Dinner In a Pumpkin

From:  Tanya Purcell (2009)

Perfect meal to warm everyone up before heading out on Halloween night!!

1 hour prep time
1 1/2 to 2 hours cook time

1 medium pumpkin (or squash)
1 onion; chopped
1 garlic clove; minced
2 T. vegetable oil
1 lb. ground beef
2 T. soy sauce
2 T. brown sugar
1 (4 oz) can sliced mushrooms; finely chopped
1 can cream of chicken soup (10 3/4 oz)
3 cups cooked rice

**Optional:  2 T. brown sugar and 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice mixed together**

1. Before starting the recipe, cut off the top of the pumpkin and thoroughly clean out the pulp and seeds.
2. Optional, but highly recommended....rub the inside of the pumpkin really well  with the brown sugar-spice mix
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
4. In large skillet, saute onions in vegetable oil until tender.
5. Add and brown ground beef
6. Add soy sauce, mushrooms, brown sugar and soup
7. Simmer for 10 minutes; stirring occasionally
8. Add cooked rice
9. Spoon mixture into cleaned out pumpkin shell
10. Replace pumpkin top and place entire pumpkin, with filling, on a baking sheet into the oven.
11. Bake for 1 1/2-2 hours or until the inside of pumpkin is tender enough to eat.
12. Put entire pumpkin on table, remove lid and serve!!!

Make sure you scoop out some of the pumpkin while you are serving too!!  Great and fun way to get a serving of vegetables!!