Dinner in a Pumpkin

Dinner in a Pumpkin

Ingredients

• 1 pumpkin (medium)
• 1 lb ground beef (may be sautéed with onions, celery and pepper)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsps. brown sugar
• 4 ozs mushrooms (fresh or canned, sliced and drained)
• 1 can of water chestnuts drained and chopped
• 1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups rice (hot cooked)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F
   
2. Lightly grease a 10" circle in center of a baking sheet; set aside.
   
3. Place pumpkin on a firm surface. Using a sharp knife, cut out stem end and about 3 inches around stem. Cut on a diagonal by slanting knife from outer edge of pumpkin in toward center. Reserve top. Remove seeds and pulp; discard.
   
4. In a medium bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients. Spoon mixture into pumpkin. Replace top.
   
5. Place pumpkin on greased baking sheet. Bake about 1 hour in preheated oven until pumpkin is tender.
6. When serving scrap sides to get pumpkin along with the casserole.

This recipe is similar to this one but the original recipe I had added water chestnuts.  
I make this every year – has become a tradition.

Enjoy