Warming Autumn Baked Pumpkin

I love autumn. Cold crisp sunny days and warm rich colours. There is nothing better than coming home from a walk to the smell of delicious spices and snuggling down with your family to a delicious seasonal meal.

This baked pumpkin is the ultimate celebration of one the most iconic Autumn vegetables. It’s not too tricky to make and tastes delicious.

Ingredients:

1 medium pumpkin (roughly football sized)
1 cup of quinoa
1 cup of millet
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 tbsp. olive oil
1tsp sage
1tsp rosemary
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cardamom
1 handful chopped walnuts
1 handful dried cranberries
½ chopped onion

Method:

· Cut the top off the pumpkin and set aside.
· Remove the soft part and seeds and discard.
· Scrape out some of the pumpkin flesh so that the hollow is bigger.
· Add the grains to a dry pan and toast for a few minutes before covering with water, bring to the boil and cook until just soft.
· In a pan fry the onion, garlic and spices in olive oil for a few minutes and then add the pumpkin flesh. Cook for a further 5 minutes until starting to become soft.
· Rub the inside of the pumpkin with a little olive oil.
· Combine the cooked drained grains, pumpkin mixture, walnuts and cranberries and put back inside the pumpkin. Replace the lid of the pumpkin.
· Wrap the whole thing in tin foil and place on a baking tray in the oven at about 220 Celsius for 60-90 minutes or until the case starts to become soft.
· Scoop out and serve.