Question. . .Using pumpkins to make pumpkin pie. .

[Michelle_Nelson]

Planted some Sugar Pumpkins this year to try making some pumpkin pies and freeze to make pies later.  Instead of buying canned pumpkin pie filling. 

My question is how do you know the pumpkins are ready?  When they turn 100% Orange?  Weeks after they turn orange?  I'm not quite sure.

I am use to growing carving pumpkins for Jack-o-lanturns.  I just wait til there orange and pick them.

If anyone would like to share recipies as well that would be cool.

[SniperDanWA]

I don't have a recipe, but we usually can tell if they are ready by grabbing the horn and if it twists off the vine, it is usually ready.  We did not plant this year, but we had some volunteer plants and so far so good.  Three off and curing a bit before we will tear them apart to make filing for pies like you.  We bake until soft, mash and freeze.  We don't add anything to them, just season to taste later.  I'm interested in how others do this too.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I've had a couple completely orange for about 2 weeks and I pulled those off today.  The stem broke off the pumpkin before it broke off the vine. 

[pips4bucks]

I usually wait until after the first frost to pick our sugar pumpkins, but if the stems are breaking off that's a pretty good indicator.

We usually take the pumpkins and bake 'em until soft, then puree' them in the food processor or blender.  They then either get canned or frozen. 

I've got a pretty good recipe for a wild game stew that is finished in a pumpkin that's pretty good.  It's fairly labor intensive though.  I'll send it to anyone who wants it.  Oh BTW, it calls for red wine as one ingredient.