Dinner In A Pumpkin

Select a pumpkin that's slightly flattened on the bottom. It should be sturdy, balanced, and able to easily stand on it's own.

* 1 medium to large size round pumpkin - about 7 to 10 pounds
* 2 lbs. lean ground beef
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 2 T. lemon juice
* 1 can pork & beans (15 to 16 oz.)
* 1 16 oz can chopped cooked tomatoes
* 1 16 oz. can tomato sauce
* 2 cups rice, uncooked
* 1/2 tsp. salt
* 1/4 tsp. black pepper

Preparation -
Wash the pumpkin. Cut a circular piece out the top to form a lid. Scrape out the seeds and stringy membrane with a large metal spoon and discard. Also check the bottom of the lid and scrape off and stringy area.

In a large skillet, lightly brown the ground beef, then drain off any excess fat. Add onion and chopped green pepper, saute lightly and drain again. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, tomato sauce, bean, rice, brown sugar, lemon juice and seasonings. Combine with meat mixture, stir to mix all ingredients together.

Place the pumpkin on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Spoon mixture into the pumpkin cavity. Loosely place the lid on the filled pumpkin. Bake at 350° for one hour. Remove the lid, reduce heat to 300° and bake one more hour.

Lay a few romaine lettuce leaves or other leafy greens around the outside of the pumpkin When serving, scoop out part of the baked pumpkin with each portion, if desired. Serve with a loaf of warm crusty French or Italian bread.

I made something similar last yearn for Halloween Dinner and it was excellent . The pumpkin makes it so fun and festive .

I've been making this for years for Samhain dinner gatherings as well as roast venison and other wonderful harvest fare

sounds yummy!!!

poet i want some

plzzzzzzzzzz


insert big puppy dog eyes emoticon here

but of course Robin, always room for you at my table

I was thinking of trying something like this for our Samhain shin dig this year- I'm so exited you posted it.

I really do get to make yummy french bread to go with it too! yay

(and pumpkin muffins!!)

This sounds wonderful....am going to try it very soon.

Thanks for sharing

My grandkids will love that poet, thank you for sharing with us

cool. pumpkin soup is splendid fare as well.

Copied this one! Sounds like a great wat to have a
festive meal! Thanks!

me too, that sounds like a yummy recipe, looking forward to trying it out.

Thanks for sharing.

Hubby and I are planning on trying this for a family samhain get together and I was wondering- what kind of rice? regular white rice? long grain? Brown? What have/do you used and how does it come out?

I've used long grain white rice and its come out very nicely.Friends have used the mix of white and wild rice. I have not tried brown rice, maybe I will this year, it is healthier.

oOOo--sounds good there poet--never heard it being made that way before---i'm hungry now--