Pumpkin Shortage

Reading Yahoo News this morning and they said there would be a shortage of canned pumpkin this fall.  They were urging everyone to pick their pumpkin up now if they wanted pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure what  is causing this shortage. (I didn't read that far.)  I'm thinking most people who are reading this don't buy canned pumpkin anyways.  Pumpkins from the garden always make the best tasting pie.
Below is this year's crop.

 A great spaghetti squash year.

These are the biggest pumpkins I've ever grown.  The big one in front is over 100#.  Not a prize winner, but what do you do with it?  Too big to eat???

 The sunflowers are all drooping and ready to be cut.

 The kale is getting kinda shabby.  The animals love it.

 The rutabagas are quite healthy this year, also.

 Some of the tobacco growing on the south side of the house.  Why do I grow tobacco???

And my newest present from my honey..a W-6.  I used to make hay with a W-4 that I had to crankstart.  Reliving my youth. (This one has electric start.)

This was just a show and tell post, I guess.  But if anyone has a pumpkin shortage, just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

It's Time For Pumpkin Pancakes

Fire in the woodstove, critters in the barn, winter is fast approaching.  I'm starting to crave those comfort foods that help me store up my winter layer of insulation. (You know, the lost in a blizzard kind,the good thing I have this extra layer of fat to keep me from freezing to death kind, the I'm going to hibernate and not come out until spring kind.)

  I've made apple squares, apple pies, doughnuts and muffins.  Now it's time for pumpkin pancakes.  I love these pancakes, but for some reason I only make them about once a year.

Pumpkin Pancakes

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 egg slightly beaten
2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 cup molasses or maple syrup
3-4 tablespoons buttermilk
2 tablespoons butter
powdered sugar for dusting

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice.  Set aside.  In another bowl beat egg slightly.  Add pumpkin puree, molasses or syrup, milk and melted butter.  Mix until smooth.  Blend in the dry ingredients all at once.  Mix until batter is smooth.  Allow batter to rest for 30 minutes or more.  Add more milk if batter is too stiff.
Spoon a heaping tablespoon of batter onto a lightly greased preheated griddle.  Flatten batter to about 1/2 inch thick.  Cook slowly until bubbles appear.  Turn.

I like maple syrup on my pancakes.
Anyways, give these a try and see what you think.

Pumpkins!!!!

Yep, we got 'em.  Been blessed with an abundant crop of squash and pumpkins this year.

Most of these are pie pumpkins, with a couple of Dill's thrown in.  There are a few Turbin squash, too.  What to do with this bounty.....

I harden them out in the yard for about a week, maybe more, before hauling them to the cellar.  It stays about 65 degrees and dry in our cellar and they seem to keep well down there. 
I can-
feed them to the goats and sheep during the winter (high in vitamins and the seeds are a natural dewormer).
Dehydrate them and make pumpkin flour to add to baked goods.  Makes them moister and higher in vitamins.
Bake pumpkin breads, cookies, bars, pies, dump cake...you get the idea.
Can the pumpkin.
Roast the seeds.
Make pumpkin chips.
I haven't tried pumpkin chips before, but here's the recipe and I hope to try these soon-
Pumpkin Chips
Peel a pie pumpkin and scoop out the seeds.  Cut into wedges and then cut the wedges into very thin slices.  You may want to use a food processor for this.  Heat oil to deep fry to 375 degrees.  Make sure it's hot enough or your chips will be greasy.  Fry in the oil and drain well.  Sprinkle with salt.  I'm thinking you could make different flavors.  How about some sugar and cinnamon, or a ranch flavor sprinkle? (Maybe not the ranch.)
So what do you do with your pumpkins?  There are so many ideas out there.  Pumpkin is very versatile.
Be blessed!