The internet has been flooded with pumpkin-themed recipes as of late, whether to use up leftover pumpkin from Canadian Thanksgiving, in preparation for American Thanksgiving, to welcome autumn, or in anticipation of Halloween. Whatever the reason, I have welcomed this flood with open arms and an open mind.

I’ve had an oversized can of pumpkin in my cupboard for weeks. I had intended to use it over Thanksgiving a few weeks back, but when that fine pumpkin pie swung into town courtesy of my mother, my tin of pumpkin got pushed to the back of the pantry.

Hidden it may have been, but certainly not forgotten. I eyed that can, day after day, foraging for lunch to take to work and imagining all it would become. I saved, printed, and scoured recipes every day, wondering what manifestation this can of goodness would take. Not that I couldn’t just run out and buy a few more cans and experiment with other recipes – and still could – but this can of pumpkin was meant for greatness.

Or, maybe not. But it sounds nice, right? 

A delicious and silky smooth Friday evening dinner.

While the internet was dealing with this flood, I found the recipe I was after in a heavy-in-your-hands, pages-you-can-touch, bona fide cookbook that I’m becoming slightly obsessed with. Around My French Table (by Dorie Greenspan) is becoming my kitchen mainstay, my go-to reference whenever I want to make something with panache or a heretofore unattempted flair. For this home cook, it’s becoming a staple. I’ve tried over a dozen recipes in it so far, all of which have met with success, and all have stretched and challenged me. I’m going to be cooking out of it for years to come.

Speaking of stretching and challenging, and as a sidenote, I’m reading up a lot on food photography these days and trying to absorb as much as I can. With the resources I have, I want to learn how to take they very best pictures my camera and my eye are capable of. As a result, I’ve been toying with the settings quite a bit, in an effort to teach myself by trial and error, so bare with me (and my photos) while I go through this learning process. The lighting (among other things) will inevitably be off in some, but since a girl has to eat her dinner at some point, I’m going to work with what photos I manage to get before my food is icy cold. And, because I’m a visual learner, only reading about camera settings is proving to be a challenge. So, head-first I go into trial and error.

Exhibit A



Exhibit B



Exhibit C. Photographer friends: Is it wrong that I actually like the dark and murky ones, asthetically speaking, even if they’re not techincally very sound?



I digress.

For those of you looking for different ways of using up that pumpkin, or just getting as much of it as you can – ’tis the season – give Dorie’s Pumpkin Flans a try. Originally called Pumkin-Gorgonzola Flans, I made a couple of changes to suit my tastes. Namely, I used Chèvre (or goat’s cheese) instead of Gorgonzola, because I really love the distinct flavour that goat’s milk and goat’s cheese can put on dishes, so I thought it would make for a great, equally crumbly substitute.

I added some cinnamon and ground cloves to the mixture, too, so as to give a more autumnal feel, and cut out the salt called for in the recipe.

Almost ready to go into the oven.



Thanks to my Aunt Bonnie for these lovely, new ramekins. A happy recipient, I am!



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What’s your favourite way to enjoy pumpkin? 

Source: http://foodjetaimee.blogspot.com/2011/10/pumpkin-flans-with-chevre-walnuts.html