Recipe(tried): Dinner in a Pumpkin (2 recipes, using ground beef)

DINNER IN A PUMPKIN
Previously posted by Debbie.D.,.AL

This is a fun dish to serve before the kids go trick or treating!

1 (8-10 lb.) pumpkin
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. mixed Italian herbs
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
4 cups tomato juice
1 cup rice, uncooked
3 cups cabbage, shredded
1/2 lb. green beans, cut

Wash pumpkin, cut off top, and scrape out seeds and discard.

Cook ground beef slightly, drain off grease.

Add onion and garlic, saute slightly. Add seasonings and tomato juice; heat. Mix with uncooked rice.

Layer 1/3 each of the cabbage, green beans, rice, and meat mixture in pumpkin. Repeat layers and replace lid.

Bake at 350 degrees for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until done. Pumpkin is done when it is soft when pierced with a fork.

Serve with tossed green salad and cornbread.

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DINNER IN A PUMPKIN

1 small to medium pumpkin
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 to 2 lbs. ground beef
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 (4 oz.) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 (8 oz.) can sliced water chestnuts, drained

Cut off the top of pumpkin and thoroughly clean out seeds and pulp.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large skillet, saute onions in oil until tender. Add meat and brown. Drain drippings from skillet. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms and undated soup. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add cooked rice and water chestnuts. Spoon mixture into the cleaned pumpkin. Replace pumpkin top and place entire pumpkin, with filling, on a baking sheet.

Bake 1 hour or until inside meat of the pumpkin is tender (cooking time may vary up to 2 hours, depending on size of pumpkin).

Place entire pumpkin on serving platter. Remove pumpkin lid and scoop out some of the meat mixture and cooked pumpkin. Serve together.

From: Gina, Fla
Source: Today's Tips for Easy Living by Dian Thomas, HP Books