Pumpkin Notes

L, you most certainly can use canned pumpkin. I know getting a fresh pumpkin this time of year won't be easy, and to be honest getting the pumpkin cut up and boiled can be a bit labor intensive. (You have to clean out said pumpkin, but into pieces, put in pot with a bit of salt and water and simmer until tender, then let cool and slice the outer rind off - which is easy because the pumpkin is soft - then you can either mash the pumpkin pieces or puree them. And to get the pumpkin to the canned hard-pack consistency you must put your pumpkin puree in a paper towel lined strainer over a bowl in the fridge for a day or two. See... Not hard, just a bit labor intensive). I've made pumpkin soup with canned pumpkin and it was very good.