A Great Halloween Pumpkin Stew Recipe--Enhanced with Images of Department 56 and Lemax Halloween

Lemax Collection,
"Broom Dealership," #14326

I admit it, right here, in the first sentence.  I do not display, nor do I collect, Halloween village pieces. (Storage issues!)  That does not mean, however, that I did not drop by Michaels on Saturday to see their Lemax Halloween display.  I did, and it tickled me green.  I liked several of the pieces, especially the Rest in Peace Railroad and the Broom Dealership. Broom Dealership

Lemax Collection,
"Broomstick Manor," #289284

What made me chuckle the most, however, was Broomstick Manor.  The house is suitably creepy with heavy stone construction, a warning to beware of witches landing, and crossed broomsticks and a candleabra above the dormer window.  But even better are the little details.  Instead of a welcome sign, tacked on the door is a warning:  A Curse on All Who Enter!  Next to the front stoop is another sign, hung with chains:  Beware of Kitty.  Good idea, that suggestion, because on the stoop is a kitty carnivorous with every hair standing out in ferociousness....a really kitty creature!  The best detail may be the green witch washing her cloths on top of the turret.  On the clothes line hang pants, red and white striped socks, and ....are those pink bloomers?  This witch wears pink bloomers!!!

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Jack's Pumpkin Carving Studio," 54600

Since I don't decorate for Halloween with villages, then what do I do for this holiday?  Well, almost every year, when the pumpkins are ripe, I put on my perpetually like-new apron and make a really delicious pumpkin stew, which I serve from the pumpkin itself, which I place in the middle of the table during dinner.

Here is the recipe!  Don't let the ingredients list put you off.  Nothing is exotic, and it makes a lot of stew that can be reheated or frozen.  The only hard part is cleaning out the pumpkin, but you do that for jack-o-lanterns!!

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"1031 Trick-Or-Treat Drive," #55343

I think it would be really cute if you surrounded the pumpkin stew pumpkin with some of your Dept. 56 or Lemax Halloween buildings and accessories, nestled among red and orange and brown fall leaves.  I'll sprinkle some additional pictures of halloween pieces with the recipe, to give you inspiration.

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Pick Your Own Pumpkin," #55244

Pumpkin Stew
A 10-12 lb. pumpkin
¼ C butter
½ C brown sugar
3Tbl. cinnamon
2Tbl. olive oil
2 lbs. lean stew beef
3 Tbl. brandy
1 C onion, chopped
½ C green pepper, chopped
3 large cloves of garlic, minced
3 C beef stock
1 C sherry
3 medium tomatoes, chopped

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Preparing for Halloween," #54982

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

½ tsp. oregano

1-1/2 lb. White potatoes, ½ inch cubes

1-1/2 lb. Sweet potatoes, ½ inch cubes

½ lb. zucchini, ¼ inch slice

3 ears corn, cut in 1-inch rounds

12-16 dried apricots

12-16 prunes, pitted

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Gross...Pumpkin Guts," #4020236

Directions

Prepare the Pumpkin:  About 4 inches down from the stem, slice pumpkin to form a lid about 6-7 inches in diameter.  Clean out inside of pumpkin.  Brush inside of shell with butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.  

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Harvest Mailbox," #53169

Replace lid on top, set on a baking sheet, and bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 45 min., or until almost tender, but not too soft.  Reserve juices from pumpkin to add to the stew.  (I also scrape out some of the pumpkin meat to put in the stew.  Be careful you don't take too much from any one place, or the  pumpkin skin will become too thin and it will crumple during the final baking. Then you can't serve out of it!)

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Building the Scarecrow," #55203

Prepare the stew:  In large saucepan heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add beef cut into 1-inch cubes and brown on all sides.  Transfer to a bowl and pour off any fat.  Add brandy and bring to a boil.  

Add and simmer onion, green onion, green pepper, and garlic about 5 min.  Pour in beef stock and sherry and boil briskly, scraping up the cooked bits on the bottom.  Return meat and pumpkin juices to the pan and stir in tomatoes, bay leaf, salt, oregano, and pepper.  Cover pan and simmer over low heat for 15 min.  

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Gathering the Pumpkins," #55200

Add white and sweet potatoes cut into ½ inch cubes.  Cook for 15 min. more.  

Stir in Zucchini and cook add’l 10 min. (This is when I add the pumpkin “meat’ with potatoes,etc.  It provides a nice flavor and thickens the stew.)  

Add corn, dried apricots, and prunes.  Cook covered for 5 min. Place pumpkin shell on an oven-proof platter.  Spoon stew into pumpkin shell, replace lid and bake 15 min. Serve the stew from the pumpkin.  Everyone will love it.

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Halloween Pumpkin Stand," # 52956

Vegetarian Option--I have made this stew without meat as often as with meat.  I just substitute 2 pounds of additional vegetables for the 2 pounds of stew beef.  If you use zucchini or other "soft" veggies, be sure and add them just before you add the apricots and prunes, so they don't wilt.  If you use additional white or sweet potatoes or carrots, of course, you add them when potatoes are called for in the recipe.

Dept. 56, Snow Village Halloween,
"Spooky Farmhouse," #55315

Many Thanks to Nancy Allen, who shared this recipe with the PEO Chapter OY, who published it in their unbelievably fabulous cookbook, Stars...Stellar Recipes.  In the book Nancy recounts a dinner party, which I attended, where the pumpkin theme was complemented by white chocolate Cinderella slippers for dessert, filled with champagne. What a event dinner event that was. Unfortunately for cooks, gourmet and those like me, the book is no longer in print.  If you can't find it, keep looking. If you would like a copy of the Pumpkin Stew recipe in a Word document, please email me.