Thanksgiving Cooking In Your New Home In Oklahoma

We are halfway through November and that means that Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Hopefully, you’re settled nicely into your new home in Oklahoma and ready to bring on the family fun that comes with the holiday season! With food being one of the main focal points of Thanksgiving, you’re sure to really enjoy cooking that long-awaited meal in the custom designed kitchen in your new home in Oklahoma.

Of course, every family has their ‘must have’ dishes, but we thought that with your new home in Oklahoma should come a new recipe to celebrate! This one is simple, yet festive, and features the delicious fall flavors. It’s also the perfect transition from the dinner table to the living room, as the afternoon “I ate way too much, but everything is so delicious I’ll just have a little something else while watching football” coma sets in.

Spinach Dip Stuffed Pumpkin

4 small sugar pumpkins

8 cups fresh spinach *see note

½ tsp minced garlic

½ tsp lemon juice

2 cups canned artichoke hearts, drained & chopped

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

8 oz cream cheese

2 Tbs pepper sauce, such as Cholula

¼ cup crumbled bacon (optional)

Sea salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste

1) Cut the tops from the sugar pumpkins, remove the seeds and loose pulp, and sprinkle with a bit of salt.

2) Replace the tops and place the pumpkins in a 9x13 baking dish with ¼ cup of water to keep the bottoms from scorching. Bake in a preheated 350? oven for 30-35 minutes, until the inside has darkened, but the outside is still firm.

3) Wilt the spinach with a couple tablespoons of water in a sauté pan on low-medium heat. Remove from heat and squeeze dry. Set aside.

4) In a sauce pan, mix spinach, garlic, lemon juice, artichoke hearts, cheeses, sour cream or yogurt, pepper sauce, salt, and pepper.  Cook over medium heat, stirring consistently to prevent burning, until cheeses have melted and everything has incorporated.

5) Remove the pumpkin tops and stuff with the spinach mixture. Sprinkle with the optional bacon crumbles and serve with your favorite chips, crackers, or bread!

*note: 10 oz box of chopped frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry, can be substituted for the fresh, wilted spinach.