I tried Method brand, which isn't quite at pungent, but still not a nice smell at all.  Both are not cleaning as well as Lysol either - leaving stains in the bowl.
Conclusion:  Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day received a "B".  Other scents are available (lavender and basil) so I could try those.  I haven't tried just plain baking soda either, but if all those options don't clean it well, I'll be returning to Lysol as well.  I need to feel like my bathrooms are clean and disinfected.  

. . . . . 

I think I've come to these overall conclusions:  
1. Some natural products do not clean as well as their harsh counterparts.
2.  Some natural products smell awful!
3.  Natural cleaners are expensive!
4.  If it goes into our mouth (via our dishes) or touches our skin (our clothing) then I will make every effort to find the most healthy, (but also effective) option for our family. 
5. Since that isn't the case with the bathroom cleaners and the "healthy" versions don't seem to clean well or smell good, I am willing to use the harsher "F" products in order to have a clean (disinfected, no-soap-scum- clean smelling) bathroom. 

How about you?  Have you tried any natural products that you are super happy with?  I'd would love to know about them.  :-) 


-Carol


I'm sharing with some of these blogs. 

A clean clean

So by now you probably know that I am a bit of a health nut.  And you probably get that I am an all-natural kinda gal.  I like pure.  I like simple.   (pur et simple!)
I like clean and uncluttered.
Over the years we have overhauled the way we eat.  We eat whole food, and we eat clean food...mostly.   

But an area I haven't done too much with is making my own cleaning solutions.  
I do have two recipes - one for an all purpose glass cleaner, and one for an all purpose wood cleaner that I make,  but I still use the commercial stuff to clean the bathrooms and do laundry.   I've tried some homemade products in the past, but they just don't seem to clean well - so inevitably I revert back to the tried-and-true commercial cleaner.

The other day, I saw something on Pinterest, which led to the bunny hop of websites where I discovered Environmental Working Group.  They rate the cleaners from (A - F) like school grades according to their danger to personal health and the environment.  

My laundry soap - F
My dryer sheets - F
My tub/sink cleaner - F
My toilet cleaner - F
My dish soap - F
My dishwasher soap - F 

Seriously!  

So now I am on a new, highly motivated quest to find replacement products that fair much safer for my family.
Seventh Generation and Biokleen seem to be the best options. 

Now this may seem like a shameless plug, especially since I just featured their soap in my most recent post, but it isn't really.  Visit Shadow Hills Handmade.  Watch their video and tell me if it doesn't inspire you to use 100% natural, good for you products. 

Replacing commercial pump soap and/or body wash with all natural bar soap is an easy switch, so I am starting with that.  

Next will be the bathroom cleaner (Smelly fumes can't be healthy!) and the laundry soap.

Do you use any homemade cleaning products?  

Here are my simple, easy recipes in case you want to give it a try. 

Glass Cleaner  
2 c. water
1/4 c. white vinegar
1/4 c. rubbing alcohol.  
Combine all in a spray bottle.

Wood Cleaner
1-3/4 c. water
1/4 c. white vinegar
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. lemon essential oil 
Combine all in a spray bottle.

Floor Cleaner
2 c. water 
1/4 c. vinegar 
Combine together and add to the bottle of your stick mop.

Four new favorites and a give-away

Guess whaaat? 

I have some new-found favorites I want to share them with you,

and I think you're going to love them! 

CC Beanie

It's been so cold that I've been wearing this CC slouchy beanie non-stop. 

It's super cute and comfy and warm.  It is truly my fav.or.ite! 

. . . . . 

Trader Joe's Coffee a Cocoa

This coffee is wonderful!  It only has three ingredients:  coffee, unsweetened cocoa, and chocolate liqueur.  It has a really nice flavor, but it's not sweet.  LOVE THIS!

. . . . . 

Rend Collective - As Family We Go

They are a Christian Irish folk band.  

Give them a listen.

. . . . . 

Shadow Hills Hand Made soap

Made with 100% all natural ingredients such as coconut oil, organic palm oil, goat's milk, botanicals as natural colorants and exfolliants, and scented only with essential oils.  These soaps are mild and moisturizing.  

I'm excited to team up with Shadow Hills Handmade for a fun give-away because I know you will love these soaps too!

They will be running a sale beginning January 25th  for their fabulous soaps, and they are featuring this three bar Valentine collection.
Wouldn't you just love to have them?  You can!

To enter the giveaway for this Valentine trio
1.  See my post on Instagram (@pur_et_simple) 
     Leave a comment and tag a friend. 
     Follow @shadowhillshandmade.

2.  Leave a comment here on my blog about why you'd like to win these lovely bars.

If you don't follow Instagram, you can just leave a comment here and still be entered.  :-)  
One winner will be chosen at random.  I'll close the give-away in a couple of days.  

Be sure to check out the website www.shadowhillshandmade.com.

Also - just a word to the wise - if you think you might like to order from her soap sale, be sure to place your order early as they sell out quickly!  (At the last sale all was sold in just one hour!)


~ Carol

Master tonic update

 I recently made a new batch of master tonic so that we would be prepared for the upcoming flu/cold season.  I used the recipe that I posted here, but I put it together a little differently.  Each of the ingredients equaled about 1 cup each.  I added all the ingredients to a half-gallon canning jar and then covered all with 1 quart of raw apple cider vinegar.  This way I didn't need to worry about having enough room while allowing for displacement.

If you didn't/couldn't grow your own ingredients, or you didn't/couldn't make it to a farmer's market, you can buy all the ingredients needed at your local grocery store.  I actually bought fresh horseradish along with the tincture bottles with dropper tops on Amazon.
These are 2 oz. size.  The recipe yielded 1 dozen 2 oz. bottles and 1 pint - for refills.

This particular batch is hot, but it isn't crazy hot.  The recipe calls for including the pepper seeds when combining everything.  I, unfortunately, had discarded them, and then realized I was supposed to include them.  I was kind of afraid to work with the hot peppers - I wore rubber gloves and discarded the seeds because they are usually the hottest part of the pepper...which is why you need to include them.   Light bulb moment for me.

This is super easy to make.  If you are interested in a natural way to help you through a congestion or sore throat bug, I encourage you to give this a try.   Because this is infused vinegar, it doesn't expire.   

An autumn essential

I heard on the radio the other day that Illinois is the country’s largest source of pumpkins. (Who knew?)

I also heard that they are expecting a shortage of canned pumpkin due to all the rain that adversely affected the sugar pie pumpkin crop this last summer, and they are telling everyone not to wait till the last minute to buy canned pumpkin because it could run out.  Whaaat?

Well, no worries…it’s super easy to make your own pumpkin puree. 

You can use any pumpkin, it doesn’t have to be a sugar pie pumpkin, but the sugar pies have more flesh and are slightly sweeter.  (So they say, but remember it is probably going into your baked treat… with sugar and spice and everything nice!)

Slice the pumpkin in half horizontally.  (It’s nice if they aren’t really big pumpkins.)

Scoop out all the seeds.

Place the halves on a cookie sheet cut side down and add a little bit of water. 

This makes its own little steam bath.

Place in a 350 degree oven for about an hour or until soft and a knife can slip through the skin easily.  

Let cool so that you can handle.

Scoop out the flesh.   You should be able to scrape the flesh from the skin super easily.

Place the cooked flesh into a food processor or blender.  Puree to the desired consistency.

I like to measure out 2 cup portions of puree and put into quart Ziploc bags labeled with the date. 

I then lay the bags flat on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer to flash freeze.  When they are firm, I just remove them from the cookie sheet, stack them, and continue to freeze until solid.

Of course the yield will depend upon the size of your pumpkin, but I seem to get 3-4 bags (about 8 cups) worth from one medium sized pumpkin.

The day before I want to use it, I place the bag in a bowl and put it in the refrigerator to thaw.  (I try not to thaw in the microwave because of the plastic. That’s a big No-No!)

Now you’re ready for pumpkin muffins, pumpkin scones, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin bread even pumpkin chili, but my favorite...pumpkin PIE.

I say, “ I want” – you say, “PIE”

“I want!”

“PIE!”

“I want!”

“PIE!”

Happy Autumn, Everyone.  

Strangers and Pilgrims link up.