Pumpkins, Beans, Bread, and Cookies

[threemeninaboat]

Welcome to my new friends interested in cooking! And a big hug to my old friends!
I'm going to try to do a bit more explaining here for those who want to learn more. Feel free to ask questions anytime.

I had time to do prep work today. This way when I need beans and pumpkin it's already in the freezer. I have a big freezer and cannot eat canned goods, so I do it this way.

I put up two pumpkins two ways. I grew some pumpkins and I bought some heirloom pumpkins. Half and remove all the seeds from both pumpkins (an ice cream scoop works well). Peel pumpkin B. Pumpkin A was cooked for pies, cheesecakes, muffins, breads. Pumpkin B was cubed raw for Thai, Indian, and Peruvian dishes. Pumpkin A went cut side down in a glass dish with 1/2 of water in the oven at 350 for ~1.5h. It's done when it loses shape and looks deflated. I scooped out the meat and put it into zip bags in 1C increments. Pumpkin B was cubed and also bagged into 1C increments.

Black beans soaked overnight then went into glass jars and into the freezer. No, beans don't really need to be pre-soaked. But on burrito night, I prefer them almost done.

I tried to make Rolo cookies: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1710,152167-248201,00.html They spread out into a thin cookie with a rolo nipple in the middle. *sigh* Tasty, but not what I was going for.

Bread turned out REALLY well. Yeast, water, honey, 2 egg whites, 1/2c milk, chickpea flour, whole wheat flour, AP flour.

Comments

[loree.livejournal.com]

Beans don't necessarily need to be pre-soaked, but it makes them a lot less ass-gassy if you do, especially if you change the water several times. You can also bring them just to a boil and drain and rinse them for the same effect. Doing both makes them pretty much toot-free, even if your body isn't acclimated to large quantities of beans.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

I've never had that problem, possibly because I am used to beans, but I've heard epazote helps too.

[tuffyanonymouse.livejournal.com]

Yes!! This is awesome! You post about some amazing food, I need to pay attention rather than just drooling at your pictures and then losing my motivation...

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Come over for dinner!

[tuffyanonymouse.livejournal.com]

That sounds awesome! I'll have to make something to bring over. And I'll get to see your amazing house! I'll let you know when this insane finals week is over.