THE PUMPKIN TUREEN

THE PUMPKIN TUREEN image

Yield 4-6 bowls

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 sincere 6- or 7- pound pumpkin (8 inch diameter)
1 cup finely minced onion
2 slices rye bread, diced
1/2 cup (packed) grated Swiss cheese
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 cups milk (low fat or soy OK)
1 to 2 cups vegetable broth, stock, bouillon, or water
1 teaspoon salt
Black pepper, cayenne, nutmeg to taste
Rye croutons - optional topping

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare the pumpkin as though you were going to make a jack-o-lantern, but stop short of carving the face. (Cut off the top; remove the seeds and stringy stuff.) Place onion, bread, cheese, horseradish, and mustard inside the pumpkin. Mix with your hands until well combines. Add milk and broth (as much as will fit - you can adjust the amounts) along with the seasonings. Stir it up. Line the pumpkin lid with a piece of foil, and place it on top. Place the filled pumpkin in an ungreased baking pan. Bake until the pumpkin is tender (about 2 hours). To test for tenderness, remove the lid, and gently stick a fork into the side. It should go in easily. To Serve: Scoop deeply to bring up some pumpkin pieces from the sides and bottom along with the soup. If desired, top with some crunchy rye croutons. Yield: 4 to 6 servings