Best Jack Olantern Stew Recipes

PUMPKIN STEW

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Place beef in the saucepan and cook until evenly brown. Mix in the water, potatoes, carrots, green bell pepper, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer approximately 2 hours.
• Dissolve the bouillon into the beef mixture. Stir in the tomatoes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Cut top off the pumpkin and remove seeds and pulp. Place the pumpkin in a heavy baking pan. Fill the pumpkin with the beef mixture. Brush outside of the pumpkin with remaining oil.
• Bake in the preheated oven 2 hours, or until tender. Serve the stew from the pumpkin, scraping out some of the pumpkin meat with each serving.

DOUBLE JACK STEW

Steps:

• For the marinade: In a gallon re-sealable bag, combine all the ingredients and marinate for 1 hour at room temperature. Drain well and pat dry.
• For the stew: In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, add the oil and the onions and cook until translucent. Remove from the pot and reserve.
• In batches (if needed, do not crowd), add the steak to the pot and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per batch, turning to evenly and deeply brown. Adjust the heat as needed. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons flour and stir to coat well.
• Deglaze the pan with the whiskey and 1/2 cup of the beef stock, scraping any bits from the bottom. Add the remaining stock and return the onions to the pot. Add the bay leaves, thyme and savory and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• After 2 hours have passed, add the potatoes, turnip and carrots. Cover and cook for an additional 35 to 45 minutes.
• Add in the vinegar and salt, to taste.
• In a measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and cream and whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons flour. Add to the stew, stirring gently to combine, and cook for an additional 5 to 6 minutes. Turn off the heat, add in 2 tablespoons butter and serve.

JACK-O'-LANTERN TARTS

Steps:

• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one disk of dough to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out six 6-inch circles. Fit pastry in bottoms of six 3 3/4-inch fluted tart tins. Trim overhanging edges. Place tins on an ungreased baking sheet, and transfer sheet to refrigerator; chill shells until firm, about 30 minutes. Repeat with second disk of dough, lining six more tins.
• Roll out third disk of dough to an 1/8-inch thickness, and cut out twelve 3-inch circles. Place circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and transfer to refrigerator. Chill until very firm, about 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, eggs, honey, sugar, 1 cup heavy cream, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. In a small bowl, lightly beat together egg yolk and remaining 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Remove the tart tins from refrigerator, and brush crusts with egg glaze. Divide filling among shells.
• Transfer baking sheet to oven, and bake tarts until edges are golden brown and filling has set, about 30 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks to cool.
• Remove chilled pastry circles from refrigerator. Using a clean utility knife or a sharp paring knife, cut a jack-o-lantern face into each circle. Chill faces in freezer 15 minutes. Brush faces with remaining egg glaze.
• Transfer baking sheet to oven, and bake faces until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• When pies and faces have cooled, place one face on each tart.