Pumpkin time

Last Saturday I bought a piece of pumpkin at the market. It was like a quarter of a pumpkin, cut up right there on the stall. That came in handy because a huge pumpkin would be too much for me, now that there are only two of us; and although there are many dishes that could be made with pumpkin, I think we would get bored if we saw this ingredient in everything for a couple of days in a row.

From that piece I bought, I decided to make strudel, which is quite popular in my family, as well as pumpkin puree, mixed with potatoes. The poor pumpkin waited in the fridge for a couple of days because I didn’t really have the motivation to prepare anything.

Yesterday, I finally picked up a knife and the pumpkin carving action started. First, we should remove the hard skin, and the way I am holding the knife and cutting it is a form in which you should not do it. I mean, you can if you want to cut yourself and have a band-aid on your fingers.

It is better to place a slice of pumpkin on a cutting board and remove the skin little by little, cutting downwards.

You will obtain several smaller pieces of the pumpkin pulp, already without the hard skin.

I was thinking about using the seeds too, but I ran out of time, so I didn't prepare roasted pumpkin seeds. Maybe next time, as I like them.

For the strudel, you have to grate the pumpkin pulp. I started with one piece... then I called my husband to grate the other pieces as my arm was not happy with this activity.

Once we had the pumpkin grated, I unpacked the filo dough. I didn't prepare it by myself (however, I know there are experts who can make these thin sheets of dough at home), I bought it and it was really ok, very similar to those that my mom uses for her strudels.

These are the thin layers, the sheets of the filo.

We will need to place one, or better two layers on a flat board or table as I did, brush it with oil and then cover it with the grated pumpkins. Sprinkle it with sugar (I used one tablespoon for each roll, but frankly, I could put more to achieve a bit sweeter taste) and cinnamon.

I also grated one apple and made one roll with it.

After putting the grated pumpkin or apple on the filo sheets, you need to roll them and place the rolls into the baking tray. This was the first one.

I got four with pumpkin and one with apple.

Ready to go into the oven.

Some 20, or 25 minutes later... maybe I had to leave it a few minutes less... the pumpkin decided to escape from some rolls. 😅

Leave just a few moments to cool down a bit and cut into slices... and then, please serve yourself! :)