Pumpkin Stew in a Pumpkin!

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     Today, I'm posting on Lindsey's behalf! She had some glitches with our site, which was unfortunate because she was so excited about this pumpkin post! 
      As you know, if you have been following us, Lindsey loves pumpkins!  Not just pumpkin spice and not only during the Fall, but she loves them all year round.  She is one of pumpkin's most devoted fans.  It's no wonder then that this year she grew her own pumpkins in her garden and was thrilled with the resulting beautiful fruit! (From Google: "A pumpkin, from a botanist's perspective, is a fruit because it's a product of the seed-bearing structure of flowering plants. Vegetables, on the other hand, are the edible portion of plants such as leaves, stems, roots, bulbs, flowers, and tubers.")  Aside from the many pumpkin recipes that we have already shared on the blog, she decided to make this wonderful, comforting recipe for Pumpkin Stew, made in a Pumpkin! 

     As Lindsey was preparing to serve this meal to her family, she messaged me the following about how perfect it was to be serving it on a blustery Fall day where she lives.  "It's so cold today and it hailed so much that it looks like we have snow. Austin turned the fireplace on. ."
      Reading those words from her made me wish I was there to enjoy that cozy time with them! I am imagining the aroma of the baking stew filled pumpkin, the warmth of the fire, the view from her beautiful living room picture windows, all of her pumpkin/fall themed pillows on her sofa, a peaceful Sunday afternoon cuddling with my granddaughter and I couldn't imagine anything better at that moment!  Well, that is until the stew came out of the oven, and then that had to be another level of comfort! 

     Okay, enough daydreaming.  Let's get to the basics of making this delicious and fun stew!  Yes, I said fun, because I know that my granddaughter was thrilled to be eating dinner from a pumpkin that she had a hand in growing and it must have seemed such  a novel idea.  There is something so magical to children about pumpkins!  (We can probably give Cinderella's Fairy Godmother credit for that!)
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      Oh, did I mention that Lindsey comes by her love of pumpkins naturally?  Her birthday is at the end of October.  She always receives many lovely pumpkin themed gifts for her birthday, much to her delight.  This year, from her sister-in-law, she received some adorable mini pumpkin casserole dishes.  She used them to serve up her stew at the dinner table. 

      We couldn't find her exact dishes on Amazon, but here are some similar ones. One more thing to add to the cozy feel of the day! 

     Another gift she received from her brother and his wife was this cast iron skillet.  She used it to start off the cooking process of the stew before transferring it to the hollowed out pumpkin. 

Skillet link -- similar Pumpkin Teapot link

     This isn't a whip it up quickly recipe.  The ingredients stew on the stove for an hour and then bake in the pumpkin for two more.  It is easy to put together, but then you have to be patient as it bakes and fills your home with the warmth and scents of Fall.  By the time it is ready to serve, everyone's mouths will be watering for it.  The waiting time will be worth it.  My granddaughter loved it.  She said to her mother, "I wish I could have pumpkin stew everyday!"  

      If you are ready to recreate this warm and cozy day in your home, here is the recipe. 

Here are a few pumpkin touches for your home:

     So many cute things!  I have to stop! But you get the idea! Let us know how much you love the stew!