October is the perfect excuse for gatherings centered around autumn's fun activities like football watching and eating pumpkin everything. So, why not host a little Pumpkin Carving Party complete with a pumpkin-filled menu to get into that festive state of mind?
I got the chance to try out McCormick Gluten-Free Recipe Mix packets that make seasoning your fall favorites an easy task and couldn't help but run with the pumpkin-loving theme. First and foremost, creating a menu was in order for a fabulous fall event:
Pumpkin Carving Party Menu
Your favorite fall Soup or Stew
Taco-Spiced Cornbread Pumpkins (see below for recipe)
Cheesy Turkey-Pumpkin Chili Dip (see below for recipe)
served with tortilla chips and dippers
Sweet Potato-Pumpkin Mash DIY Bar
featuring McCormick Turkey Gravy & all the fixin's!
Various Pumpkin & Autumn Desserts
such as Pumpkin Spice Latte Bark
These Taco-Spiced Cornbread Pumpkins are not only cute, but also a flavorful accompaniment for your soups, stews and chilis during the chilly months ahead! Because the recipe uses McCormick Gluten-Free Recipe Mix and no flour, it's perfect for family and friends who avoid wheat products.
Cheesy Turkey-Pumpkin Chili Dip will really knock everyone's socks off, especially when you serve it up in a gorgeous little gourd. So on-theme! It's meaty and creamy with a spicy kick and makes an excellent snack while you carve out Jack!
Finally, extend the DIY beyond the pumpkin carving with an interactive Sweet Potato-Pumpkin Mash DIY Bar! Guests will love customizing a scoop of this creamy twist on mashed potatoes. Set out toppers like shredded cheese, sour cream, fresh chopped herbs and crumbled bacon... and don't forget the McCormick Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy!
Once the stage is set with all sorts of pumpkin delights, you can easily put together a simple party for all to enjoy!
1. B.Y.O.P. Ask guests to bring their own pumpkin, or provide gourds of all kinds for friends and family to choose from once they arrive. Get creative with pumpkins of all shapes & sizes!
2. Smart set up for easy clean up. Set your table {if you have an outdoor space, even better!} with newspaper, kraft paper, or something that you can easily crumple up and throw away once the carving and gutting is done. Pumpkin carving is a messy business! Make sure to set out several bowls or buckets for the gooey middles. And don't forget to save the seeds for roasted snacks you can make later!
3. Provide inspiration. Stencils, paints, stickers and even cookie cutters can be used to give fall flair to your creations. Create a buffet of fun embellishments and details {along with carving tools, of course!} that will help your guests get inspired.
4. Dig in and have fun! Keep food and drinks nearby for noshing and mingling during the party. Between using the pumpkins as a creative medium and snacking on the delightful goodies you've made, your guests will be talking about your Pumpkin Party for seasons to come!
Featured Recipes:
Taco-Spiced Cornbread Pumpkins
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 tablespoons McCormick Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning Mix
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons melted butter, plus extra for greasing tin
1 tablespoon honey
3/4 cups plain Greek yogurt
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Liberally butter or spray your muffin tin or pumpkin-shaped mold. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together first 5 ingredients.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until smooth.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. (The batter will be pretty thick.)
5. Scoop the batter evenly into greased tin or mold. Bake until just starting to brown on top, about 9-11 minutes.*
6. Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 minutes so they are easier to handle. Carefully flip from tins or molds. If they stick, run a paring knife around the outer edge to loosen.
Serve warm with soup, stew or chili.
*Cooking time will depend on the type of tin or mold you use. It's best to check on them frequently to make sure they do not overbake. Yield will also depend on the size and shape of the baking tin.
Cheesy Turkey-Pumpkin Chili Dip
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 an onion, chopped
1/2 pound turkey meat
1/2 a packet of McCormick Gluten-Free Chili Mix
1 (14.5 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes
1/2 cup canned pureed pumpkin
4 ounces cream cheese
4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus extra for garnish
1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add chopped onion and sautee until softened, about 4-5 minutes.
2. Add turkey meat to onion and break up with a wooden spoon (my favorite tool for this job is a potato masher!). Cook until no longer pink.
3. Sprinkle McCormick Gluten-Free Chili Seasoning over top and stir to coat all of mixture. Add diced tomatoes to meat and stir, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet.
4. Stir in pumpkin puree. Add cream cheese and shredded cheddar and stir until the cheeses have melted into the mixture.
Serve in a hollowed out pumpkin with tortilla chips or your favorite dippers.
Sweet Potato-Pumpkin Mash
1 large sweet potato*, baked or boiled and mashed
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
1. Beat all ingredients together with a hand mixer until smooth. Set out mash in a covered bowl to keep warm or in a slow cooker set to low.
2. Encourage guests to "embellish" their Sweet Potato-Pumpkin Mash with various toppings and gravy.
*This can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger crowd as well.
For Turkey Gravy:
1 (8.8 oz) Package McCormick Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy mix
1 cup water
1. Stir water gradually into Gravy Mix with whisk in small saucepan.
2. Stirring frequently, cook on medium heat until gravy comes to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 3 to 4 minutes. (Gravy will thicken upon standing).
For DIY Bar:
- McCormick Turkey Gravy
- Various shredded cheeses
- Sour cream
- Finely Chopped Herbs
- Crumbled Bacon
Get rid of the gluten, but not the flavor with McCormick Gluten-Free Recipe Mixes! Visit allrecipes.com recipe collection to discover more flavorful gluten free eating and meal ideas!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of McCormick Gluten-Free Recipe Mix. The opinions and text are all mine.
Sweepstakes ends on October 27, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. ET (the "Promotion Period"). Sponsor's servers are the official time-keeping device for the Sweepstakes.
