PUMPKIN! More than Just a Jack O'Lantern (or Pie)

[harmony_bites]

You can blame this post on bluestocking79. She posted a couple of pumpkin recipes and reminded me of my lurve for things pumpkin. I tried her Pumpkin Streusel Muffins and they were delish. So in turn I offer some favorites I've tried and retried in the weeks since.

Comments

[lulabelle72]

I think I'll skip the bread, but the cookies and soup sound delicious. I generally have vanilla soy milk on hand; that's what I'll try in the soup. I know that it sounds like it might be too sweet or "off," but I wonder...

As for your pumpkin cheesecakee, I've made two myself and will give the recipes if you'd like them.

The first is from The Cake Mix Doctor, who doesn't have a bad recipe. If you know her, she takes basic boxed cake mixes and "doctors" them to make really special desserts. In her recipe, she starts with a spice cake mix, and it has a sour cream/brown sugar topping. Not exactly cheesecake-y, but it's close, and very different and delicious.

The second is from Marcel Desaulnier's classic "Death by Chocolate" (and I'm really dating myself if I say that I used to watch his tv show... in the early 90s). His is double-layered, pumpkin cheesecake and dark chocolate cheesecake, and it's rich rich rich, as are all of his desserts.

The only downside to Desaulnier's recipes -- all of them -- is that they are a high level of difficulty. I've screwed up every one I've attempted, but then, they still tasted utterly fabulous. This was one of the best I tried. It didn't look picture-perfect, but it was astoundingly good (and again, rich).

[harmony_bites]

I think I'll skip the bread, but the cookies and soup sound delicious

The bread really is wonderful--but is a pain in the ass, so I can't blame you. The cookies and soup are a lot easier to make.

I generally have vanilla soy milk on hand; that's what I'll try in the soup. I know that it sounds like it might be too sweet or "off," but I wonder...

That was my thought--but Sil said its a common substitution for something like this by vegans so... And if you're using a vegetable broth, the soy milk would at least provide some protein over almond or rice milk.

As for your pumpkin cheesecake, I've made two myself and will give the recipes if you'd like them.

I'll take the second. Though I'm not an advanced cook *points up to the first soup disaster--I suspect that one my fault* But I do like to try things--and hey, pumpkin cheese cake? With dark chocolate? I'm so there! Especially since I think I'd prefer that to pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.

[silburygirl]

Actually, just to butt in-I usually use plain, unsweetened soy milk if I'm pretending to be vegan. I think the vanilla would be too sweet in the case of the soup, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it in something dessert-y.

[lulabelle72]

That's what I was wondering -- if it would be too sweet. Thanks.