Pumpkin Stew

From Taste of Home’s Halloween Food & Fun, 2003
Serves 8-10

Ingredients

2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 1″ cubes 3 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
1 c. water 3 large potatoes, peeled & cut into 1″ cubes
4 medium carrots, sliced 1 large green pepper, cut into ½” pieces
4 garlic cloves, minced 1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp salt ½ tsp pepper
2 tbsp instant beef bouillon granules 14½ oz. diced tomatoes
1 pumpkin (10-12 lbs)

Directions

  1. In a Dutch oven, brown meat in 2 tbsp oil.  Add water, potatoes, carrots, green pepper, garlic, onion, salt & pepper.  Cover & simmer for 2 hours.  Stir in bouillon & tomatoes.  Wash pumpkin; cut a 6-8″ circle around top stem.  Remove top & set aside; discard seeds & loose fibers from inside.
  2. Place pumpkin in a shallow sturdy baking pan.  Spoon stew into pumpkin & replace the top.  Brush outside of pumpkin with remaining oil.  
  3. Bake at 325°F for 2 hours or just until the pumpkin is tender (do not over bake).  Serve stew from pumpkin, scooping out a little pumpkin with each serving.

Francine’s Famous Salad Dressing

Submitted by Tyler Patton

Ingredients

1 egg yolk
1 tsp dijon mustard
2/3 c. canola oil 1/3 c. wine vinegar
garlic, pressed salt & pepper
lemon juice Parmesan cheese
Knorr Aromate seasoning (a dash) Knorr Maggi seasoning (a dash)

Directions

  1. Mix all ingredients & blend into your salad just before serving.

Guacamole

Submitted by Americo

Ingredients

4 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, & chopped ½ red onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, minced 2 limes, juiced
salt & pepper (to taste) fresh cilantro, chopped (to taste)

Directions

  1. molcajete by Eporama on FlickrCombine all ingredients in a molcajete & mix to a chunky consistency.  
  2. Season to taste with salt, pepper, & cilantro.  
  3. Serve immediately with Cumin Dusted Tortillas.

Porcupine Meatballs

Submitted by Robb “Movidude74” Johnston
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef 1 egg, slightly beaten
2 tbsp onion, finely chopped ¼ c. rice, uncooked
1 tbsp parsley, snipped ½ tsp salt
½ c. water 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
10 ¾ oz. condensed tomato soup (1 can) dash of pepper

Directions

  1. Combine meat, rice, egg, parsley, onion, salt, pepper, & ¼ c. tomato soup. 
  2. Mix thoroughly & shape in about 20 small balls & place in a skillet.
  3. Mix remaining soup, water, & sauce; pour over meatballs.
  4. Bring to a boil & reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring often.

Taco Soup

Submitted by Joe
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 lb. lean ground beef ½ c. onions, diced
15-16 oz. black beans (1 can) 15-16 oz. pinto beans (1 can)
14.5 oz. DelMonte Diced Tomatoes with Zesty Mild Green Chiles (1 can) 14.5 oz. DelMonte Diced Tomatoes with Zesty Jalapeños (1 can)
11 oz. Green Giant Mexicorn (1 can) 14 oz. beef broth (1 can)
1 pkg. Old El Paso Taco Seasoning 1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp pepper ½ tbsp garlic powder
½ tbsp chili powder 16 oz. sour cream
1 pkg. Kraft Mexican 4 Cheese Blend, shredded

Directions

  1. Dice the onions. Rinse & drain all cans of beans.
  2. Crumble & brown beef in a large pot over medium high heat.
  3. Once the meat starts to brown, add salt, pepper, garlic powder & chili powder, stir.
  4. Add onions & mexicorn, stir. When the meat is fully cooked, add beans & cans of diced tomatoes.
  5. Reduce heat to low, add beef broth, taco seasoning & stir to mix.
  6. Cover pot & let soup simmer on low for 30 minutes.
  7. Serve in a bowl, top with spoon full of sour cream & shredded cheese.

Chef’s Note: For red-meat free soup, substitute ground turkey in place of beef & chicken broth in place of beef broth. For vegetarian soup, double the beans called for in place of the meat & use vegetable broth instead of beef or chicken broth.