Meal in a Pumpkin and Wheat Chili

For lots of reasons I have been unable to use my computer lately so I am making a very tardy entry. Last weekend Sara and kids came for a visit and we went to the cabin. Jacob (3 years) rode in the car with us. On the way Ralph saw a Farmer's Market and bought a couple of pumpkins. I told Jacob we were going to eat them and he said inn a disgusted voice, "Grandma, you don't eat Jack-O-Lanterns," So, I have included the recipe for "Meal in a Pumpkin" that Hailey and I made last week. I have also included a recipe for "Wheat Chili" which was given to me by my V.T. partner and tastes very good.


Meal in a Pumpkin

1 medium pumpkin ( It is best to use cooking pumpkins like 'Sugar Baby' but this time I used just regular Jack-o-Lantern pumkins that weren't too big {about 10" in diameter} and it tasted fine.)
1 onion, chopped
2 T. oil (I skipped the oil as the ground beef had enough fat.)
1 1/2 to 2 lbs. ground beef
2 T. soy sauce
2 T. brown sugar
4 oz. can of mushrooms, drained
10 3/4 oz.can crean of chicken soup
1 1/2 c. cooked rice ( I prefer regular rice. This week we used instant rice and it was o.k.)
8 oz. can of sliced water chestnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (paint face on pumpkin if desired. I never have.)

Saute onions, brown ground beef and drain. Add soy sauce, br.sugar, mushrooms, and condensed soup. Simmer and stir 10 min. Add rice and water chestnuts. Spoon into cleaned out pumpkin. Bake on baking sheet 1 hour with lid on top.
Serve insides with pumpkin flesh mixed in.

Wheat Chili

Soak overnight: 1 c. red beans, 2 1/2 cups hot water, 2 tsp. soda
Rinse well and add: 1 c. raw wheat, 1 beef boullion cube, 3 c. water.
Cook 1 lb. hamburger and 1 chopped onion
Add 1 (15oz.) can tomatoes, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, 3 c. tomato juice, 1 Tb. chili powder, 2/3 c. ketchup, and 1/2 tsp. cumin.
Stir all ingredients together and heat thoroughly.

( I have not made this yet but tasted it and it was very good.)